Unions

An overpass held up by blocks

The General Assembly’s “Recommendation Portal” is misleading in a way that shows RI’s problems.

By Justin Katz | October 28, 2021 |

The Rhode Island General Assembly is calling its page for information about ideas and proposals related to its federal COVID handout the “American Rescue Plan Act State Fiscal Recovery Fund Recommendation Portal.”  The Associated Press article about the portal maintains that framing: Rhode Island’s legislature has created a website to post the proposals it’s receiving…

National Grid outage map for RI

Tired of living in a Third World state, yet?

By Justin Katz | October 27, 2021 |

The featured image for this post is the power outage map for National Grid at 7:00 a.m.  Power is out across the entire state. It doesn’t have to be this way.  Wires could be put underground, except that our government squanders as much money as it can so as to charge us additionally for basic…

A utility pole and wires

Government should focus on its basics to maximize the Internet (and utilities) in RI.

By Justin Katz | October 26, 2021 |

Understandably, the president and CEO of the New England Cable and Telecommunications Association, Tim Wilkerson, is striving to get out ahead of rumors that the state government might give government-run Internet a try.  Not only do such projects have a track record of failure, but also: Rhode Island already is one of the best states in…

David Teniers' Village Revel with Aristocratic Couple

The rabble must recognize friend and foe.

By Justin Katz | October 13, 2021 |

Michael Morse is pledging never again to vote for the lesser of two evils. On the whole, his “Saturday morning soapbox,” as he calls it, resonates very strongly with me, although I disagree with his pledge for prudential reasons — most significantly because it’s really very, very easy for activists and the news media to…

Norman Rockwell Freedom of Speech

Let’s not pretend the Biden administration’s attack on local parents is out of character.

By Justin Katz | October 8, 2021 |

Whenever we have the opportunity to watch some other country gradually be taken over by left-wing fascists (Venezuela comes first to mind), the headlines always have me shouting at the computer screen — like a movie-watcher might shout at the TV when the hero is ignorant that his friend is the villain and is acting…

A toy school bus

School busing is a disaster waiting to happen in Rhode Island.

By Justin Katz | October 1, 2021 |

Pay attention to the budget of a Rhode Island school district for a few cycles, and you’ll learn that there are two companies providing busing, both with unionized workforces.  Districts are obligated by law to provide transportation (including mandatory bus monitors), so the lack of competition leaves them with little choice and leaves the public…

A water drop and ripples

Teachers unions shouldn’t be training members on how to subvert “parent groups.”

By Justin Katz | September 20, 2021 |

A story in Not the Bee about a teachers union seminar about handling “nice white parents” comes out of Pennsylvania, but one can be sure that Rhode Island unions are talking about how to “limit the power” of “parent groups.” This should be broadly scandalous, which may indicate that most unions across the country have been smart…

Ivan Vladimirov's Night Robbery of Humanitarian Aid

Here’s what you do if you’re angry at Anthony Silva’s $53,000 parting gift.

By Justin Katz | September 15, 2021 |

Departing Democrat Governor Dan McKee’s administration under the cloud of an influence peddling scandal, former Chief of Staff Anthony Silva is taking with him a $53,000 payout for unused time off, according to Eli Sherman on WPRI.  This benefit is always an issue when government employees leave office for some controversial reason, and the public is…

A water drop and ripples

Teachers unions are the face of the arrogance of power.

By Justin Katz | September 6, 2021 |

From a GQ Pan article in the Epoch Times: The leader of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), which represents more than 30,000 employees in the nation’s second largest public school district, said in a recently published interview that learning losses during the pandemic are a myth. “There’s no such thing as learning loss,” UTLA President Cecily…

A man falls down stairs

Politics This Week with John DePetro: Stumbles in the State House and the Teacher Union Hall

By Justin Katz | August 30, 2021 |

John DePetro and Justin Katz talk about high-profile slip-ups by politicians and political actors.