The OC Republican Party Should Oppose Measure D

It is my belief that government employee unions pose the single greatest domestic threat to local liberty today. They are, as a wise man said, "government organized as a special interest." Government at all levels -- at least in California -- is increasingly under their thumb. When fear and money cause our state and local elected officials -- and the power of taxation -- to be more responsive to the demands of government workers than to taxpaying voters at large, a role reversal occurs and so-called public servants become the masters.

Just_D_Facts says that the Measure D campaign is fight between two public employee unions that the Orange County Republican Party should not involve itself. I agree with his/her characterization, but beg to differ wtih his/her prescription.

Battle over Measure D reminds me of Benjamin Franklin's timelessly true speech at the Constitutional Convention about the "dangers of a salaried bureaucracy:"

Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power and the love of money. Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but, when united in view of the same object, they have, in many minds, the most violent effects.

Franklin might as well have been speaking of contemporary public employee unions when he spoke of of who would "move heaven and earth" to use government to acquire power and money:

It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your government, and be your rulers.

With all of the above in mind, I think the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee should vote to oppose Measure D.

The Democratic Party long ago abased itself to the government employee unions. Republican Party in Orange County remains an institution dedicated to liberty and limited government. Lately, it has become active in fighting for those beliefs at the local level by supporting and opposing candidates for local, "non-partisan" office. it ought to extend that activism by opposing Measure D.

It is true that the Measure D campaign is a battle between among public employee unions -- the firemen on one hand, and an AOCDS-led coalition on the other. But Republicans who care about local liberty should care about who wins this fight.

The OCPFA's case can be boiled down to this: we want a portion of Prop. 172 funds because we want more money. Their main reason: the contention that Prop. 172 passed because of commercials featuring firemen fighting the big brush fires that year. Therefore, they want some of the loot.

I, for one, have no desire to give the OCPFA any more money. Why feed the beast? It is already the most politically imperious of our local government employees unions, and displays an arrogant penchant for treating the taxpayers' money as its own.

Orange County's public employee unions already possess too much power, and I see no reason to change the status quo and direct even more public money to the most politically aggressive one.

The Republican Party of Orange County can do more to defend and eventually expand the realm of liberty here in OC by opposing Measure D, than by remaining on the sidelines. I hope the members of the OC GOP central committee believe likewise.

In a few hours, we'll know one way or the other.

Comments

[Sergeant]

Jubal,

I resemble your remarks, perhaps.

I agree with your analysis and your conclusion that Measure D should be defeated and the OC GOP should oppose it, as well.

Good luck tonight!

[Just D Facts]

It was a good fight, and the vote was 34-16 to oppose Measure D...the bare minimum 2/3 vote, but enough nonetheless for the OCGOP, much to my regret, to oppose D.

[Just D Facts]

I should add, to be fair, that it appeared that most of the 16 against the "No on D" position were in favor of my position, for the County Party to stay out of the fight. A few actually supported a "Yes on D" position.

[Sergeant]

Just_D_Facts,

Thanks for the information on the vote and your efforts were obviously taken seriously and considered by the Committee. Now that the OC GOP voted to take a position against Measure D, I would hope that you would review the arguments against it and reconsider your position. Any chance of that?

[I was there.]

Sarge,

Are you ever going to answer the question on how an increase of $130M is going to have a negative impact on the OCSD?

[Sergeant]

I was there,

Probably not since it is not the OCSD that is pushing for the tax grab.

When is OCFA or OCPFA going to answer the real question as to why they need the shifting of funds and how is their mission impossible to accomplish without it?

That is the real question that needs an answer. Perhaps that will open a debate on OCSD.

[PBinLH]

Sarge,

I look at the website of the firefighters and I see a plan on how they intend to use Prop 172 funds. To add personnel and replace equipment. I doubt their mission will be impossible to accomplish if they lose, but I believe it will be more difficult.

The purpose of Prop 172 was to add personnel and improve equipment. Since the Board of Supervisors haven't done that with a tax people voted upon themselves I applaud the firefighters for forcing the Supes to do their job.

Like someone else pointed out, why didn't the deputies union get the Supes to put an initiative on the ballot requiring them to fill the vacancy factor no one talks about except on this blog? That would have been something worthwhile for all individuals in this matter. Wouldn't that have been something the deputies could support? Yet no one from that group stood up to speak about that point the day counter initiatives were put on the ballot. This is especially interesting considering two of the three initiatives also take money away from the OCSD and DA's office. Yet there is no talk of doom and gloom if those pass.

Hmmmm......

Jubal, you appear to harking back to the days of old when the slaves stayed down in the bottoms and didn't get uppity with the da master. If you are so concerned with government organized as a special interest perhaps you could explain the California League of Cities or the Counties organizations who spend millions between them opposing or supporting issues. Aren’t they special interest?

[Jubal]

"Jubal, you appear to harking back to the days of old when the slaves stayed down in the bottoms and didn't get uppity with the da master."
Huh? Not wanting government employee unions to control govermment makes me a slave master? Try again.

"If you are so concerned with government organized as a special interest perhaps you could explain the California League of Cities or the Counties organizations who spend millions between them opposing or supporting issues. Aren’t they special interest?"

Tat's a good point. They are special interests, but at least they represent bodies elected by the voters. Government unions exist to obtain higher pay and more generous benefits for their members. The money to fund higher pay and more generous benefits is forcibly exacted from taxpayers. When government unions gain control of legislative bodies by electing their allies, then they are in a position to forcibly exact more of the people's money for their members.

BS. Elected officials are elected by the people. Not just union members.

Unions support people who will carry the agenda you describe. Other PAC's do the same thing. There is any number of pork that gets thrown at private business from the government coffers paid by taxes forcibly extracted from the citizenry.

Physician, heal thyself.

[Imperious in Orange]

My neighbor works for the fire department. He tells me that 80% of the candidates supported by the OCPFA are republican.

So if they are as imperious as you claim, they have a lot of help from the elephant party.

And......they must be very good at what they do in helping candidates get elected.