Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Are The Wild Teacher Protests A Prelude To The Economic Riots That Are Coming To America?
The Economic Collapse ^ | 2-18-2011

Posted on 02/18/2011 4:54:48 AM PST by blam

Are The Wild Teacher Protests In Wisconsin A Prelude To The Economic Riots That Are Coming To America?

Feburary 18, 2011

Have you seen video of the teacher protests that are going on in Wisconsin? We haven't seen anything like this in America in quite some time. If you haven't seen video of the protests yet, some very good raw footage is posted below. On the one hand it is good to see Americans coming together and standing up for what they believe in, but on the other hand what these teachers are freaking out about shows just how much America has changed. These teachers are not protesting for liberty, freedom or to change the government. Rather, they are protesting because they want things to remain the same. They simply don't want anyone to mess with their pay. Well, the truth is that none of us ever wants to experience a pay cut. It is not a lot of fun. But sadly, states like Wisconsin are so broke that they have to find cuts somewhere. Someone is going to have to make a sacrifice. The teachers in Wisconsin just want to make sure that it is not them.

In the United States today, state and local governments are facing unprecedented budget crunches. Tax revenues are way down and expenses are way up. State and local government debt has reached at an all-time high of 22 percent of U.S. GDP, and many state and local governments are teetering on the brink of insolvency.

States like Wisconsin have to do something or else they will collapse financially. Wisconsin is facing a $3.6 billion budget deficit (which for that state is huge), and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the Republicans in the legislature are attempting to make some tough cuts.

In particular, they want public employees to pay a little more towards their health care premiums and pension programs. In fact, what the Republicans are proposing would still leave Wisconsin public employees contributing far less to health care and pensions than their private sector counterparts.

U.S. Representative Paul Ryan recently appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program and described what Governor Scott Walker is asking the teachers to do....

Scott and I are very close friends. We e-mail each other quite a bit... He's basically saying that state workers which have extremely generous benefits packages relative to their private sector counterparts, they contribute next to nothing to their pensions, very, very little in their health care packages.

He's asking that they contribute about 12 percent for their health care premiums, which is about half of the private sector average, and about 5.6 percent to their pensions. It's not asking a lot. It's still about half of what private sector pensions do and health care packages do.

So he's basically saying "I want you public workers half of what your private sector counterparts do" and he's getting riots. It's like Cairo has moved to Madison these days.

These proposed changes have caused a massive uproar in Wisconsin. Just check out the following raw video footage from the last few days....

(Go to the site of the article to see the video)

But this is what we have come to as a nation. Almost everyone agrees that reducing government debt is a good thing "in theory", but whenever anyone starts to put forward some specific proposals to cut government spending it makes those that will be affected by the cuts extremely upset.

Just look at what is happening with the federal government. Republicans and Democrats are both frothing at the mouth over extremely small budget cuts that have been proposed. Virtually none of our national politicians are even willing to discuss budget cuts that would actually make a serious dent in our budget deficits.

But we have got to do something. Spending by the U.S. government is spinning wildly out of control. Back in 1970, the U.S. government only spent about 200 billion dollars for the whole year. Well, this year the federal government is going to spend somewhere around 3.6 trillion dollars, and Barack Obama's newest budget proposal calls for U.S. government spending to increase to 5.6 trillion dollars by the year 2021. If the government continues to spend money at such a rapid pace it is going to completely wipe out our entire economic system....

But it is not just the U.S. government that is spending like a drunken sailor. Most of our state governments are complete financial disaster zones at this point as well.

As I have written about previously, the state of Illinois is such a financial disaster zone that it is hard to even describe. According to 60 Minutes, the state of Illinois is six months behind on their bill payments. 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Croft asked Illinois state Comptroller Dan Hynes how many people and organizations are waiting to be paid by the state, and this is how Hynes responded....

"It's fair to say that there are tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people waiting to be paid by the state."

Something has got to be done about our national addiction to debt.

Government spending has to be dramatically cut. All of us are going to have to make sacrifices. We simply cannot continue to spend far, far, far more than we bring in.

But we are Americans - we do not like to make sacrifices.

Our founding fathers warned us about this. They warned that when the American people figured out that they could vote themselves money out of the U.S. Treasury it would greatly endanger our republic.

Unfortunately that is exactly what is happening today. The vast majority of government spending on both the national and state levels consists of direct payments to individuals of one sort or another.

The American people have become addicted to the bread crumbs that they receive from the hand of their master.

This is not what our republic was supposed to look like.

As the U.S. economy continues to decline, we are going to see a lot more riots like we have seen in Wisconsin. Once the American people realize that the "good times" are over, all hell is going to break loose.

Already the anger and the frustration of the American people is starting to boil over. Unfortunately, that anger and frustration is focused in 1000 different directions. The ruling elite and the establishment media are constantly encouraging us to hate one another. I recently wrote about this phenomenon in an article on another website....

The truth is that the "establishment" is constantly trying to divide us and get us fighting with one another. They pit the Republicans against the Democrats (even as though control both sides). They pit one race against another. They pit one gender against another. We are told that the rich are against the poor, the north is against the south, urban is against rural and that there are even "generational battles" going on. Frustration and hate are rapidly growing in the United States today, and a lot of that frustration and hate is unfortunately aimed at the targets that the mainstream media has programmed all of us to hate. Meanwhile, those at the top of the pyramid who are controlling the whole game love it when we are divided because we can never become united and challenge their control. Unfortunately, America is more divided today than ever. Our extreme affluence has kept the thin veneer of civilization that we all take for granted from disappearing so far, but once our affluence is gone all of the hate and frustration in society is going to come bubbling to the surface and it is going to be horrifying to behold.

Once the economic collapse happens, most Americans are not going to take it sitting down. Most Americans are going to want someone to blame. Most Americans are going to want to lash out somehow.

America today is like a big, fat spoiled baby that is about to have its favorite pacifier permanently taken away. America is going to whine and cry and complain like there is no tomorrow.

For decades the financial "gloom and doomers" have been warning about what would happen to this country if we didn't get our house in order, but nobody wanted to listen. Everyone just kept piling up more debt as if it would never be a problem.

Well, now our entire country is covered in red ink. Large numbers of state and local governments across the country are on the verge of defaulting on their debts, and they are hoping that the federal government will bail them out. The federal government has already accumulated the biggest pile of debt the world has ever seen and continues to behave as if we can just keep borrowing and spending massive amounts of money forever.

There is no way out of this nightmare under the current system. Taxing people more is not going to solve our problems. Taxing people less is not going to solve our problems.

We have gotten to the point where it is inevitable that the debt bubble that we have created is going to burst. Our politicians can try to delay it for a while, but in the end the whole house of cards is going to come crashing down.

When the U.S. economy does totally collapse, it is going to make the riots that we have seen in Egypt and throughout the Middle East this year seem tame by comparison.

What we are witnessing right now in Wisconsin are just the "birth pains". The American people don't want to "tighten their belts". In fact, most Americans have absolutely no idea what "hard times" would even look like. When things go from bad to worse we are going to see temper tantrums in this country like we have never seen before.

So get ready. Unless there is some kind of dramatic transformation in this country, in the years ahead we are going to see some horrific economic riots.

It would be nice if we had a brighter future to look forward to, but we don't do ourselves any favors by living in denial.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: banglist; collapse; cw2; democrats; economy; liberalfascism; liberalfasism; prepper; recession; riots; survival; unions; wisconsin; wisconsinshowdown
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-103 next last
To: blam
While I don't necessarily disagree with the author, this unexplained statement concerns me, "Back in 1970, the U.S. government only spent about 200 billion dollars for the whole year. Well, this year the federal government is going to spend somewhere around 3.6 trillion dollars".

If we use for the entire 50 year period, a 660% price increase, a 40% population increase, and a 70% standard of living increase, then the government should be at 3.6 trillion. ($200b x 7.6 x 1.4 x 1.7)

81 posted on 02/18/2011 9:51:43 AM PST by The Truth Will Make You Free
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam
The masses that make up the demontrations are not state workers as those were reported at work. The teachers will come as they are told to come--after all under union leadership. The students marching seem to be wearing red, the in-color for protesting. The rest are outside agitators who citizens will put up with for a while but then it could get ugly--when enough is enough. They have to have hearing loss from the constant shouting--it has to be brutal for to continue each day. Play it out..was time..and Americans stand behind Governnor Scott Walker!

SEIU: Progressive hatred in Wisconsin! Crosshairs on Scott Walker, Hitler, dictator, Mubarak, Mussolini ... Source

82 posted on 02/18/2011 9:54:57 AM PST by fight_truth_decay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jack Black

All I can say is you are from a stupid lib state that will be willing to keep the “free lunch” handouts to do nothings and starve working citizens, then get the hell out and leave it to sink with all the libs onboard. Beautiful scenary only goes so far!


83 posted on 02/18/2011 10:05:44 AM PST by dusttoyou ("Progressives" are wee-weeing all over themselves, Foc nobama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
"As of today, feb 18th, Illinois has had my 2009 income tax refund of $275 for one year."

We have an interesting situation here in a small Black run and populated town named Prichard...it's surrounded by Mobile, Alabama.

Prichard is so broke that they quit paying their retirees almost two years ago. Now, apparently one of the retirees is running a small business out of his house and the city just cited him for not having a current year business license to do so.
He said, "You send me my check and I'll sent you yours."

No kidding. I love it!!!

84 posted on 02/18/2011 12:19:46 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: crosshairs
"These union people are fat and happy at the moment. "

Invest in BBQ sauce, the city folks will eat them first.

85 posted on 02/18/2011 12:22:02 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Nat Turner
"These "polite" political cuts on the margins will NOT solve the problem. So we are left to draw one of two conclusions:"

When the federal budget is cut and the rioting begins, congress will rescind the cuts and then just inflate/hyperinflate the problem away. We'll end up at the same place in the end but, in a Civil war of some sort.

86 posted on 02/18/2011 12:39:11 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: blam
I agree Blam, as we are sitting between a political Charybdis of revolt from riots because of budget cuts or a Scylla of civil war because of the oppression of the productive class.


Inflating/Devaluing the currency will be just as politically toxic for the government.


So the "One" while trying ape Lincoln or Reagan, will probably end up as Buchanan or Pierce. While the Chinese and others would love to see the USA descend into anarchy and civil war, they would literally lose trillions of dollars and then have to face a renewed, angry and no longer politically correct multicultural America, where their foolishness wouldn't be tolerated. (Kiss those exports, open borders & massive illegal immigration, UN subsidies and favorable investment climates goodbye.

87 posted on 02/18/2011 12:54:39 PM PST by Nat Turner (I can see NOVEMBER 2012 from my house....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: Conan the Conservative

While I understand your cynicism and share it in regards to RINOs, Walker is a Conservative. He was shafted by the Pubbies in 2004, when he was running ahead of Doyle and the GOP then publicly withdrew funds from his campaign. Once he dropped in the polls, they re-instated a portion of those funds, but by then, the damage was done.

Scott Walker had years in State legislature and more years as Milwaukee County Executive in a corrupt progressive city run by donks. He knows how to play hardball. He has the stones. And does it all with calm and grace. The man is made of steel. He also lives a totally conservative life with a wonderful family.

Someday, he will be President, but for now, we need him here.


88 posted on 02/18/2011 12:59:55 PM PST by reformedliberal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: dusttoyou

I’ve moved to five states to escape liberalism. I’m running out of states. At some point we’re going to have to turn and fight. If the state of Wisconson can fight, so can Washington. Wisconson has been far more liberal far longer than Washington (or Oregon, for that metter.)

Hell even New Jersey has a budget cutting Republican striaght talker taking on the welfare and unions crowd.


89 posted on 02/18/2011 8:40:40 PM PST by Jack Black ( Whatever is left of American patriotism is now identical with counter-revolution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: blam
"So he's basically saying "I want you public workers half of what your private sector counterparts do" and he's getting riots."

There were no riots in the videos on The Economic Collapse blog. There were only herds of yelling, screaming women.


90 posted on 02/18/2011 8:57:11 PM PST by familyop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy
I'm still looking for proof that the Wisconsin Democrats are becoming Nationally hated. There is no outrage in the Press reports, there is no reporting of the actual costs that the Teacher's would assume to benefit themselves, there is no concern about the Wisconsin Budget or the Taxpayers that would have to fund the shortfall, there is only sympathy for the po wittle Teachers...

Every Commie that ever drew a breath knew when you control the information, you control the people. Outside of Fox News and Talk Radio, the big boys are laying down for the Obamamites like they always do.

Obama has shown himself to be the agitator we always thought he was. Too bad 65 Million Voters fell for his BS in 2008.

It's the same old same old, mean Republicans vs the poor down trodden hard working Teachers. If 50,000 people show up at the counter protest tomorrow, my opinion might change.

91 posted on 02/18/2011 9:25:17 PM PST by Kickass Conservative (They bring a Bible to a Memorial, we bring a T Shirt - Long Legged Mac Daddy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: blam

Government unions are a foreign opposition force against the states and must be outlawed for that reason.

Furthermore, the federal government under Obama’s ‘Organizing for America’ cabal is currently conspiring against the sovereignty of the states.


92 posted on 02/18/2011 9:27:50 PM PST by Enough is ENOUGH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MrB

Damn right.


93 posted on 02/19/2011 1:38:50 AM PST by SIDENET ("If that's your best, your best won't do." -Dee Snider)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Enough is ENOUGH
"Furthermore, the federal government under Obama’s ‘Organizing for America’ cabal is currently conspiring against the sovereignty of the states."

We must support our Republican governors with these state issues. I expect the governors to come under fire in every state.

94 posted on 02/19/2011 6:21:25 AM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: Jack Black

It is soon going to be time stand and fight.

I do think the libs/dems/unions may have pooped in their nest with the voters this time. Hope the Wisc. Gov. stands his ground, which I think he will.

Nobama probably will require actaul physical removal after 2012 election when he and lib/dems are again soundly defeated. I volunteer for the removal crew!


95 posted on 02/19/2011 7:10:11 AM PST by dusttoyou ("Progressives" are wee-weeing all over themselves, Foc nobama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: Ancesthntr
At one point in time, roughly 100 years ago, unions were thoroughly necessary to protect workers who lacked bargaining power against companies, where there was child labor and there were horrid working conditions.

I disagree. Even back then, somebody who did not like one company could leave and work for somebody else. Even in a one-company town, the young people could leave and find work elsewhere.

Unions were a means of extortion from the beginning, using threats of violence and sabotage to get companies to spend more than the market-worth of the workers.

96 posted on 02/19/2011 7:32:37 AM PST by PapaBear3625 ("It is only when we've lost everything, that we are free to do anything" -- Fight Club)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: blam

The union reaction in Wisconsin is mild compared to what is coming.

Some things are now certain:
* Food prices are going to soar. Wholesale prices for basic food stuffs are already up by double digits world wide.
* State and local governments are going to have lay off a lot of people. They have no choice.
* Police forces in many locations are being cut back.
* Criminals are being released to save money.
* Much more.

All of the above is certain. It has already begun to happen, but the real impact has not yet been felt.

We will ALL suffer, but low income people will be the hardest hit. Some forms of welfare will be cut, and the rest of it will not keep up.

All it will take is a spark and the cities will burn.

Obama’s actions in Wisconsin show he will not just bring a match, he will pour gasoline on the fire.


97 posted on 02/19/2011 10:17:25 AM PST by EternalHope (You can't make a deal with the Devil, or reach across the aisle to Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: STONEWALLS
....the country is 4 missed meals away from barbarism.

Barbarism looks good on me. My have to work up a wry smile for those I know that couldn't find and catch or kill enough food to last a week, though.

98 posted on 02/19/2011 11:00:28 AM PST by gundog (Help us, Nairobi-Wan Kenobi...you're our only hope.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: EternalHope
"All it will take is a spark and the cities will burn."

I agree.

I was around in the 60's last time they were burning. LBJ's ransom paid, "The Great Society", helped get us here today.

I commented to my buddy yesterday how all the talk shows and newscasters are openly talking about things we were practically whispering amoungs ourselves just 2-3 years ago.

Prepare now.

99 posted on 02/19/2011 11:40:28 AM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: gundog
"Barbarism looks good on me. My have to work up a wry smile for those I know that couldn't find and catch or kill enough food to last a week, though".

'Barbeque' is a Carib Indian word for roasted human arm.

BBQ came to the US from Haiti via North Carolina.

100 posted on 02/19/2011 11:44:49 AM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-103 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson