The Illinois Federation of Tax Eaters, also known as Organized Labor, rallied at the State Capitol in Springfield April 21st, demanding a tax increase to pay for the government services they provide.
The crowd was not lacking in amusing examples of absurdity. Take, for example, the Chicago teacher who hammed it up for the camera: “Where’s the money? Where is the money? Save our children! Give up the bucks! Where’s the cash? We need it fast!”
With that type of rhetoric, perhaps she would fit better in John Dillinger’s gang than teaching our future. And naturally, it’s all about the children. What’s most offensive about teachers’ union tactics is the breadth with which they use children as human shields to strong-arm their agenda.
Or take the other tax eater who shouted into the microphone, “Raise my taxes! Raise my taxes!”
Or the SEIU official who led the “Yes We Can” chant just yards from the table selling Barack Obama t-shirts and posters.
Or the AFL-CIO guy who explained to the crowd, “People are hurting. That’s why we need a tax increase.”
Or the SEIU members who walked up to us wanting to tell their story. When asked how they got there yesterday, both – who were not together – replied, “the bus.”
One S-E-I-ooee-er explained that the tax increase wouldn’t be on everyone, just those business owners who can afford it. When asked if she was a business owner, and she replied “yes,” and she was then asked, “should you have a tax increase?” Her reply: “Well, I don’t make what they make.” Of course!
Yes, SEIU, that grassroots, bottom-up-style phenom, bused the Astroturf nearly two hundred miles from Chicago to the state capitol to pressure lawmakers into raising tax by nearly $2 billion.
And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the gall to call the elderly sitting in lawn chairs at Tea Party protests “Astroturf.”
Sorry, Nance, the Astroturf is actually on your side, trying to implement your agenda.