Picking and Choosing the Data, Richie's Way

Mayor Daley has come down hard on the unions, specifically on teachers. While his argument is legitimate, he does not come down on people like his brother who have made their riches using their government connections to enrich private enterprises. At a time when corporate profits are soaring, blaming the unions alone is unpalatable.

Daley: We're a 'country of whiners'

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/03/daley-were-a-country-of-whiners.html

Retiring Mayor Richard Daley contended today that America is a “country of whiners” that’s spent the last four decades fearing the impact of foreign governments on the nation’s economy instead of showing the confidence and sacrifice to lead on a global stage.

Daley also said he believed taxpayers can no longer finance the current level of government and suggested priorities need to be placed on municipal services that can be privatized or outsourced to cut costs. And he blasted a teachers’ union he argued was more concerned about pay than in taking responsibility for educating the less well off....

Saying he was pleased but not satisfied with the progress of Chicago Public Schools during his tenure, Daley recounted asking city teachers to spend 15 more minutes to teach to help disadvantaged students, but the union refused without additional pay.

“Our teachers work six hours a day. Six hours a day. What do you think of that? Thirty hours a week,” Daley said. “I’m not condemning all the teachers, but you know, there has to be a time and place for everybody to have to give to the less fortunate. … Unions have to understand, that you have a responsibility. It’s not just a paycheck.”