government by bullying

[truepenny]

It is not a good sign when your state government's act of colossal asshattery makes the Breaking News bar on cnn.com.

In case you were wondering, yes, I am directly affected by this reprehensible piece of union-busting on the part of Governor Walker (the same man who sabotaged Wisconsin's chance at high-speed rail BEFORE HE EVEN TOOK OFFICE) and the state Republicans. mirrorthaw is a union member and a state employee. If he weren't, I wouldn't be as anxious and stressed as I am right now, but I would still be just as fucking FURIOUS at what's currently passing for democratic government in the state of Wisconsin. My state of residence has elected a man who believes that he can do whatever he wants to, that he doesn't have to compromise or negotiate, and that unethical behavior is perfectly okay as long as it's he and his allies who benefit.

What makes me LIVID is that, thus far, Governor Walker has not been proven wrong on any of that.

When I was a teaching assistant, I was a union member, and I know exactly and in detail why collective bargaining is necessary. I also know that, no matter what Walker claims, this bill is not and never was about balancing the budget. (I also think that gutting the state infrastructure is a STUPID way to balance the budget, but then, I am a socialist.) The unions offered to take the pay cuts if Walker would drop the collective bargaining clause. Instead, Walker has dropped the pay cuts and rammed the collective bargaining clause through in a piece of legislative chicanery that I certainly hope gets the snot investigated out of it.

Because Walker believes that negotiation and compromise are for weaklings. Which, of course, is why he has to get rid of collective bargaining--collective bargaining levels the playing field between the "weaklings" and bullies like Governor Walker. Without it, state employees have no way to make the state government listen to them. And, no, it won't listen if it doesn't have to.

Governor Walker wants your lunch money.

So hand it over.

Comments

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

"Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch. Freedom comes from the recognition of certain rights which may not be taken, not even by a 99% vote.

-Marvin Simkin, "Individual Rights", Los Angeles Times, 12 January 1992.

It's not a perfect analogy (for one thing, it's a complete slur on the sterling character of the common wolf), but it fits this case scarily well.

[deire.livejournal.com]

What, why are you talking as if non-millionaires had rights?

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry. We've been thinking about you two every day since this fucker started his attack on public employees.

*hugs*

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

Also, the first round is on us at Odd Con.

[libskrat]

Right there with you. Trying not to let it drive me completely spla. Not always succeeding.

Elseweb I just posted "I wish a squirt bottle worked on politicians the way it does on my cats."

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

[sillylilly-bird.livejournal.com]

I know - I think the increased contribution effects will be felt the first paycheck in april. This is painful and terrifying and I have a coworker who was planning on retiring in October, but because of the recent crap has to retire mid june in order not to lose over $45K in matching state funds (i think it's the sick time conversion thing). I hate this, I despise that asshat. gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

It makes me boiling mad and I'm here in California. Luckily, we didn't drink the kool-aid this time.
But both the parental units were teachers and I think public workers do more with less every year.
*hugs* to you and yours.

[silme.livejournal.com]

And he's backed by billionaire brothers who want to destroy unions so that the two of them can make even more money. *sigh*

It just makes me ill. :(

[bluestalking.livejournal.com]

I've been watching the news from England. It's heartbreaking and it's terrifying, and it's horrible not to be able to be there. Meanwhile, my home state of Michigan is skipping police state and heading straight to monarchy. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO EXCEPT YELL IN A FAR-OFF COUNTRY.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Blogging it.

[mectech.livejournal.com]

Bleargh. Heart continues to go out to you & yours. I continue to be stunned by how the sometimes-heroic efforts of reasonable people to stop this insanity have failed to dent the momentum of Walker & his cronies. Further evidence for my disheartening hypothesis that our government is not connected to reality & pays no attention to facts, evidence, or consequences.

Hrm. What to do about it? Not sure. Yelling & losing (more) sleep seems unproductive. Time for some politely nasty letters to congresscritters, perhaps (writing, it's what we do). Send moral support to those affected. (See enclosed virtual hug.)

Or take a page from Bear's book & go see Pete Seeger.... But know that this tiny little corner of Seattle is rooting for you.

[pameladean]

He's such a creepy bastard. I have donated to the protesters and to the Democrats in hiding and to the recall efforts. I hope it helps.

P.

[taras-wizard.livejournal.com]

Gov. Walker wants to drink your milkshake, too. The parliamentary trickery the Republican representatives pulled to get this done, reminds me of the parliamentary chicanery pulled in the German Reichstag in 1932.

[girlpunksamurai.livejournal.com]

And the douchewadian fruitcakery continues -_-