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Subscribe to RSSThe Wisconsin State Journal headline: “Tempers explode as Assembly passes controversial budget repair bill.” “Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly took the first significant action on their plan to strip collective bargaining rights from most public workers, abruptly passing the measure early Friday morning before sleep-deprived Democrats realized what was happening. The vote ended three straight days of punishing debate in the Assembly that made it the longest continuous session in Assembly history.” Now, it heads to the Senate.
Cracking Down: “Wisconsin state troopers were dispatched yesterday to the doorsteps of some of the AWOL Democratic senators in hopes of finding at least one who would come back to allow a vote on a measure to curb the power of public-employee unions,” the AP writes. “The stepped-up tactic ordered by the Republican head of the Senate came amid reports that at least a few of the missing senators were returning home at night to pick up clothes, food, and other necessities, before rejoining their colleagues in Illinois.”
“The protest can continue, but the party is almost over,” the Wisconsin State Journal adds. “Come Saturday, nearly two weeks after it started, the non-stop, drum-circle chant-a-thon that has consumed the state Capitol could officially end. Lawmakers approved a rule change this week that clears the way for Capitol police to close down the statehouse at 6 p.m. on Saturday and end the biggest rally in recent memory. The only question now is whether Gov. Scott Walker will ask the officers to enforce the rule.”
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel editorial page, which endorsed Walker during the campaign, writes of the prank call, “What wasn't funny was the revealing peek the incident provided behind the veil of the Walker administration.” ‘Koch’ at one point said he thought about ‘planting some troublemakers’ in the massive crowds protesting Walker's bill. Walker demurred - but not because that would be wrong, a modern version of a Nixon dirty trick. ‘We thought about that,’ Walker said. He declined the offer because the ‘ruckus’ might put pressure on him to give in. As the call wound down, ‘Koch’ suggested he'd jet Walker off to California ‘and really show you a good time.’ ‘All right,’ the governor said. ‘That would be outstanding.’ Actually, it would be unethical.”
And there’s this… “Madison's mayor and police chief Thursday called on Gov. Scott Walker to explain statements he made in a secretly recorded phone conversation that he ‘thought about’ planting troublemakers among the thousands of demonstrators at the Capitol. ‘Someone in his inner circle raised seriously the possibility of hiring people to come in and apparently create violence in my city,’ Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said. ‘I find it appalling, and I want to know who that was.’”
A new AFL-CIO ad hits Walker on the prank call.
The Boston Globe’s editorial page takes on Walker: “Many states, including Massachusetts, need to take a fuller account of the promises they’ve made to public-employee unions. Even as legislatures scrape for revenue amid a weak economy, the costs of long-established pension and health care benefits continue to grow. But new legislation proposed in Wisconsin by Republican Governor Scott Walker looks less like a serious effort to manage the cost of government than like a political vendetta against a traditional Democratic interest group. Worse yet, his uncompromising approach is likely to hinder a more thoughtful discussion of public-employee contracts — not just in Wisconsin, but in statehouses from coast to coast.”
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his uncompromising approach is likely to hinder a more thoughtful discussion of public-employee contracts — not just in Wisconsin, but in statehouses from coast to coast."
a more thoughtful discussion = cave to union pressure
Public employees need to understand the long term effects of their blotted contracts on the people who pay their salary.
Outstanding......GO, Gov. Walker, GO!!!!
Wow, You call yourself a "True-American" when Scott Walker is demonstrating a blatant disregard for the system on which our country is based? Sure it was hard to see when it just appeared that he was just trying to ram a bill through. Both parties are in violation of that unsavory tactic. But then he kept on saying he's unwilling to compromise or talk to both parties and change the bill. If you can't tell, that is sorta tyrannical. Now the prank call tapes come out and it disgusts me to see that it takes deceit to get the truth. Not only did he openly admit to thinking about planting troublemakers in the crowd to possibly create a "ruckus" and endanger lives, he also admitted that the only reason he was willing to get together and talk to state Democrats was so he could trick them into voting. I mean, c'mon! Really? Its just proof that our political system is no longer working for the people and is broken. Don't get me wrong, I know the consequences for not passing this bill, but he goes on air at a press conference and says "We are going to start laying people off if this bill isn't passed." Yes it makes sense, but if you go deeper into that, he's basically saying "If I don't get my way, I am going to start cutting jobs."
You may call yourself a "True American" but you simply are not. If you agree with someone who is as tyrannical as Scott Walker and has an "Uncompromising Approach," you have forgotten the true meaning of a Democracy, which is to make things work for everyone to the best of your abilities.
True Thinker...you do understand that collective bargaining in Wisconsin is not just a legal right....IT IS FORCED.
Teachers in Wisconsin CAN NOT have a job unless they pay dues to the union. They have NO say in where that money goes. If they disagree with the private political agenda of the union - THAT"S TOO BAD. They can either move to another state, or SIT DOWN & SHUT UP.
Are you OK with FORCED unions?
Do you, "True Thinker" think that is true meaning of Democracy?
You need to understand the effect of his acions on you. With Unions gone the table is open for abuse of private sector workers. And "when" it happens you won't be able to get those rights back without another 50 to 100 years of political challenge.
You are NOT responding to the question.
The question is... Are you in favor of FORCED unionization?
Just remember which party did this. Realize how they are taking advantage.
True American-2366567 you are wrong. In Wisconsin any teacher has the right to not join the union. Any teacher also has a school representative that is there to voice the opionins of those who want to make changes or allocate money to special causes or to not give money to something. where did you get your information? I was Uniserve president, and That's just not how the system works.
Be careful what you wish for, True.
"Blotted" contracts, indeed.
Yea, they have the right to not join the union ....they also DON"T get a job.
Show me ONE teacher in Wisconsin that doesn't pay union dues.
btw....you still didn't answer the question
Readers here need to find out the details of how it went down last night. Google it.
Debates were going on (at 1:00 am) and the Speaker suddenly called for an end to debates and called for a vote. It all happened in two minutes. Over 20 didn't even get there in time to vote; no notice. This doesn't look like democracy to me. That's why the Dems were shouting "Shame" and "Cowards" at the Repubs. The Repubs immediately filed out in single file.
It is my opinion that this is part of a national movement to decrease the power of the Democratic Party.
At least there was 60 hours of debate allowed......how did that healthcare debate go again? That's why elections are so important in our Repuplic. Suck it up.
Look at the MESS Unions have created.
At inception unions were designed to protect basic rights of employment and establish regulated wages.
For many years now he unions in this country have systematically destroyed our economy and driven jobs overseas. While union leaders ride the gravy train and decide the future for the union members to their own benefit, More and more jobs are outsourced to foreign countries some of which are our political enemies.
How did this happen?
When a person is making $75.00 an hour turning a screw, and without any formal education, and a police officer is making $10.00 an hour risking his or her life, There is a huge problem and the system needs to be fixed. God bless the Republicans in charge of Wisconsin for standing their ground and shame on the Democrats in hiding. We can only hope the rest of the country stands strong and removes the power of the unions and gives it back to the good honest people of this great country. When you drive up labor costs through greed eventually the job you are trying to keep gets outsourced and your left without a job because you have over priced yourself. Look at what happened to Detroit, once a bustling metropolis and the center of the auto industry now it is a dead city due to greedy unions. As the American populous we need to take control of our political leaders and remind them why we voted for them and how quickly we can remove them from power. We need to take control as union members and understand the simple solution to reclaiming jobs from our foreign countries by asking for reasonable wages and not paying greedy individuals to drive our jobs overseas and leaving us scratching our heads wondering what happened.
Drop the Unions, rebuild our strengths, Bring our jobs back home!!!
True Thinker writes "You may call yourself a "True American" but you simply are not. If you agree with someone who is as tyrannical as Scott Walker and has an "Uncompromising Approach," you have forgotten the true meaning of a Democracy, which is to make things work for everyone to the best of your abilities."
You realize that the true description of a government that is formed "to make things work for everyone to the best of your abilities" is actually socialism, not democracy, right?
Democracy is a government where legislation on the will of the simple majority. In this case, instead of letting democracy run it's course, the Democrats have run away to prevent a vote. Denying the governing body the right to vote is about as un-democratic as it gets.
True American, I can understand your anger and disgust. Somewhere on your educational path, a teacher failed you. The word is 'bloated' - not 'blotted.' Studies reveal that the average American voter has the educational IQ of a 6th grader. I'm glad to see you're normal.
Completly Disgusted....you are aware that this is a thread and people post quickly, aren't you?
I believe somewhere along the way, you were treated very badly because only a cynical, obtuse, self-loather would look for spelling mistakes on a blog and point them out to make themselves fell better instead of addressing the issue.
I'm sorry if you've had a bad life, but don't take it out on the grown-ups. Get some help for your issues......and take AnnaMolly with you.
Like I asked True American before---Why don't you poll the Wisconsin teachers and see what they think about FORCED union membership? Maybe you might get the answer that you weren't looking for?
Richard.....are you suggesting that there are NO republican teachers in Wisconsin?
If NOT......do we really need a poll to determine that FORCED unionization make republican teachers pay "dues" to a private organization that only "donates" to democratic candidates.
Is that OK with you?
That's a pretty narrow definition. Twisted a bit to suit your particular agenda.
You have chosen to gloss over those parts of the constitution that speak of promoting the general welfare. The party in power can initiate and guide legislation, but not at the peril of the part in the minority. Nor of any citizen.
American Veteran ~
Ummmm ... show me where police officers only make $10.00 an hour. And do you have some reason to think that police officers are NOT unionized? Only in states that won't allow it, maybe. Talk to the governments of those states, but leave ours alone.
You might take a clue from Noble Wray, the chief of police here in Madison, who called the governor out yesterday on this thuggery tactics, and from the rest of the police union, that is marching shoulder to shoulder with other public workers, even though they're not affected by Governor Walker's proposals.
The police, at least in this state, obviously think there is some benefit to unions. You obviously don't know.
LoL This from Mr. "blotted contract." Does Completely Disgusted speak French? If so, baby, I'm yours.
True American, don't go out and spend any money today or tomorrow or in 2011 or beyond. Once the unions are gone and the middle class has been dessimated, you're going to need that money to pay for your tax increases. Joblessness, homelessness, an increased prison population and the continued healthcare cost for those who have no means to pay for it are going to be very expensive. Maybe the budget will be balanced for a day or two.
Oh, and, "....spelling mistakes on a blog and point them out to make themselves fell better..." LMAO
completely disgusting.................there you go again, trying to stroke your own ego....., can you say anal retentive?.....LOL.
AnnaMolly, PLEASE.....take a class, any class......just one! I'm sure France would love to have you, oh no, wait, you prefer Canada where you can die on the government's time clock.
Lame.
Lame and ALWAYS the same. Sigh.
Headline and story here should underline the fact that the vote came without any warning to Democrats at one o'clock in the morning. And it was all done and over in about 4 seconds. Right away, the Republican contingent got their bags and ran off to a protected elevator. Why?
Was this the right action to take after 11 days of standoff with the people of Wisconsin.? The majority of WI citizens from both parties said they did not support Walker's scheme to strip out employee voices from the workplace.
Walker's fiscal demands had already been agreed upon, so that part was all done.
In a place where coming to the table is a long tradition in WI and where collective bargaining first took root in the US, this was a very shocking display of abuse and corruption of power.
Does everyone know what all is in that bill? Walker needs to listen to the people of WI.
You all voted these "BUMS" in ...They told you upfront that they would do all this !
For the Record - neither I nor many people in Wisconsin voted these bums in. It is the mass hysteria of the Tea-party and other conservative news sources.
enough said......they voted them in and now you get what you voted for. you would think they would be tired of being duped by politician who will never have their best interest at heart.
True Thinker, you really are showing how you are a "Thinker"....
"For the Record = neither I nor many people in Wisconsin voted these bums in,.... " Are you trying to tell me Walker was elected by a majority of Illinois residents? Elections are a majority of the vote wins, to vote in Wisconsin you are a registered voter. So the majority did put Walker in office; the majority of those that voted. If the rest didn't vote, they are democrats and choose not to vote for or against anything they can't win!
That's not what Walker campaigned on. If you lived here, you'd know that. When Walker says this, he lies. Just like he lied to his own corporate paymaster when he tried to tell him the crowds were small and mostly from out of state. He also admitted his intent to lie to democratic senators to lure them back to the state and then double-cross them.
You're dreaming, for sure. WAKE UP.
AnnaMolly.....so, you are in FAVOR of FORCED unionization.
Whatever you say, True. After all, you're true, and an American, too, and of course, I'm not.
Thanks for admitting it AnnaMolly......it takes a strong person to admit that their a Communist American. I commend you for it.
Actually, Walker NEVER mentioned ANYTHING during his political campaign about Union Busting. The Milwaukee Journa-Sentinal (a relatively conservative paper from his home town) could not find record of him ever mentioning this on the campaign trail.
So what I am hearing here is that Democracy only happens once a year (during elections) and the rest of the time we have to 'suck it up.' Huh...if that's democracy then why not save some money (on elections) and just move to an aristocracy?
Bottom line - Teachers Unions protect more than the teachers rights, they protect the quality of the product (education) produced. I think many of us (I am a card-carrying member of a Wisconsin teachers union) would be willing to negotiate regarding what Unions can and cannot do. In fact I'll agree that unions sometimes protect teachers that should be fired.
The issue here is that NO negotiation has happened. None. With one swoop Walker and his cronies will erase 50+ years of organized labor in Wisconsin.
True American, how did you get from unionization to Communist American?!
Bullying has no place in this society. If that is your definition of democratic government, you are in the wrong place.
Don't bother, fielden. He's true and therefore smarter than me and you. American, too. Who knew?
I'm just Annie Commie Molly. Commendable and strong. But not real.
True's no bully. Wooly, maybe, like all republicans. Just like sheep, you know?
The issue is that we are not a Democracy...we are a Republic. Know the difference. We elect officials to represent us and they make the decisions. If we don't like the decisions they are making then we have the ability to try to vote someone else into the position. Our voice is heard, and our power rests, at election time....not by mass hysteria and protesting.
The "fleeparty" Dems are a disgrace....yes, you lost....deal with it until the next election. Your voice is heard at election time, that is all. The democracy you want to live in doesn't exist in this Republic.
on our way to becoming a corporatocracy
Chris....ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
The issue is that we are not a Democracy...we are a Republic. Know the difference.
Getting these "Americans" to ACCEPT that is a losing battle. They can't except that their side lost in the last election cycle, so they will disrupt and bully the rest of us until they get their way.......GOOD LUCK with that you crazy lefties!
Over 300 city officials from around the state have come out in opposition to this bill, along with dozens of elected bodies from school boards to city councils to county boards. Almost no one who actually engages in collective bargaining wants to end the practice. Walker is not serving the state's interest so much as he's eliminating a group of his political enemies.
That is why he is a POLITICIAN. This is what POLITICIANS do.
Those that are protesting is not the majority of Wisconsin. The media may want you to think that it is but it is not.
Oh really? And how do you know this?
Actually recent polls say that those apposed do have a small majority, about 4% actually
As I understand it, Walker won with 52% of the vote. Should make it easy to ditch him next election. He's a tyrant and deserves no place in public office. Wherther you agree with him or not, his arrogance and tactics are certainly not role models one would hold up to a child as something to admire.
ITM ~ Where do you live again? And how do you know what Wisconsinites think?
Wis Worker is right, from everything that I've heard.
Those "polls" you quote actually use the telephone to ask the questions and are less than 1500 people. Now how can you call that a 4% victory?
And you have other information based on what? Anecdotes you've heard on Fox News?
You left out the rusty old trucks in the yard and the outhouse in the back. Otherwise, it comes pretty close, I'll have to admit, except we have those same stereotyped stooges here in Wisconsin, which is how I imagine them, not really knowing anyone like that from the South, where I don't imagine they drink much Schlitz. Our version lives mostly, but not entirely, north of Highway 29, and loves to tell jokes beginning with the words, "You know you're a redneck if ...." Although Fox News does run continuously on the TV stations at a lot of fast food restaurants here in the southern part of the state, and we do have a few heavily armed pockets of paranoid conservatives living in some of the hollows of the hills west of here. You'd probably like it there.
LoL Do they still make Schlitz?
By the way, the family that originally owned Schlitz was pretty liberal. Do you imagine that those stereotyped goons you're describing would still drink it if they knew that?
meanwhile the democrats run scared and hide from duty ,the folks are paying for child care while the teachers lie about being sick and the unions could care less about the state going under,,the tax and waste democrats should take an extended vaction in mexico until the real americans solve the issues the unions have gotten this country into.
Like the non-existent unions in Texas, you mean, that have caused a $22 billion deficit there?
Or was that the republican governor and legislature? Or maybe just failed republican fiscal and economic policies in general. Anyway, turns out it didn't trickle down, after all, except maybe their legs. And their ignorant, uninformed base, apparently including you, lapped it right up.
Do you mind if I call you witzzz end? Because that's the side you're speaking out of.
Much discussion on this issue, but in fact, nothing will be accomplished until after the vote to end the collective bargining on all but wages. I suspect the unions have already written the majority of their challenge to the vote and may have talked with several judges about it.
It is a union state - the fix will be in with the courts.
Somewhere, sometime, ordinary citizens need to stand up and say that "enough is enough" when it comes to promising overly generous benefits to public employee unions. I admire Governor Walker for getting it started. Hopefully, other states will follow up. We desperately need it to happen here in California.
The "benefits" are part of salary -- instead of getting $50,000 in salary, people agree to work for $40,000, with a further $10,000 invested in benefits and health. One of two things will happen without these agreements: 1) people will take $50,000 up front, so no money is left for the state to invest and "grow" into the remaining amount of salary (a loss for the state's ability to compete for good workers), or 2) people will hammer out individual contracts with the state, which will take a lot more state time, require more money paid to lawyers to vet each contract and will not save any money either.
What overly generous benefits? I know plenty of teachers, police men, etc ... and none of them make very much money. You get better pay and benefits (don't know many with those either) in private sector. Making it so that even fewer want to work in the public sector is just going to make the public sector even that much more inept (which is probably what Republicans want anyway ... no matter what harm it does).
I am a 3rd generation teacher and we have always had a union. I disagree that we have ever had "overly generous benefits"...ever. Our retirement has no guarantee of any cost of living increases for example. Heath care insurance is outrageous. Pay is marginal.
It is my choice to accept these "benefits", but it is another to be pelted by people like olemike who act like I'm getting a great deal and scamming the public. I could make WAY more in the public sector, but love what I do. Don't dump on teachers.
the simple fact is the chinese will not ask for 4 weeks paid vacation 10 days paid sick leave and health care retirement plus fourty thousand a year,,wake up unions ,the working class are sick of supporting you while you bankrupt the states one by one.
Like Texas, you mean? They're maybe the worst off of any, without any public sector unions.
And HOWZZZAT WITZZZ ENDDDD?
But keep it up. "Bringing China to America." That will make a great 2012 republican bumper sticker.
I know you'll take a couple dozen, so I'll order those up from my Chinese factory right now. Just send the check directly to me. If you act now, I'll even throw in a handy multi-blade chopping tool at no extra cost. Perfect for serving up deliciously vengeful budget cuts to police, firefighters, nurses, social workers, teachers, the elderly, and the poor. Autographed by John Boehner and Scott Walker. No, really. Scott Walker promised.
And once you've taken all that money away from public workers and given it to the rich, domestic demand will drop, because public workers no longer have money to spend, and corporations will use that excuse, plus the extra money you handed to them, to add on to their sweater factories in China, because that's where the demand went, putting you out of work, once and for all. So sorry.
Yessiree. Fleece. THAT's the TRUE American way to deal with sheep like you.
Typical biased trash. MSNBC can't even get their paragraphs in the right order! The governor is trying to do what he promised to do and what the people asked him to do with their votes. Elections have consequences and these are all good ones. Absentee democrats should lose the positions they are refusing to perform.
The bill also indicates that the Govenor could sell off state holdings without engaging in the bidding process. And contains language which would automatically make his decision to do so "in the best interest" of the state. Kings used to determine that anything they decided to do was "in the best interest" because they were the state. I am a big believer in state's rights, but I thought we moved away from the kind of thinking that Walker is showing in 1776.
I am a republican, but there's too much to this. The people will not be happy in the end if this approach is not curbed.
Public employees do understand the effects of this ideological assault on government worker's rights: To push government employess down and out of the middle class. The move is purely ideological, which shows exactly what the ideology of the owning classes is, to make their living on the backs of working americans.
"True American" is likely a right-wing ideologue, possessing a "false consciousness" about what the right-wing is doing to the working and middle class. Oh yeah.."True" if you don't know what false consciousness is, look it up.
We in education call it "research", and those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
Brian:
Maybe you should do a little research before accusing others that don't agree with your ideology of not knowing anything. There are a lot of public workers in the OWNING class.
You are the one with the false consciousness about what the liberal left is actually doing to your CONSCIOUS.
Probably not such a good idea to be so condescending while trying to make a point.
Brian4education..........so, you are another person in FAVOR of FORCED unionization.
Good to know
Making a list and checking it twice, True? Now you're starting to sound like Joe McCarthy.
Why don't you just round all of us up and deport us back to Communist Canada or something like that.
I'm starting to think it might be a good idea, and I wouldn't have to pay for transportation.
But I WOULD get free health care. Sweet.
Yea AnnaMolly......like that family RIGHT NOW in Canada who have been told they CAN"T give their son a trach to help him breath until he dies because it isn't COST effective.
You go on back to Canada and when your dying and they don't want to pay for your comfort while you die....give me a call and I'll see what America can do for you.
Are you for real?
Are you? Have you ever been?
If that's True, True, then Canada sounds a LOT like Arizona, doesn't it?
Maybe England, then.
Or wait. Maybe France. They speak French there. If I do have to die because it's not cost-effective to keep me alive, it would be nice if someone would at least speak French to me.
WOW.....and they let people like you vote.....
You are comparing letting a child die because it's not cost effective to keep him alive to WHAT in Arizona exactly?
Amazing, isn't it? People like me. What a wonderful world.
Anyway, I'm talking about the Jan Brewer death panels and the people who have died because they couldn't afford transplants. And that's even worse because they weren't necessarily going to die anyway. According to you, the little boy was going to die anyway. Or don't you read what you write? No surprise there.
But it doesn't matter because I'm off to France, where they speak French. I'm sure you think they're not for real, either, so you'll have to agree I'll fit right in there. See you.
True American -- in Arizona they ended a transplant program because it wasn't "cost effective," so those people already enrolled are in the same boat as the child from Canada.
True American, in the words of a lot of your conservative compatriots, if you don't like the terms of the job, find another one.
All jobs come with specifications. Working hours, attire, personal items in the workplace. Are you also saying these are forced on you? Your anti-union stance has clouded your thinking on the issue.
I'm not sure how you can compare Arizona cutting a transplant program that the state COULDN'T afford to Canada making medical choices for individuals....but, I guess that's the liberal way.
fielden.....I'm not sure how you made that leap, but I guess it must be some kind of logic similar to Annamolly's on Canada & Arizona.
My thinking is quite clear.......If the union BIGWIGS want to back a certain political agenda that they think will serve their pockets well, then they should give EACH AND EVERY member a choice as to whether or not they want their "dues" (extortion money, at best) to go to that political agenda as well...........do you have a problem with that?
Collective bargaining is a legal right in Wisconsin. Does the Citizens United case make the union a personal entity? Yes. Does this bill divide the unions of the state into separate classes with unequal protections under one law? Yes. Is this a 14th amendment issue? _____— .
What we have here is a 'Madison Standoff'. Other states should take note of what this is causing. This affects bond ratings, production, tourism, education, local spending dollars (lowered wages), etc.. It's going to be a cause of many educated people to leave the state in search of more lucrative positions elsewhere. Not good.Â
What this 'rukus' has done is anything but positive now and will affect the state for long to come. Great leadership!!
Richard...you do understand that collective bargaining in Wisconsin is not just a legal right....IT IS FORCED.
Teachers in Wisconsin CAN NOT have a job unless they pay dues to the union. They have NO say in where that money goes. If they disagree with the private political agenda of the union - THAT"S TOO BAD. They can either move to another state, or SIT DOWN & SHUT UP.
Are you OK with FORCED unions?
Collective bargaining has absolutely NO PLACE in government. In fact, it completely undermines any government's ability to be fiscally responsible. Less than 300,000 state workers are involved here versus 5.8 MILLION citizens, taxpayers and voters...
What we have in Wisconsin is state workers with drastically better pension, health care and total compensation deals than the taxpayers they are supposed to be 'serving' and that pay their wages. All while the taxpayers themselves are making the tough sacrifices, paying twice and more as much for pensions (if they even have one) and health care.
It is borderline criminal what the unions have done to this country. They have outlived their usefulness and will be extinct within 10 years. Look at the Auto Industry.. Pre-Crash, GM & Chrysler average loaded salary was $74/hr as compared with Toyota at $47/hr. Need I say more?
Michael C.
I agree with you whole-heartedly!
Michael Cerkas -- people who work in the public sector are paid by the government, not by you. You paid money to the government (in the form of taxes) to receive services. Once you did that, the money is no longer yours, only the services are. If state workers in WI have "drastically better" pension, health care and compensation deals, it is because they opted for a less risky economic future and took a state job offering the compensation package in lieu of more salary. If you don't like the services you paid for with your taxes, take it up with your local and state governments, but do not trash the people who work in that field. Also note that ALL wage earners pay taxes -- including municipal, county and state employees.
True American-- Maybe you should poll the teachers in Wisconsin right now and see how they feel about it?! They were FORCED into it. You'd probably get a clearer answer.
Michael---I don't believe that villainizing (sic) the unions or the teachers for the woes of the State of Wisconsin is what most people want and yet that is what being done right now, right here in Wisconsin. What is it about the GOP that they can't stand about unions??? Well, I think you and I really know. Don't we?
What I have noticed in all these 'anti-union' campaigns across the country and more lately is that when there are union disputes there is this concerted campaign of anti-union backers that flood the media marker when things are going bad for them. It becomes obvious to all after a while that this is an agenda put on by those who are not receivers of union donations or benefits. Thus an attempt to polarize the public against any union by posting false information (i.e., teachers wages) or any other negative technique really reveals who is behind the misinformation. Frankly, it is becoming transparent and predictable. By the way,,,have you ever had to work for a living?
Michael C.
You're right in that Public Service Workers should not have a better pension and healthcare package than the taxpayers. BUT, the fix isn't to take away the benefits secured by the Public Service Workers. The fix is to dig deeper to the root causes that have led to a public which lacks those same benefits and then to restore them. I understand profit. I root and cheer for it. But in Cambodia they will work for 22cents an hour. Even without unions American workers can't compete with that; it just isn't a living wage here. So, corporations must recognize that they need to be sustainable. If they fail to sustain the workers of the worlds largest economy they will eventually run out of people to buy their goods and services. The erosion of security and dignity facing the American public is not only going to ruin that public. It will eventually ruin the corporations as well.
New Balance requires that a percentage of their products be produced in the states. Yay New Balance!
The list of companies that do the same is far too short.
Build and Buy American. And treat the Builder well.
Michael,
Why is it a bad thing for state workers to have "drastically better pension, health care and total compensation deals than the taxpayers" (private sector employees)?
Should all employees (public and private sectors) have "drastically better pension, health care and total compensation deals?
Think about it…
Michael,
Why is it a bad thing for state workers to have "drastically better pension, health care and total compensation deals than the taxpayers" (private sector employees)?
Should all employees (public and private sectors) have "drastically better pension, health care and total compensation deals?
Think about it…
Go Walker, Go..... FINALLY.... someone with the guts to end the Union charade that has plagued this country and driven us to the brink of a third world country....Walker for president..... Walker for Emporer..
Walker and Chris Christy for President and Vice President. Now your talking!
Hey Ken-
Could you survive on the money and the hours you would have to work if we didn't have unions?
Just wondering!
TRR
I do and have all my life. There was a time unions were a neccessity, but those days are long gone........
Seriously so if you had to mandatorly work 70 hours per week, and pople of color and women got paid half what white males did, you're okay with that? you think those values are old fashioned? seriously?
Jack...
hardly, they are still a necessity. If unions are minimalized and collective bargaining is negated, then the workers are at the mercy of the whims of the employer. I understand to some of you here that that is just fine...until you are the one on the short end of the stick. Or would you be Okay with your boss cutting your pay, your hours, your benefits simply because he wants to increase his profit margin. Or, in the case of the public workers, to provide a bigger tax break to the corporations.
if the contracts are excessive, then do a better job negotiating next time.
If
They weren't yesterday. They are now.
Emperor Palpatine, maybe.
They aren't gone. As long as you have people like the Koch brothers pulling strings of people like Walker. But if they were and bills like this pass the good old days of Hoover and Coolidge will back in the blink of an eye.
I can't understand, after looking at this legislation, how the people of Wisconson don't see it for what it is. In three years when he sells your utilities off for next to nothing to Koch Industries you might get it.
And it will be interesting to see in a few years how your student evaluation scores fare. After listening to that phone call it becomes pretty obvious that your "hero" Walker could care less he hurts or what he does. You honestly think he gives a rats ass about the "tax payer" ? only insofar as the "tax Payer" serves his agenda and aspirations.
Ever heard of OSHA? The laws that Unions put on the books aren't going anywhere. I am sick of hearing this Liberal scare tactic.
The Unions are obsolete.
Actually, RBart, the majority of people in Wisconsin oppose this bill. Walker didn't campaign on these things, and many of us see them for what they are. But he's a shining example of what corporate campaign money will buy, with a friendly legislature to rubber stamp him. Did I say friendly? Jackbooted thugs, from what I've read out here today. It really does sound a lot like Star Wars, if you think about it. Only the Koch brothers are really Palpatine, and Walker is just their personal R2D2.
You're absolutely right about the next few years. Hundreds, if not thousands, of teachers are hurrying to retire. Others will no doubt resign. Who does anyone think they will find to replace all the highly qualified teachers who are being sacrificed at the altar of the Koch brothers? People who are willing to work for starting teacher salaries all their lives, and with reduced benefits, that's who.
And you're right about Walker. He told us exactly what he cares about. He cares about Scott Walker.
Funny thing to say for a guy calling himself "Lynchmob."
And anyway, OSHA is only sure to last as long as democrats are in charge. We've already seen what republicans want to do to public radio and women's health care. Why do we think they care more about worker safety? By the way, OSHA doesn't even apply to public employees. State laws usually adopt its terms for public employees, as well, but that can always change, as we've seen firsthand with public employee collective bargaining rights here in Wisconsin.
Along those same lines, I've been contemplating all the other state laws that Walker will now look to change. We have some of the toughest anti-discrimination and wage-and-hour laws outside California. Right now, Walker's just a sweep of the pen and 14 democratic senators away from getting rid of all of those, too. And I'm sure he knows it. Wouldn't be surprised if they're already drawing it up.
As recent events have proven, that's not a "scare tactic." That's just the facts, Jack. Or should I say Jack-booted?
AnnaMolly you really should not discuss things you know nothing about.....PLEASE SEE POST 6.5.
I think we will all know where you're coming from.
Been there, done that, True.
You're true and I'm not for real. Got it.
Really. Truly.
Maybe you should go back and look again.
I got it the first time.
Judging by the events in Wisconsin and other states, those days are FAR from gone. Workers need unions to protect them more than ever.
You and True American are entitled to your opinions, but there are a lot of us who do NOT agree with you.
This has been shown that it isn't about the budget. It is just political. Before this protest started, the teachers unions had already agreed to the pay cuts and to the benefit cut. How is removing the collective bargaining going to further help the budget when the financial aspects have been cut already?
Then, notice how the public employee unions that supported Walker during the election(Fire and Police) are not facing the pay cuts, benefits cuts or the loss of collective bargaining. Only the public unions that sided against him.
And for those of you who think these employees are living high off the hog... look up what teachers in Wisconsin make. Starting salaries are about $25,000/yr which is the 2nd lowest inthe nation and the average of all their teachers(not administrators) is $45,000.
And to show how fair the Republicans are being... in the Assembly, which the Democrats did stay, the Republicans made a vote to pass this anti-union bill and opened the vote for only a few seconds so that the Republicans could coordinate their vote and only a few Democrats had time to vote before they closed the vote. And you wonder why the WI Senate Democrats are boycotting this kangaroo court of a political process.
How much time was given to Republicans to read Obama care before it was shoved down our throats?
I have delt with teachers unions. They are not willing to give up a red cent! They will use children to help their cause. I know teachers making over 6 figures and don't deserve to be working. They are cruising by and putting in their time but teaching very little. I'm not talking about all teachers. Most are good. Only some protected by their Unions! I say get rid of the unions. Make teachers accountable for how they teach. No more free rides!
The average teacher makes $45,000 salary plus Cadillac insurance mandated to a monopoly that the teachers own - WEA trust. Plus the most lucrative pension system in the US, the Wisconsin Retirement System. Admittedly, SWIB runs WRS very well (and SWIB is made up of public employees).
The average bachelor's degree private sector employee makes less than $40,000 per year, has a 401K where he/she pays 50 - 90% of the deposit, and carries a high-deductible/high copay health insurance. In exchange for this, that same degreed worker is employed at will, able to be fired at the boss' whim, and has a job description that ends with "...and other duties as assigned." Need a science club advisor? Yes sir! Need an assistant volleyball coach? Yes sir!
Yes, but teachers take all that work home at night to grade tests and papers, etc. That's sort of like my wife the RN taking her computer home at night to get the charting done so she can maximize patient face time. Yes, a bachelor's degree, RN license, periodic retraining, and 35 years of experience for 2/3 of a teacher's pay, same long hours and a lot more abuse.
It is truly time for all of us to stop whining and just cut the cost of government. Then go back and do what needs to be done with the few dollars available. Use public employees to organize the volunteers, rather than to do the work. If the work isn't worth volunteering for, it probably doesn't need to be done.
Wow Jack you are sorely misinformed. I was president of the Uniserve and I know in wisconsin we've been cutting pay and benefits for about 7 years now to allow for healthcare coverage. Where are you getting your information. Its all avalable, it's posted by WEAC, do your homework. Like a good student, ... Oh that's right you must not have been a student with that atitude toward your teachers.
Why don't you get off the backs of unions and start demanding that administrators and school boards do their jobs? Unions have a LEGAL obligation to protect their members. Administrators have the obligation to manage teachers. If school districts can't get rid of bad teachers, it's only because administrators and school boards are weak and flat-out don't do their jobs. To cover that up, they blame the unions.
By the way, there are free-riders in every business, whether unionized or not. Whose job is it to see that they don't continue the ride? Their co-workers' ... or their managers'?
You sound like a weak manager to me. Look to your own house.
karl ~ Sounds like your wife needs a union.
By the way, not all districts use WEA Trust. I know this firsthand. That's a negotiated item. It all goes back to school boards doing their jobs. Don't blame that on WEA Trust. Don't blame that on teachers.
Besides, what's wrong with having "cadillac" insurance? You're only sour grapes that YOU don't have it.
Sounds like you need a union, too.
The WEAC.....the collection plate for the democrat party.
Wis Worker...do you know how much money the WEAC has given to the democrat party in recent years?......
Are you going to tell me that there are NO republican teachers in Wisconsin?.......did those teachers get a say in where their "dues" went?
Not anymore, thanks to Scott Walker.
Don't it always seem to go; you don't know what you got till it's gone.
By the way, we natives just call it WEAC. And yes, the republicans who did pay dues to teachers' unions have the same say in where their dues go as anyone else. As Wis Worker has tried to tell you, however, Wisconsin teachers are not required to pay union dues. The irony being, of course, that they are still entitled to union representation when they get into trouble, even though they haven't paid anything towards it.
You should see how fast they change their minds about the union when that happens.
Really, Anna...is that like the majority is in charge, listens to the voices of the minority and then goes ahead and does what's best for the whole?
If so, why are the 14 democrat state senators still missing?......ironic, isn't it!
Dont forget that we pay for teachers pensions too and healthcare and the 3months off in the summer which allows for generous additional income. Maybe if we hired top tier graduates as our teachers like some other coutries who are killing us on every subject I wouldnt mind these teacher unions. But the plain is simple teachers are gettting worse and worse but wanting more pay. I would be happy to give money to a really good teacher.... but those in this country are very very few and very very far apart.
In real terms 4 union jobs equal 10 non-union jobs.
Now THAT'S what I call fair and balanced reporting... Yup, no subjectivity or prejudice in this article.
You guys are AWE......FUL.
Meh. Lessed biased than Fox.
How about the tens of thousands of officials and hundreds of elected bodies that have NOT come out in opposition? Especially school boards in small towns have a very difficult time funding negotiations against the WEAC machine. And if your neighboring community caves in, the unionized arbitrators will keep you from offering a lower contract. Everyone forgets Doyle's dirty tricks just before leaving office where he made it illegal for an arbitrator to consider the ability of a community to pay for benefit increases.
Wisconsin teachers (along with all public employees) already have the most liberal civil service law in the nation, and they claim to be professionals. A professional guild or trade association makes sense to assist in professional development, but an industrial organization to help you present your value to the community. I thought you were teachers, comfortable in front of an audience! Stop hiding behind peer pressure, and discontinue the childish antics you would never tolerate in your classroom (sick day lies, forged permission slips, disruptive tactics).
Yeah sure! Let's take away their free speech rights and how about their rights to vote.
It would be a lot easier to whip the back of the working class if the constituents didn't have a voice.
The "working class"? RIDICULOUS. They are government union parasites that demand ever more from the Wisconsin taxpayers, no matter HOW HIGH taxes have to go to keep their lavish healthcare and retirement packages growing.
Meanwhile the average taxpayer, who the unions DEMAND keep giving them more-more-more, can't even afford to fund THEIR OWN retirement and health care, much less those for the greedy public sector unions!
Our local school board like many others have already agreed to negotiate with teachers using collective bargaining anyway, because they believe it works well.
 Unions suck! When I am forced to join a Union that deducts mandatory dues from my paycheck and donates my money to political causes that I do not agree with... there is something wrong.
Governor Walker sucks! The phone call shows his integrity is as low as that of the average Democrat politician.
The media sucks! Moreover, the public have elected the politicians they wanted in office... If the Democrats had this big of a majority, the media would call it a mandate... because it is a Republican majority, now it's called dictatorial rule.
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Wow Pete, are you a politician? Seriously techer unions are not that way, you CAN opt out. I don't know about other unions. Maybe you should become a teacher, but you'd have to stop using the word "sucks".
LOL That reminds me that I first learned the many ways that a certain word that rhymes with "sucks" can be used in a sentence from a student in the hallway during my first year of teaching. I looked pretty young and he didn't know there was a teacher standing across the hall. When people try to blame all their kids' bad behavior on the schools, I just tell them that story.
Dang - we in Illinois would love to hire Gov walker to replace our clown. Oh please let the wisdom of the cheese heads come to Illinois.
Speak for yourself! Brady didn't win for a reason! I am quite happy to be a card carrying IEA/NEA member.
The misinformation on this site in mindboggling!
1. Unions are NOT Forced- It's called "Fair Share" you pay your fair share of what it costs to bargain a decent contract for which you receive benefits.
2. Wisconsin Teachers are some of the lowest paid teachers in the nation- The BARGAINED a contract that gave them good benefits in lieu of good pay. Now the governor wants to take away those benefits as well as their rights to bargain.
3. Teachers do not have to be part of the state "government". Wisconsin chose to deal with their education system that way. In some states it is part of the local government.
Are you sick of high paid teachers? Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - baby sit! We can get that for less than minimum wage.
That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM
with 45 min. off for lunch and plan — that equals 6 1/2 hours).
Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children.
Now how many do they teach in day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day. However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
LET’S SEE…. That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 peryear. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).
What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children
X 180 days = $280,800 per year.
Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!
The average teacher’s salary (nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30 students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student–a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your
kids!)
I'll pay for the high speed train ride myself.
Or wait, he vetoed that. He'll have to take the bus. He can leave the driving to us.
50 Ways to Leave Wisconsin.
thank you gov. walker for taking a stand. i am tired of my taxes going up so gov workers can keep working on a contract extension that gives them unrealistic benefits for the state of economic distress we are in. if they dont like the new wage and benefits package...do like the rest of us in the private sector, find another job. it is time to deal with our state budget problems in wisconsin.
Find another job in a 10 percent unemployment economy? Right.
If you think this will solve Wisconsin's deficit problem, then take a good hard look at Texas, which bans collective bargaining for public workers and has a $22 billion deficit. With a republican governor and legislature, where do you think THAT came from, anyway? Not public workers, apparently. And it didn't come from public workers here. And destroying them will neither raise your pay nor lower your taxes. But it will give more tax breaks to the wealthy and provide incentives to business owners to take even more of YOUR benefits away to pad their own pockets. No competition with the public sector for workers any more so they can strip even more of your health insurance and reduce your pay. And it will be so hard to get a job that you'll just have to lie back and enjoy it. Nice work if they can get it, but you won't get any fun out of it, I guarantee it.
While you're at it, take a good, hard look at Texas's public education system and their national education rankings. Because that's what your way of thinking is about to buy for Wisconsin. Lie back and enjoy that, too.
 What a bunch of Wisconsin-whiners! You crybabies were TOLD this was what the agenda was when you elected these people. And if you didn't have any adults in the WI statehouse, you would be bankrupt and watching your overly generous government union pensions and lavish health care packages (100% funded by the taxpayers, thank you) collapse into insolvency with the rest of the state!!!
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This is a GREAT coming attraction of where the entire USA is headed:Â Democrats promise ever more unfunded & overspent socialism in exchange for union support at the polls, the debt goes sky-high and reaches a breaking point, then the Democrats tuck tail and FLEE when it's time for the adults to be responsible and find solutions.
Increasing the defecit has been a huge republican tactic since Regan and his "strategic deficit" rants. They WANTED this crippling deficit, said as much openly and often a few Prez back, and every one of them has increased it notibly (only going down or settling, with one exception of obama, only with Dem presidents).
Just think who benefits from the deficit. It is the Republicans, clearly, and (again ...) they have openly said this starting around Regan. They are pushing through everything they have ever wanted in its name (and of course not really doing much to fix anything ... they are not reducing cost where it counts, and continuing to create tax breaks and loopholes for corporations and the rich).
Wow the rhetoric Machine here. Actually governor Walker did not say he was going to change the collective bargaining in his campaign. So that's one reason why people are upset. Allowing Blacks to not be slaves was probably bad for our economy too, but it was the right thing to do. There are many other econimic options but the governor refuses to consider them.
Wis worker ....in one breathe you say....Wow the rhetoric Machine here
Then in the next breathe you say...... Allowing Blacks to not be slaves was probably bad for our economy too
Really WW...........I mean seriously, .....really?
John PT
For the love of God grab your ears firmly and pull your Democratic head out of you retentive butt. How do you think Obama tripling our budget and raising our taxes to show a deficit decrease helps our economic situation. Lets see, Lets take more money out of the common man pocket and increase the amount we spend in Government. Wake up and become an educated member of society not a political brain washed drome programmed by the Democrats. Wake up!!!!! Get the facts before you open your mouth. maybe then you can be taken seriously.
The economic stimulus which raised our current debt so high was the right thing to do. And it was brought to you by George W. Bush! A George W. Bush who, after the meeting where the alternatives were laid out, looked more frightened and taken aback then he did on 9/11.
The debt ISN'T good. But the alternative was worse.
Also, you do know that Walker wants to sell the state's debt and then have to pay interest on it, right?
Only a step a way from the financial derivative schemes that got the country into this whole mess!
Scott Walker for President of the USA!!! Go Scott Go!!
you're kidding, right?
Walker is apparently fearful that the democracy movement sweeping the Arabic middle east is reaching Wisconsin. Collective bargaining has long been recognized as the only leverage workers have in negotiating wages, working conditions and benefits with employers. Walker would be more comfortable in a country, like Libya, in which it's autocratic leaders have no regard for its citizens.
I think this whole thing stinks of outside money on all sides. This is an issue that needs to be seriously reviewed before the Supreme Court. We are going back to the age of tycoons and monopolies.
The creation of union laws to support the working class are what helps create a quality of life here that you don't see in other 'developed countries'. You take this away and the quality of life for everyone is going to go backwards. Look at our friendly neighbor Mexico. They are still living in a two class society because the middle class do not have the protections that they have here. You have the poor supporting drug cartels and the rich being supported by drug cartels. We're going backwards now.
This is a difficult subject. I would never join a union, but others might, and they have every right to do so. There's only one catch; Public sector unions, in almost every case, operate in a government sanctioned monopoly. This means that the collective bargaining power they have is almost unchecked. In the private sector, when one union strikes, consumers have options and alternative sources for products and services. They don't have that same option with public sector unions. All power/authority must be checked and balanced, or it is to be abused, which is exactly what we see with public sector unions. If teachers go on strike, kids don't get educated, realistically there are no other options for consumers of this service. If a supermarket's employee union strikes and shuts down the store, consumers just go to an other store.
The principle of "freedom" is buried in the union's Jihad on our middle class.
The Middle Class was brought to you by unions...
Workers rights will turn us into a 3rd world country? Are you suggesting conversely that 3rd world countries have good workers rights policies?
PS: Try and look at the top 25 of the richest countries in the world, and we are in dead last by a huge margin on many / all of the related categories.
What is missing in this coverage, is the fact that Walker granted business tax cuts before this labor bill fiasco started, which increased the deficit for the State and gave him the rationale to attack the unions. Look hard and you will see that the Republican agenda is the destruction of the middle class, and creation of a feudal have/have not society.
What is missing is....coverage - FAIR and balanced - why is that concept so hated by msnbc and it's 3 or 4 viewers?
Gee - msnbc and it's minions seen to have amnesia - is there a dirtier politician in America than Rahm Emanuel?
Maybe the Madison so-called Mayor wouldn't mind a few excerpts from his own criminal escapades - of course you won't see anything fair and balanced about it here.
People were sold a bill of goods by the Tea Party and they allowed themselves to be conned by the slimy Mr Walker who lied to everyone. You've elected a guy who wants to impose his rules regardless what the people of Wisconsin want. He's actually like a little dictator and we all know that he's a 'one termer' right now and very likely to be re-called after the first year in office. That's what inexperience gets you, a person driven by personal ambition and no concern for anyone else. It should be a lesson learned by everyone that supports the Tea Party. They have NO magic wand and they are too inexperienced to see through the lies that their candidates tell them. Remember Christine O'Donnel ? Another Tea Party fiasco.
In case you didn't notice that during the election, this is exactly what he ran on.......and he was elected. Obviosly the majority is behind him...they're just too busy working to camp out at the capital.
At Chris:
He DID NOT run on Union Busting.
Wow. That's mighty condescending, Chris. I'm a lawyer. What are YOUR credentials?
Whatever they are, add rank ignorance to them. You might make a valid argument had Walker said anything about trashing collective bargaining, selling off public power plants to his cronies, and making drastic changes to other programs.
Fact is, chris, he didn't. And now you see WHY he didn't. Or do you really think that the police and firefighters, who are marching with the other public sector employees now, would have endorsed him then?
Please.
Fact is, chris, Walker lies. He blatantly lied to someone he thought was one of his corporate masters on that telephone call about the size of the crowds and their origin. He admitted to being prepared to lie to democratic legislators in order to trick them to come back. This paragon of virtue even accepted a bribe during that telephone call. Even worse, he admitted to a willingness to use violence against peaceful citizens just because he didn't agree with their message.
If that's your idea of what elected officials should be doing in your little ol' "republic," then you can keep it.
But thanks for acknowledging that democracy has been lost. As if WE didn't already know.
By the way, mass hysteria and protesting ended the Vietnam war. As it was, 50,000 soldiers died unnecessarily. Imagine what that number might have been without the mass hysteria and protesting of all those silly liberals.
Or is that just the price we have to pay to live in your idea of the world? Seems like it's getting to be a habit, anyway.
Most people today don't believe that the Kent State massacre of peaceful protesters was a good thing. But I suppose you do.
If you're a lawyer.....GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!
Hey, Do you know what they call 100 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?........I couldn't resist!
If you're a lawyer why even worry about this aren't you getting your $150/hr for peoples mishaps and issues?????
I beat you hide money from uncle sam too so you dont have to pay taxes. You remember that thing that pays for all your wonky social benefits that only help a small amount of the nations citizens, while the true middle class are wondering where their next loaf of bread will come from.
I am actually a business owner that sells products globally (Engineer), so a real world job that adds to the economy. Don't you think it's wierd that I can sell the exact same industrial product in a non-union state for 45-60% less than I can in a union state, simply due to the hyperinflated wage rates? I don't see workers in the southeast complaining that they are treated as "slaves" because they don't have a union to "protect" them..... All the Unions are doing is stealing from the people they claim to represent and making those states uncompetitive for businesses. Actually, now that you point it out we could probably just let them have their bargaining rights and see how many jobs are there to collect dues from when the businesses leave...... Detroit anyone?
As a lawyer you should know better than anyone that there are more than enough laws on the books to protect workers and that Unions have outlived their usefulness, especially in the public sector.....
Of course the Democratic Senators are AWOL. If the unions are not dishing out the hundreds of millions of dollars in union dues to the Democrats each election cycle, they (the democratic politicians) won't get elected. And who really pays these union dues?? Of course, the taxpayers are paying the dues. It is no wonder that the Democrats oppose vouchers where parents could chose which school to send their children. The free market would elevate the best teachers to higher pay and the seat warmers would be forced out.
The stimulus package(s) delayed the inevitable. The U.S. cannot be competitive in the global market if each company trying to compete is paying high corporate taxes. School boards across the country are now having to make the hard decisions on how to balance their budgets. No longer are they able to postpone addressing the reality.
John-3099924
Of course the Democratic Senators are AWOL. If the unions are not dishing out the hundreds of millions of dollars in union dues to the Democrats each election cycle, they (the democratic politicians) won't get elected. And who really pays these union dues?? Of course, the taxpayers are paying the dues. It is no wonder that the Democrats oppose vouchers where parents could chose which school to send their children. The free market would elevate the best teachers to higher pay and the seat warmers would be forced out.
The stimulus package(s) delayed the inevitable. The U.S. cannot be competitive in the global market if each company trying to compete is paying high corporate taxes. School boards across the country are now having to make the hard decisions on how to balance their budgets. No longer are they able to postpone addressing the reality
Most unions have separate opt in for lobby funds. And they ask you if you are a Republican or Democrat. If you opt in to lobby funds your payments go to lobby your specified party.