I am so proud of Arizona........the teacher walkout here over low salaries and education funding levels not being restored to prior levels even though the economy locally is doing much better than in 2008/2009 - this was something that made me smile and feel proud.
This state often gets a bad rap in the press, which is somewhat understandable as this state has spawned losers like Joe Arpaio and of course the controversy about stopping and asking Hispanics as to their legal status in the US....and then this state also has impeached two governors in the past 30 years (long story but I met the son of the second impeached Arizona governor while I was waiting tables years ago at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon) - Arizona has come across as crooked and one dimensional in the media. The truth of this state is much more multi-faceted however.
This is a state that is essentially conservative but out of nowhere can go liberal on you and then just as quickly in the next breath go back to being conservative. Arizona now has one of the nation's highest minimum wages at $10.50/hour and also has passed mandatory paid sick time for full time employees and the government does seem like it's willing to go after employers that violate this law. (I know someone in the 85006 who's going after money right now for such a violation).
I rambled and got off my main point but today I am not only proud to live in the 85006 but I actually do feel some connection to Arizona and it's teachers who refused to play victim any longer and stood up to the system and all that it stands for. Rob