HOW MUCH MONEY WAS THAT AGAIN? - JAM for 9-17-08 Wednesday

            Howdy Folks – Here we are on the Caroliner line and it’s Wednesday – You know what that means...

 

            Shortly we’ll listen to Miz Pearlie briefing the boys, Billy-Bob and Homer, on the news she’s gleaned from a newsletter of a dedicated group, Education Intelligence Agency, functioning as watchdog over the activities of America’s largest education union… the National Education Association (NEA). When I traveled to Washington I used to stay right across from the NEA headquarters. It’s an impressive building – and one that the SEIU which is the AFL-CIO’s largest union one made up of sweepers and housekeepers of major buildings in the Nation’s Capital. Both are giants compared to say UAW or one that used to be called the “Hod Carriers” – or even the Movie Maker’s union that used to be headed by LBJ’s friend Jack Valenti.

 

            I recall this time of year when I was in elementary school, the UMW United Mine Workers – lead by John L. Lewis – perhaps most recognizable by his very intimidating eyebrows – would call a strike at the end of summer – just when demand for coal began to ramp up for home heating. And many’s the time I wondered if we were going to have to shiver that winter because Mr. Lewis seemed to be perpetually angry. Te UMW – at that time was so big they had their own bank in Washington and a monumental office building -- standing to this day – but now mostly rented to others since UMW represents a much smaller work force nowadays.

 

            You only need to look into the history of the New River Gorge in West Virginia to realize why coal miners to this day have such a strong union. It was born and grew in days when abuse of labor was rampant – and the reaction to those unfair labor practices and mine danger still rings in the hills of West Virginia – and is reflected in its politics. Things like that die hard.

 

            The financial meltdown we’re currently experiencing is also – in my view – the effect of people looking around – allegedly smart people –seeing competitors doing things that go against the grain of actually being smart, or fiscally and socially responsible. They see others making a big profit their own management or stockholders are wondering why *they* aren’t in that parade – and they join the parade… only to find they’re following a leader headed straight over the cliff…and go blindly over with them.

 

            What does it take to fix it?  Character – and character, contrary to the rants of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, comes most readily to those who take their course from the Bible – and see the Lord who says to us today – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness – and all these *things* shall be added unto you.” Whether it’s the gorges of West Virginia or the canyons of Wall Street, character, rooted and grounded in Christianity is the answer to our needs in this day – and every day.

 

            Cordially, IN HIM

 

            Jack Buttram

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/audio/jama09-17-08.mp3

 

http://www.jebcovoice.net/scripts/jamt09-17-08.doc

 

 

“JUST A MINUTE”

HOW MUCH WAS THAT AGAIN?

MizP: JUST A MINUTE – Mr. Jack – Ah’m so mad ah cud… well I don’t know what I cud do…

Jack: Why the anger Miz Pearl?

MizP: This news letter. Terribul how teacher dues is spent…

Jack: Show me …

MizP: Rite they-ur… the biggest teacher’s union NEA is a-holdin’ nearly six million in they-ur treasury …

… that’s whut they ended up wif after spendin’ 3.3 million in two yeahs fightin’ vouchers in Utah.

BB: Whut’s all th’ fuss a-about?

MizP: Oh Mr. Beelie.. hit makes me so mad – in sum states teachers has to jine the union.. hit’s th’ law.

Homer: But hit ain’t here in th’ Carliners… and Jawjah…

MizP: Thank of all them poor teachers a havin’ ta' kick in ta' th union that’s mos time workin’ againt them.

BB: That don’t sound fair.

MizP: Hit ain’t fair… them big union leader … they don’t know what’s faah is…

Homer: How they git away wif hit.

MizP: This story say-us they pays into a “Legislative Crisis Fund” that is different frum they-uh PAC funds that ah don’t like either.

          … like they sent sixty thousand dollars to fite repealin’ th’ Massatuchetts income tax.

Homer: An they awlways opposin’ school choice even when th’ school’s may be terribul.

BB: That don’t seem rite either.

MizP: Ah jist thank we ought to … stan up an make ‘em quit..

Homer: You gone need sum hep… lessee whut we kin do

BB: Rite on!

Jack: I’m Jack Buttram

(END)

 

Jebco Editorial Service

www.justaminuteradio.blogspot.com

e-mail n4zhk@arrl.net