My thoughts on unions.

[MannyIsGod]

There are a lot of union threads going on right now but I really didn't mean this to be considered in the scope of Wisconsin but rather in how the entire country views unions and their collective place in a free market society.

I think unions have a very important place in our society for the main reason that the individual's power will rarely compare to the power yielded by larger organizations (mainly the government and corporations). Unions aren't the only place people pool their influence to achieve a larger sphere of influence they just happen to do it through labor negotiations. What is the NRA if not an organization meant to better achieve the goals of gun owners? The same with Greenpeace, etc etc.

In my opinion, one of the absolutely necessary components of a free market society is the ability of citizens to pool their collective interests and work together to achieve goals and I see this as the fundamental role of unions. Therefor, unions are absolutely a necessary component to a free market society.

For whatever reason, I often get the sentiment in this country that we blame the unions before other organizations. As an example, when GM went down many felt the need to blame the unions for their compensation packages that were openly negotiated as opposed to blaming those who agreed to those compensation packages. Why?

As part of the work force ever individual should have a right to the best wages they can get. Telling someone they were too successful in their negotiations is fundamentally flawed in a free market society.

This also applies when it comes to the government. There are countless organizations that make money off the government and its spending from the military industrial complex to the companies like sisco that provide food and supplies. These corporations negotiate their rates and are not expected to give a price break simply because they are the taxpayer.

Then why are public workers expected to give the government a break for their services? If government workers join forces to collectively bargain what is so wrong and unAmerican about that? Its the responsibility of our elected officials and government leaders to make these decisions in a responsible manner and for the voters to hold them accountable if they don't. But it is not the responsibility of any group of workers to take a deal worse than what the free market allows for. The reality of the situation is that while compensation packages may differ regarding salary and benefit ratios, the end result is that compensation between the public and private sectors is absolutely in line. Public employees may get more benefits but they take less in wages to do so and the end result is compensation at the same rate.

[DMX7]

The false premise among pro-union busting supporters is that large bureaucratic employers will never misuse their power or influence to underpay or otherwise take advantage of their workforce; therefore it's wrong to organize labor to fight for rights and benefits.

[jack sommerset]

There are a lot of union threads going on right now but I really didn't mean this to be considered in the scope of Wisconsin but rather in how the entire country views unions and their collective place in a free market society.

I think unions have a very important place in our society for the main reason that the individual's power will rarely compare to the power yielded by larger organizations (mainly the government and corporations). Unions aren't the only place people pool their influence to achieve a larger sphere of influence they just happen to do it through labor negotiations. What is the NRA if not an organization meant to better achieve the goals of gun owners? The same with Greenpeace, etc etc.

In my opinion, one of the absolutely necessary components of a free market society is the ability of citizens to pool their collective interests and work together to achieve goals and I see this as the fundamental role of unions. Therefor, unions are absolutely a necessary component to a free market society.

For whatever reason, I often get the sentiment in this country that we blame the unions before other organizations. As an example, when GM went down many felt the need to blame the unions for their compensation packages that were openly negotiated as opposed to blaming those who agreed to those compensation packages. Why?

As part of the work force ever individual should have a right to the best wages they can get. Telling someone they were too successful in their negotiations is fundamentally flawed in a free market society.

This also applies when it comes to the government. There are countless organizations that make money off the government and its spending from the military industrial complex to the companies like sisco that provide food and supplies. These corporations negotiate their rates and are not expected to give a price break simply because they are the taxpayer.

Then why are public workers expected to give the government a break for their services? If government workers join forces to collectively bargain what is so wrong and unAmerican about that? Its the responsibility of our elected officials and government leaders to make these decisions in a responsible manner and for the voters to hold them accountable if they don't. But it is not the responsibility of any group of workers to take a deal worse than what the free market allows for. The reality of the situation is that while compensation packages may differ regarding salary and benefit ratios, the end result is that compensation between the public and private sectors is absolutely in line. Public employees may get more benefits but they take less in wages to do so and the end result is compensation at the same rate.

QhTiJEYqqY8

[boutons_deux]

Give up, MIG, with your principles, values, norms. You get credit for having your red heart in the right place, but the black hearts don't GAFF.

The VRWC has so fouled and rigged the UCA that the UCA is beyond repair.

It took the Great Depression and FDR/Secora to regulate the then-unregulated and totally corrupt financial sector that caused the Great Depression.

FDR was doing great until he cut spending in 1937 and cratered the recovering economy again. That's why the VRWC still trashes FDR at every chance.

There won't be a repeat of the huge government stimulus of WWII spending, because the UCA is totally captured by the VRWC.

And there won't be a repeat of a shattered Europe and Japan to suck in UCA products and services. The Marshall Plan wasn't charity (that's just another lie Ameica tells itself). It was financing Europe as a market for UCA output.

Hitler was the Best Federal Stimulus that ever happened to UCA.

The VRWC is vastly more powerful and sophisticated than it has ever been. There is no way to put that evil genius genie back in the bottle.

The VRWC has won the war on everybody.

Busting the unions is nothing but the classic post-war mop-up by the victors. Shooting the not-yet-dead left on the battlefield.

[Trainwreck2100]

corporations want to be the only corrupt organizations involved in the workforce tbqh

[Sec24Row7]

Unions did not require compulsory membership to form originally.

They formed due to necessity in the face of adversity.

They now exist primarily because of compulsory membership and wage garnishment.


One should not be REQUIRED to pay membership dues to a 3rd party to be employed. They should have the OPTION to organize.

[MannyIsGod]

Then the discussion should be aimed at that aspect of whatever unions follow through with that process and not on actual unions.

[InRareForm]

unions are sugar coated businesses as well. I agree they are needed for workers, but they will do anything they can do to increase dues and attendance.

[boutons_deux]

"One should not be REQUIRED to pay membership dues"

Then how to fix the problem where the dues-paying union members win benefits for everybody, including those that pay nothing?

The union should negotiate two classes of employees. One class is the union members with all the compensation and benefits, and other class of non-union members who get no union compensation and benefits? There, fixed. :lol

[ManuBalboa]

As part of the work force every individual should have a right to the best wages they can get.

lol wut

[baseline bum]

"One should not be REQUIRED to pay membership dues"

Then how to fix the problem where the dues-paying union members win benefits for everybody, including those that pay nothing?


Classic prisoner's dilemma problem there. If the union negotiates good working conditions, benefits, hours, and wages and I don't pay, then I got something for nothing. If they can't and I did pay, then I have completely wasted the money spent on dues. Either way, I as an individual am better off not paying dues. And thus, we all think that way, the union dies, and we all get a much worse deal than if we all cooperated. Gotta love divide and conquer whether you're going to war, sorting an array, or screwing labor over.

[The Reckoning]

i think the system we have is fine. its up to the state. if you dont want to work in a unionized state, work in another.

[MannyIsGod]

lol wut

You don't believe a person should have a right to negotiate for the best possible outcome on their behalf? If you read it as me saying everyone is guaranteed the best possible wage then you misunderstood. I simply believe you should be able to negotiate the best rate possible and not have that held against you.

[Sec24Row7]

Classic prisoner's dilemma problem there. If the union negotiates good working conditions, benefits, hours, and wages and I don't pay, then I got something for nothing. If they can't and I did pay, then I have completely wasted the money spent on dues. Either way, I as an individual am better off not paying dues. And thus, we all think that way, the union dies, and we all get a much worse deal than if we all cooperated. Gotta love divide and conquer whether you're going to war, sorting an array, or screwing labor over.

If you are better off unorganized... Then YOU ARE BETTER OFF!!!

Unions were created in the face of physical violence from pinkertons!!! They were forcefully sent back to work... And they overcame and PREVAILED!! If a union dies because people don't join it in today's climate... With NO violence and NO threat of termination for membership... Then IT ISN'T NEEDED!

[baseline bum]

You convinced me with the ALL CAPS. :tu

[MannyIsGod]

The very fact that unions are being busted in order to lower the negotiating power of the people they represent proves they are needed.

The argument isn't that those public employees are using a tool that isn't needed, its that they're using that tool too well. That they're getting compensation they don't deserve.

[jack sommerset]

LoL@14 dems running and hiding to avoid a vote.

[jack sommerset]

The squeaky wheel doesn't get the grease this time. Amen.

[SnakeBoy]

Classic prisoner's dilemma problem there. If the union negotiates good working conditions, benefits, hours, and wages and I don't pay, then I got something for nothing. If they can't and I did pay, then I have completely wasted the money spent on dues. Either way, I as an individual am better off not paying dues. And thus, we all think that way, the union dies, and we all get a much worse deal than if we all cooperated. Gotta love divide and conquer whether you're going to war, sorting an array, or screwing labor over.

In regards to public workers, so you are saying that they should be forced to pay union dues because the union has negotiated the same compensation that non-union private sector workers have managed to get without any organization or deductions from their paychecks.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

A flaw in your logic is that there is a total spectrum of thought that defines "free market society". But I agree with you.

[Winehole23]

The argument isn't that those public employees are using a tool that isn't needed, its that they're using that tool too well. That they're getting compensation they don't deserve.How so? The State of Wisconsin is a free contractor and signed the dotted line. Why can't Wisconsin pay what it agreed to?

This isn't a matter of workers not paying their fair share, but of the state welshing on a deal because they didn't fully fund their obligations. When the states got burned in the equity markets and their revenue fell in the wake of the recession, the previously existing problem was only exacerbated, and just now it is beginning to come to a head politically.

[boutons_deux]

The Repugs have framed yet another false argument.

It's just like the false debate about global warming. There is no debate. There is global warming science and the VRWC LIES.

There is NO PROBLEM with private or public unions.

The problem is that the criminal financial sector has crashed the economy, reducing tax revenues needed to sustain govt, which the VRWC wants to destroy.

THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH UNIONS.

The overwhelming problem is with the financial sector, and other corporate predators like sick care, sucking wealth out of, impoverishing the citizenry.

So now the Repugs have created a false whipping boy of the unions to hide the real culprits.

[LnGrrrR]

How so? The State of Wisconsin is a free contractor and signed the dotted line. Why can't Wisconsin pay what it agreed to?

This isn't a matter of workers not paying their fair share, but of the state welshing on a deal because they didn't fully fund their obligations. When the states got burned in the equity markets and their revenue fell in the wake of the recession, the previously existing problem was only exacerbated, and just now it is beginning to come to a head politically.

I think that is exactly what Manny is trying to say, but those who think unions are outdated use the "they don't deserve it" line.

[boutons_deux]

"Why can't Wisconsin pay what it agreed to?"

It can. Walker cut tax revenues $120M with tax cuts to corps. WI is refinancing WI debt to save more $100Ms in interest. There is no money problem. There is only a false, fabricated lie about a union "problem".

[boutons_deux]

LoL@14 dems running and hiding to avoid a vote.

A very old tradition. Legislator Abe Lincoln did it by climbing out a window because the doors were locked.

If Repugs did it, you'd be cheerleading and praising their courage.

[jack sommerset]

"if Repugs did it, you'd be cheerleading and praising their courage. "

You lie.

barry and the gang fucked up again. people are sick of unions. the union heydays are decades behind them. they are political left wing liberal idiots and steal thier forced members moneys to pay them. thier leaders will burn in hell. u are going to hell my friend if you do not get saved! the bible says that hell was created for the devil and his demons, not for one single human being. unfortunately, when adam sinned he allowed sin into the world. we were born sinful by nature, unable to fellowship with god. we are sinners. you are a sinner. our spirit is dead in trespasses and sins. when we believe on jesus christ as our personal savior, to forgive us of all our sins, then we become born-again to be "born-again" means to have the spirit of jesus christ born in us. when we place our complete faith in christ, the holy spirit of god literally unites with our spirit which was once dead and we become a new creature, a child of God. now we can truly worship god in spirit and truth. dubya is a hero and an angel sent from god.

[boutons_deux]

"people are sick of unions"

You Lie

VRWC wants to destroy unions, thereby destroying a funding source for Dems, and thereby enabling suppression of wages for ALL employees.

[jack sommerset]

"people are sick of unions"

You Lie

VRWC wants to destroy unions, thereby destroying a funding source for Dems, and thereby enabling suppression of wages for ALL employees.

"thereby destroying a funding source for dems"

you admit unions are a political machine and don't give a shit about human rights. they only care about power and money. with the massive teachers strikes and protests in wisconsin, i am very afraid for this country. the bolshevik revolution began with protests and union strikes. the fascists in italy and nazis in germany took over in part to stop the socialist/communist strikes. This country hasn’t seen strikes like these since the 1920s.

all unions care about is money, so stop pretending otherwise. “fairness.” “quality education.” “safety.” they don’t care about any of that. they just want your share, more than your share, of the money.

[boutons_deux]

"you admit unions are a political machine"

Unions are by definition and nature, political. That's a crime only when its done by the non-right, correct?

"don't give a shit about human rights"

you said that, unions and I don't.

"they only care about power and money"

well, yes, that's modern civilization, idnit? and it's only crime when done by the non-right, correct?

ah, the bogus red menace that served St Ronnie's crimes so well.

The real menace is from the VRWC, for which you shill. GFY

[jack sommerset]

"you admit unions are a political machine"

Unions are by definition and nature, politcal. That's crime only when its done by the non-right, correct?

"don't give a shit about human rights"

you said that, unions and I don't.

"they only care about power and money"

well, yes, that's modern civilization, idnit? and it's only crime when done by the non-right, correct?

ah, the bogus red menace that served St Ronnie's crimes so well.

The real menace is from the VRWC, for which you shill. GFY


" it's only crime when done by the non-right, correct?"

You Lie

crime is crime. unions are criminals and will steal ur moneys. unions are democrats and will rape you of all ur dignity and moneys. you’ll be a prisoner like all the others, reduced to just a number, and no better than an illiterate cuban whore or white trailer trash if you support the unions.

unions are death traps. never involve yourself with unions. do not have sex with union members, do not associate with those who have sex with union members. never invoke debts you cannot repay to unions. it is best not to invoke any debts period but never with unions. when you first enter any union, you will be approached with 241 offers. meaning that the union will front you 1 item but you will have to repay them two. this is a classic trap for unexperienced members. if you smoke, quit. if you want new furniture wait until you have money in ur bank. unions are drugs. never do drugs, i will make an exception for marijuana, because it’s not addictive, but again, only smoke if you can pay for it. never ever borrow from unions to pay for ur pot.

[Nbadan]

Same ole Unions are evil crap from jack...what a waste of the 30 minutes it probably took him to type that..

[Nbadan]

For whatever reason, I often get the sentiment in this country that we blame the unions before other organizations. As an example, when GM went down many felt the need to blame the unions for their compensation packages that were openly negotiated as opposed to blaming those who agreed to those compensation packages. Why?

GM just posted a profit and gave workers a stipend....Obama's plan saved millions of American manufacturing jobs failing to destroy America like wing-nuts promised...

[DarrinS]

It's not that all unions are bad, it's just that PUBLIC EMPLOYEE unions are bad.




"... 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."

[EVAY]

Unions did not require compulsory membership to form originally.

They formed due to necessity in the face of adversity.

They now exist primarily because of compulsory membership and wage garnishment.


One should not be REQUIRED to pay membership dues to a 3rd party to be employed. They should have the OPTION to organize.

Game theory, as first articulated by Prof. John Nash of Princeton, actually explains why this is sub-optimal.

[EVAY]

There are a lot of union threads going on right now but I really didn't mean this to be considered in the scope of Wisconsin but rather in how the entire country views unions and their collective place in a free market society.

I think unions have a very important place in our society for the main reason that the individual's power will rarely compare to the power yielded by larger organizations (mainly the government and corporations). Unions aren't the only place people pool their influence to achieve a larger sphere of influence they just happen to do it through labor negotiations. What is the NRA if not an organization meant to better achieve the goals of gun owners? The same with Greenpeace, etc etc.

In my opinion, one of the absolutely necessary components of a free market society is the ability of citizens to pool their collective interests and work together to achieve goals and I see this as the fundamental role of unions. Therefor, unions are absolutely a necessary component to a free market society.

For whatever reason, I often get the sentiment in this country that we blame the unions before other organizations. As an example, when GM went down many felt the need to blame the unions for their compensation packages that were openly negotiated as opposed to blaming those who agreed to those compensation packages. Why?

As part of the work force ever individual should have a right to the best wages they can get. Telling someone they were too successful in their negotiations is fundamentally flawed in a free market society.

This also applies when it comes to the government. There are countless organizations that make money off the government and its spending from the military industrial complex to the companies like sisco that provide food and supplies. These corporations negotiate their rates and are not expected to give a price break simply because they are the taxpayer.

Then why are public workers expected to give the government a break for their services? If government workers join forces to collectively bargain what is so wrong and unAmerican about that? Its the responsibility of our elected officials and government leaders to make these decisions in a responsible manner and for the voters to hold them accountable if they don't. But it is not the responsibility of any group of workers to take a deal worse than what the free market allows for. The reality of the situation is that while compensation packages may differ regarding salary and benefit ratios, the end result is that compensation between the public and private sectors is absolutely in line. Public employees may get more benefits but they take less in wages to do so and the end result is compensation at the same rate.

This is a well-considered position, MIG.

Unions were critically important in the development of the American brand of capitalism. Before unions existed, Capitalists truly did abuse their workers in order to maximize their profits. There is zero reason to believe that they wouldn't do the same thing again. It is precisely the reason that some third world capitalists, who have none of the labor laws (pushed by labor unions in this country) and none of the union-organizing that is characteristic of capitalism in more developed countries, have such a price advantage over developed country capitalism.

Moreover, the development and usefulness of unions limited the appeal of the communist party in America. To the extent that the 'working class' could obtain power relative to the 'owning class' through unionization, the need for worker organization through proletariat overthrow of government was considerably lessened.

It may well be the case that unions have outgrown their usefulness in some respects, but there is no doubt that the American factory worker has a far better standard of living than factory workers in countries where there are no labor unions.

The political power of unions is often blamed for America's relative difficulty in competing for cheapest production of manufacture goods worldwide. That is probably true. I think it is also true that, to the extent that manufacturing jobs are moving to foreign countries where labor costs are cheaper, it forces the American worker to develop different skills, i.e. information technology skills.

America's economic future does not rest on manufacturing, regardless of the extent to which folks like Pat Buchanan want to wish it did, or think it should.
American economic strength must evolve to areas where our superiority can prove itself, e.g., technological innovations. Unions may or may not play a part in that evolution.

[MannyIsGod]

It's not that all unions are bad, it's just that PUBLIC EMPLOYEE unions are bad.

FDR's position was that they should not be allowed to strike because their services were so important. That is as I read it.

However, that is besides the point. Why should they not be allowed to negotiate like everyone else? FDR concedes a point in their favor with what he said but that alone should not supersede the rights that you have.

[boutons_deux]

"allowed to negotiate like everyone else?"

who else negotiates a salary?

An employer as has open position for which he has a usually narrow salary range, HRs job is hire at the low end of the range, benefits pkg usually fixed, non-negotiable.

[Sec24Row7]

Game theory, as first articulated by Prof. John Nash of Princeton, actually explains why this is sub-optimal.

Explain.

[DMX7]

people are sick of unions.

You must have missed that great Fox News poll.

[Capt Bringdown]

Here we go, this is from a Forbes Magazine blog FFS:

The Wisconsin Lie Exposed – Taxpayers Actually Contribute Nothing To Public Employee Pensions (http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/02/25/the-wisconsin-lie-exposed-taxpayers-actually-contribute-nothing-to-public-employee-pensions/)

So what is all this union-bashing all about, and why are people being led down this path at this time?

To quote a fellow traveler (http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/27/come-here-fellow-servant/) on an other channel:

"It remains an ugly wonder that so many in the punished classes buy the argument that egalitarian efforts to reign in the rich are assaults on their already shrunken freedoms. One day, historians will have a field day with their sad ignorance. —

That is the crux of the problem in a nutshell. The woefully and willfully ignorant people who have bought the Bullshit spewed out by The Masters lock, stock and barrel. It’s like some collective Village Idiot who gleefully loads the rifles of the fire squad for his own execution."

[Wild Cobra]

Here we go, this is from a Forbes Magazine blog FFS:

The Wisconsin Lie Exposed – Taxpayers Actually Contribute Nothing To Public Employee Pensions (http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/02/25/the-wisconsin-lie-exposed-taxpayers-actually-contribute-nothing-to-public-employee-pensions/)

So what is all this union-bashing all about, and why are people being led down this path at this time?

To quote a fellow traveler (http://firedoglake.com/2011/02/27/come-here-fellow-servant/) on an other channel:

"It remains an ugly wonder that so many in the punished classes buy the argument that egalitarian efforts to reign in the rich are assaults on their already shrunken freedoms. One day, historians will have a field day with their sad ignorance. —

That is the crux of the problem in a nutshell. The woefully and willfully ignorant people who have bought the Bullshit spewed out by The Masters lock, stock and barrel. It’s like some collective Village Idiot who gleefully loads the rifles of the fire squad for his own execution."

Did you read and understand what that guys article says?

His title is deceptive. His summary is a lie.

[Wild Cobra]

It's a trust fund. It's definitely going to lose money, requiring tax dollar support to pay retirees. The author only talks about how the fund is payed into.

CHAPTER 40
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE TRUST FUND (http://legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/Stat0040.pdf)

[Capt Bringdown]

Did you read and understand what that guys article says?

His title is deceptive. His summary is a lie.

Nope, not a lie.
The title is intended to be provocative, the author admits as such, but it is not deceptive.
Did you read the comments? He does an excellent job of explaining his point, which is sound and spot on.
Pensions plans are deferred compensation. It is the employee's money, and not some sort of gift from the taxpayers as portrayed by the union busters.

[Winehole23]

"Why can't Wisconsin pay what it agreed to?"

It can. Walker cut tax revenues $120M with tax cuts to corps. WI is refinancing WI debt to save more $100Ms in interest. There is no money problem. There is only a false, fabricated lie about a union "problem".You deny then, that Wisconsin has failed to fully fund deferred compensation to employees?

[Winehole23]

Did you really mean to say there was no money problem? What an odd thing to say.

[MannyIsGod]

http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/pensions-2011-02.pdf

WI projected shortfall of 200,000 dollars is pretty meaningless if the methods are sound. I'm not an economist, but the logic seems sound.

[boutons_deux]

money "may be" a problem, but if that's true, why did Walker give business new $120M tax breaks as after a couple of weeks in office?

Typical Repug, he's a lying, bad faith autocratic, Orwellian motherfucker, black is white, up is down.

[boutons_deux]

10 Ways Scott Walker Is Selling Out His Constituents to Corporations


http://www.alternet.org/story/150065/

As the standoff between the Main Street Movement and Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) continues for the twelfth day, much of the media coverage — and anger — from both sides has focused on Walker’s efforts to strip Wisconsin public workers of their right to collective bargaining. But Walker’s assault on public employees is only one part of a larger political program that aims to give corporations free reign in the state while dismantling the healthcare programs, environmental regulations, and good government laws that protect Wisconsin’s middle and working class. These lesser known proposals in the 144-page bill reveal how radical Walker’s plan actually is:

1. ELIMINATING MEDICAID: The Budget Repair Bill includes a little-known provision that would put complete control of the state’s Medicaid program, known as BadgerCare, in the hands of the state’s ultra-conservative Health and Human Services Secretary Dennis Smith. Smith would have the authority to “to override state Medicaid laws as [he] sees fit and institute sweeping changes” including reducing benefits and limiting eligibility. Ironically, during the 1990s it was Republicans, especially former Gov. and Bush HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, who helped develop BadgerCare into one of the country’s most innovative and generous Medicaid programs. A decade later, a new generation of radical Republicans is hoping to destroy one of Wisconsin’s “success stories.”

2. POWER PLANT PRIVATIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEGLECT: The same budget bill calls for a rapid no-bid “firesale” of all state-owned power plants. One progressive blogger called the proposal “a highlight reel of all of the tomahawk dunks of neo-Gilded Age corporatism: privatization, no-bid contracts, deregulation, and naked cronyism” and suggested that the provision will open the way for large, politically connected corporations to buy up the state’s power plants on the cheap. While it’s unclear whether corporations would be interested in buying the plants, a similar proposal was vetoed six years ago by Gov. Jim Doyle (D), who called the plan fiscally and environmentally irresponsible. Many of Wisconsin’s power plants are in violation of federal clean air regulations and desperately need to be upgraded and cleaned up — not dumped into the private sector.

3. DANGEROUS DRINKING WATER: Republican lawmakers have introduced bills in both the Senate and the House which would repeal a rule requiring municipal governments to disinfect their water. Conservatives have said that the clean water rule — which went into effect in December — is simply too expensive. Yet the rule only affects 12 percent of municipalities and the price may be worth it. In 1993, 104 people died and 400,000 fell sick when the Milwaukee water supply became infected. Even two decades later, the Environmental Protection Agency Advisory Board notes that 13 percent of acute gastro-intestinal illnesses in municipalities that don’t disinfect their water supplies are the result of dirty water. Municipalities can keep their water clean for as low as $10,000 per well — but apparently for the Wisconsin GOP that is too high a price to pay to keep citizens safe from deadly microorganisms.

4. DESTROYING WETLANDS: In January, Walker’s proposed regulatory reform bill exempted a parcel of wetland owned by a Republican donor from water quality standards. But the exemption was more than just an embarrassing giveaway to a GOP ally: environmental groups believe the bill’s special provision would actually affect the entire county, eliminating public hearings on proposed wetland development, short-circuiting approval of development projects, and disrupting the region’s water system.

5. FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY: Walker signed a bill this week requiring a 2/3 supermajority in the legislature to pass any tax increase. Republican lawmakers are now reportedly considering a constitutional amendment that would make the rule permanent. A similar constitutional amendment in California has been called the “source of misery” of that state’s crippling budget crisis and has forced lawmakers to “gut public education, slash social services and health care programs, close prisons, and lay off record numbers of public employees.” While claiming to “make a commitment to the future instead of [choosing] dire consequences for our children” Walker and GOP lawmakers are instead putting generations of Wisconsinites in a “fiscal strait-jacket.”

6. DISENFRANCHISING VOTERS: This week, Republican lawmakers moved forward on a bill that would require voters to present a photo ID from the DMV at the polls, making it significantly more difficult for the elderly, the disabled, college students, and rural residents to participate in elections. While Republican lawmakers insist the bill is necessary to prevent voter fraud, there have been almost no documented cases of fraudulent voting in the state. Instead, the Wisconsin State Journal writes, the GOP bill is going “overboard in limiting ballot access in a state proud of its long history of high participation in elections.”

7. CUTTING JOBS, LOSING THE FUTURE: Last fall, Walker killed an $810 billion federally funded high-speed rail project, forcing the Transportation Department to pull its funding. Walker’s decision killed 130,000 expected jobs and forced the Spanish company Talgo to close its Milwaukee factory and layoff its 40 person staff. A spokeswoman for the company told The Daily Reporter that “the state’s decision to back away from the high-speed rail project sends a terrible message to businesses considering locating in the state.”

8. STIFLING INNOVATION: In late January, Walker introduced a bill that would ban wind-powered energy from Wisconsin and exacerbate the state’s dependence on out-of-state coal. If passed, it’s estimated that the law would immediately eliminate $1.8 billion in new wind power investments and jeopardize eleven currently proposed wind projects. After a public outcry earlier this month, Walker’s bill is (for now) dead.

9. “NAKED POWER GRAB”: Earlier this month in a party-line vote, the legislature ceded “extraordinary control” of the state’s rule-making oversight process to the governor. Walker now has complete power to draft agency rules which the legislature must then either approve or reject. The law gives Walker the power to write rules for formerly independent state agencies like the state Departments of Justice and Education — and most ominously the Government Accountability Board, the state’s ethics watchdog.

10. POLITICIZING STATE AGENCIES: A provision in Walker’s budget repair bill would convert thirty-seven state employees from civil servants to political appointees — consolidating his power over state government and expanding his power to “hire, fire and move key employees to carry out his agenda.”

Since his inauguration just two months ago, Walker and the Wisconsin GOP have taken unprecedented action to undermine the state’s unions, environmental regulations, long-term fiscal health, social welfare programs and basic democratic structure. As Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) said Tuesday, Walker has stopped acting like the Republican governor of a Midwestern state and has instead “basically taken on the position of a dictator” with a “vision of America that’s similar to somewhere like Nigeria or Pakistan.”

==========

Typical Repug autocratic, authoritarian, anti-democratic bullshit. Protect and enrich the corps, politicize civil service, screw citizens, environment, infrastructure.

[boutons_deux]

Did you really mean to say there was no money problem? What an odd thing to say.

Threat of Benefit Cuts in Wisconsin Prompts Wave of Sudden Retirements

"Yes, the WRS is fully funded and able to pay benefits to current and future WRS members."

In fact, Wisconsin is a national model for its fully funded pension system, which segregates the funds so they can't be raided as has happened in private sector firms and other states. But some analysts are worried that Scott Walker's budget repair bill may change all that."

http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/150068

[Winehole23]

Stands gratefully corrected, tips his hat to Manny and boutons.

[Winehole23]

(assumed there had to be some real fiscal problem to hang this on. silly me.)

[boutons_deux]

most of the pension fiscal problems nation-wide are due to:

1. exorbitant, extortionate costs of sick-care

2. VRWC stealing $1T in pension funds. Pension funds "lost" and guess who "won"?

3. Wall St thieving and cheating in the municipal bond market.

[CosmicCowboy]

GM just posted a profit and gave workers a stipend....Obama's plan saved millions of American manufacturing jobs failing to destroy America like wing-nuts promised...

GM posted a profit because gas prices dropped and people started buying big trucks and SUV's again. When gas prices go up, GM profits will go in the shit can again...

[coyotes_geek]

GM posted a profit because gas prices dropped and people started buying big trucks and SUV's again.

GM getting another $14 billion in tax breaks (http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/23/news/companies/gm_bailout/index.htm) didn't hurt either.