National teacher union heads make more than $360,000 a year, 3 times more than highest paid WA school administrator

Apparently it pays to be a union leader, even if it doesn't necessarily pay to be a union member.


Check out this Fox News article about national teacher union heads raking in the money while average teachers scratch out a living.  The article says the national average teacher salary is $44,000 a year, while union leaders earn shockingly high average salaries:

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten's pay jumped to $407,323 between 2010 and 2011, while her counterpart at the National Education Association, Dennis Van Roekel, got a raise to $362,644. Factor in stipends and other paid expenses and Weingarten took in $493,859 and Van Roekel $460,060 for 2011. 

To summarize: the lowest paid of two national teachers' union presidents makes about three times more than the highest paid WA public school administrator.  This, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In Washington State, the average teacher salary is $63,636 ($53,056 base salary, $10,580 additional salary), and $18,075 in benefits.

I'm still searching for information on what Washington Education Association union leadership gets paid.

You can check the figures for individual school districts at the Freedom Foundation website; or at the Bureau of Labor Statistics site.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/14/teacher-union-bigs-rake-in-dough-despite-budget-cuts-across-education-sector/?intcmp=trending#ixzz20cq3dosX

My war on the war on women

Be a slut!  That's the new strategy of some Democratic activists, who aim to make the offensive term cute and trendy.  I can hardly wait for the t-shirt.

From ABC News' website:  'Sluts' Unite Against Republicans, Rush Limbaugh

Watch out Republicans, here come the sluts.

Women’s rights activists are banding together to “Rock the Slut Vote” in an online effort to register women to vote and cast their ballots against Republicans in 2012.

Isn't that just the cutest thing?  Go on, girls.  Register as a slut!  Just think of the respect you will command as a result!

Remember, this is going on while the media continually circulates and recirculates the mythological Republican "war on women" propaganda (a lot of which originates from the same place).

• moveon.org's talking points on the supposed war on women  (not dated)
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/gop-women-issues_n_1571199.html (June 5)
• A petition made to look like it sprang from the minds of offended women -- but it's actually funded by Emily's List and moveon.org

They've even made their own Facebook Page, and there are many more similar sites out there.  Conveniently, they all sport eerily similar text, so as not to confuse their female audience, I guess.   Hmmm.

Looks like somebody's got a war on women going... and it's not Conservatives.

State Republican Convention Goes for Romney – Divide With Paul Forces is in Full Evidence

Another overview (fairly detailed) of the Washington GOP Convention, posted by the Washington State Wire.  Interesting that Republicans had full-plus participation, but the Democrats had trouble filling their seats.


State Republican Convention Goes for Romney – Divide With Paul Forces is in Full Evidence

'Kind of like a family': Republicans finish state convention in Tacoma - Tacoma News Tribune - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports

Follow-up to yesterday's blog.  The Convention is behind us, so now we move forward to replace the occupant of the White House.


'Kind of like a family': Republicans finish state convention in Tacoma - Tacoma News Tribune - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington news, weather and sports

Washington Republicans find common ground

(Trying out Blogger on my iPhone! Typing on tiny keyboard may cure me of wordiness.) (Or just give me tired fingers.)

Ron Paul and Mitt Romney supporters at the WA Republican State Convention were United in dissatisfaction with Obama's failed presidency this weekend.

There were spirited shouting and vocal demonstrations on day one, showing the passion for each side's candidate. I wondered if we'd suffer in November as a result of infighting. But it seems the same thing that brought a record 50,000 people to the precinct caucuses is working to unite us in spite of differences. In fact, on an individual level people were courteous and good-humored.

In the long process (it's 3 pm and we're still voting on delegates and electors) I think all sides are being represented. Deliberate delaying tactics (SO annoying) are not as evident as in other settings. Folks have a chance to be heard.

Much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing dozens of people speak briefly on their candidacy for only a few at-large slots to the National Convention. It's taken hours even though each was limited to 30 seconds at the mic.

We have some powerfully good speakers in our midst, many of them fairly new to the political process.

Women and minorities were well-represented among delegates on the floor, and those seeking slots at the National.

Looks really good for our future... and we haven't even started on the platform yet! I'm interested to see if it's a big enough umbrella for the passionate opinions represented here today. More when I find out.

In the meantime, Quotable moments from the Washington State Republican Convention in Tacoma:

Convention Chair Kirby Wilbur complimented the Ron Paul and Mitt Romney delegates for their civility, adding, "there's more that unites us than divides us." BIG Standing ovation from the whole room!

"We've got to unite to take back out country," Wilbur said. "...Everyone brings something to the table."

"I've made up my mind not to be impatient." --Overheard comment by a delegate, while we heard from dozens of candidates for at-large National Convention delegate slots.

"The data is in: the president of the United States is a failure...It's science, so you can't argue with it." The crowd applauded and shouted its approval of this great line from David Shemwell, a scientist running for alternate to the National Convention.

More later!