Not sure if you have heard about the drastic budget cuts out in California due to the deficit of some 15 Billion Dollars, but it is really affecting California in a difficult way.
One of the cuts that had to be made was the layoffs of police, fire, and school teachers.
Now, many Los Angeles Unified School District teachers angry about layoffs (5000), district budget cuts, and reductions in benefits and pay decided to go on hunger strike.
Then they dutifully called the newspaper to make sure they got the desired publicity.
This raises a serious issue, you see, malnourishment causes less protein to the brain, rendering them unable to teach, and could cause them to collapse in the classroom or become ill.
When a teacher who has full benefits goes to the hospital the taxpayer pays the bills.
The health insurance plans that the teachers get is quite a good package, some say over the top.
Although it does not pay for Viagra like the GM union workers, it does cover a multi page laundry list of things.
Lastly, parents should be watching this with a careful eye because this type of protest will be remembered by students, who up until now have only caused temper tantrums when they did not get their way.
Now some might say that a hunger strike, if short lived would be like fasting for a week or two and that could help them lose weight.
Sure, that's true, as all Americans could shed a few pounds, but I think we can see this as a PR play and it sets a bad example for our children and society.