Welcome to the dance!

You didn't think teachers would be facing this nonsense  all alone, did you?

Governor Christie on Monday will propose a permanent 2.5 percent limit on annual raises for public workers, including police, firefighters and teachers, and will allow towns to discard civil service rules governing employee hiring and firing...

"People in New Jersey now feel as if there have become two classes of people in New Jersey: Public employees who receive rich benefits, and those who pay for them," Christie said in a recent speech to mayors. "We collectively have to do something about it."

This is, of course, exactly how Christie wants it. Blame the growing income inequity in this country on public workers who dare to have decent health care and modest pensions they have been contributing to throughout their careers.

The inflation rate today, BTW, is about 2.3%. Some estimate the ten year rate at 2.5%.

If you buy into Christie's plan, you are telling every professional in state, county, and local government that what they make at the beginning of their career will be the same as what they make at the end in real purchasing power.

That is, of course, assuming the worker isn't promoted. Promotions are far more likely in law enforcement, however, than they are in education. Many teachers don't go on to become principals, nor should they - we want the talent down with the kids.

The point is you are telling people who want to be teachers to never expect to make any more than they make at the beginning of their career. Can you think of any profession that works like that? Priests and nuns, maybe.