Peter Greene observes that the Vergara decision has brought out a deluge of comments by anti-teacher trolls.
Read any article on the Internet about the decision, and it will be followed by an outpouring of vitriol towards teachers.
It is useful to read Greene’s classification of the teacher-haters. You will encounter them almost everywhere.
What accounts for teacher hatred? Maybe these are the people who got an F in school and never got over it. These are the people who don’t have a pension and think that no one should. These are the people who think that America can get by without teachers or think that teachers should work for free.
But Peter does it so much better. Here are a few of his troll categories of teacher-haters:
Sad Bitter Memories Troll
I hated high school. My teachers were mean to me. I remember a couple who picked on me all the time just because I didn’t do my work and slept in class a lot. And boy, they did a crappy job of teaching me anything. I sat in their classroom like a houseplant at least three days a week, and I didn’t learn a thing. Boy, did they suck! Crappy teachers like that ought to be fired immediately! And that principal who yelled at me for setting fire to the library? That guy never liked me. Fire ’em all.
Unlikely Anecdote Troll
There was this one teacher in the town just over from where I went to school, and one day he brought in a nine millimeter machine gun and mowed down every kid in his first three classes. The principal was going to fire him, but the union said he couldn’t because of tenure, so that guy just kept working there. They even put kids in his class who were related to the ones he shot. Tenure has to be made illegal right away.
Just Plain Wrong Troll
Tenure actually guarantees teachers a job for life, and then for thirty years after they retire and fifty years after they die. It’s true. Once you get hired as a teacher you are guaranteed a paycheck with benefits for the next 150 years.
Confused Baloney Troll
If you really care about children and educational excellence, then you want to see teachers slapped down. The only way to foster excellence in education is by beating teachers down so they know their place. Only by beating everyone in the bucket can we get the cream to rise to the top.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s all about $$, rather than attitude.
Which makes one wonder how many of these anti-teacher trolls are being paid, and by whom.
Are you saying that hundreds of people in Bangladesh are being paid to write these comments and flood forums?
Wow, I ran into parents and students in my classroom who fit the examples Peter Greene provides, and I wrote about them in my memoir, “Crazy is Normal”. The internet just makes it easier for these nut cases to make a teacher’s job more difficult.
Why do I feel an intense need to post EduShyster’s sticker here?
I love that! I need to make a T-shirt;)
Awesome book cover!
The possible reasons are funny, but I believe that most of the teacher haters are as Diane said above, “Maybe these are the people who got an F in school and never got over it. These are the people who don’t have a pension and think that no one should. These are the people who think that America can get by without teachers or think that teachers should work for free.”
Elin,
The right-wing politicians want medical personnel to work for free, too.
Sarah Palin opposed “death panels” and her party opposes social welfare spending. So, when a poor sick person arrives at a hospital, does the person die in the parking lot? Or, does the hospital, provide care for free?
Peter~
Teachers raise children during the 8 hours a day kids are with us. Raising children, if done well, is always a work in progress and we don’t know if we succeeded until we look back to review their stability, productivity and success. We teach children Math, English, Art….. We are not English Teachers, Math Teachers…. We teach Children.
I say all this to place our relationship closest to parenting. Many of us have taken the place of their parents, even after the children graduate. Some of us are teaching our student’s children and grandchildren.
Emotions run high when people talk about their teachers. Memories go deep when thinking about teachers. This emotional trip, or roller coaster for some, is as real today as it was when they were young. Packed with emotion. And, that may explain the love, rage, admiration, hate, respect, fear, anger, payback, power trip, caring…..range of emotions as wide as the Pacific, and then some. During parent meetings, parents identify strongly with their children’s success or failures. These meetings can be traumatic for many parents, especially, for parents of SWD.
As kids grow up and are in power to make decisions, that’s when folks unite on different sides of these emotions. Right now, the Haters definitely have the upper hand because of power, $$$ and influence. They will not let go until the lifeblood is squeezed out of every teacher and they have mowed us down. Sick, Sick, Sick!
Gates insisted that students rate their teachers and that data is part of a teacher’s job evaluation. Asking children to participate in this witch hunt tells you much.
Gates may even expand his tactics to parenting. Not that far off from teachers.
Gates could convince legislators that children should evaluate their parents and that data be used for some sick purpose. Some grown children are still resolving unresolved parent-child issues into their senior years. Remember Ronald Reagan’s daughter? She dragged her parents through the mud for years.
Pathology, power & $$$ is fueling the Teacher Haters and we may be experiencing this for generations to come.
Gates & Co is still young and über rich, and he has ISSUES!
The “Stealth Troll” got left out.
This troll starts off by agreeing or sounding reasonable, but then includes the “reform” talking points. Example:
I agree that Bill Gates’ use of data is creepy profiteering. We have to be careful, though, not to believe that the data itself is wrong and, unfortunately, the data shows that 1 million poor kids are being taught by tenured teachers.*
*note how the Stealth Troll makes it sound like the 1 million kids being taught by tenured teachers is a bad thing, but gives no data to back up the implication. They just imply things–they try to plant a seed.
I didn’t know- ten years ago-when I made a career change to become a teacher-that I would also become a PARIAH. To add to Diane’s list: the lack of concern for “other people’s children” and the costs associated with that. Somehow, the benefit side, of what these children from less affluent families could contributed, is rarely mentioned.
Meanwhile, I just got laid off and still owe thousand of dollars in student loans….
I wish there was something we could say to make it easier, but getting laid off sucks big time. I hope that means you are in the recall if budget numbers improve. That’s the usual reason anyway, that and number of students. Now for a potentially useless platitude (but I like it): It’s not how many times you fall down, but how many times you get up.
Sadly I have run into some of the qualities cited by Greene in administrators. I teach Spanish. I have been fighting tooth-and-nail with my administrators for more than two years about how they schedule my classes. In short, I am not given anywhere near the amount of instructional time I need (that RESEARCH says I need!) to get kids to a meaningful level of proficiency in the language. In one of our “conversations” one of my administrators dismissed the importance of even having a world language program with the old “I took three years of French in high school and to this day I can’t speak a word of French” meme. Clearly a “Sad Bitter Memories” troll! Makes me wonder why he even went into education as a career; maybe to get even.
They are eliminating World Language in some schools in my district. It is pathetic. A lot of our native Spanish speaking students do not have good skills.
Bob,
One year in a foreign language course in high school is the equivalent of being in the target language country for ten days. Yep ten days. What would you know after ten days if you were plopped smack dab in the middle of a country in which you didn’t know the language?
Perhaps: ¿Cuánto cuesta una cerveza? and ¿Dónde está el baño?
I’m impressed! For me, after four weeks, I could not ask how much beer costs(?) or where the bathroom is in complete sentences.
I tried to learn more. Usually, when I went to different countries, I immediately made a point of learning key words in advance, like hi, bye, yes, no, please, thank you, coffee, bathroom, how much, where is, elements of the currency, etc.
However, I went to live in a middle eastern country for a year and made plans to study the language in an immersion program, so I purposely did not learn any words in advance. I travelled around the country alone for a month before going to my scheduled residence and language training, and tried to see what I could pick up just from my daily experiences.
When I arrived I, really only knew the word “peace” and some prayers (which consisted of words that I didn’t understand individually and had no reason to use in my daily life). I had to figure out that “peace” was used as both hi and bye and the pragmatics –when it’s said to you, you respond by saying that same word twice.
I figured out yes and no, please and thank you and the currency. After that, as hard as I tried, I could not figure out much else on my own and I couldn’t put a full sentence together. (Signs didn’t help because they have a different alphabet, too.)
I did learn a lot in the immersion program, though that was primarily because the English speakers begged for translations so often, but also because that language has only THREE tenses! I felt rather stupid after I found that out, but as someone aware of how parents teach young children their first language, I know that my biggest obstacle was that I had been alone and had no one skilled in the language to model it, use parentese and guide me.
My point being that learning a second language is completely different than learning a subject matter in one’s own language. (Think of the difficulties an immigrant, ELL, has in school). Many students think that after a year or two in a foreign language class that they will be fluent. Sorry, Joe but that ain’t gonna happen.
In my first year at my current assignment (2011-12) I had two 8th-grade groups (about 25 students in each). Each group met for four 1-hour classes per week. Of those 50 8th-graders, 38 finished the year with a high school credit in first-year Spanish. My second year saw another 34 accomplish the same thing, for a total of 72. I know of at least five (there may be more) who went from my 8th-grade class into THIRD year high school classes. NOTHING about ANY of that was mentioned in the administrator evaluation I got last year. In fact, during my first year in the building no administrator ONCE set foot in my classroom during a lesson. This year I had each 8th-grade group for two 42-minute classes per week; obviously not enough time or continuity to lead them to any meaningful degree of proficiency.
Next year I will have two 7th-grade groups for two hours each per week, and two 8th-grade groups for three hours per week each. I have been cut back to .4 FTE (not even enough to qualify for benefits!). Despite sweet talk to the contrary it is obvious that my administrators don’t respect me as a teacher (I was the only person in our building to lose FTE for next year) and they place no value whatsoever on the learning of world languages. Can you imagine what would happen if schools like the one the Obamas send their daughters to treated world languages with such disdain, disregard, and disrespect? Why are my students not entitled to an education as rich and vigorous as the one Sasha and Malia receive?
2011-12 was the best year of my teaching career. 2013-14 was the worst. 2014-15 is looking even bleaker. To add to the bleakness, I will be 60 in September. It is too late for me to change careers, and simply picking up and moving to another district is out of the question. I will continue to be there 100% for my students (SOMEBODY has to be there for them!), but it is beyond demoralizing to see 20+ years of hard work and dedication come down to this.
They say that it is the people you love who can hurt you the most. I guess that is true of professions as well.
Funny! If I can add,
Littl’ Lady Troll
Teachers need to be better role models and know their place. Standing up for yourself is unladylike and not something girls do. Boys can do that better. Unions are OK for boy type jobs like police and fire. After all, we have shows like COPS, not TEACHERS.
Alternate Reality Trolls
Teachers need to step into the real world like everyone else. After all, I work in an office cubicle, not in a classroom with 40 human beings. Dealing with mental illness, human struggles, violent reactions, family crises, child development is not reality compared to me pushing papers and shoving a mouse around all day or meeting with clients in a room freshened, oak paneled board room.
Invisible Handy Trolls
Teachers need subjected to free markets and competition. It is a proven myth that just letting anarchy rein gives rise to the proper Randian, utopian equilibrium of overlords and slaves. Just because Adam Smith insisted free markets benefit all and it hasn’t does not mean we abandon core principles when they fail miserably or try to improve. In fact, we need less government, (just not my government).
Google Link Trolls
Teachers are to blame for global warming that isn’t really happening, potholes on my street, and mad cow disease killing all the bees. If you read this study at http://freedomfrommarxiststudyhalls.nut/badteach.htm, you can see I can google with the best of them to find any obsure web page supporting my belief. . And it is also true that I once read on a Fox News page a link to a story about something one teacher said to a student somewhere on a news broadcast reported recently, proving we need to fire more teachers that say that, uh… whatever was said.
“It is a proven myth…” Funny stuff. Thanks for the chuckle.
Defending teachers as they now teach – or “instruct” asitwere – is like sculpting water. Not only will that change dramatically, with tech, mobility, and peer networks, but it ignores much larger – and better – data than test scores as probable metrics of achievement. In other words – they’re investing millions in smoke, and it’s bad politics to argue smoke.
Almost a decade ago, in the course of a small workforce grant, I discovered a high school that routinely held back 25% of its 9th grade, primarily to make the principal look good with a higher “gain score” after drill & practice with the bottom 25% for an extra year. This resulted in a 15% dropout rate, as well as a lot of kids who felt much dumber than they probably were, since the school was – and still is – about 30% bilingual. This is the clearest example of bad data easily exploited.
As a recovery operation, after I scared out the Principal, Superintendent, and Guidance director with (justified) claims of cheating, their successors developed a diversion program targeting kids with poor attendance in grades 7, 8, and 9, with a peer mentoring service delivered by 12th grade high achieving kids. It worked splendidly, and produced a 5% grade retention in grade 9, while reducing dropout rates to less than 10% by grade 12. Those metrics are considerably more compelling than test scores, particularly in such a multicultural environment.
Additionally, the school created an electronic portfolio system to track other kinds of achievement, and to empower kids to assess each other and themselves – as well as teachers. As a result, they produced material they could use in negotiating internships, jobs, and higher rates of college subsidies, while they also informed administration of innovations created by the most successful teachers. All the system now lacks is a prize program, to promote the best portfolios, and generate broader community participation.
Those portfolios, not coincidentally, used the metrics developed by the SCANS Report in the 1990’s as adapted by Dr. Arnold Packer’s Verified Resume program, sponsored by Kellogg, Ford, and MacArthur foundations. That is a much, much more cogent argument for much, much better metrics than Pearson’s testing. It is only the myopia of school systems in general which poses testing/non-testing as alternatives. There are many other ways to skin the cat.
Forget the prize program. The intrinsic rewards these kids are getting from their portfolios would be diminished. You don’t need to highlight “the best” to generate broader community participation. Why wouldn’t the outcomes you have indicated be exciting enough?
The “Unlikely Anecdote Troll” comes from the Rush Limbaugh school of argumentation.
Statistically insignificant experiences, ratcheted up into fear and outrage, followed by conservative talking points and legislation.
Yes, and too many school boards eat this stuff u p. Ignorance is NOT bliss – at least for teachers and quality education.
What about the “paid troll” – those who work for think tanks, lobbyists, ALEC member firms or the many pro-Rheeform private enterprises that benefit from weakening the teaching profession?
These folks are very prompt in responding to articles, fleshing out the benefits of teacher hating and never reveal their bosses or hired status. The 1% has been very successful in astroturf efforts, using the carrot of cash to get people to advocate against their own interests, and the stick of the non-disclosure agreement to ensure they never tell anybody.
There have been leaks, though – we might remember when someone came forward during the 2008 election to reveal they were hired by the McCain-Palin campaign to write letters-to-the-editor. But since then, we’ve seen Rush Limbaugh caught paying for Facebook “likes”, a scandal over fake radio show callers, and Fox using it’s PR department to use “sock-puppet” accounts to flood blogs with comments: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/10/20/fox-news-reportedly-used-fake-commenter-account/196509
On and on it goes.
The shenanigans involving Pete Peterson’s half billion dollar
Fix the Debt campaign, came to mind after reading Gus W’s comments.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And let’s not forget the…
Teacher’s Husband Trolls
My wife is a teacher and she tells me she’s sick and tired of the gum-chewing lazyboneses stacked up in the teacher’s lounge just dialing it in because they have tenure, ruining it for hard-working people like herself.
yeah. it does happen.
It being the troll or the lazyboneses?
Now let’s remember something, if I might southern Pollyanna on everyone a second (and maybe watching that Disney classic might prove a good use of time to soften the hard attitudes of many around our country). The title of this particular blog is “to discuss better education for all,” and there seems to be a preclusion that unions=better education for all.
But for those of us in non-union states, that is not an option for a viewpoint. Just as those who reside in the mountains on NC cannot see the ocean, so too those of us in states without unions cannot wax poetic on the shameful union bashing going on around the country. It’s not an issue for us. And if anything, the ant-union tactics that are being applied in non-union states (via ALEC) end up like building a dog fence when there were no dogs for those of us in the south—if anything, we are suffering right along with you, and yet we have no dog in the teacher union fight. Diane points out that teacher union states have had higher test scores—-but isn’t that connecting dots where they may or may not have validity? Like maybe we should just assume that barbecue and sweet tea make the test scores in the south lower (and have we decided test scores are the end-all or not? I keep hearing talk out of both sides of the mouth when it comes to test scores).
Not all those under the three billy goats’ bridge are trolls—you might have some turtles, salamanders and rare species of birds as well. Honestly, I think this blog is about teachers’ unions. Period.
For some of us fighting for public school, teachers’ unions are not our issue. So are we unified in the fight for public school regardless of that or not? I can’t tell.
There are a lot of presumptions and assumptions by most on this blog that I don’t think would hold up on an A college paper.
1. teachers’ unions make stronger schools
2. teachers’ unions make stronger schools
3. teachers’ unions make stronger schools
Typically, in this country, we are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately in the current climate of reform, I think teachers’ unions are going to have to make a better case for themselves instead of just calling anyone who doesn’t agree with them trolls. Some of us don’t have unions!!!!! We are not trolls. We are just fighting a different fight.
No, Joanna. We are fighting the same fight to save public education in the United States. The leader of my union is toiling day and night against the interests if the rank and file. We have to step outside our regional identities to band together to utilize our limited resources. We have the education. We have the skills. We have the motivation. We lack organizational infrastructure. We are our only hope.
And, its bigger. The unions are the only remaining firewall that stands between the 99% and rule by the oligarchs. Both the Campaign for America’s Future and the Center for Media and Democracy understand the precipice upon which America stands.
Unions are the defense, in the final battle, in a war, that the 1%, didn’t have the decency to declare.
Read Politico blogs. You then know trolling.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I never had the benefit of union membership as a private-school teacher; among my housebuilder- teacher- chef family some were union, some not, some sometimes, & I never heard any union-bashing. I had an in-between career as a contract admin (utility projects) some in right-to-work states some not. Union jobsites were simply a factor to consider when bidding, subjects for excoriation only when mobsters were involved. I come to this blog with neither anti- nor pro-union sentiment.
But my engineer husband, a NY’r, son of a lifelong union printer, has kneejerk anti-teacher-union sentiment, particularly tenure & benefits: in a 40-yr career tho steadily working more intensely & traveling more, he has been stripped of conventional corporate job security & at least 1/2 the benefits he started with, which started out inferior to teacher benefits [regardless of whether they contribute–so do we, in increasing amounts over 2 decades]. Part & parcel: retirement looms & we’ll be pushed out of our house by RE taxes; our town pays 96% school costs; school is 73+% total RE tax)… I think his attitude is common to many who are “anti-teacher-union”.
Back to your point: I don’t see this as an automatically pro-teacher-union blog. From my viewpoint as a parent, taxpayer, & non-union educator in a union state, the fiasco visited upon public education in the last 15 yrs has been unbiased– union & non-union states alike have had funds slashed & draconian new unfunded mandates applied; it is my observation that belonging to a union has not helped the union states a whit.
This one is for Harlan, our Mr. Pendergrass–who has surprised and delighted us all with his kind perceptions lately (I knew he had heart).
Thank you, Joanna. I was wondering where I fit into Peter Green’s satirical scheme of trolldom. Now I know. I’m a Pendergrass, awfully grumpy but fundamentally in sympathy.
But, careful, Joanna, your kind Pollyanaism, will ruin my reputation as TP troll.
I’ve never quite understood the attack contained in the word “troll.” Is it really to the children’s story, The Billy Goats Gruff?
I’ll have to Wikipedia it to see whether there is any etymological illumination to be found there.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Harlan you are never a troll. I hope you (and TE) never tire of posting here… we need to hear from other viewpoints to get a good discussion going. Even as it is– with just the two of you– I find myself often drifting to the comment-threads on newspaper articles, just to get the drift of how others think.
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.
Harlan, sometimes you’re a pain, but you’re not a troll, and I for one enjoy having you here.
Thank you, Michael. I always am interested in hearing your point of view, often so different from mine, on how teachers can be properly supported in their work. At least I share with all on this blog an interest in really great teaching.
Trolls galore! The anti-CCSS right-wing extremists who hate “guvrment-run” schools and public school teachers have swamped the Stop CCSS sites and Facebook pages with messages of evil, incompetent teachers being paid exorbitant salaries for years in jobs they cannot be fired from because of tenure laws. The distortion of reality and the evil intent is being spread by these trolls who have gained credibility by appearing to oppose CCSS and high stakes testing for valid reasons. Breitbart and his ilk, often well paid ilk, are wolves in sheep’s clothing to many people.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I find it salubrious instead to browse Salon, the Atlantic, WaPo, NYT, & other newspapers & magazines featuring thoughty (or even not-so-thoughty) articles. There is a nice mix of pro & con. & I love jumping in to provide some facts for those reading troll-fare to chew on.
AGGGGGH!
The fun thing about Peter Greene’s posts is how he literally never says anything that would be written by a sober person who cares about truth and accuracy. It’s all spin, exaggeration, caricatures, etc.
WT, Peter Greene hits the nail on the head every time. I don’t know how he does it.
Then, you are missing the point. Being online allows you to post whatever comments you like– for whatever purpose–because you are not required to provide information related to your personal ID(and, even without your IP address). That’s why we see a bunch of people called “haters,” “apologists, “toadies,” on the internet 24/7 worldwide. It multiplies like a rabbit.
They couldn’t care less about truth and accuracy. They’re living in an oily pot and spinning the wheels of myth, lie, and cynicism for their life. Sober person(s)? Wonder how can you detect and ban drunkards online. Instagram??
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Well, I like to think I change an opinion or two. Some are obstinate & blind to facts, but at least 50% of those whom I engage in cite/analysis vs cite/analysis end up saying, thanks I hadn’t looked at it that way.
“Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.” – Will Rogers
TAGO!
😎
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” [Charlie Chaplin]
Thank you for not letting this day go to waste.
😎
It wasn’t until graduate school that I even started to like school myself. In K-12 I had both good and bad teachers, and I base that on my experiences with them. That’s been decades ago. I went into teaching because I wanted to be the kind of teacher I wish I could have had. Now I have started preparing pre-service teachers, and I try not to discourage them despite the way things seem to be. My parents were teachers too, and they said K-12 education has always been looked down upon to an extent. But I’m not sure if it was ever quite this bad. When I’m not angry, I find the whole thing terribly depressing; neither is good. I just don’t understand why people seem to hate us so much; we aren’t bad people.
Well, I am a teacher who has never belonged to a union and I hold very different opinions from some of those expressed here.
If those teachers from non-union states worked as teachers at schools that are not unionized in states where there ARE teacher’s unions, they might not be wanting this blog to be Switzerland on union matters.
Non-union teachers like me, in unionized states, are typically paid a pittance and get no benefits or pension. I have been teaching for 46 years and I could never afford to become a home owner on my income. I will also never be able to afford to retire. And yet, now, when people complain about union teachers, they lump us into the same category as if we all belong to unions –and that’s considered a bad thing.
I’ve been ripped off by too many people over the last few years after telling them I was a teacher, including supposedly reputable car mechanics. That never happened to me before and I think it’s related to all the teacher bashing in the press.
So, now I am compelled to explain that I am not a union teacher, to protect myself and my 15 year old used junker. It’s a long story why I’ve never qualified to join a union, but given the choice, I would give up poverty and become a union teacher in a NY minute.
Personally, I think it’s ridiculous and sad that regular people, including some teachers and their spouses, have fallen for the billionaires’ campaign to displace the blame for high taxes and inequitable income distribution on union teachers.
And to those unionized teachers who have had to contend with people who complain about their tax dollars going to pay your salaries, why don’t you just remind them that your own tax dollars are going to pay your salaries, too?
As a latecomer to teaching I got to pay a lot in union dues for very little. I never made tenure so the benefits of membership were limited in terms of individual gain. However, there is no doubt that my salary was higher because I was unionized even though the union had no voice in protecting me from poor administrators. I’ve seen some idiocy on the part of union officials as well when it comes to enforcing union rules. However, there does need to be a balance between protecting the bottom line and treating workers fairly. Unions are the only even partial guarantee of fair treatment.
I come from a long line of teachers. My great-grandfather sued Chicago due to corruption in the principal examination process. My grandfather taught and was a principal, my dad, my sister, my wife, me in college.
I will say one thing – every teachers’ strike during school is a strike AGAINST teachers and their view by many. It is inconvenient for parents. It is divisive for children. And, after Chicago, it is clear that strikes are often counterproductive. I agree that some kind of job action is sometimes necessary, but strikes are not appropriate. Stop high school sports – now that would bring parents to the school board immediately.
Actually, for some people it’s pretty simple:
As a male over 45, there is a core group within my demographic that:
1) HATES anything “public”!
2) HATES anything “union”!
3) HATES anything where women are the majority and even appear to “run the show”!
So, when it comes to teachers, this is, for the old, white, conservative, angry, bitter, jealous, paranoid, enraged, males of the USA, what they called a “Trifecta” or a “Triple Play”. (Notice how they love—seemingly out of an inability to understand other types of analogies—the “Sports Metaphor”?)
When you go after teachers you HIT ALL THREE at once. And each one represents some hated stereotype from earlier in your life:
– Those teachers who were always on my back, telling me what to do, had it out for me from day one! And their work was and is SO EASY too! All teachers have to do is yell at kids to keep quiet and do their work, and they can just relax and read magazines and stuff, and the get gobs of vacation time, a big fat guaranteed pension AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT FROM MY TAXES!!! (Ayn Rand was right!!! Extremely Right!!!)
– Those good union jobs that made a LOT of money but they wouldn’t let ME in the union just because I didn’t know anyone. And so I had to work MUCH HARDER than those lazy, protected UNION WORKERS who never have to lift a finger and their jobs are absolutely protected for life, no matter what. And if you complain, they send their Mafia Style Union Thug Enforcers to threaten you and your family, so you have to comply, or else.
– Just like my ex-wife, who RUINED me with that alimony and child support, and now she still has her nice, big fat paycheck, and her new rich boyfriend, AND she bleeds me dry every month and I have to live in this rented room in a basement, or my parents house and I can barely buy enough food to eat and she lives in a penthouse on top of her mansion!!! I also once had a really BOSSY woman for a BOSS! (Ask women: Even they’ll ADMIT that they would MUCH rather work for a man than a woman because even they know that women are just born to be nosy, and bossy and bitchy!!! I HATE places where women are in charge!!!
So, while that doesn’t explain all of it, that’s a big part of it. And if you have doubts about the latter, why do we almost NEVER hear these same big, aging, white guys criticize the Cops Union, or the Firefighters Union, or the union for NFL, NBA or MLB players; is is maybe because ALL of those unions shared one thing in common: they’re overwhelmingly MALE!
Agree, PSP.
as a female, I was hesitant to call out males on this one, but I have observed that the majority of “angry” ( actually irrational, furious, psycho type angry) does seem to radiate from middle aged, straight, white males.
But they actually do support the NFL players association .
Go figure.