Preachin' to the choir when the choir is as dumb as the preacher ..

[DemoTex]

The Greenville News (Greenville, SC) has printed two anti-union screeds (LTEs) in the past two days. In the ultra-right hyper-fundy upstate of South Carolina this is called "preachin' to the choir." The problem is, the "choir" laps this swill up, never once to stop and re-read these letters critically.

The most bizarre line of "reasoning" I've seen in a long time, even in this atavistic town, was in a letter yesterday (Sunday, March 20) by Fred Floyd:

"Public union members pay dues, which are really taxpayer money, to the union leaders. These leaders use these dues to get public officials elected. Then these same public officials are the ones who approve the public unions’ “collective bargaining” results, which lock in payment of more taxpayer money."

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011303200024

Say what, Fred?

How could Fred pack so much shit in one paragraph? Public union members pay their dues with their hard-earned money, NOT taxpayer money, Fred. And they pay their dues to their union, NOT to their union leaders, Fred. And these union leaders are elected by a democratic process that would put the US Electoral College and the State of South Carolina to shame, Fred. And I won't even mention the corporate sharks whose Kool-Aid you've been drinking, Fred.

Today's (Monday, March 21) anti-union letter - "Unions do not promote fairness" - comes from one Shena Hendrix. I will link it, but I will not quote it. The link is locked today, but will be available for free tomorrow (but don't waste your time today, it is certainly not worth the $2 for a day pass). Ms. Hendrix's letter is so mindless that I truly wonder how it ended up on the newspaper's Letters-to-the-Editor page. Never-mind.

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011303210013

Is the editorial page editor printing these letters to embarrass the writers, or is it that the Greenville News' standards are so low? I think I know the answer, but I plan to ask the editor. You can too.

The editor can be reached at:

[e-mail]

BTW: I seldom read this fish wrapper. I only opened it to the editorial page yesterday and today looking for a letter from a good friend's sister. The friend is a great liberal and her sister is a convert from the dark side who has embraced the progressive movement with a gusto I have not seen in a long time. I'll try to post her letter if/when they print it.

[Richardo]

1. Not to support that tripe in any way, but I can tell you Fred's "reasoning"...

...is that since public sector salaries are derived from taxes, the dues are taxpayer-funded.

I've lived around these people way too long.

[starroute]

5. That line of reasoning could take you some really weird places

For example, when a public sector employee has an abortion, since her salary is paid for out of taxes does that mean it's a taxpayer-funded abortion and thus illegal?

Or to take it from the other side, should public employees be prohibited from tossing money into the church collection plate on the grounds that it violates separation of church and state?

Lots of interesting questions that could be asked.

[RickFromMN]

2. His church is probably exempt from taxes, right? When will it lose that exemption?

[DemoTex]

3. Good point

The separation of church and state is very murky down here in BoJo (Bob Jones "University") land.

[emulatorloo]

4. The talking point is Union Big Money is what got Obama elected

Logic of course is idiotic.