Teachers Against Sonny's Eliminating Retirement COLA

We, the undersigned teachers in the public school systems in the State of Georgia, and our family members and friends and innumerable acquaintances (including the families of our students), take severe umbrage at your recent efforts to undermine the security of our teacher retirement. Your actions violate all notions of fairness and equity, and appear to be another typical government confiscation from the "little guy."  When an individual decided to pursue a career as a teacher, he or she knew that, unlike politics, it was a field where a person would not make a lot of money. However, the feeling of satisfaction in helping to educate children was of such importance that we undertook the thankless task anyway. One of the key decisions in accepting such a low-paying salary was the assurance that, if we worked for relatively low wages during our career, we would receive a good retirement package. That retirement package included a guaranteed and defined benefit payment each year equal to a defined percentage of the average of our highest two years of career compensation. That defined retirement benefit was to be increased every six months by a cost of living adjustment equal to 1 1/2% of the prior payments. It was not to be decreased if the irresponsible political actions of our officials engendered another great depression. Each county and its taxpayers were on the hook, realizing and acknowledging the entire time, the critical importance of education in allowing Georgia to remain a prosperous State. We accepted the offer and made a contract with the government: we fully performed under its terms; and now you want to abrogate its terms retroactively in violation of both the spirit and letter of law. At best, your actions constitute a violation of the constitutional prohibitions against government interfering with existing contracts (especially on an ex post facto basis). At worst, it smacks of unadulterated politics which we perceive to be egregiously offensive to all teachers in the system. Since you have chosen to make this issue political, we, the below signed, shall respond, in a political manner, by pledging upon our solemn oaths, that, unless you revoke your position on this matter in writing before November 2nd, 2008, we, and all the friends, family members and acquaintances we can persuade, will vote against  republican state senators and representatives who have the power to stop this unwise action, but fail to do so. This admittedly political action is in direct response to your attempt to harm us financially; and thus, in response, we will harm you politically, if it's within our power to do so. Nothing in this petition prevents us from voting for republicans in the National elections and in city and county local elections, but the republican State Representatives and Senators will suffer from your haughty political arrogance and demeaning posture. Perhaps these republicans colleagues, who are already under seige,  can talk some sense into you if your innate notions of fairness and decency can't speak on their own. We will be anxiously watching the press and news for your change of heart. If it doesn't come, we intend to fulfill our promises contained herein (even though some of us might otherwise still be, or once have been, republicans).

If no action is taken, we intend to form a political action committee of teachers and their supporters designed to make sure that, in the future, teachers have real representation in government rather than via boards stacked with appointed puppets. This will entail defeating all candidates (including any with US Senatorial ambitions) who are perceived as paying only lip service to teachers and the sanctity of existing legal contracts.

Thanking you for your kind consideration of the petition of those with the numbers to oust you, we are

Very Truly Yours,