Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Chris Christie Said He Thinks Teachers Unions Deserve A Punch In The Face

Presidential candidate Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) lambasted teachers unions on Sunday.

"At the national level, who deserves a punch in the face?” CNN's Jake Tapper asked the New Jersey governor during an interview. The question was a callback, he said, to Christie's affinity for saying during his first term that "you can either sidle up to [bullies] or you can punch them in the face."

"The national teachers union, whose already endorsed Hillary Clinton, 16, 17 months before the election," Christie replied.

Christie was ostensibly referring to the American Federation of Teachers -- the second largest teachers union in the country -- which endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in July.

"They’re not for education for our children," he said. "They’re for greater membership, greater benefits, greater pay for their members. And they are the single most destructive force in public education in America."

Christie has had a hostile relationship with teachers unions since the start of his gubernatorial tenure. In January 2010, before he was sworn in, Christie said teachers unions "are back in the 19th century in terms of their thinking." He has publicly sparred with individual teachers on a number of occasions.

The New Jersey Education Association -- the state's largest teachers union -- did not take the governor's words lightly. On Sunday, the group called on Christie to resign.

"Chris Christie's instinct is always to threaten, bully and intimidate instead of build consensus and show true leadership," NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer said in a statement.

Randi Weingarten, president of the AFT,  said in a statement that Christie's interview reflects a "sad day in the life of our nation to see a candidate threaten violence to gain political favor."

"That [Christie] would threaten to punch teachers in the face -- mostly women seeking to help children meet their potential and achieve their dreams -- promotes a culture of violence and underscores why he lacks the temperament and emotional skills to be president, or serve in any leadership capacity," her statement said.

Original Article
Source: huffingtonpost.com/
Author: Rebecca Klein

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