Well folks, Oklahoma has found a new way to screw teachers. I didn't expect SQ779 to pass. It was a tough sell, and frankly, David Boren is an idiot for getting that ball rolling. A regressive tax is not the way to "lift all boats." I hope this was a wake up call for our state's teachers to get involved in the political process.
I thought teachers should go on strike after SQ 779 was rejected, but later found out it is illegal for them to do that! That seems to go against the First Amendment, but good for the union to have that bargaining chip off the table. Seriously, what would Oklahoma do if teachers did go on strike, or conveniently came down with a mysterious illness at the same time? Fire them? We have a teacher shortage. If you have a pulse and a GED, you can get an emergency certification.
Also, please stop paying dues to the teachers union, teachers. Outside of the Oklahoma 429 Bloggers Guild, it's the most toothless, gutless, shittiest union ever. They have a huge voting bloc of educated, employed humans and can't figure out a way to capitalize on that power. The whole thing needs to be gutted.
My wife and her fellow teachers have been emailing and calling their legislators about funding and the responses they have received are, well, exactly what you would expect from an Oklahoma legislator. Here is one from Kevin Calvey. He's the state rep who once threatened to set himself on fire to protest the evils of the Oklahoma Supreme Court:
