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The Revolt Spreads to America
Yesterday, thousands of Wisconsin public workers protested the state's plan to cut benefits:
As USA Today notes:
House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan compared the protests in his home state of Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker's budget plan to the pro-democracy movement in Egypt.
Ryan, a Republican from Janesville, made his comments on MSNBC's Morning Joe program. In the Wisconsin state capital, teachers and labor union supporters swarmed the Senate chambers today to protest a bill that would strip most public employees of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.
"It's like Cairo's moved to Madison these days," Ryan said on MSNBC. "All of this demonstration ... it's fine. People should be able to express their way."
Mother Jones points out:
For the second straight day, demonstrators have been pouring into the streets of Madison, Wisconsin to protest Republican Governor Scott Walker's anti-union plan to address the state's $137 million budget shortfall, prompting comparisons (and denounciations of these comparisons) to the uprising in Egypt. Walker's proposal would limit the collective bargaining power of many state and local employees, and roughly doubles their health care premiums. It would also give public union members the right not to pay their dues, deflating the groups' coffers. Experts expect that Walker's provisions will be voted into law by the end of the week by the state assembly and senate—both of which are controlled by Republicans.
In response, Madison public school teachers have called in sick for a second straight day. And teachers in over a dozen other school districts have followed suit. Meanwhile, union leaders are picketing the capitol, planning vigils and setting up phone banks to try to block Walker's effort.
***
Protestors say that sounds a little…Mubaraky. They're carrying signs saying things like "Mubarak-check. Walker—?" and "Hosni Walker, Elected Dictator." And local liberal pundits are feeding the flames of anti-MubWalkerism. Liberal columnist Pat Schneider wrote that "[t]he success of a grass-roots uprising in Egypt in toppling strongman Hosni Mubarak was a source of inspiration for many of those who brainstormed Tuesday in Madison about resistance to attacks on US workers in several states." Meanwhile, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) told CNN "it's like Cairo's moved to Madison these days…[h]e's basically saying I want you public workers to pay half of what our private sector counterparts are, and he's getting riots."
AOL News reports:
Walker has upped the ante by threatening to bring in the National Guard if public workers decide to walk off the job or if their protests disrupt services around the state.
Labor activists responded by saying that Walker could ignite a "class war."
And now many are comparing Walker to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who tried to cling to power while protests roiled his country.
Dylan Ratigan notes that a large proportion of Wisconsin public employees' pension funds go to Wall Street:
The average Wisconsin state employee gets $24,500 a year. That’s not a very big pension. The state pension plan, 15% of the money going into it each year is being paid out to Wall Street to manage the money. That’s a really huge high percentage to pay out to Wall Street to manage the money.
And the Governor has ordered the Wisconsin state police to arrest all of the Democratic State Senators and return them to the Capital, but the Senate Democrats have fled the state.
Conservative writers like Mish and Karl Denninger slam the protesters (they're anti-union).
Indeed, the Democratic National Committee is apparently helping to organize the protests.
But Max Keiser writes:
It’s foolish to say these protests are about ‘labor’ or ‘unions.’ They’re about people getting their wealth stolen by banks. And whether it’s Cairo or Ohio, it’s the same banks. We are witnessing a Global Insurrection Against Banker Occupation.
Another poster writes:
The one good thing that has come out of this is simply the fact that, for right or for wrong, people are getting off their [back sides] and doing something about something.
And in related "Mubaraky" news, Ray McGovern - a 27-year CIA veteran, who chaired National Intelligence Estimates and personally delivered intelligence briefings to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, their Vice Presidents, Secretaries of State, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many other senior government officials - was bloodied, bruised and beaten for peacefully protesting a speech by Hillary Clinton (Clinton's speech was about the importance of protecting free speech):
As Raw Story points out:
Former CIA agent Ray McGovern, an outspoken critic of US foreign policy, stood silently in the auditorium's center aisle, and turned his back on Clinton.
For his symbolic and otherwise non-disruptive protest, he was quickly accosted by security agents. As they struggled to pull him out of the room, a CNN news camera caught the tail end of the ordeal.
"SO THIS IS AMERICA?!? This is America? Who are you?" the 71-year-old McGovern shouted as he was hauled away.
***
McGovern was being represented by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF).
"It is the ultimate definition of lip service that Secretary of State Clinton would be trumpeting the U.S. government's supposed concerns for free speech rights and this man would be simultaneously brutalized and arrested for engaging in a peaceful act of dissent at her speech," a spokeswoman for the group said in a published statement. [The group also noted that McGovern was "left bleeding in jail".]
US officials came under similar rhetorical fire in December, when they announced plans to host "World Press Freedom Day." The announcement was made on the same day that Sen. Joesph Lieberman (I-CT) declared that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be prosecuted for espionage over his role in the release of US diplomatic cables.
"When people die because we have hypocrites at the top of our government, that compels me to make a statement in whatever way I can," McGovern later told Rob Kall, who posted the remarks to Op Ed News. "It was not the theme of her speech that I was protesting. It was her war policies and support of Mubarak."
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Thuggery has no place, and shielding it with kids only shows a deficiency on your part.
Unbelievable the hubris of the organizers of this "spontaneous" demonstration.
Recruiting High School kids and the all too willing lefties at the UW
I believe this is my first junk; a tear of joy on my keyboard.
What a piece of shit this comparison is - no parallels at all between people rioting for freedom and public sector employees rioting to keep fat benefit packages.
The better parallel is Greece, where the public sector employees rioted when their retire-at-55 benefits were taken away. Didn't see the author crying over their plight.
Bravo ghost....well stated and best comparison yet.
Choice between the soviet union of USA and the jungle cabal of plutocratic, central planned oligarchy??? ...rock n a hard place...what happened to good ole USA before they lost the torch in Vietnam?...No more references that seem to stick consensually.
Walker, Wisconsin ranger. Way to go. Will be moving 20 miles north to join the cheese head clan.
Also to Ray McGovern, thank you.
Definition of hypocrisy - America.
Yeah, this more like Greece.
A bunch of thieves bitching about their stoolies getting wise.
Those of you who junk any pro Walker comments obviously don't own your own home. In my town, county, and state (all of which are technically bankrupt) public sector workers have received automatic pay increases of 5-7% over the last 3 years per contract. Meanwhile my home has declined in value by 63%, but my property taxes have increased!!! I can afford this, but how many in a similar situation are pensioners on fixed incomes. When public sector workers can retire after only 20 years and receive pensions and cadillac health plans with a total value in the millions, something is just not right. Meanwhile the libraries, park hours have been significantly diminished and they are nickel and diming us on dozens of new or increased fees. Red light cameras are now everywhere; the minumum fine is $240. The whole collective bargaining dynamic is essentially corrupt.
well said
I can't get excited over a bunch of bussed-in union guys getting paid to protest.
doesn't compare to anything real.
They could have subbed out the protesting to non-union un- or under-employed.
Hey---I'm available. Have degree. Willing to travel. Willing to teach. I'll work for 3/4 of what they get. How is that?
So you want to work for a thug, Gov Walker?
At my former private sector job we paid about 40-50% of our med insurance premium. These were increased each year. Then they completely shut down the pension plan. Then they started the lay-offs. I was recently laid off after many years with that company. I survived about 12 waves of lay-offs.
From what I have read the folks protesting are unhappy about being asked to pay a bit over 12% of their med insurance (as opposed to the current 8%)and are upset that they will have to start contributing to their pension plans. I really feel that their interpretation of what is going on in the economy is not based in reality.
I also believe that there may be quite a number of pro union folks posting on this thread as I find it hard to believe that there are so many out there that still cling to the belief that we can actually afford the benefits as they are now. (No I am not from Wisconsin, but lived there for 12 years way back when).
Yes. Correct. "--not based in reality"; is exactly correct. The states have to go after the Unions because they "make up", as in alice in wonderland, the "work rules" and the "sick benefits" and these alone are enormous expenses. There's a huge difference in cost to the state on a health plan with no significant co-pay, and one with a very significant co-pay. The temptation to get every kind of absurd overpriced attention imaginable corrupts almost everyone; and it is hugely expensive. This is all left over from the formerly successful "inflationary party"; but that's over now.
Having bent over so many times for so long, just as most private sector workers did, do you not find it a relief to see that finally some employees are not going to do it?
We've all known through the past twenty-five years of shrinking incomes for working people--as increased profits from all our productivity gains have been transfered exclusively to the top 20%--that we should be standing up against it. But we didn't--which is why we've got dick and nothing left to lose.
We can't afford decent salaries and benefits for any working people any more? We've obviously got an acute case of Stockholm Syndrome juiced with envy and misplaced resentment: The banksters destroyed the economy and pocketed--personally--hundreds and hundreds of billions for it. Here's the first group to stand up and say "We don't give a fuck about your hustle--we're not gonna eat the shit."
I know what side I'm on here.
How can we equate the private sector - producing things and making a profit to public sector - not producing things and not worrying about a profit. There is no comparison. Yes, I know there are public sector workers that provide many important services in many sectors. However, these services are performed at great expense....much greater expense than could be borne by a private sector company.
Those you would be standing with were chorteling while you and the private sector got corn holled.
No they weren't. I've known and worked with thousands of them over the past 30 years. They never celebrated anybody's misfortune--that's projection on your part.
And I've spent the last 30 years myself resenting their superior contracts. Honestly, I've never much enjoyed them even as people. My perspective is that there's a much bigger picture here than the public employees per se.
Not projection. Political reality.
I have never belonged to a union (but my father did) and I like history. Why oh why are so many opposed to unions? I think it is an American thing.
And just lost my job in Canada. Best thing is that I still have health insurance (sorry guys). I'll never forget when I lost my job in NYC and decided not to do COBRA and started being more careful about crossing the West St highway.
Edit: And am single - can't even imagine what it would be like if I had children
Show me the Mummy!
YES! WE WANT TO SEE PIECES OF COTTON!!
PREFERABLY COLORED IN GREEN!!
If only Wisconsin would emmulate Belgium and go without for a while.
then they too could be dissed by S&P ;-)
When Sam Giancana's ghost comes to haunt Chicago and the people sing to it... Chicago, Chicago, my home town...that'll be the moment when America starts to mend and repair the damage done from that day when Aldous Huxley died.
this is great, now they need to fight for a state bank and outlaw any fed reserve shill bank thats there today shut down all private banks and take them over cheese head style
On the one hand, gubmint policies and programs
need to be cut to the basics.
On the other hand, those employed should receive a good living wage and benefits.
The governor is thinking that he and his cronies own the state. We'll see.
anti-union?
Now I certainlythink most politicians are fucking assholes and would sell their fucking mothers for a buck to give their corporate handlers a free hooker.
But, c'mon.
Public sector unions completely missed the 2008 debacle and didn't have any layoffs for the most part.
The taxpayers of the world are dead and there is no more money for the unions to suck out of them-
so what is left!
Simple, lay the fuckers off and let's rebuild.
Ditch diggers and secretaries making 100K salaries is bullshit and you know it.
100K for a secretary position - please tell me where!!!
100k in dollars? what are dollars???
price mechanism has been thrown out the window. nothing means anything anymore..
Yes, good point. However, I don't think $100K secretaries fit anywhere in the paradigm today.
class warfare indeed.. but it is CONTROLLED class warfare, where the only choices are 'fuck the people for the chronies' vs. 'the iron cage of the collectivist state'..
did you think that the rich-poor gap in the us was by accident? lenin said of the middle class "we will grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation"..
there is no right side to this..
well said
Yeah it is hard to compare spoiled selfish union thugs to poor people in egypt risking all for liberty. Let the junk wars begin!
I'm trying to be good and not junk but "spoiled selfish union thugs" - not that easily swayed.
Dr. Kevin MacDonald talks about his old college days (during the 60's) in Madison with the New York jewish communist leftist. Case in point. Do we as Americans care so much about what is happening in this idiotic state? I think it is dangerous to equate what is going on in Madison with what is going on in Egypt.
Memories Of Madison—My Life In The New Left
http://www.vdare.com/asp/printPage.asp?url=http://www.vdare.com/macdonal...
Agreed that this is not Egypt--and why GW would even try to draw such paralells is beyond me.
Why pay attention? Numerous reasons.
But, only one will suffice right now.
Lesson #1--How NOT to break a public employee union.
Latest count--
5,000 inside Capitol Building
20,000 in the immediate surrounding area.
More streaming in.
Yes, I'm amazed at how easy it was for them all to get inside there. In my state you'd be shot; all federal buildings around here have chokepoint entrances staffed by armed guards. If you think the TSA is bad, try jury duty in Florida...
The one good thing that has come out of this is simply the fact that, for right or for wrong, people are getting off their asses and doing something about something.
Heck, it's a start.
+1
I'm sorry, this has nothing to do with Cairo.
The Cairo protests were about freedom for everyone.
These protests are about to preserving pay and benefits for a small minority of privileged employees at the expense of everyone.
The only thing they have in common is people holding signs. But the messages on the sign are 100% different.
Give me a break - please. How stupid do you think we are?
Everyone? I have no idea how Cairo and anywhere in the US match up. Please elucidate!
Wow!
- Ned
when the civil war comes, no one is going to know what side anyone is on.....thats going to make it messy !
Dude, have anothe toke. It is kinda' clear. There are even Yankees and Cracka's who can figure this whole thing out.
(and we're not all that smart)
- Ned
the Wisconsin deficit for this year of $137m is $13m less than Hillary Clintons award of $150m to the newly installed military junta in Egypt. Two things spring to mind, why is America supporting a military dictatorship who has even less idea of how to run a country than deposed Mubarak and secondly, exactly how is spending $150m on Egypt better for the citizens of Wisconsin than cancelling this years deficit? Ugh, the marzipan layer of corruption at the highest level of the US government beggars belief!
Hillary Clinton was revealed thru Wikileaks to be guilty of a Federal Felony in calling for spying on UN employees; why hasn't she been fired ? Everyone gets all excited about Wikileaks; its this, its that, its a conspiracy, its two conspiracys; yadda, yadda. Where's the citizens action group to get this Bitch fired ? This is hard documentary evidence over her signature; why is she representing our country ? You see the problem? You're all permanently distracted by the next little ripple in the circus tent; pay attention to some facts for Christ's sake; you've been handed a golden opportunity; this is Bitch is a criminal and a major, major big government conspirator; concentrate on something you have traction on and get rid of her !