Wisconsin's message: live within our means (Something Unions know nothing about)

columbus dispatch ^ | 6/5/2012 | Cal Thomas

[tobyhill]

If the polls are right, the vote today in Wisconsin on whether to recall Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators could amount to a redial of their original victory. Voters who first elected the conservative Walker on a promise to fix the state’s dismal economy and crushing debt appear ready to reaffirm their judgment.

They would be making the right decision, given the results Gov. Walker appears to have produced.

When Walker ran for governor, he promised to eliminate the state’s $3.6 billion budget deficit without raising taxes. He says he has done this. In fact, the Walker administration projects a surplus of $154.5 million by the end of the 2013 fiscal year. In this Walker mirrors Virginia Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell, who also turned a deficit into a surplus in his first months in office without raising taxes.

Walker promised to create a “Waste, Fraud and Abuse Commission” and identify $300 million in savings to taxpayers. The commission identified $450 million in savings. According to Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development, unemployment in Wisconsin dropped from 7.5 percent in 2011 to 6.7 percent in 2012. A survey conducted by the Manpower Group shows state employers expect to increase their hires in the second quarter this year. And according to the Chief Executive Group, www.chiefexecutive.net, Wisconsin jumped from a ranking of 41 on a list of the best/worst states for business under former Democratic Governor Jim Doyle, to 20th under Walker.

[FES0844]

Waste, Fraud and Abuse Commission...he should appoint Greta Van Susteran the czar.

[From The Deer Stand]

Public employee unions could care less about any impact on the tax dollar just as long as someone else pays their way. Union bosses could care less if there are massive layoffs just as long as the union remains intact. The union is solely for the union. Taxpayers and voters need to remember that.

[jody2]

The private sector has 105 million workers, unions represent 6.9%.

The public sector has 20 million workers, unions represent 37.0%.

It’s a “public employee” union against taxpayer problem NOT a “private employee” union against business owners’ problem.

[Maceman]

It is completely amazing to me that Republicans -- especially in Wisconsin -- are not shouting from the rooftops about liberal icon FDR's opposition to public unions:

FDR's warning: Public employee unions a no-no

"... Meticulous attention should be paid to the special relationships and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the government. All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations ... The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for ... officials ... to bind the employer ... The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives ...

"Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of government employees. Upon employees in the federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people ... This obligation is paramount ... A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent ... to prevent or obstruct ... Government ... Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government ... is unthinkable and intolerable."

[afraidfortherepublic]

It is completely amazing to me that Republicans -- especially in Wisconsin -- are not shouting from the rooftops about liberal icon FDR's opposition to public unions:

A lot was said about that during last summer's recalls. It wasn't particularly effective. There are very few who remember FDR.

[Graewoulf]

” - - - In a little-known letter he wrote to the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees in 1937, Roosevelt reasoned:

“... Meticulous attention should be paid to the special relationships and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the government. All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations ... The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for ... officials ... to bind the employer ... The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives ...

“Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of government employees. Upon employees in the federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people ... This obligation is paramount ... A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent ... to prevent or obstruct ... Government ... Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government ... is unthinkable and intolerable.” - - - “

Words to live by.

[Maceman]

A lot was said about that during last summer's recalls. It wasn't particularly effective. There are very few who remember FDR.

I'm sure that's true that few remember FDR. So I can see why that doesn't work with the voters.

Still, I think every Republican who is interviewed on TV and radio by the MSM ought to ask that question of the interviewer -- "Why is it that Obama and other Democrats worship FDR and his new deal, and yet ignore the truth that FDR was against the idea of public employee unions. So what, exactly is the justification for public unions?"

The resulting discomfort on the part of the interviewer would make great viral YouTube videos.