Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

I heard hundreds may have even known what they were doing there!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cufj2d8Co5A

That's pretty sad.

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by Riot

That's pretty sad.

which part?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by timmgirvan

which part?

The students who were clueless as to why they were there. But at least it's hopefully a start on learning how to be a good citizen

[timmgirvan]

Originally Posted by Riot

The students who were clueless as to why they were there. But at least it's hopefully a start on learning how to be a good citizen

A definate "teachable' moment!

[SOREHOOF]

Originally Posted by Riot

The students who were clueless as to why they were there. But at least it's hopefully a start on learning how to be a good citizen

That should have started LONG before High School. They prove the point that teachers aren't doing the job they are being paid for.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

That should have started LONG before High School. They prove the point that teachers aren't doing the job they are being paid for.

There were a couple high school students interviewed on TV yesterday (you're a student, why are you here thing), they spoke clearly and concisely about what the issues were, and gave their opinions. I would have been very proud of them if they were my kids. So their teachers did their job very well.

[The Bart]

Originally Posted by Riot

There were a couple high school students interviewed on TV yesterday (you're a student, why are you here thing), they spoke clearly and concisely about what the issues were, and gave their opinions. I would have been very proud of them if they were my kids. So their teachers did their job very well.

It took them 3 hours to find 2 students who could talk like they were smart!

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

The students who were clueless as to why they were there. But at least it's hopefully a start on learning how to be a good citizen

Yea just like when they're in math class.

WI voters who have not put away retirement money the last few years because of the economy and now had to scramble to get day care for their kids while they work and pay for the off day/healthcare and pension are as they say it 'drinkin mad'. This has nothing to do w/private unions (yet) and everything to do w/the 'we pay your retirement/health care and you work only 75% of the year government workers. Forget about Egypt we're in a revolution! At least we're a peaceful people and no matter what happens no reporters will get raped! Much less by 200!

[Riot]

I love politics via technology in 2011

Looks like the citizens of Wisconsin are not going anywhere, and there's Twitter rumors that Walker has sent the State Police out to try and find a Democrat (allegedly holed up at Henrici's in Rockford) to bring them back to the State House tomorrow, so they can have a vote.

Walker deliberately left the cops and firemen out of the union busting, and they have turned on him, siding with the demonstrators and protesting with them while off duty.

Teachers in WI some of poorest paid in nation: 49th in starting pay, only 26th with experience.

Meanwhile, 3,000 showed up today in Ohio, where they are trying to union-bust, too.

Repubs trying to union bust so they can control voter turnout and financial contributions to 2012 election.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Riot

I love politics via technology in 2011

Looks like the citizens of Wisconsin are not going anywhere, and there's Twitter rumors that Walker has sent the State Police out to try and find a Democrat (allegedly holed up at Henrici's in Rockford) to bring them back to the State House tomorrow, so they can have a vote.

Walker deliberately left the cops and firemen out of the union busting, and they have turned on him, siding with the demonstrators and protesting with them while off duty.

Teachers in WI some of poorest paid in nation: 49th in starting pay, only 26th with experience.

Meanwhile, 3,000 showed up today in Ohio, where they are trying to union-bust, too.

Repubs trying to union bust so they can control voter turnout and financial contributions to 2012 election.

Yea cause you're in WI! Get a f'n clue! WI voted the new GOP Gov Walker in to do what he's doing. Go worry about KY and your creation park. If it doesn't involve high-speed rail the Dells WI could be a second park.

[Riot]

Good reporting by Ezra Klein on this, reviewing Wisconsin budget, Walker's union-busting reasons (Goal of GOP Govs for 2011 is taking the unions out of financial picture in 2012), etc.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezr..._for_wisc.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezr...l?hpid=topnews

[wiphan]

Originally Posted by Riot

I love politics via technology in 2011

Looks like the citizens of Wisconsin are not going anywhere, and there's Twitter rumors that Walker has sent the State Police out to try and find a Democrat (allegedly holed up at Henrici's in Rockford) to bring them back to the State House tomorrow, so they can have a vote.

Walker deliberately left the cops and firemen out of the union busting, and they have turned on him, siding with the demonstrators and protesting with them while off duty.

Teachers in WI some of poorest paid in nation: 49th in starting pay, only 26th with experience.

Meanwhile, 3,000 showed up today in Ohio, where they are trying to union-bust, too.

Repubs trying to union bust so they can control voter turnout and financial contributions to 2012 election.

You never cease to amaze me. Stay out of my state! Scott Walker is the best thing that has happened to WI and these changes need to happen(BTW- this is just the start). If only you had a clue of what he is dealing with from our lovely Gov Doyle. They can still collectively bargain for salaries. They have to contribute 5.8% of their pay to their pension and pay 12% of the total health insurance premium. Those are huge concessions. Please. I would be elated if my employer paid me those benefits. The only reason this is an issue is that the teachers are not going to be required to be part of the union. Last I checked having a choice is not necessarily a bad thing. The Walker supporters will show up tomorrow (because they actually work for a living) while most of the teachers and union workers will go home because it will be Sat (their day off). I have great respect for the government workers that showed up for work and feel that the dems are making themselves look like complete idiots. Imagine if the Republicans left the country when the OBAMACARE health plan was being debated?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by wiphan

You never cease to amaze me. Stay out of my state!

"Your state" is the front page story on all American news outlets, some internationals, and what is happening there is related to what is happening in Ohio, Florida, etc. and Washington.

Nobody has to "stay out of your state" and ignore the story.

Scott Walker is the best thing that has happened to WI and these changes need to happen(BTW- this is just the start). If only you had a clue of what he is dealing with from our lovely Gov Doyle. They can still collectively bargain for salaries.

But not for what their current contracts say they can. All their collective bargaining rights are being eliminated, except being able to bargain base pay only and only up to the consumer price index. That is virtually nothing. Pennies.

First: Walker is arbitrarily cutting benefits, without sitting down and talking to the Unions about what they can give or sacrifice. That's his right, I suppose. Although I would think he'd bargain, because during his campaign he said he'd work with unions, and now he's not. He's a liar, but most politicians are. Nothing wrong with cutting benefits when there is a deficit, and the unions said they are willing to work with him. Why Walker is ignoring that is a puzzlement. This isn't much of an issue, really.

Walker did sneak this bill in last Friday, unannounced, and literally try to sneak it through with little debate. Why? The second reason, below:

Second: the most important thing, the thing completely unrelated to any "deficit" busting, and why 30,000 are in the capital, is Walkers sneaky plan for elimination of collective bargaining. That's straight up Union busting, plain and simple. That has zero to do with any deficit. Nothing at all.

Why is Walker trying to bust up the unions? Because the unions were the three biggest contributors to the Democratic party the last election cycle. The Republican Governors Association has instructed the Govs to try and union-bust in 2011, prior to the next election cycle, to eliminate Democratic financing in the top ten corporate contributors to candidate financing (the other 7 are private Republican donating corporations) Control the money, control the election outcomes.

Don't you find it funny Walker has exempted police and fire from his union-busting? Why police and fire, but not prison guards? Because those are the two unions that contributed to his campaign. It's just political campaign payback.

Except the off-duty police and fire unions are siding with the unions under attack.

There is far more to this story than Wisconsin's deficit. It's about the organized Republican attempt to union-bust across every state they can before 2012. And that is why this story is getting detailed national attention.

And by the way? Many of the Green Bay Packers - union men - are supporting the teachers.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

Repubs trying to union bust so they can control voter turnout and financial contributions to 2012 election.

This is an unusual take. So you are saying that if the unions are effectively busted then the former members wont vote or contribute in the 2012 elections?

http://blogs.the-american-interest.c...madison-blues/

[Cannon Shell]

Unions are great for people in unions and terrible for everyone and everything else. In 1915 they were essential. Now for the most part they are just a drain on the rest of us.

[AeWingnut]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

This is an unusual take. So you are saying that if the unions are effectively busted then the former members wont vote or contribute in the 2012 elections?

the leadership doesn't represent the membership.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Riot
Repubs trying to union bust so they can control voter turnout and financial contributions to 2012 election

.

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

This is an unusual take. So you are saying that if the unions are effectively busted then the former members wont vote or contribute in the 2012 elections?

It's a pretty common idea, considering all the GOP Governors came out of their annual conference with the order to do it. Watch what every other GOP Governor is doing. It's the cover of deficit (deficits are real) but it's union-busting plain and clear.

With the Citizen's United ruling, private citizen contributions hardly matter any more. Who controls the money has a huge influence over elections.

Of the top ten political contributors, 7 are corporate Republican, and 3 are corporate Democratic. The 3 Democratic ones are the unions these GOP governors are trying to break up. Everyone knows unions historically vote and support Democratic.

Break up the unions, break up dues paying, get the money out of the hands of the unions, unions cannot contribute to candidates, the GOP financially controls the elections with no opposition.

Witness the Koch brothers financing and bussing in their Tea Party to counter-demonstrate.

Walker clearly isn't interested in the budget deficit here - the union has said it will gladly give up benefits, has no problem with Walker's desires if Walker will talk to them, negotiate and maintain collective bargaining rights.

Walker has completely refused. It's all about union busting. Not budget.

[SOREHOOF]

Originally Posted by Riot

That's pretty sad.

Brainwashing of a Generation. The teachers didn't bother to educate the students about the issue at hand, they just told them what to do. Nice teaching job don't ya think?

The kids should be taught HOW to think, not WHAT to think. It's their future. Selfish move by the "teachers".

[Riot]

Originally Posted by SOREHOOF

Brainwashing of a Generation. The teachers didn't bother to educate the students about the issue at hand, they just told them what to do. Nice teaching job don't ya think?

I agree. But they don't teach thinking anymore.