Republicans aim to bring ‘Choose Life’ license plates to Minnesota

If this is any indication of how Republicans will run Congress in MN the next 2 years, we’re in a world of hurt. There are a *few* issues a bit more important than this very partisan anti-abortion one. I’ll bet the next bill will deal with marriage.

Maybe let’s talk about the deficit next, shouldn’t that be a priority?

Mac,
This is the “Job creating license plate bill”, don’t ya know.

Actually, Mac, stand by for the introdcution of a “right to work” bill that would be on the ballot in 2012 as a constitutional amendment. And it doesn’t need the governor’s signature to pass.

heh

Meanwhile, in the land of reality, scientists are looking at environmental chemicals that accumulate in the human body and may affect fetuses:

“”The study’s results show that unborn babies are exposed to a soup of chemicals – and furthermore, because the women in the study were tested for exposure to only a fraction of chemicals on the market – the study also suggests that pregnant women are likely carrying and passing onto their fetuses many more chemicals than have been reported here…”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/201101/13MNN41GL1NQ.DTL#ixzz1B1o1Ya9z

If the MN GOP were paying any attention to issues like this, which we can be nearly certain they are not, they would be confronted with a dilemma: more heavily involve the state in environmental regulation in order to protect the human fetus they supposedly have so much concern about, or ignore the scientific research, thus possibly endangering the life and well-being of these fetuses in order to save taxpayers and businesses money.

We already know the outcome. When one of the GOP’s “core principles”/”moral absolutes” conflicts with their subservience to corporate profit and the dogma of lower taxes, the latter nearly always wins out.

Maybe the Governor should say he’s not signing any legislation until the budget is balanced. Better yet, maybe he should just veto anything that comes across his desk until the legislature balances the budget.

This license plate idea seems like the biggest waist of time when there are clearly more pressing matters.

Dennis, what is the “right to work” amendment you refer to?

So much for the promise made by the Repub leadership that whey will focus on fiscal issues first and social issues second.

House File 65 proposes an anti union constitutional amendment. Known as right-to-work this amendment would prohibit an employer from requiring membership in a union as a condition of employment. MAPE strong opposes House File 65. This amendment is a full frontal attack against labor unions and workers’ ability to form unions.

Wages are less in so called right-to-work states. According to a 2009 study, pay in these states is over 11 percent lower than in states where worker can form strong unions.

If passed, unions would be prohibited from requiring non-members from paying 50 or 80 percent of the dues that union members pay, even though non-members – as required by law – are covered under a collective bargaining agreement and benefit from increased vacation time, higher pay, etc.

Rep Kerry Gauthier, a Team MAPE endorsed candidate in 2010, called this proposal “an assault on middle-class, working people.”

From Mape.org

Charles:

Some people simply oppose the idea of collective bargaining, have no interest in being forced to join a union as a condition of employment and believe that it’s unfair to require them to do so.

There are 22 so-called “right-to-work” states in the country, including our neighbors to the south and west. I don’t know the details of the bill but it seems to me that people who opt out of union membership would be allowed to negotiate their own wage and benefits, regardless of what the unionists get.

OK, if they want to make those license plates, how about this one (you could use the same plate, just change the words)?

Gay is OK

Right to work laws are used to further depress wages, and increase profits. Right to Work laws decrease the overall disposable income of consumers, decreasing demand. Basically, right to work is an effort to destroy the only advocates left for workers. Once government is out of the way, and unions are out of the way, the conservatives will have exactly the America they want. A working poor and ruling elite. That’s your utopia Dennis.

Having the state issue license plates advocating a controversial position seems like a bad idea and a bad precedent. The DFL could do it too next time it’s in majority. How would conservatives feel about “stop global warming” or some such. As a matter of free speech, I don’t have a problem with the plate, but I have a big problem with state money going to groups that advocate for one position. The money should go into the treasury. It would be like the money from my hypothetical “stop global warming” plate going to fund environmental groups.

I believe these plates cost more, with the extra going to the various organizations. This issue aside, I’d like to know how law enforcement feels about all these different state license plates. When every state has so many designs and even the number/letter schemes are different, doe sit make it harder to quickly ID the plate? It sure makes it harder to play license plate bingo when you’re on a road trip with your kids!

With the state budget in crisis mode, and, unemployment at near record highs, and, property taxes for middle class minnesotan’s going through the roof, it is amazing that this sort of thing is what the republican controlled legislature is working on. god, can’t these folks grow up, i had hoped with pawlenty riding off chasing presidential windmills, we might finally get some responsible government. the republicans seem intent on pushing their minority social views on the rest of us, while ignoring the real problems that the state has. i only hope that the voters remember this in two years. i do not even like the conservation plates, i think one standard plate is just fine, it worked for years. lets concentrate on our real problems.

This discussion started out concerning pro-life license plates in Minnesota. But then it devolved into a pro/anti union forum. How did that happen? Since the discussion has gone off the rails now about unions, I will offer this:

There is a new group in Minnesota called “Hunting Works for Minnesota” — they are a loose group of sporting goods retailers that would like to see more hunters spending money at their retail outlets on hunting and outdoor gear. And don’t get me wrong here from the outset — I hunt and own a couple of shotguns and killed one ruffed grouse and two Canada geese this past October. I’m not an anti-hunting guy — I’m just an anti-hypocrisy guy, as I will explain thusly:

Union wages like those afforded to previously unionized Northwest Airlines aircraft mechanics went a long way toward bolstering bottom line figures for Minnesota-based sporting goods retailers. Union jobs mean good wages and stability for the blue-collar set that is interested in buying the wares of these sporting goods retailers.

But these same retailers would be the last ones to agree that it would be a good thing if their rank-and-file workers at Cabela’s and Gander Mountain should be unionized.

Good wages and benefits for all workers, as long as they are not on my payroll. Hypocrisy at its best.

It’ s one thing to stand for principles. It’s another thing to try to provoke your opponents. If such a bill is passed, anyone who puts a license plate like this on their car is asking for it to be keyed or otherwise vandalized. Not that I would ever think of personally doing any such thing or condoning it in any one else.

Dave, it’s a myth that union wages are always “good wages.” The largest non-union industries in this country, software companies and internet-based companies, pay the highest wages in the marketplace.

Java programmers, for examples, make $80-100k right out of school. That wage is based on competition for people with that skill as companies try to attract developers with nicer perks, stock options and working conditions.

If the companies were unionized like the auto industry, they could make all java developers work for $20 an hour with the same benefits packages.

If anything, collective bargaining sets wage floors, not ceilings. Non-union employees who negotiate their own pay and benefits have more freedom to work where they want and under what conditions. Education and training give you that freedom of choice.

The union debate irks the hell out of me. That’s exactly what the wealthiest folks want us to do – argue amongst ourselves about the crumbs left over after they have their cut of the wealth in this country.

Don’t forget: 50% of all wages earned go to just 20% of the wage earners in this country. The other 50% of wages are what’s left over for the other 80% of the people.

Contentious political issues are something that the DMV should stay out of. Bumper stickers and plate frames are quite sufficient. No need to complicate the lives of the DMV workers and law enforcement, especially at this time – we are supposed to be streamlining, not complicating, government.

Or is republican ideology immune to republican ideology?

If they do, they should add to this statement:: “Choose Life – SAY NO to WAR” – if these groups are so pro-life, then they should be anti-war, but they are not. There really is no need for any slogans on your license plates. Your personal beliefs should stay with you.

Dennis –

Excellent recital of the corporate anti-union talking points. They, of course, have nothing to do with the real world.

But I’m sure your big business masters are pleased.

I’m an atheist, so I want a plate that says “choose secular morality.” The money goes to the Minnesota Atheists, Americans United for Separation of Church & Staet, the ACLU, etc. Is that cool with everybody? I thought so. I’ll call my legislators now.

Shannon, wouldn’t “Use Your Brain” work for that, too?

Of course these “social issues” are exactly what the elite and their tools in the legislature want to detract people from real issues like the increasing transfer of wealth and power into the hands of the few. Abortion and anti-gay positions seem to be the only moral issue the right wing can cling to–they are wrong on both counts. If they truly believed in life they would not believe in destroying unions and social programs that help people sustain life, but they have to cover the fact that they don’t believe in the common good with something. If you want change, you need to do something about it–look at the protests in Europe and elsewhere. People must get out en masse and demand that those in power represent us!!

Anybody else find it ironic that the money form CHOOSE life plates will go to organizations that want to take that CHOICE away from citizens?

Shouldn’t it say:

“Force Pregnancy”?

Dennis

Yet another moronic statement from your mouth. This one is right up my alley so I will respond with vehemence.

This is what you said…”If the companies were unionized like the auto industry, they could make all java developers work for $20 an hour with the same benefits packages.”

Your idea of the auto industry is based on GM and Chryslers version of manufacturing. Honda and Toyota have strong unions and the workers make excellent wages. Honda and Toyota also have some of the best products in the world. GM and Chrysler fight the union every chance they get, Honda and Toyota worked with the unions to make the product better. The difference between GM and Toyota is that GM is mass production junk and Toyota is a lean production system that is ran by union members trained in shop.

Dennis stay out of the union and manufacturing talk. You just sound stupid. Stick with your fascist religious mantras. That is all you know.

Wow!! Considering Christians view themselves as ” Wholesome ” and ” Straight ” that is the GAYEST license plate I have EVER seen..

Republicans use government to raise money for domestic terrorists…that’s the headline here. If you can’t properly track where the money goes, I guarantee you there is a reason. Operation Rescue, anyone? Eric Rudolph, anyone?

Michelle is a hypocrite. Want to help children Michelle? Help the living ones out on the street, the ones you say are looking for “handouts”. You won’t because you’re just using red-herring issues like pro-choice to get the blind faith vote of the Jerry Falwell brood excited.