Comments on: The Public Forum . . . El Foro Público http://laprensa-sandiego.org/editorial-and-commentary/the-public-forum/the-public-forum-el-foro-publico-5/ Thu, 24 May 2012 20:51:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John Chavez http://laprensa-sandiego.org/editorial-and-commentary/the-public-forum/the-public-forum-el-foro-publico-5/comment-page-1/#comment-917 John Chavez Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:19:40 +0000 http://strongChulaVistacouncilmembersmakeshastyappointment/strong Actingwithunprecedentedspeed,theChulaVistaCityCouncilledbymembersPamelaBensoussanandRudyRamirez,hastilyappointedlongtimepoliticalalliesMitchThompsonandforme#comment-917 There is an unholy alliance between organized labor and candidates for office (and elected office holders - IF they win). Many labor organizations (not all) have long ago outlived and forsaken their holy mission of protecting the worker and have degenerated into organizations fleecing the taxpayers for excessive benefits and inflated wages for a favored few - their members - not to mention protecting and rewarding marginally (or less) performers among their membership. Somehow, living on past glories, labor has managed to convince candidates that an endorsement from labor is essential to win an election. MOST labor members do not even live in the jursidiction where they work, and the few who do often are not registered voters and/or are not eligible to register or vote. Labor DOES, however, contribute sizeable sums of money to candidates. Check the public record for donations from labor to local candidates, and you will find that Mary Salas, Pam Bensousan, Rudy Ramirez among others are favored recipients of labor beneficence - as well as endorsements from labor. The county labor council (Jerry Butkiewicz et al), the fire and police unions, AFSCME, etc. etc. (and their ally, the Environmental Health Coalition) have managed to exert undue and excessive influence on candidates and office holders while the voters, citizens an residents get under-representation or even ignored. There is an unholy alliance between organized labor and candidates for office (and elected office holders – IF they win).

Many labor organizations (not all) have long ago outlived and forsaken their holy mission of protecting the worker and have degenerated into organizations fleecing the taxpayers for excessive benefits and inflated wages for a favored few – their members – not to mention protecting and rewarding marginally (or less) performers among their membership.

Somehow, living on past glories, labor has managed to convince candidates that an endorsement from labor is essential to win an election. MOST labor members do not even live in the jursidiction where they work, and the few who do often are not registered voters and/or are not eligible to register or vote. Labor DOES, however, contribute sizeable sums of money to candidates.

Check the public record for donations from labor to local candidates, and you will find that Mary Salas, Pam Bensousan, Rudy Ramirez among others are favored recipients of labor beneficence – as well as endorsements from labor.

The county labor council (Jerry Butkiewicz et al), the fire and police unions, AFSCME, etc. etc. (and their ally, the Environmental Health Coalition) have managed to exert undue and excessive influence on candidates and office holders while the voters, citizens an residents get under-representation or even ignored.

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