GOP Governor Pushes For Massive Rollback Of Worker Rights, Alerts National Guard of Possible Unrest

Your comment in its brevity and absolute tone at first sounds like a great wisdom. Whatever truth it holds, it cannot be applied absolutely without consideration of fluctuation in circumstances. The government work forces created during the Great Depression kept citizens of this nation from starving. Under better circumstances, these government created work forces did not need to continue.

The only reason the public sector looks so good nowadays is because the private sector sucks. And the reason the private sector sucks is because of...well... the private sector.

In better times people shy away from public sector jobs because they don't pay as much. Then, when the private sector commits economic suicide like they did in 2008 (and so often do), everyone starts talking about how overpaid the public sector is.

The simplest example is the President of the United States. The person in charge of managing an entire nation of 300,000,000 people who can't seem to get along with each other, gets 400K a year. Many, if not all CEOs, of large corporations make tens of millions in salary PLUS millions more in stock options and perks to manage corporations that minuscule by comparison.

If the President doesn't do a good job, he gets canned in the next election. If a CEO fails,
they pull the ripcord on their golden parachute and go buy an island somewhere where they don't have to look at the unwashed masses.

If you were an unemployed CEO that 400K a year would look pretty good.

Your point is well taken. The problem is that when Scott Walker was County Executive here in Milwaukee he disregarded legal contracts and he was already governor by the time the court ruled against him here! The system of checks and balances doesn't move fast enough to restrain him.

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Thanks for your support. I was the one who mentioned the recall petition. He was the County Executive for Milwaukee County before being elected Governor of Wisconsin. In Milwaukee he made all kinds of unilateral and dictatorial decisions which dishonored legal contracts. One court case just decided that he was out of line in one of those decisions. I have to get on with some letters to my state Sen. and Rep. tonight!

Words of wisdom. Counter the spin with facts. Once one learns the facts, which leads to the truth, the spin stops working. Education is the key. Spun facts are not trust worthy and I think people will really resent being misled, when they find out the truth.

You are on point.

We have a recall petition going. Local folks who want to sign this petition need to find the scottwalkerewatch website. Personally I did all that I could to campaign for his opponents, but how do we little people begin to combat all that corporate campaign money! I hope some of the people who were fooled into voting for him will come to their senses!

Good for you! Post that info everywhere you can - local free classifieds, craigslist, HP (yeah, I know), POV, Alternet, etc.

I'm in Colorado, but I'll help to spread the word.

correction: scottwalkerwatch

Hi! Thanks for your suggestions. I'll get on that! Also have to get lettters out tonight to my state Senator and Representative! Also sent out information to everyone local about free bus rides to our state capital, Madison, to join in protest against our new dictator! Be Well!

Very well written. I plan on joining a protest in Madison this Wednesday. I plan on writing my state Sen. and Rep. (who are both Republicans) to object to Walker's tactics. I have written these elected officials previously about the state taking action to call for a 28th Ammendment to nullify the Citizens United decision of last Jan.2010. I've been writing letters and sounding the alarm about this for a while now.I held a house party under the guidance of Free Speech for People which took us through a letter writing process. I invited everyone in my email network, but there were only five of us and no young people. We were the only FSFP house party in the entire state of Wisconsin. Many people are just so overwhelmed with survival issues that they have no energy left for political action. I have limited time and energy. My own little business is barely scraping along in this economy. My husband has advanced Parkinson's disease and needs a great deal of care and assistance from me. Whatever quality it is that some people have for rallying people to action, I seem to lack it! (Not, however, due to lack of effort!)

I am with you!

Have you read this article? It was on the internet.

Thu Aug 05, 2010 at 03:10:54 PM PDT
WOW ! Dick Morris Email Reveals Republican Secret Game Plan to Force States Into BANKRUPTCY- Breaking ALL Union Agreements !

Today I received Morris' latest email stating what he feels the Republican strategy should be if they were to regain control...his 'answer' to solving the economic problems created by the Bush Regime. To my amazement (I don't know why I'm so surprised), based on Morris, the Republican strategy is to literally block much needed financial aid to struggling states with the ultimate goal being to force all of the states INTO BANKRUPTCY ! They also plan to break ALL union agreements including wages, rules, pensions and more ! Not only does this explain why Repubs are voting against everything that could be helpful to The Recovery, but this email is absolutely, incredibly revealing and spells out exactly what we can expect should we allow the Repubs to regain power. Below are excerpts from the Morris email/newsletter. Truly dangerous stuff. Here's what Morris wrote:
*As Congress reconvenes next week to pass a $26 billion bailout of state and local governments entombed in their own deficits, we witness a foretaste of the crisis that will be the central event of the first half of next year: the collapse of state governments.
*As long as the Democrats control Congress, they will continue to rubber-stamp Obama's requests for bailouts of profligate states. But when the Republicans take control, they will be less than forthcoming. Republicans will ask the central question: Why should taxpayers from states that have cut their budgets and observed spending restraint, pay for the extravagances of the other states? Why should forty-seven states have to pay for California, New York, and Michigan?
*The Republican solution to state financial distress should be simple: The Party should insist on a change in the federal bankruptcy law providing for a procedure for state bankruptcy (none now exists). This process must call for abrogation (means=to end) of all state and local public employee union contracts as is usually done in private sector bankruptcies. By freeing states and local governments (including school boards) of their union obligations on wages, work rules, staffing, and pensions, they have a chance to survive and, indeed, to prosper. But merely subsidizing these massive expenditures just prolongs the misery of the states in question.
**The collapse of overspending state governments must trigger the diminution of the power unions hold over their budgets and their politics. Their coming bankruptcies offer an opportunity for reform and the Republican Congress - backed by newly elected Republican state governments - give us precisely the opportunity we need to effectuate it. (*=Excerpts from emailed Dick Morris.Com newsletter entitled "The Coming Catastrophe:State Governments")
If the Repubs regain power...
we're in BIG trouble as a nation.
The Time is NOW...TO FIGHT !

That should be on all of the billboards in Wisconsin!!

Lovin' it................*¿*

Amen, ah. :)

What's missing here is democracy! As of January 21,2010, with The Citizens United decision handed down by the Supreme Court, it just disapeared!

It is a shame that our society has come to hold teachers in such low esteem. People are scape-goating them as a way to avoid the real issues.

So what do you propose?

How can we make America competitive in a global economy?

It seems like the biggest winners are those that treat their workers like shit.

Do we stop importing from all those counties?

Look, before Clinton and his Republican Congress opened the trade flood gates, most Americans were doing fine! Jobs were still abundant and outsourcing wasn't as predominant as it is today. Treating your workers like shit, was the reason Unions grew in numbers in the first place! Perhaps companies who practice treating workers like servants should leave? No skin off my butt!
How do we stop importing? Stop buying their products! Start electing politicians who are nothing more then prostitutes for the rich! Place higher tariffs on business that outsource labor, take the money they pay and funnel it into businesses that employ American workers here! With the cards stacked against us in Washington, where rules and regulations seem to die, nothing will improve. I don't have all the answers but I do know the difference between being screwed and being happy!

I like the idea of placing tariffs on companies that outsource jobs and I've said the same thing in other threads.

But to take that money and pour it into other companies is prostituting for the rich which is something you seem to be against.
Unless you are now for it.?

Are rich people OK as long as they keep the jobs here?

Just trying to determine where you are coming from since you seem to be a bit mixed up.

Being rich isn't a bad thing. It's 'how you acquired your wealth' that matters. If you got rich, by exporting American jobs, while enjoying the benefits of being an 'American' company, it's the wrong way.

It may be wise to stop making major purchases from International corporations. If an American company offers the same products, buy from the American company. If we don't protect our people and industries, who will?

same here!! voted up!

Count me in.

Walker.........acting like a wanna be dictator..........what a guy..........*¿*

Thanks for some local history about this Rethug. It hard to take that there are those who would vote for such a ruthless, care nothing for his constituents individual. Maybe when they've suffered the pain he'll inflict upon them with his actions they'll vote differently next time around.

What a corporate lackey this guy................*¿*

You're welcome. It was so disheartening to know that people had totally ignored the message that the anti-Walker ads were trying to get through to people when the returns came in. Tom Barrett would've kept this state from devolving into a cesspool, but the right-wing took over the ballot box. And our one local paper, who endorsed Walker for Governor is now supporting every one of his draconian measures. Incredible.

You have made the best point in the world. Thanks for noticing.

i wish

Uhh . . . they like high speed rail because it creates thousands of jobs; takes big trucks and multiple cars off the road, and connects major cities; making it cheaper and easier for business to do business.

High speed rail is a win/win/win for everyone.

You don't think that building a high speed rail system would help add to and create blue collar jobs both union and non union. WHY? Another point a high speed rail should have been started an completed long ago. You need to rethink your argument on this one.

The new Republican House leaders have decided to work 3 weeks,go home a week. They can't find anything to do for a week---like JOBS. Ohio Gov. Kasich has turned down money for high speed rail.Like Ohio doesn't need jobs. What a disappointment he already is.

He was planning to use the money for other projects, but the Fed. Goverment said it was only for high speed rail. New York thanked us. They are going to get the money.I remember when Ohio had so much industry, even in my small town of 13,000. Now like most States it is overseas. Cheap labor.

Of course more needs to be done than just a rail system, and it will be if WE make sure that they people WE put charge do what their suppose to do and WE do the oversight to not let it be corrupted. You sound like you realize that our entire infrastructure is in trouble. All of these projects are long term in their creation and maintenance. Our domestic manufacturing centers have to be retooled for proper output. As you seem to understand it is not a one dimensional issue or solution.

I am mad as hell

I am with you on that, sister!

HA!

I guess he is just hoping that the Wisconsin National Guard doesn't have a significant amount of teachers, prison workers, etc. etc., or aren't related to one........

If they are under orders to uphold the law, they wouldn't have much to say about it... lets see if they wise up and join the fight!

There is being under orders and then there is competently exercising those orders. Everyone has a choice. ; )

let's hope they make the right one!!

He didn't call in the national guard.
He DID alert them to the possibility of violence so they were ready IF they were needed.

People can protest and the unions can strike all they want but if it gets violent watch out.

Any violence is comeing from the Governor and his threats to use the National Guard. Remember Kent State? The violence WAS the Ntnl guardsmen fireing on unarmed citizens trying to excercise their RIGHTS.

Sounds like a typical Repub to me!

Key word: dictator

I see no other way to read it. His actions are classic Dictator.

May I replace Repup with Rethug please thank you........

Only thugs threaten to call out the big guns if they feel their actions might cause unrest amongst those they intend to hurt.

This non leader is an over the top egotist.........barf.........*¿*

The Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students here in Ohio. Okay, it was a long time ago but I think we'd all be pretty naive to think it couldn't or wouldn't happen again.

i remember that time... and often think we come close to it today.

Kent State, Ohio 1970. The National Guard fires on anti-war protestors, killing 4. Nothing has changed.

Sadly, nothing has changed. No one was held accountable then. No one would be held accountable now. Without accountability, what really matters? When things can be done 'in plain sight' and we just move along, something is truly wrong.

I remember those days and I want to thank you for reminding everyone. I see it as if it were yesterday and it is painful even now!

You are so mercifully free of the ravages of intelligence.

The image of a PIMP in your avatar says a lot about your character! Your use of the English language say a lot about your education level! Did you skip grades 1-12?

I have always found it to be amazing that the under-educated, just-above-minumum wage, gets a tax refund of what they paid in and then some, had kids on Medicaid, grandparents on Medicare, wants the fire and police departments to respond post-haste, insists on a free education with free lunches for their children, bitch when there is a pot hole that the road department needs to fix, etc, etc, etc group of people (nearly everyone) will go like dazed and confused zombies into the polling places and vote for the very people who would rather step on you on their way into the country club than give you a second thought. Well, "aw shucks" it up folks, this is the shit you are voting for. The GOP has actually succeeded in convincing poor people that they pay too much taxes. What a racket. Peace.

You're 12, aren't you?

I understand, but are you then voting for Republicans who would further oppress you just for a win? I admire your tenacity and your feelings on not wanting to take anything for free, but there is absolutely nothing that the GOP stands for that is worth anything to anyone who works for a living.

the next thing they will take away vacation time LOL

LOL