“Close to half the country...” swallows union BS propaganda. You got that right.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2688542/posts
EVEN HERE ON FR, FOR PETE’S SAKE!!!, you get masses of IDIOTS who LOVE unions, and swallow their BS hook, line, and sinker.
I’ve had to join 3 in my time and I will gladly attest that they all SUCKED, especially the Teamsters who never would let you quit (”Teamster for Life”) like some religions.
I think for this reason, the Scott Walker "Pickett's Charge" directly into the Union fray is futile.
Action: Target Unions. Reaction: draw protests.
What you need is to put the onus on the protesters to materialize action in their favor.
Say instead you create a steep barrier to spending, zero-basis budget rules or whatever such that ANY pet spending (union welfare, corporate welfare, welfare welfare) has to be approved in the affirmative vs other options every year, rather than contracts which roll continuously.
Accomplishes the same thing in the end, but doesn't allow the unions to focus the limelight on "cutting teachers and firemen and puppy dogs."