Live Reporting from the Wisconsin Protests

Public employes have made concessions for years to help the budget. My husband hasn't had a pay raise for 7 years, last year they agreed to a pay cut to help out the state and have had increased personal contributions to both heath care and pensions. This Bill is not about money. When Walker came into office there was a budget surplus. The only reason there is a deficit on the books now is because of incentives he has given to private companies.
Public sector employees overall make considerably less than their private counterparts. They are dedicated employees from sanitation workers, policemen, nurses, parks workers, teachers, maintenance people, etc, etc. By the way they pay taxes too and put their money back into the economy. And yes they do SERVE the community, with the security of a pension and health care ( to which they do and are willing to contribute). They do not deserve to have their bargaining rights removed. It is Wisconsin's proud Labor history that has promoted workers rights for all workers - private and public. Unions got you workers safety, workmen's compensation, holidays, weekends, child labor laws, the 40 hour work week, etc.
This is about political power and corporate gain.
You're right the people voted. Maybe they weren't paying close enough attention. There are a lot of people who will be voting differently now.

It is time for the rich of this county- yes, Koches, you too- to make sacrifices they won't even feel for the sake of the common good.
But wait- the Wisconsin state deficit comes from republican Gov. Walker's actions. He came into office with a State Surplus! He squandered that with giveaways to his campaign corporate supporters in less than 2 months. That's acting in the public interest? being a good money manager?
Recall the governor.

Any idiot that would say America is not broke is just plain wrong. But to insinuate that America has a ton of cash and it's just in the hands of the greedy rich bastards is delusional. The same thing was said by the uninformed in Germany in the early 20's before hyperinflation hit.

If my income were (on average) $23,000 annually and I spent $36,000 (average) on a continuous basis, had committed to even more obligations and was obligated to pay possibly $40,000 annually while I hope to god my income goes up, but have no guarantees, most people would call me insane, bankrupt and broke. My only hope would be to either make more money or sell assets to pay down obligations.

If you can't understand the above paragraph then quit reading now. You're too stupid to argue any further!!!

This scenario was shown to my 5th grade daughter and she understood. She was perpelexed that anyone would be that foolish but she understood.

When I told her that this is what the United States was doing she truly didn't understand how any grown up could be that insane. The fact of the matter is that is EXACTLY what is going on, just with alot more zero's!

Further, the only time this country's debt was as high as it is now compared to what it earns was during World War II! During WWII our debt was 120% of GDP. It is now at about 97% of GDP and rising. It has NEVER been that high. This has nothing to do with Wall Street, the greedy business owner or the fat exec. This is the American government, both federal debt and intragovernmental holdings - a fancy term which is state debt like Wisconsin and loans against trust funds - like your Social Security money!

Look at the value of the dollar. Its been going down for years. Look at a chart of gold. It's been going up for years! Why? The dollar is the worlds reserve currency. That means most of the world depends on the U.S. as the strongest economy on Earth. But most people that have lost a job in the last few years, or who have been to the gas station recently or who have shopped for groceries have noticed that things are getting more expensive. This is not due to some Wall Street conspiracy. It is because the world is losing faith in the U.S. economy, the dollar and our continuing spending binge! Which like Charlie Sheen is about to pop!

The Middle East is a convenient excuse but the real fact is that there are other players in the world that the world is looking to more and more for security. These countries such as China with a debt to GDP of only 30%; Brazil with a debt to GDP of only 60% even Mexico is in better shape financially. All it would take is for several strong countries to get together and create the new currency and disband the dollar and the pain we feel is nothing.

Some may start saying I watch too much Glen Beck! For your info I've watched him six times my entire life just to get some perspective of what the whole Beck phenomenon is. He is too over the top. I've also watched Rachel Maddow and Keith Oberman (when he was on). They are also over the top and corporate mouth pieces. Beck = Conservative and Maddow = Liberal, just deal with it and who really cares anyway! Get away from corporate mouth pieces and get the facts!!!

So here we are in Madison, WI. The governor is asking for the Union to pay 12+-% of their health insurance and 6+-% of their retirement (I pay 100% of mine). He's also asking for unions to have less bargaining power but not to eliminate it altogether. SO WHAT! These people are LUCKY! The U.S. Government doesn't take care of their workers this well. And come to work at my small business and try this you'll be fired in a heartbeat. That's right, if my company were in the same shape as Wisconsin and you demanded these terms I'd throw your ass on the street faster than you can say adios!

Then there's Michael Moore! He says the country is not broke. There's a lot of money swashing around. Private money. Good, I'll be at your house on Monday demanding that you pay my benefits, demanding that you give me a room to live in and while we're at it - make sure I have lobster at night and caviar in the morning. I'm sure he can afford it!

I didn't understand all this about three or four years ago. Then i started digging and finding out the real truth. Not watching TV or browsing conspiracy theory websites but going to the source - the U.S. Government, state websites and departments and checking out public company records. The Facts; It's all out there. You just have to look.

Anyone believing Michael Moore's rant about the country not being in dire financial shape, not being broke has either not examined the facts or is completely delusional. Most people would just say they didn't understand - folks, that's called being an idiot! I just can't believe this guy (Moore) is this stupid. Is someone paying him? But then again, he's getting you riled up and I'll bet you're "donating" to his cause. Gee, I wonder how much he keeps?!

We were told in the 50s that the communist party would take control of our nation from the inside out. Well, take a look at Wisconsin and all the sheeple!

If you really care about the children and their education, you'd strike the blood-sucking unions and grow up and take responsibility for you own lives, instead of having taxpayers pick up the cost of your life-time salaries and benefits, even if you do a piss-poor job with the 3 Rs, but excel in teaching revisionist history and socialism 101.

I so sick of whiners! These people need to get a real job and stop sucking at the public tit.