How about the janitor who works at the bank or the teller? Are they poor enough for you to care about?
That's a reason why they are right. First of all they won't follow through on those that didn't support them despite what that says, but they will follow through on those that supported the opposition, and that's called putting democracy to work. Good for them. Secondly if they do boycott those that didn't support them, good for them again. I like the idea of being pro-active. Third... How else can greedy public school teachers keep living their opulent, frivolous, carefree, expensive lifestyles. These are public school teachers we are talking about. Their yachts, fine dining, multiple vacation homes, expensive cars, have to paid for. They have to keep making sure their 5 figure salaries are paid.
Because it should be a constitutional right to support something behind close doors then be able to lie about it if asked. Too Many Secrets. Isn't this where Republicans would say . . . . IF YOU NOT DOING SOMETHING WRONG . . .THEN YOU SHOULD NOT MIND. or is that only for Warrentless WireTapping and other invasions of privacy. Rocket River
Interesting. My guess is the Republicans won in 2010 mostly due ton lackluster Democratic turnout. If turnout is equally high by both parties in the upcoming election (2012 or recall), the Republicans will be losing some seats.
The mistake that was made is that Walker did not abide by the contract. He should have seen the budget shortfall and laid off the workers necessary to fix the budget. The state would have had that right under the contract. Then the parties could have gone back to the table to work together to find a solution acceptable to all. This is how collective bargaining ideally would work.
I don't know if this has been posted. It is a funny video. I agree with the guy. Teacher's unions explained. <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5kxc6kzH-uI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Wait - what's wrong with this? I think boycotts are highly ineffective, but I don't see the problem with them. If you believe in the basic principles of capitalism and the free market, I'd think you'd support the idea of boycotts. It's just people making economic choices that they feel provide them the most value and best serve them. Similarly, company responses are simply based on what's in their best economic interests. It's true free market capitalism.
I find it especially ironic that the Walkers of the world were telling us how we couldn't void CEO's ridiculously over the top contracts even if their companies were bailed out with federal dollars.... but we can tear up contracts with teachers. Bobsled to Hell.
<div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:thedailyshow.com:375723" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-28-2011/crisis-in-dairyland---angry-curds">The Daily Show - Crisis in Dairyland - Angry Curds</a></b><br/>Tags: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a></p></div></div> Once again, Stewart puts it into perspective. Another spot on video.
Walker created the budget shortfall. Or at least made it the extent that it was, by passing tax cuts for corporations. What Walker should have done was either not pass the tax cuts that drove up the state budget deficit, or he should have made everyone including the wealthy chip in to pay for it, rather than take all the money exclusively from teachers. nurses, and other public union members.
Don't forget... not only for corporations, but a large portion of the cuts he passed went to benefit holders of private health savings accounts. Which, for anyone truly in trouble due to the economy, is totally worthless. The median income of people who use HSAs is $140k, and half of those don't even withdraw anything, just using it as a tax shelter. I live in Wisconsin, and I can't believe the fact that Walker created the deficit all by himself isn't getting more press. The state had a surplus at the beginning of this year... if anyone doesn't believe me, it's right here in black & white: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf
Another Message from Jon Stewart to the greedy teachers. <div style="background-color:#000000;width:520px;"><div style="padding:4px;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:375724" width="512" height="288" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed><p style="text-align:left;background-color:#FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;"><b><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-28-2011/crisis-in-dairyland---message-for-teachers">The Daily Show</a></b><br/>Tags: <a href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/'>Daily Show Full Episodes</a>,<a href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/'>Political Humor & Satire Blog</a>,<a href='http://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow'>The Daily Show on Facebook</a></p></div></div>
Madison Rally Bigger Than Biggest Tea Party Rally Police estimated up to 100,000 people turned out in Madison, WI yesterday to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) assault on unions, making it bigger than any protests the city has witnessed, even those during the Vietnam War. The Madison rally is part of a much larger Main Street Movement of average Americans demanding fairness in labor laws, social spending, and taxation that has emerged in Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, and elsewhere. But yesterday’s rally in Madison is noteworthy because at 85,000-100,000, it was bigger than the biggest tea party protest, the September 12, 2009 rally in Washington, D.C., which turned out only an estimated 60,000-70,000. A photo of the Madison rally yesterday: For two years, tea party activists and their allies in the GOP have claimed that the hard-right movement represents the true beliefs of the American people. But the crowd in Madison and numerous polls tell a different story.
Crowd size is pretty meaningless. What percentage of the state's population is out there? Probably less than 2%, and that's assuming all the protestors are from Wisconsin, which is most likely not accurate, as we know. This is all about intimidation tactics from a bunch of sore losers.
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Considering that Walker had threatened to lay off thousands of state employees if he didn't get this bill it sounds like that was the case with these contracts. Anyway that problem was one that Walker created since the Unions had already agreed to financial concessions proposed by Walker but Walker refused to accept those without also doing away with most of collective bargaining.
