Posted on 02/16/2011 10:04:01 PM PST by robowombat
February 16, 2011 Angry Demonstrations in Wisconsin as Cuts Loom By MONICA DAVEY and STEVEN GREENHOUSE MADISON, Wis. —
Behind closed doors, Scott Walker, the Republican who has been governor for about six weeks, calmly described his intent to forge ahead with the plans that had set off the uprising: He wants to require public workers to pay more for their health insurance and pensions, effectively cutting the take-home pay of many by around 7 percent.
He also wants to weaken most public-sector unions by sharply curtailing their collective bargaining rights.
Mr. Walker said he had no other options, since he is facing a deficit of $137 million in the current state budget and the prospect of a $3.6 billion hole in the coming two-year budget.
“For us, it’s simple,” said Mr. Walker, whose family home was surrounded by angry workers this week, prompting the police to close the street. “We’re broke.”
For months, state and local officials around the country have tackled their budget problems by finding trims here and there, apologetically resorting to layoffs, and searching for accounting moves to limp through one more year.
Events in Wisconsin this week, though, are a sign of something new: No more apologies, no half-measures. Given the dire straits of budgets around the country, other state leaders may take similarly drastic steps with state workers, pensions and unions.
“I’m sure we’re going to hear more from other states where Republican governors are trying to heap the entire burden of the financial crisis on public employees and public employees unions,” said William B. Gould IV, a labor law professor at Stanford University and a former chairman of the National Labor Relations Board.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Are they singin songs and carryin signs. . . that mostly say Hooray for our Side?
The dumbest line in rock history, IMO
Sounds like those that take from the government (people) are demanding that they deserve to take! As most say, if enough people are on the take, government can never survive...
This is what is going to happen in all union or heavy Federal Government locations. Brace and hope for the best.
Death by a thousand cuts.
This is Greece all over again. This is pretty much the moment of truth for the free enterprise in Wisconsin. Either these guys pass this thing or we might as well fold up our tents and all move to Texas.
Madison is the arctic Berkley.
ALL UNIONS MUST DIE
WITH HELP WHEN NECESSARY
Don't know why you'd say that. I've heard the song a hundred times, but I've got to admit, I didn't recognize the line until I looked it up, and I never gave the lyrics a thought all those times I heard them.
On the face of it, it seems like the singer is complaining about the lack of action to back up the radical slogans, hence the sardonic reference to the signs saying "Hooray for our side".
Kind of weird, and rather quaint given that no one ever was sparked to revolution by the song, but I don't see why the line is the dumbest ever.
I heard a talk show host mention what the union workers were paying for health insurance etc. which they complain about...they have zip zero room for complaint. I hate unions. Dated a guy who was a union organizer to see how they operate....it’s a sham....from top to bottom. And these protests are not about what the people will have to take a hit on...but how it will affect the union dues etc.
KILL THEM WITH FIRE!
I had to be a Teamster member when I worked for Schaefer Ambulance in El Ley back in the 70’s. What a totally corrupt outfit.
Unions are mostly just glorified street ‘crews’.
Yep. I learned a whole lot traveling with the organizer. The company they were after simply transfered their entire company out of state in the dead of night...loaded all the pre-fabed houses with equipment etc. and shipped them out unseen throughtout the week and then made a mad dash overnight with what was left. Brilliant move on their part.
Big deal. Talk to California state workers and see what they are trying to live on.
The song is not about what ii is now socially thought to refer (the ‘60s’ protest movement)
It was written, literally, about the youth takeover of the Sunset Strip (Riot on Sunset Strip) in 65-68.
See the BBC doc ‘Byrds to the Eagles’
You don’t show up for work, you commit insubordination, you parade around in public announcing your actions, you’re FIRED.
There are plenty of Teachers looking for work. These Union idiots aren’t part of some small talented group. They aren’t brain surgeons. They are expendable.
FIRE THEM ALL AND START FRESH.
Because this is such a dramatic scene painted by Buffalo Springfield, then the line, which is a “filler line” (ie they couldn’t come up with another rhyming word), and makes it sound like a pep rally. I’ve just always laughed when I’ve heard it becoz I picture some long haired hippie type trying to be so serious, so cool, so dramatic, then gets stuck in a rut and this is the best he do?! :)
Those teachers better wake up. The home schooled kids are making public school kids look like Neanderthals and they aren’t taught by “professional teachers”.
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