A minimally functioning democratic society

An estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Ohio workers came together at their statehouse in Columbus on Tuesday to protest against Senate Bill 5. If passed, the bill would eliminate “collective bargaining for state employees and restrict binding arbitration for police and fire unions,” directly affecting “about 42,000 state workers and close to 20,000 employed in higher education.”     

In response to the massive public demonstrations, officials limited the number of people allowed into the statehouse, leaving a large majority of the protestors locked outside in “27-degree weather and light snow.”

Diana Turner, a member of the Ohio and Columbus education associations who teaches high school juniors and seniors, commented on the fact that the bill will restrict the control she has over her own classroom and make it more difficult for her to assist students.

“Class size is one of the things we bargain ... if someone who hasn’t been in a class for years tries to come in and determine that for us, it won’t be in the best interests of the students,” she said.     

Steve Nash, a firefighter from Solon, Ohio, who traveled 160 miles to protest the bill, said, “We are willing to stand out here and talk ... and if (Kasich is) not willing to come out, then that proves why we need collective bargaining.”  

A new Gallup poll also shows that the American population overwhelming opposes the legislations being proposed in places like Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. “One-third of Americans said they would favor such a bill (eliminating collective bargaining rights for state unions) in their own state, while 61 percent would oppose it.”

Republicans have attempted to advertise Senate Bill 5 as something “of which is designed to set the stage for economic growth” and as “part of a program to make sure that we can revitalize, save Ohio, restore entrepreneurship and create jobs.”  

However, on Feb. 8, after first introducing the bill, Republican Ohio Senator Shannon Jones spoke plainly and candidly about the intentions behind the legislation. “I am doing this because I want to give the government flexibility and control over its work force.”

Phrases like “control over its work force” have such deep totalitarian strains that the level of indoctrination the American people must be submitted to in order to stay passive and apolitical after hearing such comments has to be utterly extraordinary.  

In a minimally functioning democratic society, labor unions and other organizations would be able to submit their own proposals to state legislators.

Yet, in our current political system, the American population is forced to gather together in front of capital buildings, locked outside in below freezing temperatures, shouting “No” as loudly as they can in order for their voices to be heard.


E-mail: mardunbar@indiana.edu