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Not too long ago while surfing the news channels, I came across a rather formidable-looking woman addressing what appeared to be a convention. The woman speaking made a very forceful appearance as she said, "We elected these people and they will do as we tell them to do."
It turns out she was speaking at a meeting of Service Employees International Union members and was describing state and national government elected officials. The SEIU, currently with more than 2 million members, is the fastest growing union in the U.S. Its target: government employees. Its purpose: To elect legislators at every level who will promote legislation in favor of collective bargaining (unions) for government employees. To that end, it is reported that the SEIU spent more than $50 million in the last general election electing people that do as the SEIU tells them to do.
The most successful states so far for the SEIU: California, Illinois and New Jersey. It is notable that these three states are in the greatest financial difficulty of all 50 states. The problems stem from a bloated labor force and pension funding obligations that require more revenue than the states can collect. So the SEIU demands that their elected officials raise taxes.
The Times on Tuesday presented a column by James Sherk in which proposed national legislation is described that will make collective bargaining for government employees the law in all 50 states. This legislation is entitled the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act.
The Obama administration - with its willing accomplices, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives — has tacked this act onto a bill providing funding for the U.S. armed forces. That action will make defeat for the bill very difficult.
If ever there was an urgent need to contact your elected officials, it is now. If we can't stop this atrocious bill now, it is only a question of time before Georgia is no longer a right-to-work state.
Bruce W. Hallowell
Clarkesville