I can't speak for what's going on in other states, but in California legislators hand out benefits to the unions and then, at election time, the unions deliver money and votes to get the politicians re-elected. The politicians then raise taxes and give more benefits to the unions and then, come election time, the unions deliver money and votes to the politicians. And round and round it goes. The more union member there are, the more votes the politicians can buy. From 1998 to 2008 the population of California increased 10%, but during that same period the number of government employees increased 31% In California the unfunded pension liability is estimated at between $300B and $500B, depending on whose numbers you look at. By 2035, public employee retirement benefits will consume over 25% of the entire state budget. California's bonds now have the lowest rating in the country. In 2010, 193 companies either moved out of California, or moved a significant part of their operations to other states. The latest unemployment numbers show California unemployment at 12.5%. "U6" unemployment is over 20%.
"Obama accused Scott Walker, the state's new Republican governor, of unleashing an "assault" on unions in pushing emergency legislation." --------------------------------- Hmnnn.....You're either part of the solution or part of the problem. We have the Arizona lawsuit on immigration, constitutionality of health care -duh you're a constitution law professor .and now this
News flash! Mubarak in flight to Wisconsin. Recruited by Walker and RNC to help with oppression of the masses. It's win/win for both. Praise Allah!
Where is the rage from republicans against the union and brotherhood of corporations who would take away the power of collective bargaining from the people they employ, and return us to a state of feudalism? Oh yeah... I can understand why those who actually do have the money and power want to keep control of it, and deny the rights of the working class to have power... What is most mystifying though, is why the average working class republican sides with the corporate beast, when in reality the corporate beast seeks to destroy the rights and realistic possibility of the working class republican to have a better and more prosperous life. Facts are facts, the best time for most Americans and a prosperous economic life with opportunity for a good middle class existence came after the labor unions established bargaining power for the middle class through collective bargaining. It creates a balance of power between the few big fish, and the collective small fish. There is a natural dynamics in the struggle between the ruling class and the working class...and despite the illusion of the American dream, the dribble that "anyone can be just like us (i.e. the ruling class) if they simply work hard enough cannot be true when the ruling class controls the means of production, and also controls the government's method of passing legislation that favors the status quo of the corporations demand to keep the pyramid scheme going.
Is this really what we want? I mean seriously. The governor dispatching goon squads to do his bidding. Apparently they're learning well from the Islamic Fascists. Best be careful what you wish for. You might be next! By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press Scott Bauer, Associated Press â 12 mins ago MADISON, Wis. â The Wisconsin State Patrol was dispatched Friday to find a Democratic state senator who fled the Capitol to delay the near-certain passage of a bill to end a half-century of collective bargaining rights for public workers, a measure that's attracted thousands of protesters for four days. [Related: First person: Gov. Walker taking away our rights] With Democrats saying they won't return before Saturday, it was unclear when the Senate would be able to begin debating Gov. Scott Walker's measure meant to ease the state's budget woes. Democrats who disappeared Thursday at first kept their whereabouts secret, then started to emerge to give interviews and fan the protests. Senate Republicans convened briefly Friday morning to renew a call to find the Democrats, then recessed. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, told reporters he has asked the governor to send two state troopers to Senate Democratic Minority Leader Mark Miller's suburban Madison home. He said he believes Miller may be there â he did not elaborate on why he thought that â and Walker agreed to dispatch the officers. The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits police from arresting state lawmakers while the Legislature is in session, except in cases of felonies, breaches of the peace or treason. Fitzgerald said he's not looking to have Miller arrested, but he wants to send a signal about how serious things are becoming in the Capitol.
And guess what's likely if the unions get their way. Layoffs. So, are layoffs the best answer in order to make a point? Or is a small contribution to your pension and health care costs and still having a job a better solution?
I would be willing to bet that in this environment if Walker simply fired every single state worker who walked out on their job yesterday and today, and posted an ad saying they need to fill these positions, but the pay scale is going to be what they set forth in the bill, minus 20% off the salary as well, there would be a lineup for miles from people wanting these jobs. Why the fuck do teachers feel opressed when their average wage in wisconsin is 51k plus benefits no one in the private sector gets, plus they probably only work about 8 months a year once you average in all of the staff holidays and bullshit they give themselves. Plus they get to retire after 25 years and keep 80-90% of their pay. It used to be teachers took the job because they knew they would get all kinds of free time, and a good retirement package with a shitty wage, now they get a higher than average wage, much better retirement benefits, unreal medical and dental for the entire family, and they only work 2/3rds of the frigging year. Plus they only teach 4-1 hour classes a day and their other class is a spare, which is supposedly to catch up on grading.
I would like to see the state tell them to get back to work or be fired. The fact that thousands of them can shut the schools and leave work to protest just shows the unions are out of control.
Which is exactly what Walker should do. I'm not opposed to labor organization, walk outs, slow downs or strikes. BUT I also believe that employers have the right to fire your sorry ass for not doing your job/not showing up for work and hire someone who does want to work in your place.
The teachers unions are the ones that really chap my ass, every time they dont get their way they cry and talk about how the person not giving them their way hates children and all this non-sense, then if they dont get their way they are willing to just walk out and say "screw you" to the kids they suppsedly care about. they are essentially holding our children hostage. Kudos to Christie for taking those assholes on in New Jersey.