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One More Thing About Wisconsin
Power Line Blog ^ | February 17, 2010 | John/Ann Althouse

Posted on 02/18/2011 4:18:10 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

A common theme of the union demonstrators in Madison today was that Governor Walker is a "dictator." This showed up on sign after sign. It sheds light, I think, on how public union members in particular, and liberals in general, think. What is going on here is that the voters of Wisconsin have elected a Republican Governor and--overwhelmingly--a Republican legislature, precisely so that they can get the state's budget under control.

What the Democrats don't like isn't dictatorship, it is democracy. That is why the Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state en masse--they prevented a quorum, so that a vote they were going to lose couldn't take place. Once again, it is democracy they are trying to frustrate, not dictatorship.

One could make the point more broadly about the organized labor movement. The unions' top priority is to eliminate the secret ballot in union certification elections. Why? The secret ballot has been the cornerstone of American labor democracy for generations. In the early days, it was assumed that the secret ballot was needed to protect workers from possible retaliation by employers if they voted for the union. That is no longer the case. Employers now universally favor the secret ballot. It is unions who are trying to abolish it through card check legislation. Why? So their goons can threaten to beat up, or worse, any employee who won't sign the card. The last thing labor unions want is democracy. They want thugocracy, as was on display in Madison today.

UPDATE: Via Ann Althouse, a screen grab from a video of some of today's union protesters: Since liberal teachers are people of unquestioned brilliance, I assume they knew they were quoting John Wilkes Booth, who also styled himself an enemy of dictatorship.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Education; Government
KEYWORDS: wisconsinshowdown
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1 posted on 02/18/2011 4:18:12 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I have noticed that democratic forums (we know who) are very much in defensive mode right now all for unions and for what their senators are doing.


2 posted on 02/18/2011 4:24:15 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("These people are either at your neck or at your knees" A quote by Winston Churchill)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

WAR IS COMING TO AMERICA... THESE ARE THE FRONT LINE TROOPS FOR THE EVILCRATS AND THEIR COMMUNIST AND ISLAMIC ALLIES. PREPARE... PRAY... THAT THEY NEVER START IT... BUT THEY WILL... THEY HAVE PLANNED THAT DAY FOR 40 YEARS.

LLS


3 posted on 02/18/2011 4:25:33 AM PST by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!!!)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

From Scott Walker vs. Public Sector Unions by Stephen F. Hayes (The Weekly Standard)

February 17, 2011 —
”Walker is unapologetic. These are difficult times. Wisconsin is facing a budget crisis. And there have to be cuts. Walker believes the changes he’s proposing are relatively modest. “I’m asking them to contribute 5.8 percent of their salary to their pension – right about the national average for contributions. And I’m asking them to pay 12 percent of their health care premiums – up from 6 percent. The national average is around 25 percent.”

“So Wisconsin’s public employees will still have benefit plans more generous than most workers across the country. And these steps are being taken with the express purpose of avoiding major layoffs and dramatic paycuts. But the unions don’t like it.

“… What’s more, Wisconsin teachers pay as much as $1100 each year in compulsory union dues. If the legislation passes, they will no longer be required to pay those dues – returning that money to their own pockets.”


4 posted on 02/18/2011 4:25:55 AM PST by RobertClark (On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.)
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To: RobertClark

“… What’s more, Wisconsin teachers pay as much as $1100 each year in compulsory union dues. If the legislation passes, they will no longer be required to pay those dues – returning that money to their own pockets.”

And this is EXACTLY what it’s all about! The Unionistas have their mindless idiot minions frothing and doing their bidding. That’s a heckuvalotta cash when multiplied by the 100’s of thousands of union workers to stop flowing into their coffers, and they are NOT going to stand for this, no matter who (the kids, our state, our country) gets hurt!


5 posted on 02/18/2011 4:29:38 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: nina0113; Yooper4Life; TheConservativeParty; Hamilcar_Barca; sgtyork; 50cal Smokepole; ...
Wisconsin Conservative Politics Ping List Ping!
6 posted on 02/18/2011 4:32:09 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

You are so right! If union dues are mandatory, the unions remain strong simply because of the money. If the teachers are given a choice on whether to pay the dues, I believe quite a few would say “no, thank you”. Hence, risk cutting off the gravy train and you have people who will do whatever is necessary to remain feeding off its host. IMHO.


7 posted on 02/18/2011 4:33:06 AM PST by momtothree
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To: momtothree

Wish the media would cover that angle. *SPIT*

It makes it all crystal clear!


8 posted on 02/18/2011 4:37:13 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: LibLieSlayer

Unfortunately, you are correct.

The Congress (inept, asleep, traitors) will do nothing
as the pRes_ _ent and the MSM stoke up their troops
for a Civil War of murder led by Jim Lehrer, the DNC,
and Obama-the-Undocumented-Tyrant.


9 posted on 02/18/2011 4:40:24 AM PST by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The governor and legislature are in office due to the overwhelming WILL OF THE PEOPLE—the majority, the Republicans and dare I say it,the WINNERS. All those rallying red shirts *look* like they will win, but they LOST and need to go home. That is the case in Ohio, Michigan, etc., etc. The unions aren’t going to get much sympathy from their fellow state citizens. The people have spoken and it wasn’t for organized labor.


10 posted on 02/18/2011 4:46:17 AM PST by madison10
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The Socialist—the Communist, and the Queer, and most Democratic Politicians of late— follow the same modus opperendi they charge others loudly and often with the very crimes they themselves(or their leadership) are guilty of. They act like Hitlers Brown shirts, or the old movie Mafia type.Why-Because it works.most Americans will tolerate anything -even the Devil himself -until they feel it up close and personal.and when they begin to have their personal lives
affected by what the opposition is doing they rise up and do as Americans did in every war we have ever been deployed to fight.The beguiled in Wisconsin are not all bad people-but many are deceived.And these protesters are being stirred up by evil men.


11 posted on 02/18/2011 4:46:45 AM PST by StonyBurk (ring)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I did see on Fox this morning that many of the demonstrators are paid. They have no dog in this fight... just doing what the union tells them. The reporter asked a few teen kids why they were demonstrating and they had no idea. Some of the kids were just happy to be out of school... see how happy they are when they are going till July!


12 posted on 02/18/2011 4:51:13 AM PST by momtothree
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Speaking of Wisconsin, anybody know if it’s taxpayers are paying for that Democrat road trip tantrum?


13 posted on 02/18/2011 4:54:51 AM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult
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To: madison10
The MSM will go into full out Obama mode to destroy the Republicans, and the Unions will win. I hope I'm wrong, but I've seen little spine from Republicans and few signs that “Joe Taxpayer” is paying any more attention to politics than they were 4 years ago. The MSM will lay the blame on the EVIL Republicans, the situation will go from bad to worse, and the DemonRATs will get more time to spiral the country into the toilet.

The one question that everyone seems to be ignoring in the Wisconsin debacle is why exempt public safety workers? If you're going to tackle a problem, you can't make exceptions just because one sector might cause more disruption than another.

14 posted on 02/18/2011 4:58:20 AM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (Proudly casting a heavy carbon footprint as I clean my guns ---)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Sic Semper Tyrannis is the motto of the state of Virginia.


15 posted on 02/18/2011 4:58:59 AM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Coming to NC soon!

“10,000 State Positions To Be Cut In Perdue’s Proposed Budget”

This is a Democrat Governor. Did I wake up in an alternate universe?

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=161698&catid=57


16 posted on 02/18/2011 4:59:32 AM PST by Rebelbase
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To: zot; Interesting Times

Wisconsin Ping - photo of bldg where Republican Party began


17 posted on 02/18/2011 5:00:11 AM PST by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
The Republican Party: Formed to fight the twin vestiges of barbarism, slavery and polygamy.
18 posted on 02/18/2011 5:05:39 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (Socialists are to economics what circle squarers are to math; undaunted by reason or derision.)
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To: bitterohiogunclinger

public safety workers are next. lets win this battle first


19 posted on 02/18/2011 5:07:56 AM PST by henry_reardon
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

I question whether Liberals and union memebers actually think. They do what they are told to do and think.

I bet that the majority of signs were made by the union thug leaders for the protestors.

Liberal think is the party line and reason and logic are not part of their emotional reactions.

Watch Mayor Barrett parrot the party line and is unwilling to support balancing the budget as required by state law.

The Democrat party is corrupt and the little babies go hide in Illinois. They should stay there permanently.


20 posted on 02/18/2011 5:08:41 AM PST by ADSUM (Democracy works when citizens get involved and keep government honest.)
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