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[1171]

(03-09-2011 05:17 PM)Manley2 Wrote:  If more people are getting screwed by WC then maybe the rules will change in the workers favor. I know I'm only dreaming

it'll only change when more of the worker-hating republicans get voted out.
did not use to be that way but good republicans are getting harder to find.
way too many support the gov Walker types.

[admin]

Well, you can be offensive after all. Interesting. Seems "civility" is only mandatory on one side of the debate.

[bodybuilder1958]

Amen there admin

[admin]

I should not be weighing in, but the whole "worker hating Republican" thing just grates on me. It is an offshoot of the "helping working families" garbage started during the Clinton era. It as is if, somehow, conservatives could not possibly be workers.

My whole family, with one exception, is made up of hard working fiscal conservatives. My 91 year old father still runs two businesses, in addition to caring for my alzhiemers stricken mother. None of us hate workers. We are workers.

The one exception to conservatism I noted is my sister, a school teacher in Madison, WI. Most of her life she has been politically oblivious, but having drunk the union Kool aid for 20 years, she is in the current "death to Walker" crowd that have made such a professional presence at the Madison capital in recent weeks.

I have a good idea of what she makes, and I know her benefits far exceed my own in the private sector, at much less cost. I have thought for years that what she and her family were given was unsustainable, but many there apparently disagree.

I love my sister, and plan to embrace her, and welcome her to the real world. I have lived and survived here many years, and I will be happy to show her around.

[jayne]

its time others are welcomed to the real world....

[bodybuilder1958]

Real workers actually work without a handout. We're having the same problem in KS, the legislature wants to change KPERS to a 401K and the nut jobs are coming out of the woodwork. Teachers want 'guaranteed pensions', opps, sorry, welcome to the real world. Life is constantly a gamble, that's what makes it a challenge, exciting, sometimes sad.
Me, my family (except my wayward daughter) are all right wing conservative republicans. I dream of another Reagan out there, somewhere.

[admin]

Here is the way "collective bargaining" works for state employees. Their representatives sit down with politicians to negotiate wages and benefits. The politicians have no skin in the game, as they are negotiating with other peoples money. In fact, they have a motivation to give lavish benefits, as the same unions will then generously fund their election efforts. It is an unhealthy alliance that leaves the tax paying public in the dark and footing the bill. How many of you could get big concessions from your boss in exchange for paying him for his efforts? In the private sector that is a crime. Even Franklin Roosevelt dismissed the idea of public employee unions as an unrealistic option.

State Employee unions have been, far and away, the number one political contributor the last few election cycles.

What is sad is that those currently working in the unions are the ones that must face the reality and expense of the mistakes of the past. Camden, NJ, a crime ridden city if their ever was one, just laid off 1/2 of their police force in order to continue paying promised benefits to those already retired. Its happening everywhere. California is furloughing state employees on a regular basis, as part of their financial meltdown is unfunded obligations to past state employees.

[bronco54501]

The walker picketing is quite interesting, being I'm from WI. I cant say Im for it nor against it, there are several good points from either side.. Our population is not much here maybe 9,000, but I watched fights break out and many arrested here. You wont here that on the news, one of our very busy intersections you will find an easy 100 people picketing.. I know its thier right but when they block cars from going through ranting and waving thier signs, well they gone to far......

[admin]

From what I have seen on the news the reaction has been overly disproportionate, or "panicked", at best. Their claims that Walker and the state legislature are "destroying the middle class" (which seems to be the common accusation) is laughable, unless of course, being "middle class" in Wisconsin means being part of a public sector union. Where were all these public employees when Harley demanded concessions? When GM closed the Janesville plant? I am afraid they were too "professional" to care about "those" workers.

[1171]

it's clearly not about Wisconsin's budget, admin.
it's about using your power while you are in the majority to cripple the opposition.
legislation to strengthen one party and weaken another.
citizens and good government become "collateral damage."



According to an analysis of the Senate bill by Wisconsin's Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the legislation gives state officials the power to fire workers during a "state of emergency" declared by the governor under several conditions. If a state employee misses three working days without an approved leave of absence, that's grounds for being fired. State workers can also be dumped if, according to the LFB's analysis, they participate in a "strike, work stoppage, sit-down, stay-in, slowdown, or other concerted activities to interrupt the operations or services of state government, including mass resignations or sick calls."

it won't take long before they make it legal to jail members of the opposing party and stop the pretense.

State Senate Majority leader Scott Fitzgerald said on Fox News last night that if they win the battle against the Unions the money won't be there to re-elect Obama in 2012.
those that support Walker and the Union busting know it's about a bigger political agenda.

would you allow your workers to join a union?