Free Republic

Madison -- Teachers, firefighters and police officers said they would begin a boycott of M&I Bank if the bank does not begin publicly opposing Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to curtail collective bargaining for public workers. Unions representing those groups said they would start other boycotts of businesses that backed Walker in his campaign. The letter to M&I President Tom Ellis said the boycott would begin March 17 if the bank hasn't opposed Walker's efforts by then. "In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott...

About halfway down a Facebook page devoted to organizing boycotts of companies associated with deep-pocket political contributors to Gov. Scott Walker, there was this sobering comment: "I don't think I can be part of this anymore," wrote Mary Possin, a small-business owner in Monona. Possin said she couldn't support the page's directions that consumers not buy products from businesses including Johnsonville Sausage, Sargento, Menards and M&I Bank. "Has anyone considered the impact on the workers of these businesses? They will be the ones who are hurt," Possin added, noting small businesses that carry boycotted products would be most vulnerable. "The...