Free Talk Live

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder announced Friday that the state will take over the operations of Detroit's city government due to its long-standing financial problems. The takeover is short of a formal bankruptcy, but it will include appointing an emergency manager who would have many of the same powers as a bankruptcy judge. It could mean throwing out contracts with public employee unions and vendors that the city can't afford, and could lead to further cutbacks in already depleted city services.

Not sure where this legislation is currently at. It would appear that politicans have no principles when they threaten volunteer fire departments in order to gain union support. It's funny how people want to believe that essential emergency services must be provided by government when the voluntary activity is right there in front of their eyes...for now.

Begining of the end for some PA state services. Pension funds are drying up and something has to give.

Privatizing nearly every aspect of governmental services except police and fire (and not falling into the debt trap of budget busting pension plans) has taken a city budget from high debt to a surplus - and improved the quality of life and lowered property as well. Exactly what the Libertarian philosophy predicts.

For decades, public sector unions have peddled the fantasy that government employees were paid less than their counterparts in the private sector. In fact, the pay disparity is the other way around. Government workers, especially at the federal level, make salaries that are scandalously higher than those paid to private sector workers. And let's not forget private sector workers not only have to be sufficiently productive to earn their paychecks, they also must pay the taxes that support the more generous jobs in the public sector.

For decades, public sector unions have peddled the fantasy that government employees were paid less than their counterparts in the private sector. In fact, the pay disparity is the other way around. Government workers, especially at the federal level, make salaries that are scandalously higher than those paid to private sector workers. And let's not forget private sector workers not only have to be sufficiently productive to earn their paychecks, they also must pay the taxes that support the more generous jobs in the public sector.

Funds collected for 911 emergency services: a new survey by the Federal Communications Commission indicates that in 2009 over a dozen states did not or may not have spent these funds on 911 or "E911" services, which zone in on caller locations. Wow, who would have thought this is possible!

Here’s an interesting question about the proper scope of government arising from Obion County, Tennessee. The county does not have its own fire department, and instead relies on the fire protection services of the nearby City of Fulton. But there’s a catch: The City of Fulton does not automatically serve residents of the county. If Obion County residents want to be protected by the City of Fulton Fire Department, they need to pay a $75 fee to the City.

Wrong on several levels, it is humiliating, and it was organized by Rosemount High School administrators. And, yes, it took place in view of the children at the school, because it was during an assembly. The students were blindfolded, and then told that “someone” was going to kiss them. The “someone” was their own parents.
What is it with public (read: GOVERNMENT) schools lately? Are they trying to screw up our kids?