Dubious_JJ merit_NN1 of_IO longevity_NN1 for_IF teachers_NN2 Arthur_NP1 Mark_NP1 's_GE Dec._NPM1 19_MC letter_NN1 protesting_VVG merit_NN1 pay_NN1 for_IF teachers_NN2 stipulates_VVZ his_APPGE credentials_NN2 as_CSA "_" having_VHG worked_VVN 57_MC years_NNT2 in_II education_NN1 as_II a_AT1 classroom_NN1 teacher_NN1 ..._... and_CC finally_RR full_JJ professor_NN1 of_IO education_NN1 ._. "_" 
May_VM I_PPIS1 suggest_VVI that_CST such_DA a_AT1 background_NN1 is_VBZ sufficient_JJ to_TO disqualify_VVI his_APPGE antediluvian_JJ position_NN1 that_CST we_PPIS2 should_VM n't_XX pay_VVI the_AT best_JJT teachers_NN2 the_AT most_DAT money_NN1 ,_, as_CSA virtually_RR every_AT1 other_JJ profession_NN1 does_VDZ ?_? 
The_AT idea_NN1 that_CST you_PPY should_VM get_VVI more_RRR pay_VV0 merely_RR by_II living_VVG longer_RRR in_II the_AT job_NN1 is_VBZ ,_, well_RR ,_, Mr._NNB Mark_NP1 's_GE frame_NN1 of_IO reference_NN1 ._. 
Alan_NP1 Weiss_NP1 East_ND1 Greenwich_NP1 Americans_NN2 far_RG more_RGR frustrated_JJ than_CSN Obama_NP1 President_NNB Obama_NP1 expressed_VVD his_APPGE "_" frustration_NN1 "_" on_II Dec._NPM1 18_MC with_IW the_AT notion_NN1 that_CST his_APPGE $100_NNU billion_NNO overture_NN1 in_II Copenhagen_NP1 was_VBDZ not_XX soundly_RR embraced_VVN ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ subsequently_RR not_XX worshiped_VVN as_II the_AT savior_NN1 of_IO the_AT summit_NN1 ._. 
Okay_RR ,_, Mr._NNB President_NP1 ,_, let_VV0 me_PPIO1 help_NN1 define_VVI frustration_NN1 so_RG even_RR an_AT1 elitist_JJ bureaucrat_NN1 like_II you_PPY can_VM understand_VVI it_PPH1 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ having_VHG to_TO choose_VVI between_II gas_NN1 or_CC groceries_NN2 this_DD1 week_NNT1 ,_, and_CC heat_NN1 or_CC rent_VV0 at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO the_AT month_NNT1 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ watching_VVG your_APPGE hard-earned_JJ investments_NN2 ebb_VV0 and_CC flow_NN1 like_II the_AT tide_NN1 on_II a_AT1 full_JJ moon_NN1 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ being_VBG told_VVN that_CST your_APPGE services_NN2 are_VBR no_RR21 longer_RR22 needed_VVN after_II 15_MC years_NNT2 at_II your_APPGE job_NN1 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ watching_VVG the_AT bank_NN1 auction_VVI off_RP your_APPGE home_NN1 and_CC belongings_NN2 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ telling_VVG your_APPGE 20-year-old_JJ that_CST the_AT money_NN1 you_PPY thought_VVD you_PPY had_VHD for_IF her_APPGE second_MD year_NNT1 of_IO college_NN1 is_VBZ no_RR21 longer_RR22 there_RL ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ listening_VVG to_II your_APPGE local_JJ politicians_NN2 tell_VV0 you_PPY they_PPHS2 ca_VM n't_XX pay_VVI the_AT municipal_JJ bills_NN2 and_CC they_PPHS2 need_VV0 still_RR more_DAR of_IO your_APPGE money_NN1 ._. 
Frustration_NN1 is_VBZ living_VVG in_II one_MC1 small_JJ room_NN1 in_II a_AT1 half-way_JJ house_NN1 with_IW your_APPGE 4-year-old_JJ son_NN1 and_CC wondering_VVG how_RRQ you_PPY will_VM explain_VVI that_CST there_EX will_VM be_VBI no_AT presents_NN2 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ just_RR a_AT1 short_JJ list_NN1 of_IO the_AT frustrations_NN2 of_IO real_JJ folks_NN2 I_PPIS1 have_VH0 spoken_VVN with_IW recently_RR ._. 
So_RR ,_, Mr._NNB President_NP1 ,_, as_CSA you_PPY contemplate_VV0 how_RRQ to_TO throw_VVI away_RL more_DAR of_IO the_AT American_JJ taxpayers_NN2 '_GE money_NN1 on_II things_NN2 like_II helping_VVG some_DD piddling_JJ ,_, dictatorial_JJ ,_, Third-World_NN1 nations_NN2 (_( that_CST hate_VV0 our_APPGE guts_NN2 anyhow_RR )_) spew_VV0 less_DAR smog_NN1 ,_, or_CC maybe_RR how_RRQ to_TO spend_VVI away_RL our_APPGE grandchildren_NN2 's_GE future_NN1 while_CS simultaneously_RR destroying_VVG the_AT greatest_JJT health-care_NN1 system_NN1 on_II the_AT planet_NN1 ,_, would_VM you_PPY please_RR take_VVI a_AT1 knee_NN1 ,_, gather_VV0 your_APPGE senses_NN2 ,_, and_CC think_VV0 of_IO the_AT real_JJ problems_NN2 confronting_VVG our_APPGE country_NN1 ._. 
We_PPIS2 are_VBR sinking_VVG fast_RR ,_, and_CC all_DB this_DD1 man_NN1 and_CC his_APPGE socialist_JJ buddies_NN2 can_VM do_VDI is_VBZ throw_VVI us_PPIO2 anchor_NN1 ,_, after_CS anchor_NN1 ,_, after_CS anchor_NN1 ._. 
You_PPY 're_VBR frustrated_VVN ,_, Mr._NNB President_NP1 ?_? 
No_UH ,_, we_PPIS2 are_VBR frustrated_VVN ,_, sir_NN1 ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 are_VBR looking_VVG for_IF some_DD of_IO that_DD1 hope_NN1 and_CC change_VV0 you_PPY promised_VVD ._. 
Be_VB0 the_AT leader_NN1 you_PPY were_VBDR elected_VVN to_TO be_VBI !_! 
Fred_NP1 Comella_NP1 Barrington_NP1 Selective_JJ denunciation_NN1 ?_? 
Regarding_II Froma_NP1 Harrop_NP1 's_GE Dec._NPM1 20_MC column_NN1 ,_, "_" Joe_NP1 Lieberman_NP1 's_GE big_JJ picture_NN1 "_" :_: It_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 shame_NN1 that_CST Froma_NP1 Harrop_NP1 ca_VM n't_XX find_VVI a_AT1 better_JJR argument_NN1 for_IF health-care_NN1 reform_NN1 than_CSN a_AT1 bizarre_JJ fantasy_NN1 about_II some_DD future_JJ job_NN1 that_CST Joe_NP1 Lieberman_NP1 might_VM want_VVI to_TO get_VVI as_II a_AT1 lobbyist_NN1 for_IF the_AT insurance_NN1 industry_NN1 ._. 
I_PPIS1 ca_VM n't_XX recall_VVI such_DA an_AT1 ad_JJ21 hominem_JJ22 on_II someone_PN1 for_IF something_PN1 they_PPHS2 supposedly_RR might_VM do_VDI in_II the_AT future_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ also_RR highly_RR selective_JJ condemnation_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ makes_VVZ it_PPH1 less_RGR convincing_JJ ._. 
What_DDQ about_II Sen._NNB Chris_NP1 Dodd_NP1 's_GE close_JJ ties_NN2 to_II the_AT banks_NN2 and_CC real-estate_JJ interests_NN2 he_PPHS1 regulates_VVZ ?_? 
What_DDQ about_II those_DD2 senators_NN2 ignoring_VVG tort_NN1 reform_NN1 after_II trial_NN1 lawyers_NN2 have_VH0 made_VVN $1_NNU billion_NNO in_II political_JJ contributions_NN2 ?_? 
How_RRQ about_II a_AT1 little_JJ indignation_NN1 about_II the_AT industry_NN1 payoffs_VVZ that_CST have_VH0 actually_RR happened_VVN ?_? 
Richard_NP1 E._NP1 Ralston_NP1 Newport_NP1 Beach_NN1 ,_, Calif_NP1 ._. 
The_AT writer_NN1 is_VBZ executive_JJ director_NN1 of_IO Americans_NN2 for_IF Free_JJ Choice_NN1 in_II Medicine_NN1 ._. 
Editor_NN1 's_GE note_NN1 :_: Ms_NNB Harrop_NP1 has_VHZ frequently_RR denounced_VVN Senator_NNB Dodd_NP1 for_IF his_APPGE close_JJ ties_NN2 with_IW the_AT real_JJ estate_NN1 and_CC financial_JJ businesses_NN2 and_CC has_VHZ frequently_RR strongly_RR supported_VVN medical_JJ tort_NN1 reform_NN1 ._. 
Enough_DD teacher_NN1 bashing_VVG !_! 
During_II my_APPGE 20_MC years_NNT2 as_II a_AT1 teacher_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 have_VH0 withstood_VVN continuous_JJ insult_NN1 :_: Teachers_NN2 are_VBR overpaid_VVN ,_, under_II worked_JJ ,_, incompetent_JJ and_CC the_AT tools_NN2 of_IO union_NN1 leaders_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 pattern_NN1 of_IO abuse_NN1 has_VHZ become_VVN an_AT1 accepted_JJ and_CC expected_JJ job_NN1 hazard_NN1 ,_, but_CCB the_AT editorial_JJ "_" Students_NN2 over_II seniority_NN1 "_" (_( Nov._NPM1 7_MC )_) is_VBZ the_AT last_MD straw_NN1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 parenthetical_JJ aside_RL ,_, the_AT editors_NN2 graciously_RR allow_VV0 ,_, "_" That_DD1 is_VBZ not_XX to_TO say_VVI that_CST schoolteachers_NN2 do_VD0 n't_XX want_VVI to_TO help_VVI young_JJ people_NN ;_; of_RR21 course_RR22 they_PPHS2 do_VD0 !_! "_" as_CS21 if_CS22 it_PPH1 pains_VVZ them_PPHO2 to_TO concede_VVI that_CST teachers_NN2 might_VM accidentally_RR help_VVI a_AT1 child_NN1 ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 marvel_NN1 that_CST teachers_NN2 have_VH0 time_NNT1 for_IF even_RR inadvertent_JJ education_NN1 ,_, since_CS the_AT editors_NN2 ,_, I_PPIS1 think_VV0 ,_, often_RR imply_VV0 that_CST teachers_NN2 spend_VV0 most_DAT of_IO their_APPGE hours_NNT2 in_II greedy_JJ pursuit_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 non-productive_JJ work_NN1 day_NNT1 ._. 
This_DD1 parenthetical_JJ nod_NN1 to_II teachers_NN2 is_VBZ not_XX worth_II the_AT paper_NN1 it_PPH1 is_VBZ written_VVN on_RP ._. 
The_AT editors_NN2 then_RT argue_VV0 along_RP the_AT predictable_JJ lines_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE anti-union_JJ bias_NN1 ,_, though_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ at_II the_AT expense_NN1 of_IO basic_JJ legality_NN1 ._. 
They_PPHS2 allege_VV0 that_CST the_AT teachers_NN2 unions_NN2 must_VM not_XX prevail_VVI in_II the_AT pending_JJ lawsuit_NN1 which_DDQ challenges_VVZ the_AT superintendent_NN1 's_GE ability_NN1 to_TO ignore_VVI seniority_NN1 when_CS assigning_VVG teaching_NN1 positions_NN2 ._. 
In_II the_AT editors_NN2 '_GE view_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 union_NN1 victory_NN1 would_VM prove_VVI the_AT state_NN1 's_GE labor_NN1 laws_NN2 are_VBR "_" stacked_VVN heavily_RR against_II the_AT public_JJ interest_NN1 "_" and_CC in_II dire_JJ need_NN1 of_IO reform_NN1 ._. 
However_RR ,_, the_AT exact_JJ opposite_NN1 is_VBZ true_JJ :_: If_CS teachers_NN2 unions_NN2 prevail_VV0 ,_, it_PPH1 is_VBZ a_AT1 victory_NN1 for_IF the_AT rule_NN1 of_IO law_NN1 ._. 
In_II this_DD1 matter_NN1 ,_, the_AT law_NN1 is_VBZ unambiguous_JJ ._. 
Unions_NN2 are_VBR legal_JJ entities_NN2 (_( Commonwealth_NN1 v._II Hunt_NP1 ,_, 1842_MC )_) and_CC have_VH0 the_AT right_NN1 to_TO bargain_VVI collectively_RR (_( National_JJ Labor_NN1 Relation_NN1 Act_NN1 ,_, 1935_MC )_) ._. 
According_II21 to_II22 venerated_JJ Chief_JJ Justice_NN1 John_NP1 Marshall_NP1 ,_, negotiated_JJ contracts_NN2 are_VBR "_" sacred_JJ "_" and_CC "_" inviolable_JJ ._. "_" 
The_AT notion_NN1 that_CST state_VV0 legislatures_NN2 can_VM not_XX interfere_VVI with_IW contracts_NN2 is_VBZ not_XX merely_RR principle_NN1 :_: It_PPH1 is_VBZ accepted_JJ law_NN1 (_( Fletcher_NP1 v._II Peck_NP1 ,_, 1810_MC and_CC Dartmouth_NP1 College_NN1 v._II Woodward_NP1 ,_, 1819_MC )_) ._. 
The_AT public_JJ interest_NN1 would_VM be_VBI harmed_VVN if_CS the_AT unions_NN2 lose_VV0 this_DD1 challenge_NN1 ._. 
Whatever_DDQV one_MC1 's_GE position_NN1 on_II the_AT issue_NN1 of_IO seniority_NN1 ,_, circumventing_VVG the_AT legal_JJ system_NN1 serves_VVZ no_PN121 one_PN122 ._. 
Arthur_NP1 Rustigian_JJ Greene_NP1 The_AT writer_NN1 teaches_VVZ history_NN1 at_II Classical_JJ High_JJ School_NN1 ._. 
Oh_UH ,_, the_AT humanity_NN1 !_! 
Why_RRQ do_VD0 our_APPGE members_NN2 of_IO Congress_NN1 think_VV0 that_CST working_JJ weekends_NNT2 is_VBZ such_DA a_AT1 sacrifice_NN1 on_II their_APPGE part_NN1 that_CST it_PPH1 warrants_VVZ a_AT1 press_NN1 release_NN1 ?_? 
Some_DD of_IO us_PPIO2 have_VH0 been_VBN doing_VDG that_DD1 our_APPGE whole_JJ lives_NN2 ._. 
