Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

ScienceChic
Mountain Champion

17 Feb 2011 15:43 #31 by ScienceChic

Replied by ScienceChic on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

While I can't say that I agree with everything in this article, I post it to provide another point of view to think about:

http://www.alternet.org/story/149942/is ... ies?page=1
Is Wisconsin Our Egypt? 15,000 Protest Off-the-Wall Right-Wing Governor's Policies
'I've never seen anything like it... there were Steelworkers, Teamsters, Pipefitters, building trades unions and more -- unions I've never seen at a rally in 10 years.'
February 17, 2011

On February 15, an estimated 15,000 citizens, including union and non-union workers, surrounded the state capitol to express opposition to Republican Governor Scott Walker's plan to strip the state’s 175,000 public employees of almost all of their collective bargaining rights and require them to make larger contributions to their pensions and health insurance plans.

"In Wisconsin we're smart enough to know the truth. We know what this is all about. It's about breaking the back of the middle class," AFSCME International president Gerald McEntee told the crowd. [Watch WBAY-TV's coverage.]

I've never seen anything like it. It wasn't just teachers and union members from the University of Wisconsin (UW), where I work. There were Steelworkers, Teamsters, Pipefitters, building trades unions and more--unions I've never seen at a rally in 10 years," he said. "The most amazing thing is when the firefighters came in a delegation. Along with police, Walker has exempted firefighters from the legislation, but they came with signs that said, 'Firefighters for workers' rights.' People were crying."

"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther

The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Photo-fish
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 16:06 #32 by Photo-fish

Replied by Photo-fish on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

I had heard it was a bigger crowd than that. 20K+

Can anyone explain why fire and law enforcement would be excluded from this bill?

´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`´¯`•...¸><((((º>´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.´¯`•...¸><((((º>

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Nmysys
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 16:10 #33 by Nmysys

Replied by Nmysys on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

SC:

If you had asked the question is this our Greece, I would have agreed with you. This is exactly what happened in Greece. It was spawned by the entitlement mentality the exact same way.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

ScienceChic
Mountain Champion

17 Feb 2011 16:22 #34 by ScienceChic

Replied by ScienceChic on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Nmysys, it wasn't I, but the title of the article. I find it mostly inaccurate, as these protests aren't about freedom (although one could argue that the union workers will indirectly lose some freedoms, but that's another debate), but rather to protest losing benefits. Is there a culture of entitlement that needs to be addressed, absolutely. But there's also a war on workers and workers rights that is subtly being raged right now and that's the only side I saw being represented in this thread, aside from Photo-fish's posts, and I wanted to provide some balance. Read the other side and ask yourself if they have any legitimate complaint. Certainly 15k, or 20k, people showing up to protest, and people who aren't directly affected by this legislation showing support, in our culture of apathy, should make one sit up and notice what their complaints are and ask if they are valid. Ask too, what agenda the governor has, for that matters too.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Photo-fish
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 16:28 #35 by Photo-fish

Replied by Photo-fish on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Science Chic wrote: Ask too, what agenda the governor has, for that matter.

Walker's budget has nothing to do with solving Wisconsin's fiscal challenges and everything to do with enacting an anti-worker, anti-union, corporate agenda.

´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`´¯`•...¸><((((º>´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.´¯`•...¸><((((º>

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

outdoor338
Topic Author
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 18:01 #36 by outdoor338

Replied by outdoor338 on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Typical of elected liberals. Violate the will of the voters, violate their oath of office, and violate the rules of the legislature, whenever THEY don't get their way. Well, news flash: the handwriting's on the wall, and the Unions' days of running the show and huge benefits are over. Get used to it. Any Democrat who refuses to show up for votes in violation of the rules should be punished, and then voted out of office.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

major bean
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 18:05 #37 by major bean

Replied by major bean on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Regards,
Major Bean

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

conifermtman
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 19:22 #38 by conifermtman

Replied by conifermtman on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Science Chic wrote: Nmysys, it wasn't I, but the title of the article. I find it mostly inaccurate, as these protests aren't about freedom (although one could argue that the union workers will indirectly lose some freedoms, but that's another debate), but rather to protest losing benefits. Is there a culture of entitlement that needs to be addressed, absolutely. But there's also a war on workers and workers rights that is subtly being raged right now and that's the only side I saw being represented in this thread, aside from Photo-fish's posts, and I wanted to provide some balance. Read the other side and ask yourself if they have any legitimate complaint. Certainly 15k, or 20k, people showing up to protest, and people who aren't directly affected by this legislation showing support, in our culture of apathy, should make one sit up and notice what their complaints are and ask if they are valid. Ask too, what agenda the governor has, for that matters too.

The war that is being raged is on behalf on the taxpayers that have been shouldering the burden of paying for lavish benefits for state employees. The workers rights are not being infringed, they are being told that they have to play by the same rules as everyone else. The protesters who showed up in Madison didn't vote for the Republicans in Wisconsin, they represent a very vocal and greedy minority that have been sucking the economic life out of Wisconsin.

Taxpayers should not have to pay for benefits of public servants that are more lavish than the ones received by the taxpayers paying for it.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Photo-fish
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 21:32 #39 by Photo-fish

Replied by Photo-fish on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

Photo-fish wrote: Can anyone explain why fire and law enforcement unions would be excluded from this bill?

´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`´¯`•...¸><((((º>´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.´¯`•...¸><((((º>

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Photo-fish
Mountain Legend

17 Feb 2011 21:34 #40 by Photo-fish

Replied by Photo-fish on topic Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

conifermtman wrote: Taxpayers should not have to pay for benefits of public servants that are more lavish than the ones received by the taxpayers paying for it.

You don't know many public school teachers personally do you? I have 5 in my family. You should hear the stories of their 'lavish benefits'. rofllol The schools and education will suffer for this bill.

´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`´¯`•...¸><((((º>´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.´¯`•...¸><((((º>

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.