Get a haircut and a real blog


Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub has a "blog" on the Bee website.

Why the quotes?

Because if you're getting paid by a company, and your blog is on the company web site, then you're a "blogger" exactly to the extent that you're "independent" when you move out of your room in your parents' house...into their basement.

(In Dan's case, he's keeping the upstairs room anyway.)

Yesterday, Dan had this to say:
Did you notice this little story in the Bee this morning? The correctional officers union voted to assess a dues surcharge to build a war chest to take on the governor. But the most interesting fact in the story is that 43 percent of those voting in the election opposed the fee. [emphasis his]

The implication being...what? That the vote was somehow illegitimate because it was close? Or that union members don't really oppose the so-called "paycheck protection" initiative? (It's now properly called Prop 75; more about the nasty vernacular name here.)

The prison guards' union (which I detest as much as everyone should, for the record) makes certain decisions through elected representatives and others through a majority vote — and when a minority votes the other way, they lose the vote. Those are the rules, and the rules don't define more or less legitimate victories by their margins. (If they did, George W. Bush would have to lose the strut.) So, 43 percent, 33 percent, 49 percent...it's really all the same because those are the rules.

As far as the question of real opposition to the Governor is concerned — when was the last time that someone didn't grumble when they had to pay up to have their rights protected? If Americans were more willing to pay when they ought to for their own good, every school would be a palace and we'd have to walk sideways to slip between all the cops doing actual law enforcement on the street.

Public employee unions are correct to put the question of dues surcharges in front of their members right now, and the members are correct to cast their votes, by majorities of whatever size, in favor of the extra cash. The unions will be fighting for their political lives, i.e., their efficacy, their ability to effect change by throwing their weight around in campaigns. Forgoing the opportunity to give a little extra to the fight would be penny wise and pound foolish. 51% foolish, at least.

And Dan, seriously — how about doing stuff on your "blog" that actual bloggers do, like linking to the occasional other blog, or enabling comments and trackback? (Unless, that is, your parents won't let you.)

Posted: Fri - July 8, 2005 at 07:33 AM   | Category:     |   |   | |


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