Carol Baranowsky – 12/12/06

This page was last updated on December 12, 2006.

Outsource the commissioners; Carol Baranowsky; Beaver County Times; December 12, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“It is my opinion that the only ‘factual misstatements and misconceptions’ arising out of an honest judge’s ruling belongs to the Beaver County Commissioners, i.e., the good ole boys network.”

[RWC] I can’t help but wonder if the “honest” label is contingent on the judge ruling the way Ms. Baranowsky wants. Why do I believe Ms. Baranowsky would have included the judge in “the good ole boys network” if he had ruled differently?

“In the first place, privatization of any county facility should have been placed on the ballot as a referendum and let the people of Beaver County decide who they want to run the jail.”

[RWC] Why? We elect the commissioners to manage County government. I suspect Ms. Baranowsky wants a referendum for any decision with which she disagrees.

“Perhaps the commissioners would also like to privatize their domain and see how the courthouse employees would fare under an out-of-state entity.”

[RWC] If turning over some courthouse operations to the private sector made sense, I would expect the Commissioners to pursue that option.

“It’s time for ‘D’ and ‘C’ (Commissioners Dan Donatella and Charlie Camp) to run and take a vacation with former state Rep. Mike Veon because they have also lapped at the Beaver County trough long enough that the mess/mash has turned sour.”

[RWC] I wonder why Ms. Baranowsky failed to mention Commissioner Joe Spanik. After all, Mr. Spanik was labor union management’s candidate and he too supported privatizing jail operations.

Far be it from me to defend Democrats and RINOs, but what’s the comparison between the Commissioners and Mr. Veon? Mr. Veon voted himself a huge unconstitutional pay raise at the taxpayers’ expense and was the only rep who voted against the repeal. The Commissioners were doing the opposite. They were trying to save the taxpayers money.

“Politicians are trying to give away the jails, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, jobs for the people.”

[RWC] Nobody’s “trying to give away the jails [or] the Pennsylvania Turnpike.” If I hire someone to operate my office building, am I giving away my building? Why do employees of the jail or the Turnpike have to be government employees? Hint: It’s all about labor union management.

“[J]obs for the people?” Translation: labor union jobs. As a reminder, there was nothing to stop CiviGenics employees at the jail from forming or joining a union.

“What next? Perhaps we should let them outsource the schools to Australia.”

[RWC] Does Ms. Baranowsky not know the County Commissioners don’t run the schools?

“Wake up, people, and support Judge Robert Kunselman’s wise decision. He’s a lone voice of reason in the ‘Give Away America Program.’”

[RWC] Our first concern should be whether or not the judge followed the law. If Judge Kunselman properly followed the law, then so be it. If Judge Kunselman – or any judge – ruled based on his own personal policy preferences, that would be wrong.