I've been following the upheaval in Wisconsin, which is now spreading to Ohio, Indiana, and other states, and I think I've figured out what's really going on here.
Republican Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is being slammed for, among other things, making public sector union workers contribute to their health care plans and for limiting their collective bargaining power to wage and benefits issues. The unionistas are hysterically shrieking, "Union busting!", but I think they're really outraged about something else entirely. What's going on here isn't union busting but party busting, Democratic party busting.
It's no secret that unions are an extension of the Democrat party. For decades unions, public and private, have used their members' dues to finance the campaigns of Democratic candidates. The unionistas have done this while giving their rank-and-file members virtually no say in the matter. If you're a union member and you favor Republicans, too bad. Your money is going to elect the party you oppose. Governor Walker is putting an end to that.
A key change Walker wants in the union/state relationship is for the state of Wisconsin to stop automatically deducting public sector workers' union dues from their paychecks. In other words, Walker wants to give rank-and-file union members the choice of whether or not to pay upwards of $1000 a year in dues. If given that choice it's almost certain a high percentage of union members will opt out of paying dues. That would be financially catastrophic for the Democrats. The unions have been a cash cow for the Dems because of the dues paid by the members; take that away and the cash cow--and the Dems--become toast.
Wisconsin is broke. It's in the red to the tune of 3 BILLION dollars. Governor Walker says he wants sacrifices from the unions to help balance Wisconsin's budget. I believe that's true, but I also believe that Governor Walker knows that his proposal would severly hurt the Democrat party. I believe that hurting the Democrats is Walker's true objective and I say, more power to him!
In November the Republicans won an historic victory across the nation and they should use their new power the way the Democrats would had they won. Republicans have a shot at depriving the Democrats of their financial strength and helping to ensure their own re-election. They should take it. Union busting? No, this is PARTY busting and I say, BRING IT ON!
9 comments:
My understanding is that Walker and other Republicans even ran on this very issue and were elected on a platform that included changing the benefits of state employees to balance the budget. They are doing what they were elected to do. I think they should be applauded for that.
"They are doing what they were elected to do. I think they should be applauded for that."
Agreed, Andy D.
It is just as AndyD said. The Republicans ran on this issue and won. They are now only doing what they campaigned they would do. In other words....*gasp* keeping campaign promises!!! What a novel concept, huh?
The thing the protesters don't seem to know, is the definition of "we are broke," so I will try to explain it. Broke means, no money. No way to pay the things the protesters are protesting about. If they want these things so badly, I say let them pay for them, themselves.
Great post my friend. Keep up the good work.
Hi Seane-Anna,
Let's hope these unions are busted.
I replied to your comment on my blog.
Pat
Great post as usual. I went a different route with the Wisconsin debate. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Public sector unions that think like the Wisconsin ones, NEED busting.
Sean-Anna,
I have now linked to you.
Pat
hi seane-anna,
the answer to your question for me is
Blogger Template Style
Name: Sunset
Designer: Amanda @ Blogger Buster
URL: www.bloggerbuster.com
Date: 20 July 2007
they have a whole slew of templates there too.
This is wrong. You don't hurt innocent people to hurt a political party. And it is ultimately hurting innocent people.
To bring this to an important conclusion though: If you are electing one party to undermine the work of another, how are you going to create progress? This applies to the democrats, too.
Finally our parties here in Canada are getting it (even if it is for the wrong reasons), but really...everyone loses when you vote for a fight between two parties as opposed to what those parties can and will do to improve your society; you can't maintain a status quo and move forward; it's like putting on the e-brake, putting the car in drive and slamming on the accelerator; you're just going to screw the drivetrain (the people) and the engine (the government) will never get enough resources to move the car to where it needs to go.
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