Posted on 02/23/2011 11:23:45 PM PST by Walter Scott Hudson
The ongoing union protests against Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin have inspired comparisons to the Tea Party movement. Apparently, for some commentators, people at a capitol building holding signs is inherently "populist." However, beyond the superficial similarity of people protesting, there is nothing these union demonstrations have in common with the Tea Party. Quite the contrary, the unrest in Wisconsin is the antithesis of everything the Tea Party stands for.
The Nation's Johann Hari acknowledges this. Rather than compare the events in Wisconsin to the Tea Party movement, Hari plainly states the contrast.
Imagine a parallel universe where the Great Crash of 2008 was followed by a Tea Party of a very different kind. Enraged citizens gather in every city, week after week—to demand the government finally regulate the behavior of corporations and the superrich, and force them to start paying taxes. The protesters shut down the shops and offices of the companies that have most aggressively ripped off the country. The swelling movement is made up of everyone from teenagers to pensioners. They surround branches of the banks that caused this crash and force them to close, with banners saying, You Caused This Crisis. Now YOU Pay.Hari believes the protests in Wisconsin mark the rise of this "progressive Tea Party". He goes on to recount how it has been foreshadowed in the United Kingdom by a group called UK Uncut. As you consider Hari's account, you will find it closely resembles the anti-capitalist uprising called for in The Coming Insurrection...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsrealblog.com ...
Johann Hari appears to be an exceptionally stupid useful idiot.
Johann Hari is a fat, 30 year old limey punk. He has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. It appears he got his information while smoking bongs with Soros. Total gibberish.
One of his most frequent topics is opposition to man-made global warming. He is a prominent supporter of the climate change protests camps in Britain, and has reported from Bangladesh, a country he says is doomed to drowning by global warming. He is a critic of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank arguing instead for global social democracy and a "re-regulation of the global economy." He has campaigned for nuclear disarmament through support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He is a supporter of the international legalisation of drugs, as he has argued that criminalisation of drugs causes more problems than drug use itself, particularly in fuelling armed gangsterism. He has reported on the effects in Mexico in particular. Hari has reported from Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, where he was very critical of Israeli occupation policies, as well as of Hamas and Islamic fundamentalism.
Back in the 70’s this type of strike from teachers was an every year occurance in most states.. Reagans firing of the Patco union workers stopped such illegal strikes for quite a few years...now they are just back again. I can say I have seen it before. Nothing new.
“Back in the 70’s this type of strike from teachers was an every year occurance in most states.”
I remember that. We moved to NOLA in 1979. We didn’t even entertain the idea of putting our daughter into a public school. You never knew if the teachers were going to show up, or not.
“Reagans firing of the Patco union workers stopped such illegal strikes for quite a few years...now they are just back again.”
Yep...what PATCO did was illegal, just as most public union strikes are. I guess that’s why so many protesters needed fake docs’ notes.
“I can say I have seen it before. Nothing new.”
I’ve seen it before, too...not on this possible magnitude, though. The unions are running scared right now. WI has the potential to spread all over the country. The blue states have to be worried. They spent their stimulus money on retaining their teachers...putting off the inevitable and wasting money.
For the record, there are a lot of wonderful teachers. I’ve known many in my life who care very much for their students. The problem isn’t with them, though...it’s with their union leadership, and the fact that they are grasping at straws to keep the status quo.
TSIGTHTF...especially since the public is paying attention, now.
Any independent trucker was taking his life in his hands if he was found to not be a teamster. Rig got burned if he was lucky or he just disappeared...
You and I have the long term memory that many freepers don't have, not due to ignorance just being too young when the shit hit the fan to remember what it was like...
When workers crossed picket lines at auto factory's they were pulled out of their cars and beaten. Sometimes car's were set on fire...Without the unions having the public sector they would be just a blimp on the politics of today.
Newspaper strikes were also violent. Cannot think of any strike that didn't have bloodshed...
The good thing about today is the average guy and gal now do counter protests.. Prior the unions had NO competition from the average American. So management in all the company's just kicked the ball down the road. Now the road is a dead end..
There will be no insurrection here. We will enjoy a wonderful calm during the coming “lawlessness”. Our tolerance for BS is going to be zero. In a time when “acting up” gets you dead folks will discover civility quickly.
What..a bunch of thugs have taken over the mechanism of the state to clean out our wallets ..populist?!!WTF???
Please, let's examine this statement above.
Teachers unions are evil and corrupt because "wonderful" teachers make them that way. The **only** people who have any control whatsoever over teachers unions are teachers! Parents, legislators, voters, and certain students have absolutely no say in the policies of teachers unions.
If teachers unions are evil then we are looking at the heart and soul of the teaching profession in United States. No one is holding a gun to any teacher's head and forcing them to pay money to this organization. Teachers **willingly** agree to take the job. They willingly vote for their representatives.
So?...Any teacher who agrees to enable these corrupt and evil unions are Useful Idiots or evil themselves. They are not "wonderful".
Next...**ALL** government schools in this nation are GODLESS in their worldview. **ALL** government schools teach their students to think and reason GODLESSLY. Does anyone who is "wonderful" cooperate with that?
Simply by attending government schools, children learn to be comfortable with taking money from their neighbor to pay for a service that their parents what for tuition-free. In other words, children ( simply by attending) become comfortable with government collectivism, socialism, and control of their lives and very beliefs by voting mobs and comrade people's committees ( school boards). Would anybody who is "wonderful" do that to a child?
I’ve known many in my life who care very much for their students.
Would anyone who really cared about children teach them to think and reason godlessly, and teach them to be comfortable with taking money from their neighbor, or subject their very minds to the voting mob?
Would anyone who cared about children willing pay money to a corrupt union that is dedicated to the overthrow of the Constitution and **openly** supports vile practices such as abortion and even partial birth abortion?
The problem isn’t with them, though...it’s with their union leadership, and the fact that they are grasping at straws to keep the status quo.
Yes, the problem **is**, indeed, with these so-called "wonderful" teachers! These corrupt and EVIL government temples of godless state worship ( "schools") and their unions exist because lots and lots of USEFULL IDIOTS willingly agree to make them that way!
But...It's for the children! ( sigh!)
Execellent post, and a very excellent memory you have!
BTTT!
Under Carter, Communism spread like wildfire. I fear we have returned to those days. It’s not communism now, but it’s going to be worse than ever. It’s tough to identify whether is progressivism, communism or radical islamisism.
The thing that bothers me most is that the unions have gone global.
I hope and pray that we will have another Reagan in 2012 to stop the advance of facism that we see today.
“No one is holding a gun to any teacher’s head ...”
No...they aren’t. However, their dues are automatically deducted from their paycheck.
“Teachers unions are evil and corrupt...”
Stop right there.
Of course the teachers’ unions are evil and corrupt. I didn’t say they weren’t. But, to lump all teachers in with the leadership of the unions is ludicrious.
Those who are forced to be in the union aren’t very happy about that either. It smacks of communism. In fact, many teachers who are in the union would love to be rid of them.
The reason that collective bargaining, and not having the state to automatically deduct their dues, is such an issue in WI is that, historically speaking, there would be a drawback of 35% of those monies for the unions.
That’s why the renegade dems are still in IL!
BTW, your post to me is way over the top, and I hope you will use some reason the next time you post to me.
Excuse me! You have just accused me of being "over the top" and now are suggesting that I not respond? Huh?
So?...If I do respond to defend my argument,( which was NOT NOT NOT in any way directed at YOU personally, nor did it include any inappropriate language, or insult anyone PERSONALLY,) what are you going to do? Hm? Report me to a the administrator? Attempt to have me banned?
Freepers have seen this strategy to shut down conservative thought before.
If you post on Free Republic you should EXPECT and ACCEPT the fact that you premises will be challenged.
Please accept my sincerest apology.
I was being overly sensitive and I misread and misunderstood the meaning of this sentence.
Wintertime
Your apology is not only accepted, it’s very welcome. ;o)
You wouldn’t believe how many folks on here wouldn’t dream of apologizing.
You’re a nice person, and I humbly accept your apology. I understand as I’ve been there many times...got caught up in the moment.
Thank you! ;o)
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