The Joys of Organized Crime Labor

Let me start this post by saying I've got a better chance at becoming the next singer for INXS than this plan has at seeing the light of day (and don't worry, Vicki, I'll have a post up later with my thoughts on the "Rockstar: INXS" finale).

Romney wants teacher merit pay

Teachers could earn as much as a $15,000 increase in their pay next school year based on their students' test scores and other measures, according to a new plan the governor will unveil today.

Governor Mitt Romney plans to roll out the plan as part of several education initiatives he will recommend to the Legislature, according to an administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

If approved by the Legislature,

Anyone living in Massachusetts with a minimum of four functioning brain cells can stop reading at this point.

...the $68 million a year in bonuses would take effect next school year and reward roughly 25,000 teachers a year, about a third of the state's teaching force.

Gee, more money for teachers! Who on earth could be opposed to that?

State teachers union officials pledged to fight the proposal, pointing out that similar efforts to start merit pay programs have failed elsewhere.

Note: the EFFORTS have failed, not the actual programs.

Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll said he and other state leaders expect a fight from unions.

No shit.

"The unions have got to come to grips with this," Driscoll said. "No longer can public education withstand the criticism to pay people according to how long they've been in the system. It's just ludicrous. Pay great teachers more. They deserve more."

Unfortunately, Mr. Driscoll here is operating under the false pretense that common sense and logic are forces that can exert influence on the minds and actions of our "progressive" elected officials.

And, speaking of reprehensible union thuggery...

Public opens fire on jakes for picket's traffic tie-up

Dozens of seething motorists lambasted Newton firefighters with profanity-laced Internet postings yesterday after an obnoxious union protest by the jakes-turned-jerks caused an infuriating 25-mile traffic jam on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

"You people put all of our lives at risk today with your stupidity," one message blared at the firefighters. "You are lucky no one was killed this morning with all the chaos and angry people."

The messages, posted on an online department guest book, came after the firefighters blocked traffic at Newton Corner yesterday morning while picketing over allegations of inadequate manpower and substandard equipment.

The demonstration created a bottleneck at Exit 17 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90, sparking concerns that medical employees, ambulances and other emergency workers were being blocked from urgent duties.

At one point, traffic was backed up to Interstate 495, according to Smart Routes, which reported that scattered accidents and breakdowns exacerbated the delays.

"What percentage of the people that you selfish fools (expletive) over today are Newton residents?" one irate commuter wrote in an online message. "Like others pointed out, the union said jump and you sheep followed." Others wrote of missing vital doctor's appointments as a result of the firefighters' insufferable action.

What a bunch of sorry little assholes. I would be hard-pressed to think of a more despicable way to discredit and tarnish the memories of the brave firefighters gave their lives on 9/11/01 than to prance around the streets making life miserable for the working men and women of the communities they've sworn to serve.

Here's what the King of the Assholes had to say:

The president of the firefighters union, Frannie Capello, acknowledged that his members walked into traffic but claimed with a straight face that they were not trying to inconvenience commuters. "It was not our intention to bother the public," Capello said. "This is not what we're all about."

This douchecrack was on the John Depetro show (WRKO) yesterday morning defending the actions of his brethren douchecracks here. He claimed they only walked across the intersection on the "walk" signal. When asked if they blocked the intersection when the light turned green, he merely answered (paraphrased), "Well, we had a lot of guys there. It was a long line."

A police official declined to comment when asked why the firefighters were not arrested or instructed to keep off roadways during their demonstration.

As if one has to ask.

From the Boston Globe's one-paragraph coverage:

Firefighters began their protest at 7:15, and each time the lights turned red, about 50 firefighters spilled into crosswalks, where some remained until the light turned green.

I gotta wonder. With such ringing endorsements as the ones provided by these fine union goons folks - the very backbones of morality, common-sense, and human decency - how could John Kerry have possibly lost the election last year?

It's as if they're out of touch with mainstream America. Who knew?