I've been watching and reading about the protests in Wisconsin with great interest. Now I'll admit right up front I've never been in a union but I have been to a couple of union meetings many years ago. Once when a union tried to get into Heavenly Valley and another that was trying to recruit the employees at the garbage co. to sign up for their union. Both times I was not impressed by these unions so I voted no and talked others into doing the same.
I will say, I can see the advantages to collective bargaining done through unions. When you're just a guy who is considered an "at will" employee, non union, you can be fired for no reason and your pay and benefits can be cut significantly and you have no recourse. And of course the the threat of losing your job is always hanging over your head if you speak out.
The Governor of Wisconsin took office after the November election with a surplus in the budget and after only two months in office that money was gone. Now to make up for the missing millions he wants to extract money from public employees paychecks to make up for the sudden short fall in the states coffers.
At first Governor Walker said he would call in the National Guard if there were protests, so far he hasn't made good on his threat. He has also threatened with massive lay offs in all sectors of the state. Now theres rumors of Tea Party folks being bussed in to counter protest. What? If true, does that mean they are in favor of people losing there rights and bringing home smaller paychecks?? Will they be armed to intimidate the workers?
All these people, the protesters, are asking for is to protect what they've got. They are not making outrageous demands. These are nurses, teachers, plow drivers and all the hard working Americans who actually work for a living and provide much needed services.
While all this is going on the large corporations that pay no taxes and the firms on Wall street that have bankrupted this nation with there schemes and scams are allowed to get off scott free , no criminal charges, no indictments just business as usual. The politicians that lied us into two wars are writing books and getting big money for speaking engagements. Some are hired into being consultants for a "think tank". I 'd like to put them them in a tank alright , how about a septic tank? (they are, after all ,nothing more than a turd in a suit).Again no charges for there deceit and they are responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars of taxpayer money. Yet they smile happily from the TV knowing that nothing is going to happen to them. Oh... but that third grade school teacher who lives down the street ?, why he wants to keep his job and his full paycheck. Now he's a threat for sure. Or the snow plow driver who's a single dad with two kids who can barely afford to keep his daughters fed and buy new school clothes, yeah lets cut his pay.
So to sum up I'm glad to see the solidarity and the peacful protest in Wisconsin. Even the Firefighters that were exempt from this money grabbing , union busting bill have joined with the protesters in a show of solidarity with there friends and neighbors.
So I'll stay positive in spirit and mind . And I hope you do the same. America Will Not Be Crushed By The Greedy Corprotists That Want To Crush The Middle Class!!!
I'm sure this little rant will piss some of you off. But I just had to get it out there as it was burning in my chest. I'd better get out and shovel the berm left in the driveway and mutter to myself about all the problems in the world.
Take care,
old grumpy muttering Bob
I will say, I can see the advantages to collective bargaining done through unions. When you're just a guy who is considered an "at will" employee, non union, you can be fired for no reason and your pay and benefits can be cut significantly and you have no recourse. And of course the the threat of losing your job is always hanging over your head if you speak out.
The Governor of Wisconsin took office after the November election with a surplus in the budget and after only two months in office that money was gone. Now to make up for the missing millions he wants to extract money from public employees paychecks to make up for the sudden short fall in the states coffers.
At first Governor Walker said he would call in the National Guard if there were protests, so far he hasn't made good on his threat. He has also threatened with massive lay offs in all sectors of the state. Now theres rumors of Tea Party folks being bussed in to counter protest. What? If true, does that mean they are in favor of people losing there rights and bringing home smaller paychecks?? Will they be armed to intimidate the workers?
All these people, the protesters, are asking for is to protect what they've got. They are not making outrageous demands. These are nurses, teachers, plow drivers and all the hard working Americans who actually work for a living and provide much needed services.
While all this is going on the large corporations that pay no taxes and the firms on Wall street that have bankrupted this nation with there schemes and scams are allowed to get off scott free , no criminal charges, no indictments just business as usual. The politicians that lied us into two wars are writing books and getting big money for speaking engagements. Some are hired into being consultants for a "think tank". I 'd like to put them them in a tank alright , how about a septic tank? (they are, after all ,nothing more than a turd in a suit).Again no charges for there deceit and they are responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and trillions of dollars of taxpayer money. Yet they smile happily from the TV knowing that nothing is going to happen to them. Oh... but that third grade school teacher who lives down the street ?, why he wants to keep his job and his full paycheck. Now he's a threat for sure. Or the snow plow driver who's a single dad with two kids who can barely afford to keep his daughters fed and buy new school clothes, yeah lets cut his pay.
So to sum up I'm glad to see the solidarity and the peacful protest in Wisconsin. Even the Firefighters that were exempt from this money grabbing , union busting bill have joined with the protesters in a show of solidarity with there friends and neighbors.
So I'll stay positive in spirit and mind . And I hope you do the same. America Will Not Be Crushed By The Greedy Corprotists That Want To Crush The Middle Class!!!
I'm sure this little rant will piss some of you off. But I just had to get it out there as it was burning in my chest. I'd better get out and shovel the berm left in the driveway and mutter to myself about all the problems in the world.
Take care,
old grumpy muttering Bob
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