Forum Overview :: Balance of Power
 
Referendum by Mischief Maker 09/23/2015, 7:09pm PDT
I saved the best for last:

If teachers, or firefighters, or whatever want higher wages and better benefits, they should try to convince the public that that is good idea. They should put a proposition on the ballot or try to influence public opinion. Holding the government hostage with backroom lobbying or power plays is the wrong way to do things.


Okay, let's say at your nonunion private sector job you want a raise. Since we're all post-Friedman capitalists here, we'll say you ultimately work for the shareholders even though legally you don't. How 'bout, when you want a raise, instead of hashing it out with your immediate supervisor, who understands how the company works, the role your job plays in it, and has directly observed your level of contribution, I say you should have to ask for your raise through a shareholder referendum. Just mail letters to them en masse outlining your case. I'm sure that most of them will take the time to read your letter, have an intimate understanding of the company, and come to the conclusion that yes they should go with a little less money for your benefit!

I know you have your argument that money unions spend on lobbyists comes from taxpayers, but if you want representation in our modern world you need to lobby and fucking everyone has their hand in the taxpayer's pocket, dude. The oil companies lobby heavily and while their lobbyists are very well paid, their salaries are dwarfed by the $4.8 billion of taxpayer money the oil industry pockets annually. Doesn't take a nobel prize-winning economist to realize the money they sink into lobbying ultimately comes from tax dollars.

Now let's get down to the nitty-gritty of your referendum idea. Are all firefighters going to get a raise equally on the years the public votes yea? Is the ballot going to offer a selection of salary schedules for the voter to choose between? What about the benefits? Is the ballot going to outline the plans offered by a selection of health insurance companies and pick the winner? Are the firefighters going to have a spot to make their case for a specific health plan or salary schedule? Will there be a word limit? Shit, dude, if your idea becomes reality the ballots are going to be the size of phone books!

And you wonder why people call you an ivory tower libertarian!
PREVIOUS NEXT REPLY QUOTE
 
Walker out, praise Christ NT by laudablepuss 09/21/2015, 2:03pm PDT NEW
    People were always ganging up on him by Vested Id 09/21/2015, 3:55pm PDT NEW
        Really? I thought people always forgot about him. Less presence than Cruz NT by skip 09/21/2015, 4:17pm PDT NEW
        He was a Northern governor who pushed union reform. That took a lot of clout. by WITTGENSTEIN 09/21/2015, 4:34pm PDT NEW
            Oh, we're calling it "union reform" now? by Mischief Maker 09/21/2015, 4:45pm PDT NEW
                Well he reformed the concept of unions into... wage slavery I guess? That counts NT by The Happiness Engine 09/21/2015, 4:53pm PDT NEW
            Jesus, I thought the Cables were the only retarded libertarians here by real talk 09/21/2015, 8:25pm PDT NEW
                Re: Jesus, I thought the Cables were the only retarded libertarians here by Worm 09/21/2015, 8:43pm PDT NEW
                I don't know he just seemed more likable than the average bear by Vested Id 09/22/2015, 1:11am PDT NEW
                    Whoa the left wing media has flooded the net with doofy photos of Gov. Walker NT by Vested Id 09/22/2015, 1:14am PDT NEW
                        Is EVERY republican a closet case? by Mischief Maker 09/22/2015, 6:15am PDT NEW
                            Re: Is EVERY republican a closet case? by Vested Id 09/22/2015, 8:49am PDT NEW
                                Sarcasm is a difficult thing to detect on the internets, my apologies. by Mischief Maker 09/22/2015, 9:48am PDT NEW
                            Probably. They're worried you'll shut down their businesses and sue if NT by they make you unhappy. 09/22/2015, 9:20pm PDT NEW
                Somebody is really fucking staked in his 40k a year government salary here by WITTGENSTEIN 09/22/2015, 10:19am PDT NEW
                    So what high powered shit are you doing now? Hedge funds, neurosurgery, attorney by Worm 09/22/2015, 11:52am PDT NEW
                        None of the above (oil and gas drilling) by WITTGENSTEIN 09/25/2015, 3:40pm PDT NEW
                    Haha, demanding a living wage! The gall of these peasants! by real talk 09/22/2015, 3:35pm PDT NEW
                        Re: Haha, demanding a living wage! The gall of these peasants! by Mysterio Lollerson 09/25/2015, 3:16pm PDT NEW
                            My only posts here have been under my name by WITTGENSTEIN 09/25/2015, 3:32pm PDT NEW
                                OK. NT by Mysterio Lollerson 09/25/2015, 8:04pm PDT NEW
                    Haha yay you are insane by laudablepuss 09/22/2015, 3:41pm PDT NEW
                        Government workers should be accountable to the people. by blackwater 09/22/2015, 8:23pm PDT NEW
                            Re: Government workers should be accountable to the people. by Wisconsin State Senator 09/22/2015, 9:32pm PDT NEW
                                LESS GOVERNMENT = MOAR FREEDOMS! by real talk 09/23/2015, 3:32pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: LESS GOVERNMENT = MOAR FREEDOMS! by Wisconsin State Senator 09/26/2015, 11:58am PDT NEW
                                        Re: LESS GOVERNMENT = MOAR FREEDOMS! by Mischief Maker 09/26/2015, 1:08pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: LESS GOVERNMENT = MOAR FREEDOMS! by Wisconsin State Senator 09/26/2015, 2:04pm PDT NEW
                                                Why didn't you reply to (or at least quote) the post you were satirizing? NT by Eidetic Maker 09/26/2015, 3:00pm PDT NEW
                                                    Re: Why didn't you reply to (or at least quote) the post you were satirizing? by Wisconsin State Senator 09/26/2015, 4:07pm PDT NEW
                                                        Look at me. Do I look happy about what you're doing here? by Pat Kilbane, Humor Coach 09/26/2015, 4:47pm PDT NEW
                                                            Look, he LITERALLY asked me for an explanation by xX=-krosfyre-=Xx 09/26/2015, 5:13pm PDT NEW
                            Accountability by Mischief Maker 09/23/2015, 6:34am PDT NEW
                                Thank you for actually replying rather than just spewing some identity politics by blackwater 09/24/2015, 6:52pm PDT NEW
                                    Re: spewing by Mischief Maker 09/24/2015, 8:39pm PDT NEW
                                        Re: spewing by blackwater 09/27/2015, 7:07am PDT NEW
                                    Identity politics! ha ha you poor dumb idiot by real talk 09/26/2015, 3:30pm PDT NEW
                                        It's funny to me that people won't even give Reagan credit for the cold war NT by Mysterio Lollerson 09/26/2015, 3:38pm PDT NEW
                                            Re: It's funny to me that people won't even give Reagan credit for the cold war by Souffle of Pain 09/26/2015, 7:18pm PDT NEW
                                            Did HE orchestrate the '91 Soviet coup attempt? by ???? ?????? 09/26/2015, 7:29pm PDT NEW
                                            For ending it, which hasn't been proven, or for saying that thing that one time by Vested Id 09/26/2015, 8:40pm PDT NEW
                            Rubber Room by Mischief Maker 09/23/2015, 6:40pm PDT NEW
                                Bikini man would've known how to control those girls in the back! NT by Injustice 09/23/2015, 7:21pm PDT NEW
                                Just to add a little context for why some people unconditionally hate teachers. by Worm 09/23/2015, 8:40pm PDT NEW
                                Re: Rubber Room by blackwater 09/27/2015, 7:34am PDT NEW
                            Referendum by Mischief Maker 09/23/2015, 7:09pm PDT NEW
                                Why are you arguing with this tard? by real talk 09/23/2015, 9:23pm PDT NEW
                                    Suffering fools is emotionally draining. Those posts were cathartic. NT by Mischief Maker 09/24/2015, 3:49am PDT NEW
                        No, you're just a stupid crybaby faggot by WITTGENSTEIN 09/25/2015, 3:42pm PDT NEW
                            Not-a-reply reply, but some more indications of your insanity NT by laudablepuss 09/26/2015, 6:44pm PDT NEW
                                That you're too stupid to understand basic concepts is not his problem. NT by What is rational self-interest? Hmm 10/02/2015, 4:29pm PDT NEW
                                    Ayn Rand? Seak to us! NT by Glenn Beck seance 10/02/2015, 5:48pm PDT NEW
                                    Undoubtedly. Quick question . . . by laudablepuss 10/04/2015, 9:56pm PDT NEW
        Re: People were always ganging up on him by laudablepuss 09/22/2015, 3:51pm PDT NEW
    Dropping out comes naturally to him. NT by Marquette University 09/21/2015, 4:03pm PDT NEW
 
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