Day: December 8, 2010

Turnpike More Expensive, Less Convenient

Reader Tom C points out more bureaucratic stupidity with the removal of exit prices from Pennsylvania Turnpike toll tickets. It’s a cost saving move just in case the noble and dedicated public servants who staff the Turnpike Commission decide to jack up prices again.

What this means is that more people are going to be waiting for change at toll booths as they will be far less likely to have it the exact fare ready.

Pa.’s toll prices are rising 10 percent for ticket users and 3 percent for E-ZPass users this Jan. 1.

To really save overhead how about we just turn the roads into freeways? Traffic flow will improve, energy will be saved, transportation will become cheaper and the Port of Philadelphia will become more competitive which will mean more jobs and foreign revenue.

Well, more productive jobs anyway. I guess one has to say that paying people to sit and booths and snarl traffic is a job, and of course they will no longer be there.

Pa Continues To Top Nation In Teacher Strikes

Obviously, Pennsylvania teachers are not in it “for the children.”

The Keystone State, as always, led the nation in teachers strikes last year with eight matching the ’08-’09 total and up one from ’07-’08. And we are not talking close contests here. More than half the school strikes in the nation occur annually in Pennsylvania.

And for what? The average salary for a Pennsylvania teacher in 2007 was then $54,970 for 190 days work, which was behind six states that prohibited such a child-hating practice.

Gov-elect Corbett has said he might support banning teacher strikes and adopt a mandate for binding arbitration to solve disputes. Binding arbitration for teachers, however, would be against the state Constitution as StopTeacherStrikes.Org clearly points out.

And considering those who would likely do the picking for the arbiters, the problem could conceivably be made worse.

So what to do? It’s not complicated. Teachers acquired their right to strike in 1970 with the passing of Act 195 .

Section 401 reads It shall be lawful for public employees to organize, form, join or assist
in employee organizations or to engage in lawful concerted activities
for the purpose of collective bargaining . . .

Change the first four words to read It shall be unlawful. Repeal articles VI, VII, VIII and IX.

Problem is solved. Taxes drop and schools improve. Win-win for everyone but the child-haters.