NJ Politics

In most instances, I side with the Democrats when it comes to politics. And while I don’t agree with a great many of Chris Christie’s (NJ Governor – R) policies, there is one that I do agree with, and I feel it’s been a long time coming. A while back Christie asked the members of the NJ teachers union to forego their scheduled 2010-2011 school year raises and contribute 1.5% of their salaries toward their benefits in order to close a budget gap. To put this in perspective for any out-of-staters who might be reading this post, most teachers in NJ are covered by (all-expenses-paid) Cadillac health insurance plans, receive paid holidays and a summer vacation, enjoy extremely generous pensions, and are entitled to free health insurance even after retiring. All of these benefits are compliments of the NJ taxpayers. Of course, when asked if they’d be willing to give up their raises for ONE YEAR and contribute a measly 1.5% of their salary towards their OUTRAGEOUSLY GENEROUS benefits (you know - in light of the current state of our economy), the union shot back a haughty “no.” In response, Christie didn’t budge, and massive layoffs ensued.

The union cried to the public through commercials, which by the way I grew very tired of watching. They claimed that Christie was a kid-hater and didn’t care about education. Boo hoo. The only kid-hating I’ve seen has come from the selfish teachers union. If the union members were truly in the profession to educate, they would have given up the little that Christie had asked. Had they done that, the kids would not have been affected. After all, what do they think the rest of us have done? Give up nothing? I am afraid the teachers have lost touch. When you are employed in one of the few remaining professions that offers benefits, YOU SHOULD NOT COMPLAIN. I would LOVE to collect a teacher’s salary and benefits. Heck, I’d contribute 5% of my salary to my benefits. The NJ taxpayers are tired of watching their hard earned tax dollars go toward educators’ extremely generous salary+benefit packages. The NJ taxpayers are struggling. Most of us can only DREAM of enjoying the same salary+benefit packages that the union has obviously taken for granted.

I could go on and on about this topic, but it’s probably best that I don’t. I will part with this: The teachers union deserved this big, fat reality check. I truly hope more is to come, and that the public schools’ priorities return to educating children, not fattening the wallets of redundant administrators.