70,000 Protest Wisconsin's Anti-Union Bill

Scott Walker, new GOP governor of Wisconsin in an effort to "balance" the budget is trying to eliminate the right of most public workers in Wisconsin to unionize. Wisconsin was in the fact the first state over 5 decades ago to allow their public workers to unionize.

Meanwhile, in the past few days, 12 Democrat senators from Wisconsin fled the state to deny the state senate the quorum it needs to make a vote, while tens of thousands of people have occupied the capitol building, including sleeping in the state building overnight. Today is supposed to be the largest protest of all, from both sides. At least 70-80,000 union supporters are supposed to show up, meanwhile, a Tea Party group has been busing in people from around the state to show support for the governor's bill.

Rachel Maddow being as awesome as she is, helps sums it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSH2Ol9Qnn4"]YouTube - OMG OMG Rachel Maddow- GOP goal- bake sales vs. billionaires Wisconsin Walker
-There was no deficit this year until the governor signed over $150 million in tax breaks for companies
-The previous governor raised taxes, twice, on various things, and both times unemployment fell after it.
-The union has already offered numerous concessions but the governor has said it's come too late in the debate.
-The right to unionize has nothing to do with finance, especially budgets of anywhere in the near future
-Three public worker groups were exempt in the bill from losing their right to unionize.............the three that supported Walker in the election.

 

no deficit? What about that pesky 3.6 BILLION the state is in the red over? This govenor is doing what he can to keep from laying off teachers.
He is not trying to keep them from unionizing, he is trying to keep the collective bargaining in check. Up till now, these unions have made demands as stupid and petty as to how thick the carpet will be in offices and the type of paint that will be used.
As a tax payer, I am sick of my taxes going towards benefits that I do not have, this money is not going to the schools, it is going to teachers and other public workers who enjoy healthcare, tenure and pensions that most of the private sector do not have. read up on tenure and the idiocy behind not being able to fire a bad teacher.

 

tip of the iceberg, get ready !

 

I read in the paper that there was some kind of demonstration in LA too about unions

 

Elected republicans and their industrial patrons have been trying forever to break unions and in many cases have been successfull. I would suggest anyone to research unions and the reason they are needed. Good read along the way is "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair which details how workers have / are treated if industrialists are able to operate with their own rules of conduct. I put dashboards in Mustangs (like a trained monkey ) from 64' thru 67' before I learned my own trade. I worked for Standard Oil before that. Believe me when I say I've seen some of the disdain management has for workers and the shit they will pull to further their "goals". I don't know much about government unions-I just know that without a union,a person can be fired summarily for a little of nothing--for example ,trying to band together to stop abuses against workers.. Henry Ford hired people to beat down anybody that tried to organize,for example.

 

47 states in financial trouble. the real solution would be to simply negate all the debt (oh, only the government's debt, of course, not any of us), and change from dollars to dinars. yep. that'd do it.

i've no sympathy for states, counties, governments and people who use debt inappropriately. i want hot n cold running twats, a rolls royce and custom lizard boots (the guy on youtube has 'em, by gosh), but i aint gonna buy 'em on debt.

maybe wisconsin will melt down. the cheese would go good on a burger.

 

lmao I love this train of thought, ARGH I'M GONNA DRAG YOU DOWN INTO THE HOLE I'M IN. If I'm miserable I will bring everyone down with me vs fighting for my own rights.

And yes, he IS trying to take away their right to unionize at all. The unions offered concessions, more than enough to make up for it, and he told them to go fuck themselves. Did you take notice of the part how it doesn't effect all public worker unions, the ones that supported him in the election just coincidental are exempt from the bill.

 

Minnesota is looking at a possible "best case scenario" of a $150million higher education cut... shit's gonna hit the fan here very soon

 

I meant that as a metaphor, collectively. I am not a teacher and I do not want those benefits.
I meant as one who is paying property taxes and seeing that money not go for what it should be going for.
Out of 363.82 in property taxes last year, 35.35 went for the township
73.83 went for the county and 253 13 went for the schools. 40% went to the schools.
Actually NOT the schools...to pensions,healthcare and benefits to the people running those schools.
Every time I turn around, some liberal is whining about the poor underpaid teachers. Who can't teach properly because there's no money.....
Constant levies come up for vote here in OH because the schools need more money.
Every few years they build a new school and tear down an old one. blah blah blah.
All the while cranking out "graduates' that can't balance a checkbook. Or give you 3 articles of our Constitution.
I do fight for my own rights. I do not look to anyone to give me anything.
I believe in standing on my own merits, making my own way.
If my house goes into foreclosure, I do not expect the government or you or anyone else to step in and pay my mortgage, if I choose to lay on my ass and not work, I do not expect you or the government (which IS you, by the way) to "bail me out".
I would never expect unemployment checks to keep rolling in after my time limit that I worked and paid into runs out...
I WAS on Medicaid as a kid growing up in fostercare and I would NEVER wish a government run healthcare system on anyone. Reform YES, Gov. run ? Never.
But again, I am not a liberal because liberals are all for others paying their way, no one fails, big nanny state, redistribution.
I on the other hand, believes no one owes me a damn thing.

 

All this is a perfect example of why the Gov. should get OUT of the education business.

 

I can see you're a man amongst men. Stand on your own two feet kinda' guy. Take no help and ask for no help from anyone. Good for you--I hope you don't lose your job,because there are millions just like you that never thought they would lose their jobs ,homes,unemployment and whatever is left of their dignity as a working productive member of society. I presume you're one of the exceptions and nothing unusual or life changing can touch you. Well and good -be carefull you're not tested.As far as taxes go-just don't pay the portion of your taxes you disagree with. In my opinion,it's conservatives like you that could care less about the middle class working people and their children--the I've got mine--the hell with you kind of guy.The first thing conservatives want to cut is music,art, PE and teacher's pay. Always go for labor and the arts to cut costs. A conservative couldn't care less if people are educated--an ignorant populace is a compliant populace and fits their desires perfectly.The public is an ass--otherwise why would conservatives be getting back in office after the havoc of the last 10 years?

 

And now they want to defund PBS,the ony place you can get real news. 2 million dollars worth of de funding-that's going to do much good?The conservatives have been trying to do this for years because to speak "truth to power" pisses 'em off,especially if what is said is true and doesn't adhere to their party line.

 

Ummm not sure if that last comment was directed at me. Cause I'm not a guy.
I'm not a conservative either.
I'm a rather poor (financially speaking) woman who has a little piece of land out in the woods.
A hand dug well, a compost toilet, a 1987 ford ranger a few dogs, a husband on a fixed income and some guns.
And yes, I do believe in standing on your own two feet.Being responsible for yourself and accountable for your actions. Yeah I'm some kind of nut for thinking like that.

Funny how whenever you say you do not go along with a nanny state way of thinking, that you are labeled a conservative. I think this two party system has led us into a lot of nothing getting done. And collecting money from Americans for bullshit earmarks. Along with a LOT of foreign aid that should have stayed right here.
I believe in VERY small federal and state government.
I like to keep things more local.

I think it is horrible when anyone loses their job. I'm 52, you think I have never lost a job? HA

I've been homeless and lived in my little toyota for awhile. I've also eaten out of dumpsters.
But I never though anyone owed me anything.
We are generous in this country, and I am very generous as we have eeked out a very downsized life. But I do not OWE anyone anything.

People do need to stand up and unite. But not against America. We need to come together as Americans, bring these jobs back to our country and become a strong nation. Division does nothing but divide and weaken.
For anyone to say it is fine for one group (public workers) to take from everyone else(taxpayers) so they end up with far more than anyone else for the rest of their lives(fat pensions,tenure) while the ones they take from are suffering too(losing jobs and homes) and say that I am the one that does not care....that is illogical.

If the state does not have the money to keep this union stuff going, the layoffs will begin.
So if you think it is OK to pay these unions who in turn give large amounts of that money to politicians to get elected so they can direct more to these unions so they can give large amounts to politicians.....see where this is going?
Our Government should not be in the middle of job negotiations.
Get a Civil Service job, do your job, collect your pay. Just like everyone else. Gee what a concept.

 

If PBS is so news worthy...they should be able to stand on their own merits. Sheesh everytime I look at them there's a big ol telethon going on. If ALL those LARGE amounts of people who appreciate REAL news sent in a couple bucks that should do the trick.
Or they could always just start selling advertising like all the other stations. I know so many companies that would probably love to advertise on the only network that is showing the real news.
I pay for a dish already, not interested in paying AGAIN for channels that can rarely get their audio track lined up with the video.

 

So basically you think everyone should have to do as shitty things as you've been forced to do in life rather than try to improve those things.

 

HUH? I think everyone should live their life. Take advantage of the education they have given to them, although i would love to see more home schooled kids or neighborhood private schools. Grow up following their passion in life, take their knocks along the way, succeed at some things, fail at others, take personal accountability for their actions, leave others the hell alone, be generous and kind, find an honest way to make a living (whatever type of living they want) and realize that no one OWES them anything. I've never been FORCED to do anything "shitty", life happens and I dealt with it. I know life ain't "fair", it ain't set up like that.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's what you do when those things happen that determine your character.
I am responsible for my choices in my life. Sometimes I made good ones, sometimes not so good. But I try to learn from each one. And I blame no one for the way it's gone.
I have never run with the pack. I am unique and have never wanted to be a follower. I like the fact that I am self sufficient in most ways. Never liked to depend on others, I have my life and what I have I worked for in one way or another.
So I do not think anyone should be forced to do anything, I am all for improvement as long as it is done without stepping on anyone else's freedom.
I am ALL about freedom.
And this is why I am NOT a follower of the Cloward Piven school of thought.
I do believe in helping others, sometimes I am kinda generous to a fault. But I do not buy into breaking this system of capitalism. I like keeping what I have worked for. And I do not think that government workers should be allowed to hold a state assembly hostage because they are better than anyone else.
What no one has mentioned in this debate, is the fact that WI actually has a Civil Service Bill that already protects these workers.
You can peruse it here:
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/wmh/archives/search.aspx?area=browse&volume=39&articleID=20631

Like I've said before, capitalism is not our enemy, greed is.

 

geez, only $363 in property taxes for a YEAR, count your blessings

i spend more than that feeding homeless cats

and my rent is $2400 a year for a shitty little house in a shitty little town

teaching is a nearly thankless occupation and they deserve at least 1% of the salary of the asswipe ceos that are actually destroying america