It’s common enough to discuss the high cost-of-living in California. It’s become a serious topic, at last. But for Californians who are used to paying ridiculous prices for everything, it may be helpful to present a comparison in the form of an annual family budget. How much does it cost to take care of a...
Either that’s some strange liquid toilet paper, or somebody messed up? If you need me I’ll be in the Kleenex aisle where it’s safe! @CalPolicyCenter #prop65contest #handsoap pic.twitter.com/aUZyXT9BOm — Kimmee (@KimmeeCA72) June 25, 2019 View this post on Instagram Either that’s some strange liquid toilet paper or somebody messed up! Who knew toilet paper could...
As anyone who’s been a public school teacher can tell you, plenty of false messages circulate about union membership: whether it’s required, why it exists, and whom it benefits (or harms). Free to Teach wants you to know what’s up. Below are six of the most common issues the major state and national teachers’ unions don’t...
As a statewide political force, California’s conservative voters are disenfranchised. Almost no politicians holding state office speak for conservatives, few court rulings favor conservatives, and nearly everywhere, conservative values are discredited or ignored by a hostile press. But California’s political landscape could be poised for dramatic shifts. Even now, after more than a decade of...
First and foremost, teachers’ unions are passionate advocates for their members interests, fighting tirelessly for their wages, benefits, and working conditions. Or so the theory goes. But much like communism, unions in theory and unions in practice are very different things. In reality, teachers’ unions do not primarily spend their members’ dues on representation– they...
Finnish schools are unionized. American schools are unionized. The similarities end there. Randi Weingarten, Lily Eskelsen García and other teacher union leaders have on many occasions extolled the virtues of Finland’s education system, and, at every turn, they remind us that their teachers are unionized. They are right. Finland does have a highly regarded education...
Congratulations for week 44 go to Joseph Boring (itisisaccboring) for a nicely composed, humorous entry with sizable social impact. It is indeed sad to learn that “becoming” a mermaid is just another activity that poses health risks – only in crazy California. View this post on Instagram Irony at its finest. The food...
California Governor Gavin Newsom has agreed to give state prison correctional officers a 3 percent raise. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, there is “no evident justification” for this raise. A recent article in the Sacramento Bee summarizes portions of the LAO report, writing “The last time the state compared state correctional officers’ salaries to their local government counterparts,...
The great education spending swindle is never-ending for the teachers unions. Their whine never stops. While I and many others have been writing about the enormous sum of money spent on education for years, the “investicrats,” those who constantly demand that even more must be allocated, show no sign of leaving the building. Perhaps the...
As parents of students in failing schools attempted to move their children to better districts nearby, a top official in one district lobbied his colleagues to block all the exits. His reason: a decline in enrollment equals a drop in district revenue. “As we’ve shared with you, we are denying most transfer requests,” Jaron Fried,...
View this post on Instagram Sizzler would like to wish all of the fathers a Happy Father’s Day and also remind you that their famous cheese toast is dangerous! #Sizzler #sizzlercheesetoast #steakandlobster #fathersday #california #californialaw #food #onlyincalifornia #propositions #californiapropositions #prop65 #proposition65 #prop65contest A post shared by Shanae Chester (@shanaec86) on Jun 16, 2019 at 7:12pm...
In a special election earlier this week, Brian Dahle defeated Kevin Kiley in the race to become the next California State Senator representing District One, which sprawls north from the foothills east of Sacramento all the way to the Oregon border. Both candidates were Republican members of the State Assembly, competing in one of the few safe Republican districts left...
Rapper Biggie Smalls said it best: “Mo Money” means “Mo Problems.” For proof, consider that Californians have generously contributed billions of dollars to solve the problem of homelessness – and the situation has only deteriorated. In 2016, Los Angeles voters approved Proposition HHH, taxing themselves in order to house the homeless. Supporters recently trumpeted their...