Just an observation
 

I feel compelled to say I don’t have a hatred of teachers. That is not the point. I’ve known quite a few. But that does not change the problem. Secondly, this is my observation and your mileage may vary. I don’t know about any statistics or polls.

I’ve had the chance to talk to some people who I know are pretty big Democrats.(Big D) This is not about changing their positions or arguments. What they have offered, to my surprise, is how they are fed up with the teachers, what’s going on, and what’s in the news. I couldn’t tell you about any teacher approval polls. I base it just on these conversations.

They are fed up and see them as part of the whole problem. Now I’m not putting words in their mouths, its just what they have told me. And sure, these same people are fed up with a lot of things, politically. It crosses the board from Washington politics to local boards. I’ve never seen that before where they blurt it out so freely, almost knocking me off my feet. Really, I didn’t instigate it. Some of them are fairly close to teachers, or always have been, and worked in related professions. Only one elderly person I know, who has always supported teachers passionately, is somewhat sympathetic but even that is changing.

Back up, “it’s the economy, stupid.”

Maybe the economy is a big part of it. I watched class warfare in the Democratic Party for years and never noted this discontent before. It’s a growing unrest. But it is not toward the rich and powerful, as the DNC mouthpieces claim. It is at the cushy government jobs, powerful unions, and their never-ending line of benefits or perks — paid for on the public dole. Like the big teachers unions and tenured teachers protected by the same, no matter what they seem to do.

Call it inter-class warfare or whatever code word for resentment that you want to use. The phrase “enough is enough” comes up frequently. The implication is it must stop. Teachers are part of it and just one of several symbols. It’s across the spectrum toward the public sector. It involves bureaucrats, teachers, unions, and politicians; like I said from DC to main street.

The economy has people in a pickle. If you aren’t feeling it then check your pulse. That is the kind of feeling out there. Then they see the unions and the public sector politically organizing, calling out strikes and it is just a reminder of that resentment. Here are people who are above most working class folks, leveraged, making the same demands they have all along while everyone else is under threat of cuts or already lost so much.

And these teachers, in particlular, expect sympathy from the public and taxpayers in general. People who inevetably pay for their wishlist. Well, it doesn’t look to me like they have Joe citizen’s support. Some are homeowners and some not. But they see and feel this perpetual squeeze the public sector and unions have strapped onto the tax base. Then every few years they demand increases, whatever the shape of the budget or economy. Plus, their perks are far above what regular people have, even other professionals. Then teachers or whatever expect our sympathies even in these times. It looks like they’ve stretched that rubber band to a fault. Generally, they could count on it before — teachers to public servants.

No, it isn’t just the current strike or so that is bringing it to the front burner. It is when you look across main street clear to Washington. Everyone seems to feel we are on a train as mere passengers; and it is going to take us somewhere regardless how we feel about it. Dems I know freely tell me.(not all)

And they are asking what can we do to stop it? It must be stopped. Well, it may not be to the level of Rick Santelli yet, but there sure is open disgust. And they admit it. If it were only partly as rampant, the Dems should not be whistling past this graveyard the way they do. Maybe it doesn’t matter much but the resentment and discontent is there.