It is strange how at times seemingly different stories can come together in one. I have written a fair amount these past several months about Obamacare, Pelosicare and all the other plans out there. One theme I have hammered at is how the left, the union, the SEIU, is hell-bent on the public option not because it is needed for health reform but because it swells the ranks of the SEIU by requiring more government workers.
I have seen SEIU operatives from HCAN write and boast that they’d prefer to see no bill to one without the public option. They don’t care about covering the uninsured as much as they care about swelling their ranks.
Co-ops, subsidized private insurance and high-risk pools are not acceptable to them because, while they cover the uninsured, they don’t increase the scope of the government and create more government jobs.
The other issue that has dovetailed is card check. That refers to the proposal that secret ballots not be required for unionization. By allowing a union vote via very public cards that are checked for the union, the unions can put pressure on employees that a secret vote avoids. They see it as a way to force recalcitrant employees to vote for the union.
I am not anti-union. I think every non-management worker has that right to try to collectively bargain if they and their unit so choose. I also support right-to-work laws that say you shouldn’t be precluded from working just because you don’t want to belong to a union.
There is actually a third theme emerging. I have written a bit about the volunteer spirit and how volunteers reduce the cost of government whether we are talking volunteer fire companies or volunteers who help plant trees.
So, a recent story in the Allentown Morning Call requires some commentary and that is being supplied by Congressman Dent.
First, the story. You can’t make this stuff up, really.
A very common scene around these parts is the Eagle Scout Project that sees Eagle Scouts, family and friends doing public improvement projects to earn that coveted status of Eagle Scout. I covered a project earlier this year where a scout and his helpers put in a stone path around the gazebo in a local park. Scouts are used quite often to clear brush on park trails. It is not uncommon in a township meeting to hear of a suggestion for a park or open space improvement and have someone suggest that the Eagle Scouts do it.
It is a win-win. The municipality gets work done without charge. The taxpayers save. The scout learns some skills and gets his badge. You’d think that anyone who loves Mom and apple pie would think this was a great program---but not the SEIU!
According to the Morning Call, Kevin Anderson, 17, has toiled for more than 200 hours over several weeks to clear a walking path in an east Allentown park. By doing this, he has improved a park at no expense to the taxpayers. What thanks did he get—a threat from the SEIU.
The Call reports that Nick Balzano, president of the local Service Employees International Union, told Allentown City Council Tuesday that the union is considering filing a grievance against the city for allowing Anderson to do the work and earn his badge.
"We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails," Balzano told the council. The SEIU claims it isn’t targeting Boy Scouts but it says that as a result of recent lay-offs of city employees, there can be no volunteers to replace them. Yes, with Allentown facing a budget crisis, with unemployment over 10% and with taxpayers feeling the pinch at every level, the SEIU objects to citizens volunteering to do civic work for free. They’d prefer to see taxes increase than to see civic volunteerism in action.
And these are the people who are pushing the public option that few outside of the unions seem to think is essential to a health care reform that covers everyone. Should we think their motives are pure in the health care debate? I don’t think so.
The SEIU claims that no one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path, according to the article. Getting something done at the lowest cost to taxpayers is not their concern. Streamlining and efficiency are not their concerns. They want as many government employees as possible so should we expect them to administer the public option to make administrative costs as low as possible or to make their numbers as large as possible?
As of the week-end, the SEIU was still looking into the matter and might cut the city a break.
Well, after having MoveOn.org target him for voting against Pelosicare, 15th District Congressman Charlie Dent, a foe of card check, a supporter of volunteerism, and a pragmatic Republican, had to weigh in and he has. His letter to the SEIU leader is below:
***
Dear Mr. Balzano:
I am deeply troubled by a story that appeared in the Sunday edition of the Morning Call titled, “Union Troubled by Eagle Scout Project in Allentown.” I read it twice, as I’m sure a number of other readers did, because I couldn’t believe that issue would be taken with the volunteer activity of a Boy Scout working to become an Eagle Scout.
For the last five years I have had the honor to support the Boy Scouts by chairing the Minsi Trails Council’s Lehigh Valley Leadership Dinner. The volunteer spirit of the young men who participate in Scouting should be valued and praised, not condemned or considered a grounds for a grievance.
Taxpayers pay my salary, your salary and the salaries of your Allentown members. As a taxpayer and Member of Congress, I can assure you that no one wants to hear about you or your union bothering and hassling young people trying to do right by their community.
Further, speaking as a taxpayer and resident of Allentown, I am astounded that you would threaten to file a grievance against the City of Allentown because the Administration wisely chooses to make volunteer opportunities available, especially when this type of frivolous grievance could add to the tax burden of the citizens. The vast majority of people would consider your actions in this matter outrageous, uncivil and wrong-headed.
I urge you to reexamine your decisions and actions in this matter and after doing so, that you drop it entirely.
An apology both to the Scout involved and to the public would be appropriate as well.
***
We don’t know what Charlie’s Democratic opponent John “Don Cunningham-lite” Callahan thinks because, well, we never know what John Callahan thinks on any issue. He is keeping his powder dry. However, Callahan, like Cunningham, is a product of the heavily pro-union Democratic party in Bethlehem, that same labor movement that helped contribute (along with spendthrift management) to Bethlehem Steel becoming the site of a casino as steel jobs went elsewhere. Pelosi has already contributed to his campaign. The Sam Bennett mantra of 2008 that this is a heavy union district and deserves a Democrat in Congress is sure to be repeated.
Third candidate, independent Jake Towne will most likely comment below with his position, so please watch for it.
Even the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee got into the act. In an e-mail to fourth estates (the press) they say “In one of the most outrageous acts by a union, the local SEIU in Allentown said they will “be looking into” the Boy Scouts because one aspiring Eagle Scout performed volunteer work on a public trail that the union claims to be their workers’ turf. If they’ll do this to the Boy Scouts, imagine what they’ll do when they can knock on your door under the Democrats’ card check legislation.”
Tony Mazzola, the NRCCC spokesman adds ““This is the type of action that cannot be tolerated by local elected officials and must be condemned. An attempt by the SEIU to strong-arm an aspiring Eagle Scout is evidence that unions believe they can get away with anything when their party controls Congress. Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan recently attended an SEIU rally and is closely associated with the local chapter. Will John Callahan lean on his friends in union leadership to ensure that they call their thugs off of the Boy Scouts?”
Folks, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Having one party with the power the Democrats currently have isn’t a good thing. We heard for 8 years about how the Bush administration was pro-business but I don’t think there is a landscaping or brush-clearing company out there that would complain. In fact, most Eagle Scout projects get material donated by local businesses and the big hardware chains.
The danger revealed by this story is the entitlement mentality of the unions. They are entitled to having one of their members get paid to do a job even when citizens agree to do it for free. They are not concerned about the lowest possible cost for the taxpayers.
Look what happened with cash for clunkers (which Charlie smartly voted against 3 times). There weren’t enough government workers to process the applications so the tripled the number. The number of applications processed per employee per day was miniscule.
Who do you think would do a better job of managing a health care system, the SEIU, which has no motive to improve processes or speed the claims along, or insurance administrators who have a profit motive to perform? That is why the enhanced Medicare program runs so well---with a private insurer administering it. It is the same reason why companies that self-insure turn the processing over to the experts. Those experts are Aetna and CIGNA and the like, not the SEIU. When was the last time you saw a government program and said, “Wow, that runs well?”
This will pass. The Eagle Scout will get his badge. But for all of us who must vote, keep this in mind next year when you ask yourself if you want to add to the Obama-Reid-Pelosi mandate. It is an issue that will have real everyday impact on your lives in terms of tax rates and the like. You may favor using union labor wherever possible for municipal work and not mind higher taxes. Fine, vote Democratic. If you think that doing the job at the lowest possible cost makes sense, then you might think twice before you give Pelosi more allies.
Too bad for the Eagle Scout that the job was so small in relative terms. Had it been bigger, the SEIU would be saying the City of Allentown must pay him prevailing wage!
Comments
Dear all,
Here's what's Known:
Recently after some wind-storms, and wind-storms over many years, I have found myself and my chain saw clearing fallen trees and debris across, and over my neighborhood road ways.
Question:
Am I in jeopardy of getting busted buy SEIU's secret service for being:
1) A non-union American?
2) A non-union employee of my local public works department?
3) Unwilling to sit on my ass and wait for my public works department to clear my road?
4) All of the above?
I reserve the right not to disclose my name and personal information because I answered yes to all of the above.
I hope you understand.
Thanks
Phil K
Ken, Great post. Gotta' love your last sentence.
SEIU's Secret Service?? Do you guys just make this stuff up in your head and hope other people believe this nonsense?
Secret Service,
I think Phil K. (or Bill Q., whatever his real name is) was going for irony.
Volunteer America! Just make sure the SEIU and Michelle agree with the program (For the second time in her life, she must be so proud of America).
Right on, Kenneth.
I see kids these days who are wannabe Gangbangers. GANGBANGERS, for God's sake. They want to mimic rappers, "cap" people, do drugs, smoke, drink, and break the law. Then we have model teens, these scouts. And what does SEIU do? They go after the Scouts. WHAT?! We need to be promoting scouts, not "looking" into them, which is really code for "hey, Jimmy, get Tone and a couple o' bats and make that kiddie an offa he can't refuse, eh?"
I've tried to have an open mind regarding SEIU. I can't now, this is despicable. What is there message here? "Rare, actually-good kids in the boy scouts, find the initiative, maturity, and thoughtfullness required to help your community, and we will attack you because you've indirectly taken work from people who are too lazy to find their own jobs and need SEIU to give them work..."?
Wow, Nick, good job essentially threatening a child ("We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails"). What in hell is that supposed to mean?! Is that code? "Hey, Tone. Take Paulie and Tommy 'the Bat' and Jimmy Batts, and go teach that lil' goody-tew-shews punk what 'appens when yew take biznezz from owah territory. Woak him ovah wid some bats, and put 'is head inna oven, tell 'im he goes all dah way in nex' time if he cleahs anodda path. Den break 'is kneecaps widda bat foah good measah."
It's pretty stupid to lash out at a kid because rather than be a wannabe gangbanger like the rest of them, this boy scout isn't interested in being a thug, shoplifting, breaking the law, ect. Oh wait, considering SEIU likes all those "extra-cirricular activities" no wonder they're upset.
It takes a lot of courage to threaten children!
Ken, I'm with you all the way Sir. I am currently speaking out against my own union in California for doing too much in the wrong places. Self preservation and employee interest is one thing. Unions being used as socialistic tools is another. California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)was once a great union. Now, we have a President and Board that trample it's members. Speak out get tossed out. Go to Unit6times.com if you care to know. My address is u6times@ireland.com. Fantastic article. You might have been the only one that expounded on this story.
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