Posted: 02/05/10 02:53
by Dave Mindeman
During Pawlenty's ramblings the other day, he said something I'd like to discuss a little furthur. Here's the quote.
Pawlenty, speaking on the eve of the 2010 legislative session, called teachers’ unions one of the most powerful or perhaps the most powerful interest group in Minnesota. “If you’re a Democrat, you don’t cross them,” said Pawlenty. “They’ve got all the Democrats under their thumb — and some Republicans, too,” he said. The unions suffocate just about every education reform, Pawlenty said. It takes just about World War III to get anything done, he said.
I wonder sometimes if Pawlenty's brain really can't see the other side of anything....he's kind of "right" brain locked.
The teacher's union is a pretty powerful organization in many ways, but they have been the only real advocates for education in the past few years. Look at the cuts and payment delays that Pawlenty has continued to heap on a system that continues to borrow money and increase class sizes. Not to mention try to deal with a testing system that borders on insane.
Education Minnesota is not monolithic either. There are dissenters about policy in the ranks. However, I have yet to see a teacher who does not put kids first.... in everything they do.
I found the phrase "takes just about World War III to get anything done," a bit melodramatic. Especially coming from a guy who sold his soul to "no new taxes" just to get his first nomination to the job. And he has been beholden to that particular lobby ever since.
Come to think of it, has Pawlenty ever crossed MCCL? Would he dare stand up to the Chamber of Commerce? (Although there was a brief dance with rationality by the Chamber when they supported the Transportation Bill against the Governor -- but they have since mended all fences). How much influence do Evangelicals have? Or Insurance companies? With all the cuts going on, why haven't ethanol subsidies been looked at? How about the NRA? And would Pawlenty ever consider standing up to giant corporations?... now that the Supreme Court has unleashed their stacks of cash?
Pawlenty's right brain myopic look at policy has gotten this state into a helluva mess. Yet, he still thinks it is all "the other guys fault".
I'm sure its the teacher's union that caused that $1.8 billion unallotment of education funding or that additional borrowing of education funds to keep the state from going to a pawn broker. I am sure that education union is responsible for all the teacher layoffs and program cut backs at the local school districts. And it has to be a certainty that it is all their fault that property taxes have skyrocketed.
Every day I marvel at the logic of Pawlenty. His locked right brain can't seem to find anything to blame on himself.
I guess its easier to govern a state when it will soon be in your rear view mirror.
