Leftists Go Bezerk

by Eric Dondero

You've heard the stories. A hard-working farming or ranching family has the boys waking up at 5:00 in the morning to feed the cows, and the girls to help Mom out in the kitchen to prepare daily meals for the ranch-hands.

Well, to liberals that's simply an outdated notion.

OSHA or some other alphabet soup government agency steps in and fines the family heavily, under so-called "Child Labor Laws." In an increasing amount of cases the family farm or ranch is forced to declare bankruptcy, putting several workers on the un-employment lines.

Conservatives, libertarians: Teach Teens a Work Ethic

Now comes a courageous MO State Senator who is standing up to liberal Nanny-Staters.

From the Riverfront Times, Feb. 15:

Jane Cunningham (R - West County) believes Missouri kids need to improve their work ethic so she's sponsoring a bill (SB 222) that would repeal much of the state's child labor laws.

According to the bill's official summary, children under the age of 14 would no longer be barred from employment. They'd also be able to work all hours of the day, no longer need a work permit from their school and be able to work at motels and resorts... Moreover, businesses that employ children would no longer be subject to inspections from the Division of Labor Standards.

From the Bill:

SB 222 – This act modifies the child labor laws. It eliminates the prohibition on employment of children under age fourteen. Restrictions on the number of hours and restrictions on when a child may work during the day are also removed. It also repeals the requirement that a child ages fourteen or fifteen obtain a work certificate or work permit in order to be employed. Children under sixteen will also be allowed to work in any capacity in a motel, resort or hotel where sleeping accommodations are furnished. It also removes the authority of the director of the Division of Labor Standards to inspect employers who employ children and to require them to keep certain records for children they employ. It also repeals the presumption that the presence of a child in a workplace is evidence of employment.

Better to "Stay in School" say the Busy Body pro-government Nannys

The Senator was quoted at StaffingTalk.com:

[Rep. Cunningham said] her two adult sons both held jobs as minors and are “better for it.”

“My aim is to put back some common sense,” she said. “We’re not doing students any favor by telling them, ‘You cannot work.’ ”

Naturally, the liberals are on the attack. Their argument, not surprisingly, is that 14-year olds are better served being in public indoctrination camps, otherwise known as public education.

Blogger David Gee:

traditional bastions of child labor such as glass factories and textile mills aren’t exactly growth industries today, and there is less demand for newsboys, messengers, bootblacks and peddlers. But surely there is somewhere in this job-starved land, or at least Missouri, where we can pull kids from the classroom and teach them instead about the miseries of low paying working life.

And of course, after high school, there's the ultimate public indoctrination camp, otherwise known as public universities and colleges. And a high unemployment rate keeps those "kiddies" in liberal classrooms til the ripe old age of 22, or 23.