Thosands Protest Republican Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin

That would be just great for all the State's taxpayers to go on strike. These strikers are tax payers, of which Walker seems to have forgotten.
This is going to happen in all the northern states. Just the beginning.
Has happened because people did not vote in mid-term. Too many republican governors elected.
Always Vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it needs to be a nationwide general strike for a week. NO workers, no payroll deductions, no taxes collected. Stop all the money going to Washington.
Sounds like a Republican plot.

The Business of America is Corporations, so, if Walker is Really going support America he's gotta support Corporations just like George III, Hoover, and all the rest of Repuglicans.

Any rational person knows that Corporations don't need people, but that people need Corporations.

Btw, if you believe this Shite, I've got Fine Land deals just off the coast of Fla for sale too.

YES!!!!!!
Also no Walmart purchases either. These people need a Union also. What a disgrace.
Cut off money spending, only what is needed to survive.
Walmart is afraid the people will organize there.

oh wow, you really got me good with that one bro. Stand for what you believe man.

Yeah, every one of those evil union jobs is preventing America from adopting Chinese labor wages. Corporate America will not stand for this!

Do you not understand supply and demand ? This applies in the job market too. Is there a demand for jobs, yes. The supply is lacking, yes. If you Union guys dont want to work than dont. More jobs for everyone else and everyone else competes for the jobs, job goes to most qualified at the cheapest rate "acceptable" to the worker not the "Union". Good for for our government, and good for the people. (Union is another word for "big business")
Chinese labor wages here in the US ? ? ? Maybe you are just too used to being as rich as you are. What would that equal out too ? It would be below the national minimum wage. Not going to happen. Any other points you want to make ?

Have not seen that many jobs open to anybody.
It takes Labor and Management working together to solve work related problems.
There are many times that the Union can solve many of managements problems when they are working together..
Workers need the Union on there side to bring work related problems to the attention of Management.
GO UNIONS!!!!!

Have you ever read "The Jungle" (1906) by Upton Sinclair?
It was a required reading in my Advance Placement United States History class in High School (a whole lot of my former classmates from that class are now at the UW and are marching on the State Capitol this week)
THAT is what America looks like without Labor Unions!
Were it not for Labor Unions, Child Labor Laws i this country quite simply would not exist, there would be nothing even remotely approaching a "minimum wage",
no worker would EVER be allowed to work only just 40 hours in a week, and anyone taking Saturday and Sunday off of work [as being something or another called "weekends", whatever those are] would be summarily fired on the spot,
"Retirement Age"? what Retirement age?
Before Labor Unions, literally tens of thousands of children as young as ten were regularly killed, maimed and disfigured, working with unsafe and dangerously hazardous manufacturing factory machinery
and it was not until after the publication of Sinclair's book that any sort of Age limit was even SET for children working in factories
if you got your hand, or your whole arm, caught in the machinery and mangled, you either worked the rest of your life at the factory with you Other hand, or you would be fired
and if a man in his sixties was sucked into a compactor,
well, then that actually saved the company money, since they would no longer be having to pay him any more, and they could have him summarily cremated first thing very next morning in order to save on funeral costs, claiming to any family members that n remains had ever been found

without Labor Unions, the "Middle Class", very much less the Upper middle class that the so-called "Tea PArty purportedly claims to allegedly supposedly "represent" would quite literally never have been possible

the fact is the MOST people in this country work 40 hours in a week, EVERY worker in this country earn AT LEAST minimum wage, MOST people in this country have the weekends off from their jobs, ALL people working in this country are AT LEAST above the age of twelve, and MOST workers in this country are capable of retiring at the age of 66.
Without the blood and hard work of Labor Union protest marchers like the ones right here in Madison, Wisconsin this week, NONE of those things would be possible

The problem is the the cheapest, lowest-wage, most inexpensive jobs in the world are most definitely NOT in the United States of America
a county that, thanks entirely to Labor Unions and Collective bargaining, has a Minimum Wage
the cheapest labor in the world right now today is in China and India, and, to a lesser extent, Korea and Japan
(the "Made in the USA" labels found on products sold at any store ending in "-Mart" are sewn and mass-manufactured in Mexico)

without Labor Unions negotiating with Corporate Management for better and safer workplace environments and better health and welfare benefits, to say nothing of the earning of a livable wage, the For-profit conglomerations would shut down businesses all over their corporate empires throughout the United States, and instead hire people in countries WITHOUT ANY minimum wag to do the same work that would otherwise be done by American workers in US businesses, except in by far and away less sanitary and safe workplaces, and for very much less money
(the $7.50/Hour Minimum wage for 40-hour work weeks [both thanks entirely to Labor Unions and Collective Bargaining] with workers taking the weekends off here in the US of A can add up to some real money rather quickly,
the 1 cent/day paid to the parents of child laborers working 20 hours 7 days in Asian indentured-slavery sweatshops presents no such difficulty to the bottom line)

I would much rather work in a country where i get to work in a sanitary, safe, and healthy workplace environments, get paid an hourly wage greater than a dollar, only have to work 8 hours, five days a week, and get to get the weekends off of work
(i also like knowing that the products i buy was made by people over the age of 12, and that none of them died or were maimed or disfigured during the process)
But that's just me
maybe you prefer a place where your son or daughter goes to work at a factory from the time that they are old enough to walk, and has a 6 to 5 and pick'em chance of getting their hand or arm stuck in the gears of the poorly-maintained machinery and of getting sucked into a compactor
perhaps you like having the food you buy handled in a factory where the kitchen and the bathroom are one and the same: the floor
or maybe it just gives you comfort to know that no one you know has any days off of work, and works twenty hours every single day
I don't know
i can't speak for you
but I, for one, just for my very own personal self, will always forever be eternally immeasurably grateful and thankful for those things that Labor Union workers fought and died for for nearly a hundred years before i was ever even born
but maybe you would prefer to go without

Beautifully said ian.

Thank you!

How many steel beams have you walked, how many how many rainy snowy nights have you been out on a power pole, how many blisters have you had on your hands for $2.00/hr.. Without unions, that is what you would be making right now. Pretty sad dude.

What in the name of God are you talking about?? When there are large numbers of unemployed people and very few jobs (like now) people fight over the scraps by working longer hours, giving up benefits, and taking pay cuts just to bring a few bucks into their household. That's called a "race to the bottom". Unions work to raise the bar by fighting for good wages and good working conditions, things that the GOP and their corporate masters abhor because it results in lower profits. Mind you, they would still make a very big profits, just not the obscene ones they've gotten used to.

As far as the Chinese labor wages, just what do you think might stop "American" corporations from outsourcing US jobs? How about this: Wages equal to a Chinese day laborer, no benefits, no days off, no vacations, no worker safety laws, 12 hour work days, and no environmental standards. Get it? These corporations are NOT on Americas side. They have no loyalty to ANYTHING except money.

When corporate stooges like Walker get into power the FIRST thing they try to do is break unions to create a lower wage base to start the race. Why do you think the real wages for the middle class haven't increased in 30 years??Jesus. I thought everyone knew that.

I'm not sure which reality you live in but if you're not independently wealthy, you're getting very badly burned.

Those non-union people would be very unhappy when they found out what it would be like working without a union.
Unions were organized to protect working people in the work place,

This is such a dumb picture. Can't you do any better than that. What if that was your wife, mother, grandmother.or sister, would you still feel the same?

What a shame that any American would think this way.

And the tooth fairy and easter bunny will bring you everything you ever need.

there is a better solution.

Hey that was funny!! Oh, wait, you're serious?

You are just a Corp. Hack bought and paid for. Probably on disability getting paid under the table sitting on your fat ass. Do yourself and us a favor go pedal your shit elsewhere

I don't need any handouts. I worked hard. Now I'm very comfortable. I can take care of myself and my family.

You and I were once at the same fork in the road. I chose to put myself through college, get a job in a corporation where I got experience, great training and they paid for me to get my MBA at night and on weekends. I rose through the organization. Then I started two companies and sold them both for sizable profit. Now I'm living happily ever after dependent on no one. I still work because I enjoy work. But I can pick and chose my projects and clients. I have complete freedom. What road did you select when we were both at that same fork in the road?

Re: disabled fat ass .... I'm as fit as the day I was a college athlete. Still 6'1", 185.

When you sold your companies did you share any of the money with the workers that helped you build the companies?

Instant Karma...

We always paid full benefits. We implemented a 401K program with the company adding certain percentages based on goal levels being met. We gave the employee of the year a two year car lease. When we knew we had a success we gave employees of certain tenure a piece of the company as additional motivation to excel. So when the company was sold they got a piece. Our turnover was low. For the most time we only lost employees when spouses had to relocate. The second company only had principles and a couple of contracted consultants. It was quickly purchased by a corporation who saw us as an upstart threat. My partner had controlling interest and wanted to sell. I wanted to change how an industry operates. The current company I just laid off two people. I decided it didn't make sense to work hard when I'm personally losing 55% of my income to taxes (federal, state, OASI, SSI, etc,). I can do less of what I was doing, do their jobs and still enjoy working.

Add: When I worked in the corporate world I felt I was treated fairly. I was a bit of a rebel. I was more into saying what was on my mind than what people wanted to hear. I knew I eventually had to do my own thing before I seriously pissed someone off.

@ warren merrill

So, what is it that you spend so much hard work and effort and devoted your life to accomplish?

What did these two companies that brought you such wealth and comfort do or produce?

Hey I know that's true. Can you provide their websites so that I can get in touch with them personally?

Unions are only what the members allow them to be.
It's time for Unions to wake up and realize which political party stands up for them.
VOTE DEMOCRATIC!!!!!!!
NEVER FORGET TO VOTE- NOT VOTING IS JUST WHAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are more of us than them, we can do it!
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO VOTE!! People not voting is what got into this mess!

What were the Wisconsin people thinking? Do they want to advance into the 21st century or stay behind in 1930's Kansas style.

Many cheers of support to your teachers!

Stay peaceful friend , they will love you to give them an excuse to brutalize you . Post a video here .....

There are fights at the school between students?

Alright Rice Lake!!!! I live in West Allis!

I support the workers in Wisconsin, but I thought the governor had to be in office for a year before he could be removed.
Good Luck To Workers in Wisconsin!!!
Ed Schultz will be there today to support your protesting.
Watching this on the news.--Hang in there.
This is just the beginning of Union busting.

I hope the National Guard knows that its their relatives they will be asked to shoot!

I hope Obama would tell Walker if he calls out the NG that that the US Army will be sent in.

you have some valid points there

Great post mark701. How do you set up a follow here? I have been trying but can't find anyway to do it?

Clik on my name and there will be a button on top of the screen that pops up

I think they are both liars and idiots.

I wish I could be there!

Amen

No way. It's too damn cold there to be Egypt.

It is just the beginning. Republican governors will be doing the same to workers throughout the United States..
All because of the mid-term elections.
People didn'nt vote causing the election of all these Republican Governors.
Wake up people--VOTE!!!!

Russ just wrapped up. It was a good show.

Thanks for the link!

The chamber of commerce is one of the problems of Labor Busting.
They support the Republicans on this, also have.
People--next election---VOTE!! It makes a difference as you can see with the mid-term elections that elected all these republican governors.
VOTE!!!

I know they are, and do that's why I will contact them and let them know that I will not be spending any money in Wisconsin . I have all ready canceled a planned vacation.

As close to zero as you can get.

They are extremely happy!!

How dare you! FAUX is Fair and Balanced: says so right on their Masthead

Good luck and Thank you

Students for a Democratic Society, we are not worthy...(ala Wayne's World)

You are the Republicans nightmares right from the good ole days of the 60's and 70's!

Unions have historically set a wage floor. Doing away with so many of them has had a ripple effect on other middle class wages. For this reason and the fact that Unions have traditionally supported the Democratic Party, the GOP is very anxious to do away with them entirely.

But now where is the support by the Democratic party for the workers, Have you seen or heard of any national Democrat support

Their silence is deafening!

I will picket First St. (Thats my towns main st.)

I wish I had the money to go to Wisconsin.

I don't know this twitter/facebook stuff. I hope some of you can get it going like the Egyptians.

Maybe the Bangles will sing: "Strike like an Egyptian!"

Things didn't get accelerated in Egypt until the general strike there. We need one here.

Can NYC progressives march on Wall St?

Everything you stated above is correct.
It all started in Wisconsin. Labor Unions were born Wisconsin. We owe the people of Wisconsin for their labor history..

THANK YOU WISCONSIN!!!
ALWAYS VOTE!!!!

worse the ones that didn't vote

So true, I hope people will open their eyes and realize why there is Union Busting.
Didn't vote in mid-term!!!!!
Always Vote. the Republicans count on your not voting.
Wake up and VOTE next time.
VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope the people that voted for republicans can now see the results of their voting or not voting. We have a mess of republican non-union governors ready to bust the unions.
This affects most every family in some way. Republicans are not for Unions or Middle Class people union or nonunion.
NEVER FORGET TO VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!

After electing Walker and not reelecting Feingold, WI has a lot of work to do to redeem themselves. I'm glad to see it starting here.

Prolly not what the writer had in mind, but here goes:

‘ Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

Maybe they should recall Walker.

Me too. I just want you to know I voted for Feingold and Tom Barrett. I'm not one of the idiots. I'm so glad WI is redeeming itself in this way and showing to the world that WI citizens are not all idiots and we still have enough people with brains and we are returning to sanity and standing up and fighting. It's too bad WI had to learn the hard way. Feingold and Barrett warned in their campaign ads what would happen and what Walker and Johnson were about, but it fell on deaf ears.

I understand what you are trying to say. :)