OFFLINE

on the starting to get ridiculous front, it seems democrats lack the testicular fortitude to stand and fight. instead, they'd rather try and circumvent the political process, calling it "democracy at work."

INDIANAPOLIS—House Democratic lawmakers in Indiana have begun a de facto walkout in an effort to block Republican-backed legislation that would restrict private-sector union rights. At issue are several bills, but primarily a so-called right to work bill that would give members of private-sector unions the right to opt out of unions and not pay dues.

Republicans arrived at the statehouse Tuesday morning to find no Democrats present, as protesters applauding the walkout could be heard inside the chamber.

The strategy is possible because Republicans make up 60 of 100 House seats. Without any Democrats present, Republicans lack a two-thirds majority needed for a quorum to act on the bill.

Over breakfast Tuesday morning, House Democratic Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer said it was unclear whether he and his colleagues would leave the state, as Senate Democrats did in Wisconsin last week, or simply remain outside the capitol.

"Walkout's a word that ought to be stricken. But we're ruminating," Mr. Bauer said. "It's happening. We're in a study group right now trying to figure out how to stop this legislation."

This study group, also called the Democratic caucus, is meeting in Indianapolis, outside the state capitol. Mr. Bauer said he didn't come into the capitol building Tuesday for fear he might be seized by a legislative officer. "I don't want to be as dramatic as they are in Wisconsin," Mr. Bauer said. He added, "We will probably have to leave the state, but I don't know."

Mr. Bauer said his Democratic caucus is taking this step because of "a concerted national effort to cannibalize unions, public schools and anything else the Democratic Party stands for."

"I think it's clear this is a walkout," said House Speaker Brian Bosma, a Republican.

"The Democrats are shirking their job," said Mr. Bosma in an interview. "They're not going to dictate their terms for returning. There are many issues they're playing chicken with."

OFFLINE

I'm a little torn on this as I come from a family of educators and was in education for awhile myself in college.  So I know a bit about the concerns teachers have.

As I see it, the teachers themselves arent really the problem.  The problem is the NEA.  The National Education Association is the single largest professional union in the United States.  It is very powerful, very effective and does what it sets out to do...which is to protect the rights of teachers.

However, that isnt all it does.

The NEA has often opposed measures such as merit pay, school vouchers, weakening of teacher tenure, certain curricular changes, the No Child Left Behind Act, and many accountability reforms.  It usually puts teachers' interests ahead of the school children.

We pour more and more money into education...and yet test scores go down.  Why is that?  Did our teachers start sucking all of a sudden?

In way...yes.  The NEA has often pushed the recruitment of less qualified teachers and threaten to strike (as well as pressure congress) if measures are taken to get rid of unqualified teachers.  They dont want teacher testing.  They demand tenure and once they get it...its often difficult and a long, drawn out, and expensive process to fire the teacher.  And many small school boards cannot afford a lawsuit...so they just give in and let the teacher stay.

We had one teacher at my school who was simultaneously a member of NEA and the NAACP.  She was a French teacher and the foreign exchange students we had laughed at her because she couldnt speak French!  But our BOE was afraid of her, so she remained at her job and the students suffered.

Also, some critics believe the NEA promotes a gay rights agenda, especially since the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2005 case Fields v. Palmdale School District.  The court in that case ruled that parents' right to control the upbringing of their children "does not extend beyond the threshold of the school door," and that a public school has the right to provide its students with "whatever information it wishes to provide, sexual or otherwise.

So imo...the teachers should be protected.  But the NEA has become bloated, too powerful and in some cases sinister.

OFFLINE

right, but we've entered a day and age where the union's stranglehold has moved increasingly toward the public sector. 36% of public workers are now under a union, while just 7% of private sector workers are unionized. this is almost a complete reversal from the 1940s. this means that instead of "greedy fat cats," the unions are now pitted against the taxpayers.

it used to be that public employees recieved awesome benefits packages because they were paid less than those in the private sector, but that's no longer the case. in many instances (if not most) they are now paid more than those who pay for them.

OFFLINE

i think i've finally realized what's going on with all this, and i haven't heard it talked about yet. basically, moving forward as a minority party - particularly in state governments -the dems' strategy iis to use the unions and stir up as much trouble as possible leading into the 12 campaign. not only as a means of stalling republican state agendas, but i think it is their hope to whip up enough support on the left as to create their own manufactured tea party style movement. if you remember, back in the 08 campaign season, the democrats were talking about needing some kind of liberal counter-punch to the tea party, and i think this is really what all these state representatives going AWOL is about. the result is like a festering wound that just can't heal until either A. the union bosses back off (yeah right), or B. the state reps return and put a close to it.

what really led to the formation of the tea parties? people being fed up with the way the democrats had governed during their two years of hegemonic rule. so i reckon that they figure all they have to do is to rile people up over the way republicans are governing across the country, and blam-o, instant astroturf. i don't think it'll work, but that's their only chance at gaining any kind of momentum, whatsoever.