I'll try to reply to your post by the point you've made.
First,LEO's are Law enforcement officers.
ALEC is the driving force behind the agenda that many Republican governors have tried to implement in a number of states.A part of their ideals is to eliminate public sector unions.another is to eliminate a number of regulations withing the EPA.Here in Ohio we have just seen another of the abuses of power when our governor and the republican controlled hous & senate submitted a bill that among other things states that doctors do not have to tell safety forces workers,nurses and other workers the direct dangers if they have been exposed to chemicals used in the Hydraulic fracking process.
In Ohio,Michigan,Wisconsin and several other states,the Republican governors have introduced ALEC based legislation such as their anti-union bills.they are so similar that it's impossible to deny that they are a part of the ALEC agenda.only a fool would think that all of these very similar bills were introduced at the same time by sheer coincidence.
Some information about ALEC.
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed
MY horizons were broadened last year by getting a thorough education as to what a political agenda looks like first hand! They have been broader than alot of people because I don't vote party lines.I've voted for ALOT of Republican since I first voted in 1977.But what happened here was exactly as I stated.We were un-fairly made to be scapegoats for a budget problem that didn't exist.I was at our statehouse when Ohios anti-labor bill was introduced.The Senator who introduced it was so ver ignorant about what was in the bill that when she was questioned by committee members about it she actually looked very foolish because she continually said that she didn't know many of the specifics o the bill.As i said earlier,the Ohio Police & Firefighters board people had submitted necessary pension changes to the lawmakers and they were sat on simply for political reasons.It wasn't too hard of a battle to win because almost every time the pro side would bring a new Ad out or one of their reps would speak about it,they were proven to be wrong and the voters saw through it.It was a farce to say the least.
I can't speak for how things are done or handled in the IBEW-AFL-CIO or any other union.My experience is within the Fire and I do have some knowledge of the workings of the Police union.But i can say that The democrats didn't bring this battle to us.It was definately the Republicans.And their agenda was/is to eliminate their competition.I don't appreciate being put in themiddle of a political war the was we were.We had no choice but to fight back or be forced to do a very dangerous jobs for about 15% less because IF Senate Bill 5 HAD passed,that was the paycut we were facing.Now,don't think that it was simply about money.They wanted to change collective bargaining so much that we would have had NO voice in matters such as negotiating for safety equipment.We would have been at the mercy of local elected officials for everything from fire gloves to new trucks and everything in between.THAT would have been disasterous!
We do pay into our pensions as do people in the private sector.Do people who work for a private company pay 100% of their Social Security?, no they do not.
For us,our pension is it.IF we work a 2nd job we can qualify for SS but it is at such a reduced rate that it is hardly worth the effort.If there IS a "free lunch" program I hav'e found the line for it yet!
This statement is simply wrong:
"Now the public sector unions are making MORE than the private sector people that support them, but they still want the same pensions, they still want the free health care, they still want the free pensions and benefits."
As I said in my other post.the Republicans here in Ohio TRIED to say publicly that the average public sector worker made 41% more than a comparable in the private sector.Well,it was researched and when it was made public that it just wasn't so they lost face and steam for their fight.
Personally I seriously doubt that you or many other people would do my job for the pay I receive.After 21 years and a promotion,I top out at a shade over $40k per year.I would have walked had SB5 passed.not because I would have been pissed because of the cuts made but because I simply could not have made ends meet by taking a 15% cut.I knew going in that I'd never get rich by being a firefighter but I never thought that myself and the other people in my line of work(plus teachers,and LEOs) would have EVER been made out to be scapegoats needlessly.
What many people don't realize is that due to the economy,many departments have been operating short staffed for over 10 years now.During that time our department like many others have taken pay freezes and agreed to higher insurance contributions plus,began providing EMS services which in our case,and we're a smallish department,brings in an average of $375-$400k per year! So despit what some may beleive, we are doing MORE with less and for less.
As i have said,the Republican brought this fight to us.Do we historically back the Democrats,in the fire service the answer is yes. here in Ohio the FOP has backed Republican candidates more often than not.but,last year when the same republican senate candidates asked different FOP locals for their backing,they were asked IF they would still back collective bargaining.they answered yes but when the vote for SB5 rolled around they went back on their word.Most of the 8 or 9 will probably be voted out of office because their words cannot be trusted.
Have the Democrats delivered for the fire union? definately yes! they have backed many different laws that help us where safety is concerned.they backed us after 9-11 by helpng sick rescue workers get the help they needed after exposure problems related to groung zero.
"
Instead of looking down at Tea Party people, perhaps you should actually LISTEN to what they are saying."
I don't beleive that I have done any such thing.I simply stated to willy that his response sounded "teapartyesque".Nothing more than being told how My post sounded "unionesque". I don't care for what many of the teaparty factions have morphed into in recent years but I do not look down on anyone for beleiving in what they choose to.
My opinion is that i over the last year and a half,I've learned more about BOTH parties than a great many people have or ever will.I was forced to.I hate politics.It' the worst part of my job.But,BECAUSE i work for politicians,I like the ability that we have to negotiat a legally binding agreement that BOTH entities must abide to.It helps to prevent us from being kicked around for political reasons.and beleive me,it most definately happens!
My personal beleif is that the MAJOR problem we now have in this country is the Ultra right and Ultra left extremist views that have divided us.It seems as if people are brainwashed by either Fox news or MSNBC and don't seem to have the ability to educate themselves about politicians or issues any more.little gets accomplished when both sides do nothing but point the finger at each other and attempt to lay blame.Both sides share the blame.
) I can't comment on the fire fighters because we have a volunteer force. And it's hard to put a finger on the police because really there isn't a private sector equivalent.