I don't watch many liberal-leaning news casts, as my politics also lean to the left and I don't need to hear news or opinion that only support my political views. However, I do pay attention to conservative media outlets and pundits such as Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and most of the personalities on Fox News.
All I keep hearing from these conservatives is attacks and criticism against the teacher's unions. Glenn Beck even tries to draw connections between these unions, the protesters in the middle east, and a wide variety of communists/socialists/marxists, etc. They are one of many bogeymen that Glenn likes to trot out on his television and radio programs. Some of the comparisons are so ridiculous that I doubt even he believes them.
However, I have no problem with Glenn Beck's wild conspiracy theories. I do have a problem with the criticism being leveled at teacher's unions, when these same media outlets refuse to level a single bit of criticism against the NFL Player's Union, which is also locked into a labor dispute that threatens to abridge the upcoming football season. And the biggest difference between the two unions is that NFL players are millionaires, and teachers are not. Granted, teachers are public sector employees. But why is there so much vitriol towards these teachers and absolutely NO criticism against the player's union? I find it to be extremely hypocritical and absolutely disgusting.
That being said, I don't disagree with either of the unions. NFL players perform an extremely dangerous job. Every play could be a career-ender for some of these guys. Although I don't know the details of their dispute with the owners, I don't have any preconceived notions that these guys are greedy, selfish, etc.
I also have no preconceived notions about the teacher's unions. If all they want is the ability to collectively bargain, I think that's an extremely reasonable goal. Although their profession is nowhere near as dangerous as playing in the NFL, they perform a much more important service to our country and they deserve the right to collectively bargain. If Republican lawmakers were actually serious about reducing the deficit and cutting government spending, how about we stop incarcerating people for non-violent drug offenses. Hell, the legalization and taxation of marijuana alone could conceivably generate billions in savings and revenue for the state. Busting teacher's unions would not.
Unfortunately, conservatives don't seem to see it that way, and they insist on painting this picture of rich, greedy teachers, leeching off the state and even working to destroy our Republic. It's nothing but hypocrisy, and it has no place in our media. I wish they would just admit that they have an agenda to fulfill, but clearly that will never happen.
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