View Full Version : Election???
It's almost time to vote. Some members have all ready voted but who do you vote for?
If you're a member of the IAFF, our union is backing Obama.
Should you vote for who the union backs locally and or nationally?
I'm torn with this issue. Please, any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated... I think this one could get interesting.
I would have voted for Ron Paul, but he is not running (I think) and he had a snowball's chance anyway. Therefore again, my vote goes to the slightly lesser of two (2) evils, "Killer McKain" and what's her name. Thank you. HB of CJ :) :) :)
Gonna vote Obama. McCain is old and might not make it through the 4 year term. So that leaves us Palin. And women make decisions with EMOTIONS!! Do you really want somebody who makes irrational decisions with HER finger on the button? I know I don't.
But she is kinda hot....In a Tina Fey kinda way:)
HB of CJ & ASH702,
I like both your responses & respect your opinions... But what I'm asking here is, when we go to the polls should we vote for who our UNION backs?
I think it's a good idea when your talking about local and maybe state elections. But when it comes to voting for the president of the USA does it really mater who our UNION tells us vote for?:confused:
I think I'm going to vote with the union for Nevada State Senate & Assembly. As for Judicial voting, I have my own opinion on some judges I like & dislike. :rolleyes:
But when voting for the big guy, I think that is a personal choice.
Unless someone can convince me to vote with the IAFF, just because the IAFF tells me to, please educate me.
firemedic301
10-22-08, 17:03
First and formost I vote for who I think is the BEST for America!!!! Union stuff is very very secondary.
Berdoo Beau
10-22-08, 21:36
Howdy All - Please allow me to clarify...
Regardless of what your local union, state reps or the IAFF says - remember ONE thing... it is, in fact, your civic duty to vote. Notice that I wrote 'duty' and not 'right'. Voting is a privilege afforded to you through your status as a citizen of the United States and it's democratic process. Please keep in mind that our unions and service reps 'suggest' how you cast your vote in accordance with how those candidates will support "our" cause, benefits, retirement, etc. They do not "tell" you how to vote.
It is your responsibility to invest some time and energy in understanding the issues, the candidates and their platform of ideas and plans for reform. Like everything else you do in your professional career... lead by example and VOTE!
Duty, Honor, Country. Works for the military and the Fire Service IS a para-military organization. Do the right thing and cast your vote. Then you can encourage others to follow your example. Can't make it to your ballot center? Then apply for permanent absentee ballot status and ALL your ballot material will be mailed to you. In the comfort of your own home you can take your sweet time and decide on the candidates and the propositions without pressure and mail it in at your leisure... even while enjoying a beer or glass of wine. Does it get any better than that???
Cheers!
Bill
Steve is 100% correct! No shock here, but unions arent always right. Let me ask you this. Did your union reps contact every single member and ask their opinion? Not likely. They speak on behalf of what they think is best for them (union as a whole). YOU pick who YOU think is best. Regardless of influence or popular vote.
firemedic301
10-23-08, 00:34
Friday Competitive Edge, do I need to bring the Honda?
So Adam,
I guess since we're gonna slurp,...(slurp, slurp)...
I agree, 1 thousand & 100%. Vote for who YOU think would be the best president for the country. Right on right on...
I feel that most of the locally UNION backed candidates would help my (& maybe your) department best. Contract negotiations, new stations, equipment, personnel, working conditions, Blah blah blah.??? Blah, blah...
As for my union reps contacting local & state candidates to find out what we want as a union as a whole... Of course they did. I know this for a fact... I wouldn't expect anything less from my union, I pay them right?
There are candidates running right now that want to do away with our (NEVADA's) heart & lung BILL (cancer stuff)... Think I'm gonna vote with the union on this one. Cali has something like that right? Is one of your candidates trying to do the same? Do you even know? Or are you (no one person singled out here) just one of those "F the union guys until I need them?"
When we're talking about the BIG picture, let's be real... This is a ONE term presidency (Thank God). But, like Berdoo Beau said "how those candidates will support "our" cause,benefits, retirement, etc."
That's the part that means the most to me when talking about the president and the "UNION"....
But when we're talking about pers, BIDEN is the guy that knows a guy that is buddies with the guy that's friends with the guys brother that runs pers... Or something like that.???:confused:
I just don't like his (Biden's) front runner.
Thank you for all the input, information and opinions.
No matter how you vote, JUST GO VOTE!!! Sh1t...
That is all...
You would be the one who knows all about slurrping!!
I do think that locally or even at the state level, you cant go wrong with union leaderships decision. National level is another thing altogether. And for the record, Billy, I am no union hater nor am I one of those guys who takes advantage of them. Of course one of the Locals down here made a bad decision recently......
And Ash is right as well. Palin is HOT!!
Berdoo Beau
10-23-08, 14:02
Young Jedi.... when did I ever imply that you were a hater? Never happen. I just sound off and clarify. I'm the Clarify-er. When things get muddy... send in the Clarify-er!
...or something to that effect.
Cheers!
Bill
Young Jedi.... when did I ever imply that you were a hater? Never happen. I just sound off and clarify. I'm the Clarify-er. When things get muddy... send in the Clarify-er!
...or something to that effect.
Cheers!
Bill
I'll try to help Clarify the Clarify-er? If you were writing in response to MXFF?,?,?, I believe he was talking to me (also named Bill sometimes referred to as Billy by my Fire Dept friends from years ago;)). I kinda sorta maybe said something that he might of thought was meant for him... But it really wasn't, or was it?
Anyway, Berdoo Beau (Bill) thank you for clarifying that you are not a hater.
Then again, nothing really to hate on lately?
KungFooPanda
10-23-08, 21:19
several years ago, i was randomly selected along w/about 20 other southern california f/f's to find out the mind of firefighters and the political process. very interesting. a high percentage of the group all agreed with the fact that the unions almost always want you to vote democrat, but that we all vote with our wallets and crime stats and therefor vote republican.
both sides have good ideas, and both sides have silly ideas. the fire guys agree that we need to do something to assist, but not at the expense of being 'soft' on crime, lazy, generational welfare, and our take home pay.
we want political people to be TRULY HONEST, not cutting secret deals and then sticking it to the working man...rich or poor. but by the time that the pols get that high up the food chain, they often forget the struggle of the little guy who wants his kids to have a decent chance to grow up straight, strong and in a country that espouses the ideas of opportunity and hard work to create those opportunities. not just the free handouts that ultimately enslave people to 'needing' the freebies.
as b-beau says 'it is YOUR civic duty to vote..' if you're on duty for couple of days, your local county will have walkup voting or absentee ballots. riverside county has Galleria @ tyler x 91 frwy, the promenade in Temecula, and a location out in palm desert. JUST VOTE!
Ivladder1...sorry. I didn't read your question closely enough. Truth was I wasn't wearing my glasses. AUUGHHHH! I HATE getting old. HB of CJ :) :) :)
Berdoo Beau
10-24-08, 23:10
Billy... thanks for clarifying the Clarify-er. Clarification is clear when the things that were unclear suddenly become clear (er). Clarifying the last thing that was un-clear has made it perfectly clear for me. Two things come to mind about your clarification: Point 1 = your name is Bill or Billy. This point, in and of itself, is very cool and should be pointed out that, not only is my name Bill or Billy as well but, since both our names are the same and the fact that both of our names are noble in nature and history then = ipso facto = both of us are historically noble and therefore equally cool. Point 2 = since point 1 is basically bullet-proof in logic, reasoning and reference - I congratulate you on your clarification, Oh Noble William of Sin City.
Now, go forth and multiply.
Cheers!
Noble William of Berdoo
firemedic301
10-24-08, 23:54
Billy... thanks for clarifying the Clarify-er. Clarification is clear when the things that were unclear suddenly become clear (er). Clarifying the last thing that was un-clear has made it perfectly clear for me. Two things come to mind about your clarification: Point 1 = your name is Bill or Billy. This point, in and of itself, is very cool and should be pointed out that, not only is my name Bill or Billy as well but, since both our names are the same and the fact that both of our names are noble in nature and history then = ipso facto = both of us are historically noble and therefore equally cool. Point 2 = since point 1 is basically bullet-proof in logic, reasoning and reference - I congratulate you on your clarification, Oh Noble William of Sin City.
Now, go forth and multiply.
Cheers!
Noble William of Berdoo
I'm not kissing butt, but I know both of you and I will second the bolded statement.;)
Hello everyone -
Many of us are who are involved in our union's PAC are currently having the same type of discussions in the stations at my department. I came across this message from the IAFF President a month or so ago and thought that it summed things up pretty well. Good luck!
Our Basket of Issues
This union’s job is to represent you at the federal, state, provincial and local levels of government on issues dealing with your work and quality of life — your employee rights, the right to be represented by your union and work under a collective bargaining agreement, your safety on the job, your financial and retirement security, and making sure employers pay their fair share in taxes so the tax burden isn’t focused squarely on the shoulders of working families.
You pay your dues for us to represent and fight for you on how much you make, the benefits that protect your family’s health, whether you have a secure retirement after a career of risking your life for your community, how many hours you work and spend away from your family, your safety so you make it home to your family after your shift, and making sure your families are taken care of financially if one of our own makes the ultimate sacrifice.
These are what I call the IAFF’s “basket of issues” that we use to measure political candidates.
Just as significant is your personal “basket of issues” — issues that are critically important to each and every member, but issues that should be dealt with in your own hearts — decisions on pro-life/pro-choice, Second Amendment rights, *BLEEP**BLEEP**BLEEP* marriage, prayer in schools — areas I don’t think you want your union focusing on or involving itself in. For guidance on those issues, I expect you probably do what I do in my own personal life — look to the teachings of my church and to the values my parents bestowed on me.
But your Executive Board and I take very seriously this union’s role in providing you the best guidance possible on issues and candidates when it comes to the IAFF’s basket of issues.
That’s why, in the very near future, this union will be taking a strong position in the upcoming election to determine who will be president of the United States.
For us, the decision isn’t about Democrats or Republicans. It’s about supporting our political allies. We take great pride in being the most bipartisan union in the House of Labor. In this election, your IAFF will support more Republican Senate and House candidates than any other labor union. And those endorsement decisions will be made on our basket of issues, not on partisanship.
For us, the decision isn’t about appeasing those IAFF members who may align themselves with one political party or another. The decision to support a candidate is about who deserves or has earned the IAFF’s support based on their stand on our issues.
With our trademark “gold and black” campaign effort, we will support candidates who:
▪ Support and voted for national collective bargaining
rights for all professional fire fighters.
▪ Oppose forcing fire fighters to be covered under Social Security.
▪ Believe the defined benefit retirement programs that cover our
members must be protected.
▪ Favor a system of health care that is provided through employer-sponsored
programs and have a plan to reduce the costs to our members and their employers.
▪ Support appointing judges who will keep fire fighter overtime laws in place
and not overturn the Family Medical Leave Act (FLSA), collective bargaining, OSHA coverage for public workers, ADA and other employment laws that would mean elimination of fire fighter overtime pay and many other workplace rights.
▪ Support authorization and full funding of the FIRE Act and SAFER grant programs.
▪ Oppose so-called paycheck protection measures that are scams to limit the power of workers in unions.
▪ Voted in favor of legislation to expand worker rights, guarantee overtime
pay, raise the minimum wage and promote the ability to organize.
We believe we have a responsibility, as your elected union leaders, to take a position only based on these issues. At the same time, this union also celebrates your right and responsibility to weigh those positions against your basket of personal issues when you enter that voting booth.
Ultimately, I hope you understand why and how we choose the candidates we support. I also hope you understand why we cannot just stand on the sidelines and watch the game be played.
If we did, and if an anti-IAFF candidate was elected president, I would not be able to look you in the eyes if you were forced into mandatory Social Security coverage, or if your employer-paid health care plan got dropped and you were forced to start buying your own health care.
I wouldn’t be able to explain to your families why we supported the candidate who nominated a judge to the Supreme Court who voted to overturn the Garcia decision that protects fire fighters’ overtime pay, because overturning that law would mean tens of thousands of our members would be forced to work extra shifts, away from their families, without receiving a penny extra.
In the end, we build respect on both sides of the aisle and across the political spectrum by being an organization that stands with and supports our friends. Our presidential endorsement will fulfill both that objective and our responsibility.
Thank you and stay safe,
IAFF President Harold Schaitberger
firemedic301
10-25-08, 11:56
I may be alone hear but, that statement DIDN'T make me feel any better about their endorsement.
Hello everyone -
▪ Support appointing judges who will keep fire fighter overtime laws in place
and not overturn the Family Medical Leave Act (FLSA), collective bargaining, OSHA coverage for public workers, ADA and other employment laws that would mean elimination of fire fighter overtime pay and many other workplace rights.
Thank you and stay safe,
IAFF President Harold Schaitberger
FRN-FFS,
You Wrote or quoted... "Family Medical Leave Act (FLSA)"... I'm pretty positive they are two entirely different things... FMLA Family Medical Leave Act is sick leave or vacation leave you can take when a family member is sick, or for other similar circumstances ... FLSA is the Fair Labor Standards Act , completely different. We're talking money (slash) overtime here, not LEAVE... I know you know this, just reiterating.
Might just be a simple typo but if you're gonna print something signed be your union president have it proof read. Maybe up your dues and get him a secretary?
I'm pretty sure it was just a simple, "opps, I meant (FMLA) not (FLSA)." ...I hope...
Strong post but I'm still torn with my decision. It changes almost daily. I'm still kinda leaning towards not the union way for the BIG guy?.?.?.
I want to do what's right for me, my family, my department and my country.
I'm not kissing butt, but I know both of you and I will second the bolded statement.;)
Hey 301!!
Don't know you, but love your post's typically...But remove your lips from the collective Bill A$$!!!:D
LOL!! I crack myself up!!
Sorry about the error in my last post post, I should have proof read before posting it. I'm pretty sure the IAFF knows the difference between the two types of leave and that it was just a typo.
Hopefully the message was helpful to some; I thought it helped separate where the Union stands on issues and what our responsibilities are. On a national level this may be a little harder to apply then a local one.
Good luck in finding your candidate.
firemedic301
10-27-08, 14:26
ASH you are absolutely correct, that was TOTAL kiss a$$, my bad, and damn I'm not even on probation SOOS....( I don't know what SOOS means, but HB has such a good time with it, I thought I'd try it!!!)
No no no no, Steve... it's okay.;)
ASH just wants you to move outta the way so he can have a turn....LOL :eek:
Sooss Steve,
What's with the new AVATAR? Is that your #1 plate? If it is then congrats, and did you roost on Adam to get it?
firemedic301
10-27-08, 17:39
Nope didn't take A. Lux down he chose not to race, something about not wanting to hurt himself????? However he did hang out the last round and show his support.
Yep OFFICIALLY FASTEST of the slow guy's 2008 ;) and DAMN it was a LONGGGGG series and year.
Rest assured, he wont have it next year!!!
firemedic301
10-27-08, 19:35
Rest assured, he wont have it next year!!!
what was that all I heard was, blah blah blah blah blah, I might get the house arrest anklet off next year and race!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek:
P.S. To finish first, you must first finish!!! That all I'm sayin, now get that DAMN house done and throw a party for christ sake.
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