Government That Exists To Exist

So I received in the mail today my always eagerly anticipated union newsletter.  I thought, "Oh good.  Material."  As one may expect, almost the entire thing was about the MN state shutdown and what a cardinal sin the tea party Republicans committed against everyone else.  One specific comment about the Republicans efforts to stand firm was, "The tea party's refusal to compromise is a colossal breach of [the] public trust."  Funny thing, though.  The voters put them there, so I find it difficult to ascertain how that conclusion is drawn. No, the "colossal breach of [the] public trust" would have come if the Republicans had caved.

Anyway, one of the union workers featured is employed by Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement and a photo shows her standing in front of hundreds and hundreds of pieces of paper, which apparently are the registrations and renewals that piled up during the shutdown.  A couple of the comments made about this particular state department are, "Manufacturers, distributors, retailers, bars, and restaurants were in danger of running dry or not being able to sell brands because their licenses, registrations or buyer's cards expired.  Registration is required for every imported and domestic brand of alcohol sold in Minnesota."

I realize my immediate reaction was supposed to be one of shock and deep sadness that the required registrations and licenses were not processed during the few-week-long shutdown.  What's weird, though, is my immediate reaction INSTEAD was, how about we dump all the stupid registrations and licenses and do something novel like just LET BUSINESS WORK??

After my initial reaction, I recalled a remark made by the natural born leader, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, during the speech he gave at the Reagan Library Tuesday night.  He said, "[We need] a regulatory framework that doesn't exist to justify the existence of the regulators."  EXACTLY.  You see, the drum the unions constantly beat is "YOU NEED US. YOU NEED US. YOU NEED US."  The problem they face is if we figure out we DON'T need them, their power is stripped.  This is already happening everywhere and they know it.  The desperation is obvious in things like their newsletter where the entire thing is riddled with example after example after example of how the world would fall apart without them.  This is not to say that many of the workers aren't needed--of course they are--but they do NOT need to have union membership.  Additionally, deregulation is the taxpayer's friend because many of these taxpayer funded, union jobs would disappear if businesses weren't required to seek permission from the state for every move they make.  The paperwork requirements that are constantly shoved through, bogging down life itself, ensure the existence of union jobs.  Period.

I think taxpayers are absolutely fed up.  I liken many things to the life of a parent because I am one, but it makes me think of what it is like to negotiate and negotiate with a small child, trying to secure specific behavior.  Finally, the parent has to be a parent, put her foot down and state in no uncertain terms what the rules are going to be.  This is what the conservative insurgence is accomplishing all across the nation.  People aren't going to tolerate the crap anymore.  The gig is up.  Disciplinary action has taken place, is taking place and will continue to take place.  Either comply or face the consequences.