David L. Pyle – 11/22/06

This page was last updated on November 22, 2006.

Reaping what they sowed; David L. Pyle; Beaver County Times; November 22, 2006. An editor’s note alleges, “The writer is a correctional officer at the Beaver County Jail.”

Mr. Pyle wrote at least three previous letters on this topic. I critiqued only the most recent. His first letter is here and the second (“Misplaced spending priorities,” January 3, 2006) is no longer on the website. All were name-calling rants.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I can only try and understand the dilemma that the Beaver County judges faced regarding the attempt by the Beaver County Commissioners to privatize the county jail.

“We corrections officers know that, in theory, they all stood behind us in this legal battle. Their responsibilities are monumental in the ability to balance the law, be fair and remain unbiased in the many issues that they face on a daily basis.

“However, law was created by man, and man must determine what is fair for all parties, which is what happened when Judge Robert E. Kunselman ruled in our favor.

“What the commissioners were attempting to do was at least unfair in negotiations and unfair in labor practices.”

[RWC] Sorry, Mr. Pyle, interpreting the law isn’t about being fair. For example, is it fair for a confessed murderer to get off on a technicality? A judge’s responsibility is to rule based on what the law says, not fairness and not what he’d like the law to say.

I think John Roberts put it right during his 2005 confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Chief Justice when he said, “If the Constitution says that the little guy should win, the little guy’s going to win in court before me. But if the Constitution says that the big guy should win, well, then the big guy’s going to win.”

“I also am sorry for the employees hired by CiviGenics and how that company and the commissioners used them to strike back at county workers.”

[RWC] How did CiviGenics “strike back at county workers?” CiviGenics was asked to bid on running the county jail and that’s what they did.

“Commissioner Charlie Camp, the sun will come up tomorrow.”

[RWC] Huh?

“Commissioner Dan Donatella, you reap what you sow. If you are not sure what that means, ask state Rep. Mike Veon.”

[RWC] Is Mr. Pyle nuts? Mike Veon voted for a payjacking at the expense of taxpayers and refused to repudiate that vote to the end. Mr. Donatella and the other commissioners were trying to protect taxpayers by getting the most “bang” for the taxpayer’s buck. How are these situations remotely similar?

“Commissioner Joe Spanik, you’re not even worth a comment.”

[RWC] Mr. Pyle is upset with Mr. Spanik because, as a former union official, Mr. Spanik had the gall to put the concerns of his employers – we voters and taxpayers – above those of union management. Mr. Pyle expected Mr. Spanik to be a rubberstamp for labor union management.