Friday, December 21, 2012

Why More States May Adopt Right-to-Work Laws

Why More States May Adopt Right-to-Work Laws
The Economic Policy Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan think tank, says the laws and other anti-union measures lower wages—for both union and non-union workers alike—by an average of $1,500 per year, after accounting for the cost of living in each state.
And EDI says the laws have had no significant impact on attracting employers to a particular state.
"The freedom to choose (that) right-to-work supporters talk about so often is the freedom to treat employees however they please and to pay them as little as possible," said Ross Eiseberry, vice president of the Economic Policy Institute,

Genesee County schools closed rest of week as rumors of violence swirl r

Genesee County schools closed rest of week as rumors of violence swirl | MLive.com
Johnson added the decision to cancel classes was a unanimous decision by Genesee County's school superintendents.
Schools across the area are taking precautions against rumors that some students plan to bring weapons to school Friday in conjunction with the end of the Mayan calender, Johnson said previously.

Texas school district sees value in having armed teachers on staff

Texas school district sees value in having armed teachers on staff - EAGnews.org :: Education Research, Reporting, Analysis and Commentary
Superintendent David Thweatt, who designed the plan, is happy to explain the logic behind it.
He says that the schools in his district are a half hour away from the nearest police department.
He says the security program is designed to allow willing staff members to protect students from “a lot of anger in society.”
“When you make schools gun-free zones, it’s like inviting people to come in and take advantage,” Thweatt told the Huffington Post.

Global Warming? Not a snowball's chance in hell

Global Warming? Not a snowball's chance in hell – Telegraph Blogs

Mass. Democrat Admits Absentee Voter Fraud

Mass. Democrat Admits Absentee Voter Fraud | TPM LiveWire:


Anatomy of the school-closing decision: Rumors of violence led to all Genesee County schools shutting for two days

Anatomy of the school-closing decision: Rumors of violence led to all Genesee County schools shutting for two days | MLive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- It was an unusual meeting for an unusual day.
Swirling rumors that started earlier in the week at county schools had everyone on edge Wednesday, Dec. 19.
According to the rumor being passed around, largely on Facebook, some students were planning a "revolt" on Friday, Dec. 21, the day some believe ancient Mayan calendars predict the world will end.
Earlier in the day, police swarmed Grand Blanc High School after a 911 call reported shots fired in the building.
The report turned out to be false, a text message prank, but for a few terrifying minutes, Grand Blanc and other area schools went on lockdown.

Vernuccio and Lehman: An Inspiration and a Warning From Michigan

Vernuccio and Lehman: An Inspiration and a Warning From Michigan - WSJ.com
Neighboring Indiana became a right-to-work state on Feb. 1.
Since the start of the year, the Hoosier State has welcomed many new employers and added 43,300 jobs, while Michigan has lost 7,300.

Massive £22billion air force scrap yard revealed in high resolution by Google Earth | Mail Online

Massive £22billion air force scrap yard revealed in high resolution by Google Earth | Mail Online

Applauding Michigan Legislators Who Supported Workplace Freedom and Liberty

Applauding Michigan Legislators Who Supported Workplace Freedom and Liberty [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
The governor and the following legislators voted for freedom and liberty in the workplace and should be commended for their efforts.

Congratulations Sen. Hansen and Rep. Holly Hughes!

California eliminates scary public threat: Small-business burger stand

California eliminates scary public threat: Small-business burger stand « Hot Air

Mindblowing Accounts of Milwaukee Voting Fraud In 2012 Election

Mindblowing Accounts of Milwaukee Voting Fraud In 2012 Election
When the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board met for its December meeting, it heard countless testimony from election day observers about irregularities they had seen.
These two accounts stand out as particularly troubling.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The 7 most illuminating economic charts of 2012

The 7 most illuminating economic charts of 2012 | AEIdeas

Pension Puffery

Pension Puffery
Here are 12 half-truths that deserve to be debunked in 2012.

UNEDITED UNION ASSAULT FOOTAGE!



UNEDITED UNION ASSAULT FOOTAGE!

Published on Dec 20, 2012
This is further documentation of the violent acts committed on behalf of union members in Lansing, MI. A police report has been filed. Please follow @scrowder on twitter for up-to-minute updates on the story.

House Scorecard 2012 - Michigan Votes

House Scorecard 2012 - Michigan Votes:

Wow, Holly Hughes was tied for least conservative republican.
Maybe a lesson for other candidates?

WHIP COUNT: House lawmakers' positions on GOP's ‘Plan B’ - The Hill

WHIP COUNT: House lawmakers' positions on GOP's ‘Plan B’ - The Hill

How Right to Work Works

How Right to Work Works | Washington Free Beacon
Gradual implementation is a major component of the GOP strategy.
When the law is implemented in April 2013, it will apply only to new businesses or workers who are not bound by contracts. While new job creators will be able to open up shop without worry of onerous union contracts, United Auto Workers (UAW) members at Ford will maintain paying union dues until their contract expires in 2015.
“We purposefully set this up to not break any contracts,” Meekhof said. “Once a contract is completed, then the workers would have the choice.”
.....The right-to-work law exempts cops and firemen, powerful uniformed labor forces that garner a great deal of respect from voters.
The law’s authors also avoided the prospect of repeal-by-referendum by tacking on a $1 million appropriation to “educate” workers about their new rights.
Appropriations bills are exempt from referendum.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Down to -50C: Russians freeze to death as strongest-in-decades winter hits (PHOTOS)

Down to -50C: Russians freeze to death as strongest-in-decades winter hits (PHOTOS) — RT
Russia is enduring its harshest winter in over 70 years, with temperatures plunging as low as -50 degrees Celsius.
Dozens of people have already died, and almost 150 have been hospitalized.
­The country has not witnessed such a long cold spell since 1938, meteorologists said, with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees lower than the seasonal norm all over Russia.

The USS Scorpion Buried at Sea

The USS Scorpion Buried at Sea

Robert Bork, 1927-2012

Robert Bork, 1927-2012 « Commentary Magazine
Bob’s sin was believing that the job of a constitutional jurist was to analyze constitutional cases in light of the specific language of the Constitution and the intent and ideas of those who wrote it.
For believing this—for believing in the classical notion, which defines the very act of interpretative scholarship, that a work of governing philosophy and practice has intrinsic meaning and not just the meaning we wish to assign to it—he was disgustingly slandered.

Robert H. Bork, 1927-2012

Roger’s Rules » Robert H. Bork, 1927-2012
Judge Robert H. Bork, one of the the greatest jurists this country has ever produced, died early this morning from heart complications in a Virginia hospital near his home.
He was 84.

The Bork behind "jambork".
RIP, brave patriot.

Private fundraising for Muskegon senior transit program to await city decision on partnerships

Private fundraising for Muskegon senior transit program to await city decision on partnerships | MLive.com
In a meeting organized by Zawdie Abiade, pastor of Lakeside Wesleyan Church, the group concluded that to raise $70,000 each year would take not only individuals but corporate support and contributions.
The concerned citizens agreed to explore corporate support for senior transit services in the coming weeks and gather again Jan. 3.
The group is waiting for the city to investigate whether there can be a public-private partnership to continue the senior transit services before committing to a fundraising effort, Abiade said.

Gov. Snyder will veto Michigan bill allowing concealed guns in schools

Gov. Snyder will veto Michigan bill allowing concealed guns in schools | MLive.com
Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday will veto legislation that would allow gun owners with extra training to carry concealed handguns into public schools, public arenas and other so-called gun-free zones now off limits, according to the sponsor of the bill.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Top 10 facts proving election was rigged

Top 10 facts proving election was rigged


How President Obama’s campaign used big data to rally individual voters, Part 2.

A More Perfect Union, Part 2 | MIT Technology Review
Why It Matters
The Obama 2012 campaign used data analytics and the experimental method to assemble a winning coalition vote by vote.
In doing so, it overturned the long dominance of TV advertising in U.S. politics and created something new in the world: a national campaign run like a local ward election, where the interests of individual voters were known and addressed.

This is the second installment in a three-part series:
Part 1: The Scores
Part 2: The Experiments
Part 3: The Community

Western Journalism | Informing Americans Who Love Freedom

Western Journalism | Informing Americans Who Love Freedom

Solar power adds to nonusers' costs

Solar power adds to nonusers' costs - SFGate:
"Booming rooftop solar installations in California are bringing an unwelcome surprise to the homes and businesses that don't have the devices: an extra $1.3 billion added to their annual bills"


SEIU 'Dues Skim' Days Are Numbered

SEIU 'Dues Skim' Days Are Numbered [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
On Monday, the newly constituted Michigan Quality Community Care Council (MQC3) board affirmed that the contract upon which the SEIU "Dues Skim" is based will end Feb. 28, 2013.
The board further announced that the MQC3 would officially be dissolved as of April 14, 2013.

Free at last!

Plug-In Cars Don’t Resell – Because They Don’t Sell

The PJ Tatler » Plug-In Cars Don’t Resell – Because They Don’t Sell:
1. Chris Bolts Sr
The turbocharged Ford Focus ST is $24,000.
The Ford Focus all-electric is $40,000.
That should tell ye all ye need to know.

The End of Unions?

The End of Unions? | Hoover Institution
The gains from right-to-work laws are not just confined to Indiana.
As Venuccio and Lehman report, between 1980 and 2011, overall employment levels rose by 71 percent in right-to-work states.
In non-right-to-work states, they only rose by 32 percent.
That differential does not come at the expense of wages, which grew four times as fast in right-to-work states: 12 percent versus 3 percent elsewhere.
The explanation is clear enough.
The productivity gains from escaping union work rules are shared with employees as employers bid up wages.
The short-term monopoly gains to unionized workers eventually are, over time, more than offset by productivity losses.
The New Deal union model is an economic mistake of major proportions.