Scott Walker was caught on tape saying he planned to go red in WI via "divide and rule.. as a first step" - setting public unions against private unions. Now the House Oversight Committee is after him for lying under oath in Congress, after he told them under oath that his problem with unions was the Budget.

His plan was to divide Wisconsinites and create a civil war. Actually that was the plan of corporate America to stamp out workers voices and insert themselves into our Government.

Walker is a stoolie and a liar. I will never forget him ignoring the Judges orders to desist his anti-democratic activity agains the American people. Walker feels entitled to do what he wants because he has the Big Backers.

He used a a loophole in the law that allowed him to raise unlimited contributions in campaign expenses -- from Wall Street, Koch, corporation and individual donors up to $half a million. About 20:1.

It's all going to come down to Milwaukee county - if they GET out and VOTE Barrett will win!

Only 37% of Democratic voters turned out in 2010 - get off your rumps Dems and VOTE!

Prove to the rest of the country, it is NOT for sale to the Koch Brothers, etc...

.tomorrow we will see that even though Wisconsin is blue

I giggled.

Feisty,

You are spot on today. If Wisconsinites can be purchased for a few million then the rest of America is also for sale. So they either get off their butts and vote the criminal out of office or they stay complacent and lose all that their parents and grandparents fought and died to give them. What a shame if that happens!

onerous collective bargaining agreements that should NEVER have been made!

Miked

I live in a Right to work State. Public Unions have no collective bargaining power. Yet the State has been in the same financial mess that the collective bargaining States are in. So it seems to to me that this attempt to bust up Unions using the financial crisis doesn't hold water. I mean, we all know what their real motivation is, don't we....

Recall Walker!!!! (Being recalled is a lot less discraceful than being forced to resign for corruption or worse, being sent to jail. So you Righties, get out there and vote to recall your boy and save him a lot of anguish....

Like I've always said....Democrats are the kings of excuses. If they win an election they see a mandate, regardless of how close the vote was. If they lose, then voters were bought and to stupid. It's always somebody else or something else that is to blame, never accepting responsibility for anything. This is why I feel it is time to make the donkey extinct. They are either too weak or too stupid to lead.

Hey Democrats......ever consider that the people in Wisconsin have noticed that Walker has balanced a budget that was left to him with a $3 Billion shortfall? Think maybe because he has done that, without laying off a single government worker......that the people want more? Do you think that maybe, just maybe, because Walker has turned the state around from failure to success that the voters are saying no to the dismal failures they had when Democrats were in charge?

The first thing Tea Party Governor Paul LePage did when he was elected was to take down a mural in an obscure room in the Maine State Dept. of Labor which depicted striking shoe factory and paper mill workers from history. You know, the people who risked their livelihoods to win protections that included mandatory breaks, work place safety measures, and extra pay for overtime work, all the things today's Republican voters take for granted.

These are the people the Tea Party finds so "offensive." Workers who demand some kind of control over their lives. How dare they question authority?

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/04/07/politics/mural’s-removal-strikes-sensitive-chords/

From 1000 miles away...what I've read about the economy in Wisconsin over the last six months has been pretty positive. Maybe we should "recall" our lousy governor in Connecticut and offer the position to Mr. Walker !

It is very funny to listen to the excuses coming from the left. The recall election hasn't taken place yet, and they are already making a list of excuses for what they expect is a loss. This was a loss cause from the get go...and I do find it very interesting that the original cause du jour of the recall is no longer a key issue for the unions and liberals, who can't seem to get over the fact that Walker has been able to accomplish a great deal for the people of Wisconsin.

This seems like a pretty big loss for public labor unions...I don't see any other way to spin it.

I liked the picture of Barret feeding the working middle class at a soup kitchen while the union members ate cake. Generous of him !!!

BTW: GT: How about impeaching or voting out of office all of those Democrats who fled the state to avoid a democratic vote in violation of their oath to "support and defend the constitution".

....you weren't aware that George Bush was involved in planning the 9/11 attacks.

Geezuz, somebody call 911, and tell them to send the big guys in the white coats right away.

By all accounts, tomorrow's election will be a close one, and Walker has battled his way to a small advantage over Democratic challenger Tom Barrett in public polls.

Since when is a 7% lead a “close” race? I guess it’s when the media is trying to help prop up a failing Democrat candidate.

I wonder why Obama didn't bother to show up in Wisconsin to help Barret campaign. In 2007 Obama said “If American workers are being denied their right to organize and collectively bargain when I’m in the White House, I’ll put on a comfortable pair of shoes myself. I’ll walk on that picket line with you as president of the United States of America.”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/cheese-it_646449.html?page=2

Guess Obama was too busy with six campaign events in Illinois and Michigan to hit that picket line, or maybe he was "focused like a laser beam on the economy" yesterday.

NOBAMA 2012!

.

If the Wisconsin recall fails it should send the message to all Democrats that our indiference could send the working people back 70 years .Workers of Wisconsin.Don't be foolish.

John – Great point. President Obama has steered clear of WI as much as possible to avoid any negative residue from this recall election and yet our “distinguished” media hasn’t found it odd or even worthy of asking him why…
Union leaders and union supporters should be very angry with the President and his abandonment on the recall efforts, afterall he is still the leader of the Democratic party.

What's equally troubling is the amount of taxpayers money that is being wasted on a recall based on policy disagreements. This should have never been allowed in the first place, and believe me I'm not a fan of Walker.

To the people of Wisconsin. Last election you were hoodwinked by "Scott Walker", a political charlatan, who, immediately after taking office began stripping you of your basic rights as free American citizens, with the intent of composing a beginning of a popular republican establishment of American middle class serfdom upon you. Now, the question presents, will you, the free and responsible people of Wisconsin confirm or deny this Autocratic puppet, representing a national gang of political reprobates, both His and their agenda's of such warped treatment of you, or will you send the sorry "sum-bitch" howling back to His unholy masters? Remember, your right to unionize is as basic as is the right to keep and bear arms. You must, with good conscience and honest reason, ascertain the right or wrong, the innate soundness versus the ugly destructiveness, of "state waged war" upon public Workers, such as Teachers, Firefighters, Policemen, Utility Workers, Children's Welfare Workers, and even School Lunchroom Workers, Ect. Walker heads an unfit societal example, and improperly applies institutionalized governance upon an unprotected citizenry. While problems are many, killing the fundamentals of how a government serves and protects those It governs, is not, never has been, nor ever will be a viable American solution. If the removal of this man "Walker" is deemed class warfare by the detractors of the effort, then, so be it. Remember, Those who spew the agendas of others are no damn better, or worthy, than those wayward "Hessians" who hired out to the British to fight us during our revolution. Let the sons-a-bitches spend money and buy ads. Wisconsinites! They cannot stop you from voting! Charge! Send this bastard back to his lair to be nursed by the teat of the likes of Karl Rove.

Walker said spending was out of control in WI............................then he increased the state's budget

Walker made the largest cut ever to education in WI.................then gave billions in breaks to big biz

Walker is praised for balancing the budget....but every gov. in WI balances the budget(bal. budg. amend.)

Walker fell short of balancing the budget......so he took fed funds from WI homeowners 'under-water'

Walker said wages of public sector workers were too high..............then he gave raises to his entire staff

Walker says he supports sportsmen and women......................yet he has plans to sell off WI public lands

Walker says property taxes didn't go up............................but WI property values have gone way down

Walker's special legislative 'jobs' session.............got WI gun laws and abstinence taught now in schools

Walker cut funding for public education..............but added school vouchers and privatization of schools

Walker says he's for women's rights..............but overturned equal pay for equal work legislation

Walker says he created jobs..................but the Dept. of Labor says Wisconsin is dead last for jobs

Walker's says reforms are working........but only for his rich and big biz donors not paying taxes in WI

Its going to be close, however, many that will vote against recall won't vote for Walker the next time around. Two different issue.

Walker is one and done if he wins.

Looks like WI taxpayers are already the real winners. They now have lower real estate taxes for the first time in decades. And a governor that's actually knowledgable about how to attrack business (unlike the Blamer-in-Chief). Cut those bloated public union salaries and bennies back to private sector averages, and give the taxpayers even more respite. Want a high-paying job... move to the private sector. And it's delightful to see that when union dues aren't forcably taken from people, half of them tell the unions to stick it. Looks like they're not sheeple after all....

For all the ignorant DEMOCRATS, again what state do you want to live in. Indiana surplus,Wisconsin surplus, Ohio surplus all led by Republicans! Illinois 200 Billion in debt, 83 BILLION in unfunded lies or you can call them union pensions, brought to you by lying DEMOCRATS! How much is the state of Illinios going to raise property taxes? To cover all these LIES? How much will education suffer? You have Republican governors with huge stones making tough decisions and in Illinios you have whimps kicking the can down the road!

WI is Democracy in action. The people of WI who want a healthy state govt. and more jobs will support Walker. Those who are only interesting in lining their pockets with the tax money of those making far less than they do will vote Democrat. People are tired of their greed, since 50% of the Union members left the membership ONCE THEY HAD THE CHOICE! Choice makes a big difference, something the Union has taken away.

Go Walker!

I like GT's avatar. Comparing the size of an Elephant to a Jackasss, the Jackass is used to hearing "Are you In?" The Democrats probably hear it so often it just started to sound like a great "Campaign" slogan to them?

"Are You In?"

That's what she said:)

I do agree there is corruption and greed in some unions (very similar to those corporations FIGHTING for their share of the pie using lobbyists) and reforms are needed. However, Unions do have a place in this country. This is not Adolf Hilter of 1933:

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike.”

Remember.. the Republicans favor a minimum wage... THE LOWEST minimum wage they can get away with paying.

Never thought I'd see so many people dancing gleefully on their own graves. Even with all the creative spin on the historical record, it is very plain that there existed no middle class in this country prior to FDR's support and subsequent growth of the labor unions. While a worker in the mid 20's could hope for nothing but bare survival, dying in debt to the company for that survival, with his family still impoverished and squatting in company-owned housing, a worker in the early 40's could own a home and support his family on his wages. The rise of the middle class became synonymous with the American Way: we were proud that in this country, a man could work hard, support his family, and improve his condition.

With the end of the unions under Reagan's attacks, real wages began to deflate rapidly, as the money was redistributed to the wealthy under the new 'trickle-down economics' experiment. New workers could no longer afford homes, like their fathers could. Reagan's solution was to prop up the middle class with easier credit. By the end of the 80's we had become a debtor nation. As wages declined, and pensions reneged, not even the Reagan credit standards would continue to prop up the middle class. All of those dangerous 'boutique' loans for homeownership went to workers who, 30 years before, would have been able to afford a home on their real wages.

These attempts to mask the decline of the middle class, coupled with the Reagan/Clinton market deregulations, led directly to the collapse of the market in '08. Apparently, it's time to have a party in the streets. You can put the whiskey on your credit card.

@ GT

And the same goes for Anna Bananna and her quote

They are both criminals by international law and have warrants out for their arrest.

I'd like to see that cite too, because like you I don't think that it exists.

However, I do find it dangerous that we enter the era of now Recalling those that we don't agree with instead of wait for 3 years for the next election.

@ Snakebone. Free Trade killed the middle class. Our politician on both sides forced this with the agreements. The natural effect of Free Trade is to force the middle class to compete on the same economic playing field as the Chinese workers. And Trickle Down Economics works, and works well. Just not in the US because we shipped our manufacturing overseas.

And with Obama adding Columbia and furthering S. Korea, he is officially selling our the middle class just like his predecessors.

I think it is safe to say we are not in the 20's, 30's 40's... when unions had a significant place in history. But they have long outlived their usefulness and now are costing hard working Americans jobs and money and lining the pockets of rich union leaders. When are the rest of the hard working people that did not choose to quit paying outrageous union dues going to come to their senses and see they are being taken advantage of??? I paid union dues for 5 years and then got smart and quit when I saw they were only holding me back.

Let me tell you what's going to happen if Walker wins. First off, you can kiss your vacations goodbye, because even if you could afford it you can no longer bargain for the time. Second, you will never retire; you will die at work. Thirdly, your children will not go to college because you will not be able to afford it and because the state colleges will no longer accept applicants from union families. Fourthly, pancakes and buttermilk waffles will no longer be legal for consumption. Second fourth-ly, Milwaulkee will be renamed Milwalker. Fifthly, I'm not even going to tell you this one. Sixthly, Wisconsin will be bargained to canada for three moose, a can of maple syrup and the Cannucks hockey team. Seventhly, the four horseman of the apocolypse will decend upon Madison and kill every robin, sparrow and starling within sight. Eighthly, the long-standing lollipop guild will be disbanded and chaos will reign in the candy community. Finally, I say this with a heavy heart and genuine fear, there may come a day when advancement, whether financially or professionally, may become contingent upon work ethic and productivity rather than seniority.

Obama won't even go to Wisconsin to help his Union buddies....what does that say? Congrats Scott Walker for taking on the Union thugs and applying some reasonable principles to the employer-employee relationship.

"Organized labor stares down specter of possible recall loss"

Huh? Hate to break it to the author of this article as well as the libs posting but Organized labor has already lost in Wisconsin. The candidate that they threw millions of dollars at, Kathleen Falk, didn't even make it out of the democratic primary. Barrett is just a slightly bluer version of Walker. When was the last time anyone in Wisconsin even mentioned collective bargaining? Wasn't that what this was all about?

Walker said spending was out of control in WI............................then he increased the state's budget

Spending out of control, Damn right it was. Whatever increase there was, it was minimal.

Walker made the largest cut ever to education in WI.................then gave billions in breaks to big biz

Due to lose of federal funds. The only breaks biz (as you say) will get is if they bring jobs to WI., thus growing the economy, thus increasing revinue to the state. And the problem with that is?

Walker is praised for balancing the budget....but every gov. in WI balances the budget(bal. budg. amend.)

Walker fell short of balancing the budget......so he took fed funds from WI homeowners 'under-water'

Walker said wages of public sector workers were too high..............then he gave raises to his entire staff

No wages were cut for public workers. They are now required to contribute 12% toward their own health and retirement, which is less than 1/2 of what people in the public sector contribute. He gave modest raise to those who earned them for a job well done. Where's the problem?

Walker says he supports sportsmen and women......................yet he has plans to sell off WI public lands

He does. He has no plans to sell public lands, a total lie.

Walker says property taxes didn't go up............................but WI property values have gone way down

That is correct. Yet under democrats they continued to milk more out of home owners by raising property taxes. Is there a single state where property valves are going up? Oddly enough there is a slight uptick in WI. Imagine that.

Walker's special legislative 'jobs' session.............got WI gun laws and abstinence taught now in schools

100% + (1 RINO) of the democrats in the state senate voted against a mining law that would have brought WI in alignment with Minnesota and Michigan, 2 very liberal states who care about their environment too. This was 100% politicaly motivated simply to deny Walker another victory. Beyond shameful but typical behavior by democrats

Walker cut funding for public education..............but added school vouchers and privatization of schools

Due to a loss of federal funds. Don't schools ever have to control their expenses?

Walker says he's for women's rights..............but overturned equal pay for equal work legislation

How many laws for exactly the same thing do we need? There are already laws on the books for this.

Walker says he created jobs..................but the Dept. of Labor says Wisconsin is dead last for jobs

The results are official, the BLS was off by 50,000+ jobs created in WI. Even if Walker had lost jobs, it still beats the hell out Jim Doyles record of losing 150,00 jobs per year.

Walker's says reforms are working........but only for his rich and big biz donors not paying taxes in WI

My total household income is $55K/year, from that federal, and state taxes are taken out + my health and retirement. I'm far from rich however I've benefited greatly from the Walker reforms as my state tax burden is going down.

It's interesting to see how many of ALEC's "paid bloggers" immediately jumped on this blog in their futile attempt at mass damage control and to lamely purport the focus on the Democratic challenger already losing the election before a single vote is made. I recently watched a video of the ALEC right wing blogging team making a desperate sos to Brietbart.com and other conservative sources begging them to blog as many times as possible in favor of Scott Walker and his puppet masters(the koch bros) at ALEC because they were taking a beating on political blogs in general and they felt they were losing the battle. These are the same people who think "Citizens United" was a wonderful SC decision and fully support Scott Walkers plan to balance his states budget on the backs of the working middle class in Wisconsin. After all, this election isn't really about the tax payers and citizens of Wisconsin, it's really about ALEC and Citizens United making it completely legal for big multinational corporations to bribe and buy politicians at will to further the corporations profit and political agendas in our entire country. My gut feeling is the good citizens Wisconsin are way to intelligent to let corporate/political corruption ruin their fine state let alone the entire country.

bend over and take it from your koch overlords.

This is the battle of good vs. evil people. It's the battle of right vs. wrong. It's about all those people who deserve all those things at the taxpayers expense which the tax payers don't have (they're in the negative) vs. all of the fiscally responsible individuals who actually use their brains, thereby giving them the ability to see that common sense solution of either us running out of money, or that the money becomes immediately worthless by way of hyperinflation ---- if we don't start now by starting a nationwide campaign to get all small business owners and soon to be new business owners, bank approved on most all of their business ventures. Like T.R.E.E. or something. One day as you come through the door, you can hear from your other half, "Honey, we got a letter from the T.R.E.E. (Together Reward Entrepreneur Excellence) department at the bank. It confirms our bank loan request. Let's go get the money and build this business up."

G-Man,

"After all, this election isn't really about the tax payers and citizens of Wisconsin, it's really about ALEC and Citizens United making it completely legal for big multinational corporations to bribe and buy politicians at will to further the corporations profit and political agendas in our entire country."

Great - very well said!

Labor groups backed President Barack Obama heavily in 2008, but the stimulus sought by the White House shortly after his inauguration was far smaller than what union leaders had desired.

So Obama spent us into a AAA- credit rating at record levels of deficit spending AND DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH!! HA HA....bye bye Epic Fail Prez....

Unions are part of the system that can put a brake the abuses of the corporations - a better argument now than ever - remember absolute power corrupts absolutely - just look at the unckeced power of Wall Street which caused the recession.

And well done! hardtostarboard!

The Laundry list of damage done by Walker in the name of corporate profit is indeed LONG and something folks have to face up to:

If they want any kind of decent future for America.

@htsbd, exactly how much did your property taxes go down? How much less did you pay in state taxes? Our families make about the same and my property taxes were the same and my state income tax was actually higher. My property value went down about 20% last year, but my taxes stayed he same.

Walker ran on Doyle's budget being outrageous, but now its higher. Walker's billionaire biz gal donor paid no state income taxes, but you and I did. Over two-thirds of the top 50 companies in the state paid no income taxes to the state, you and I did. Public sector workers were already contributing to their retirement, his staff got 30% raises! Did you? I didn't!

Google Cathy Stepp and the WI Deer Czar and you'll see her statements on selling off DNR land, and his statements on public land including 'public lands are the last bastion of communism'.

A special Walker 'jobs' legislative session, and we got RW ideology, but no jobs legislation! Walker wants to privatize everything, including our kids education. And just who do you think will pay for that - you and me, paying for public and private schools. No thanks.

Walker repealed WI's law on the books for equal pay - now one has to make a federal case of it to be heard. Even with Walker's jobs numbers, WI is still dead last in the Midwest for jobs - even Illinois beats us. You ok with that? Not me.

You and I are paying more than our fair share of taxes as Walker gives breaks to all his big biz donor cronies - and most of them pay no taxes. Check the latest report from the IRS on over 35000 people earning over $2 million who pay NO TAXES. You good with that? I'm not. Then google CEO pay and tell me how you feel about CEO pay up over 20% last year. You get a 20% raise? Didn't think so.

You should have done your homework on Walker.

Backhouse, it boggles the mind that so many republicans are somehow blind to the farce that is ALEC and their outright bribery of the scott walker administration in order to destroy middle class wages/working conditions and to pump up their profit margins. At some point you really have to ask yourself, how many billions do the koch brothers really need to be happy? Ironically, the poor suckers who will really suffer the most in this debacle are the citizens of Wisconsin who are voting on whether or not their state will be sold to ALEC(koch bros.) or not.

“I think it’s stating the obvious that it’s a hard time to be a union member – or any worker,”

One only needs to look at Europe’s troubles to know that not only unionists and workers are in trouble, we are all in trouble. Sooner the unions realize that the state’s finances are not bottomless pits to be raided and pillaged, the better. Also if the unionists and public servants are not happy with their jobs, go and find yourselves jobs elsewhere, jobs in the real world, in the private sector!!

Hope there is a Walker in every state, we need them right now!

Liberals, see how bad that losing feeking is. Get used to it, you'll feel it again come November.

I've never felt a feek in my life Michael.

Walker for President!!!!!!

Scott Walker DID NOT campaign on removing collective bargaining rights! HE NEVER MENTIONED IT while a candidate. Check this link at politifact Wisconsin.

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/22/scott-walker/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-says-he-campaigned-his-/

He is NOT just some altruistic guy who was trying to balance the state budget. He came in with a secret agenda to destroy unions. He has collected over 31 million $$ for his recall election and you know that's not coming from grandmas and soccer moms sending him 10 dollars each. So sugardaddy billionaires (Koch brothers) are just fine with him but union members are communists in his book.
Then you have Diane Hendricks from the "divide and conquer" video. She is worth almost 3 BILLION dollars but yet she is still not a happy person. What would make her happy? To see the chance for a middle class lifestyle taken away from most of the public by getting rid of all unions, public and private. It is also noteworthy that this woman somehow paid no state income tax last year. How do us commoners get that deal? These millionaires/billionaires will get even richer when they can pay everyone minimum wage with zero benefits (and get nice tax breaks while doing so). These people have no morality at all.

Hardtostarboard: What have you been reading lately? The Weekly News World News has been out of business for a couple of years.

The funny thing is it won't matter if scott walker wins or not because he and a portion of his staff are about to be served federal indictments on corruption charges in the few weeks after the recall election. The republicans and ALEC are going to be shown the (jail cell)door and will go down as a complete embarrassments/criminals to Wisconsin, the U.S. and the world. The GOP mantra that crime pays will be turned on it's side and this will be a complete win-win for middle class working families in our great country.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Prove to the rest of the country, it is NOT for sale to the Koch Brothers, etc...

AnaBanana-1782128

Feisty,

You are spot on today. If Wisconsinites can be purchased for a few million then the rest of America is also for sale.

Labor groups backed President Barack Obama heavily in 2008, but the stimulus sought by the White House shortly after his inauguration was far smaller than what union leaders had desired.

Yeah, that stimulus money was just payback from Barry for votes, which is why it failed!

Why is it ok for liberal democraps to buy votes? How much money do they pay you to troll all day?

Today you whine, tomorrow you cry!

How many ways can a libral tell a lie,

let me count the ways,

the first lie is:

that scott walker doesnt work,

the second lie is:

that President Obama does,

the third lie is:

that they will in in the courts,

the fourth lie is:

that they will win in november

:)

"Wisconsin has become the front line in the battle between unions and reform-minded Republicans, and organized labor arguably has more on the line in Tuesday's recall election than any other constituency."

MSN again only tells part of the story here. This is not the front line battle between unions and Republicans. It is in fact the front line battle between "public" sector unions and taxpayers. And it is NOT organized labor that has more on the line, it is the taxpayer that has the most on the line.

How can Democrats claim they are fighting for the middle class on this issue when they are in fact fighting to raise middle class taxes to keep public sector unions in power while bankrupting state budgets?

This fiasco is EXACTLY why FDR was so adamantly against public sector unions.

One sure sign that everyone knows Walker will almost certainly win-- Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL only posted once. LOL!

Another sure sign, After fund raising in Minnesota on Monday, President Obama flew right over Wisconsin without bothering to stop and rally the troops.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) survived a furious recall campaign on Tuesday, emerging as the victor in a bitter fight over state budgets and collective bargaining rights.

Gotta love it when America SPEAKS! Cant wait to hear them in NOVEMBER TOO!!!!

Crickets from Feisty! Priceless!

MSN already took down their page announcing Walker the winner

http://nbcpolitics.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/05/12074595-nbc-news-walker-emerges-victorious-in-wisconsin-recall?threadId=3435947&commentId=66823718#c66823718

Barry has got to be sweating bullets drones tonight...

Public union membership is down over 60% in WI now that their union dues can't be automatically confiscated from their paychecks. They realized that the have better things to do with their cash than waste it on union fat cats.

Rocco,

Great post! It would be very interesting to see how much union leaders earn annually!

I don't have much time, but once again I will explain this as I have at least a half dozen times. Unions do not use members dues money for political actions. Dues money can only be used for operating expenses of the union and nothing more and nothing less. It has been illegal for as long as I can remember for unions to use dues money for political funding, and I have been around for a long time. All monies used for political purposes must be collected separately and voluntarily, so the money of union members that is being spent is money from people who donated above and beyond their dues and wished for it to be spent on politics. However in the future because of the citizens united decision you may see a change in those laws because unlike unions corporations can now spend millions of dollars on politics without the prior knowledge and consent of the shareholders. Union members must donate separately and voluntarily to political funds, shareholders have no say as to how much, and for exactly what, when massive amounts of company dollars are spent on politics.

States will no longer buckle under to Union thuggery

George,

Union Thuggery? The Unions met every demand that Walker proposed to get spending in order. But that wasn't enough. The little Koch Bro stooge had to try to wipe out the Unions altogether. Who's really the thug?

I hope he's saved some of his campaqign money to pay for his defense, because he's gonna need it....

Recall Walker!!!!

Are you saying somebody threw a monkey wrench into the union machine from within?

Why recall Walker? Didn't you guys elect him? So if someone makes decisions you don't like, you do a recall? Boy, that's an expensive philosophy to take. How many millions have been wasted on this so far???

Pay for union leaders is determine and voted on by each and every member of that local union, then that is written into the by-laws of that local union, in most cases they make slightly more than the members scale pay plus a car allowance, and if you were to divide out the hours they actually put in each week, they probably make less than a member who would have been paid overtime for those extra hours.

I pay 2% of my gross on union dues, and make 38% more wages and benefits than a non union counterpart in my industry, my union dues are the best investment I have ever made, bar none.

I have a $54.00 an hour wage and fringe package, the median income in Texas is less than $11.00 an hour, I am not the guy using the emergency room like a clinic, I am not the guy depending on medicaid, and food-stamps to get my family by, and when I retire, or drop dead my wife will have a damn good retirement, she will not depend on government services and welfare in her old age. Pretty strange that republicans in Texas and other right to work for less and less and less states complain about high federal taxes and welfare, but don't earn enough money to owe any federal taxes and therefore anything they receive from the federal government is strictly a matter of welfare, now isn't it.

@JK Here is a sample of what Union Leaders make.

http://oregoncatalyst.com/8110-average-teachers-union-leaders-salary-exceeds-145000.html

http://nation.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/03/fat-cat-union-salaries-exposed

and before the liberals on here get your shorts twisted, I do not normally listen or read Fox news. You can find the same info on several links.

Republicans love lobbyists, unless they are lobbyists for working people, then they are called "thugs."

By lobbyists we really mean bribery special interests.

There is still a basic problem with a Teachers Union rep making 3 times more than the teachers they are representing. The question I would have if I were a teacher would be exactly what are they doing for teachers that justifies the salary inequity.

Great! Now states and the rest of us will be subject to corporate thuggery instead. Thanks for nothing, Citizens United!

PS, KSW, do you question why a CEO makes several hundred times what their line workers make?n Or do you just have a particlular envy for what union representatives make?

No because I know what CEO's do and they generally work more hours than their average hourly worker. I do however believe in capping executive pay as some are beyond excessive. I do not need to pay a union rep 3 times what I am making to negotiate my pay and benefits.

CEO's do and they generally work more hours than their average hourly worker.

CEOs' lives are their job. Even when they play, they work.

To all, it is not over until is over Tuesday. However I will say it again if Walker wins, look for this to be the trend for the Presidential race. As much as I hated it is the economy and the people are not stupid.

The Dow is 1.000.00 down, of course Europe is not helping, but was will hurt the must is that the people are starting to belive that Obama and the Administration have been lying to the people by being Divisive, distorting the truth.

You can do your own research as to the wages in Texas and you will find that I am correct, while your at it you can research this and find that I am correct also, Texas is the the third largest recipient of welfare behind NY and CA. So evidently there are not enough high tech jobs to go around or more importantly there is just not enough high paying jobs. Is Texas suddenly a liberal blue state because that is a lot of welfare going to a conservative red state to be number three in receiving welfare. Lots of jobs does not mean good jobs and for that matter the Chinese at Foxconn have high tech jobs assembling Apple products but I would not want to work for 30 cents an hour at their high tech facility.

Let me give you a clue, when the Mexicans are leaving you know your job really sucks.

hey, Shirley!

Texas tied with Mississippi for states having the highest percentage of hourly paid workers earning the minimum wage or less in 2010.

Some 550,000 Texans, or 9.5 percent of hourly paid workers, made the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or less last year. That's up 76,000 workers, or 16 percent, from 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Monday.

The median wage of all hourly paid Texans was $11.20 last year. Nationally, it was $12.50. In Texas, the median hourly wage for men was $12.13; for women, $10.24. Nationally, the median was $13.76 for men and $11.83 for women.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/Texas-The-minimum-wage-state-1311815.php#ixzz1wqgucRcN

Forrest...congratulations, sounds like you have the ultimate sweat heart deal. You avoid mentioning the industry in which you work...but I'm guessing it's the oil/natural gas industry, with you being in Texas. If you're bringing home a package worth $54/hour, that puts you in six figure income territory. With today's world economy and the existence of an international market place, there are very few industries/companies that can pay rank and file members 6 figure incomes....except for maybe the oil industry. Maybe I'm wrong, but it sounds like you have a unique situation in a special market. It's hard to transfer your experience to other industries.

Thanks Amy for the updated numbers, I stand corrected, Texans (except for women) now make over $11.00 an hour, they got a raise to $11.20 an hour. $11.20 X 2000 hours a year is $22,400 still not enough to owe a dime in federal taxes, so why all the complaints about something they don't even pay? $11.20 an hour is still less than I was making in 1982 in a grocery store. Would somebody please organize these people and help negotiate a raise for them, couldn't we at least get them paid above the poverty line.

Thank God Kansas is an open-shop state! I worked for 30 years before I got a 6-figure income, and that was after spending 6 years in college to obtain a professional degree in the health professions.

I had a friend in the UAW. He always voted against strikes for increased wages because he knew what being out of work for 3 to 6 months would cost him. And, guess what, when he ran the numbers, a strike always cost him more than the higher wages could make up for until the next strike.

Why is it that unions always go out on strike for highly altruistic purposes, but it always boils down to a wage increase in the long run? And you guys complain about the sound-bites the politicians use to further their causes!

No ceo I am not in Texas and I am not in the oil and gas industry, I do not have a special sweetheart deal, I work real hard to earn my pay and see to it that my employer turns a profit on my work. I work for great American businessmen who have to be the low bidder to get the job and still make a profit on that job, the difference is they do not mind sharing a fair slice of that profit with the people who's labor produces that profit for them. BTW I also have a small consulting business in the same industry in which I work based on my patents and some innovations I brought to that industry years ago, my point is that when I work as a consultant I do basically what I do as a worker, except I wear nicer clothes, I do not touch a tool, I just advise on what needs to be done and how it should be done I charge 3 X as much per hour and no bats an eye at the price. Funny how people may complain about what I am paid as a workman, but will gladly pay me triple that to do nothing, all I have to do is change my clothes, the only downside to the consulting is that I have to travel and live out of a motel room for weeks at a time, and personally I don't like being away from home for weeks at a time.

Interesting........care to divulge the industry in which you work and your union affiliation?

Forest Gump (post 2.8)

I have a $54.00 an hour wage and fringe package, the median income in Texas is less than $11.00 an hour

Mark Twain once said there are “lies, damn lies, and statistics”

You’re comparing apples and oranges. What’s the median income for people in YOUR occupation with similar training and experience? Don’t lump in folks working at McDonalds by citing a state wide average.

Stupid is as stupid does!

ForrestGump you are entirely correct. There was a survey done not long ago about right to work states. They are the largest recipients of welfare and have more uninsured people. Texas is a great example. We have more millionaires and more poor people than any other state. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Low wages and high insurance premiums that's what the corporations want.

No ceo I do not wish to divulge my exact industry and union affiliation, I am fairly well know in my industry, and my union, and I prefer my anonymity with regards to political blogs, there are 3,550 members of my local union, and so my situation is not unique when I am working under the collective bargaining agreement. I will tell you this it is generally hot dirty sweaty hard work that we do, it's getting tougher for an old guy like me every day.

As I have said before , I have never worked in a right to work state,but I have worked with others who have and without exception,they prefer working in closed shop states,were the wages are fair and the benefits are reasonable. I have seen a few misfits in my work,but most of us do a fair days work for our pay. Most people do have a good work ethic and My opinion of those who claim that that is untrue are usually people whom one can't trust to do a fair days work or come from a state where there are no real training programs and have had to learn as they go.

John I made more than $11.20 an hour in 1982 as a grocery clerk, 30 years ago I made more than the median income in Texas, and I did that as a grocery clerk. Those people need a raise, it is that simple.

Forrest - Please enlighten us on how essential it is for unions to fight for the little guys making $110,000 a year in the aftermath of the recession. We'd all like to know how that will help the 25 million Americans currently unemployed or underemployed.

Forrest Grump 2.0

I don't have much time, but once again I will explain this as I have at least a half dozen times. Unions do not use members dues money for political actions. Dues money can only be used for operating expenses of the union and nothing more and nothing less. It has been illegal for as long as I can remember for unions to use dues money for political funding, and I have been around for a long time.

http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/list.php

top All-Time political donors. You have to go all the way down to #19 to see a Republican and you'll notice 18 of them have the word 'union' in their names. Lots more on that list are also unions. That took about 5 seconds to look up. Stop spreading false information repeatedly (half a dozen times? and nobody showed you this before?)

Organized labor stares down specter of possible
recall loss

Unions need to be abolished throughout the country. These bastions of Communism and Socialism are dangerous to our prosperity.

Show the unions where they belong WI. I am sure you have somewhere a big hole full of crap where they fit just fine.

Down with the Unions!

People have to remember...this is a fight against PUBLIC unions!

I just got off the telephone with a businessman and potential customer from Wisconsin. I had to ask & he did say he has been very pleased with Governor Walker's performance so far...economy is on it's way up and the budget deficit is being cut.

He felt there was no justification this recall...said it was a waste of money.

forrest grump is an overpaid worker. no matter what his job is, he is overpaid. he should be making $25/hr instead of $54/hr. then they could hire 2 extra people at $13/hr and create more jobs, something unions won't do.

@KSW, yeah you got that number from FOX. The average teacher salary in Wisconsin is about $47,000.

I don't know where the 1 came from in the front.

So much for Fox news. Wisconsin teachers salaries are 28th in the nation.

http://www.teacherportal.com/salary/Wisconsin-teacher-salary

Thanks Keri for showing us the Republican view of jobs. Throttle back wages so that people have to work more than one job. It's called the Rick Perry Texas Model.

Subliminal

Unions need to be abolished throughout the country. These bastions of Communism and Socialism are dangerous to our prosperity.

You do realize the inception of unions has nothing to do with theoretical or actual socialism or communism right? Better yet - the fact that you use them interchangeably proves you havent slightest what either mean.

I love it how every time some dolt finds something they dont like - they try and attach the words socialism or communism to it. LOL

Subliminal...since union wages helped to bring up wages of those not in unions all over this country...it would be interesting to see just where we would all be today with out them. Being down on unions seems to be fun for many..yet....none are complaining about a congress that has done nothing in years...and I am talking about at least the last 10....none are complaining about the bigger tax cuts the wealthy are buying from the republicans running for all offices today...none are complaining about the huge cuts to social issues in this country....it seems that profits are the only thing going...I just wonder how many of those profits you folks hating unions will get for backing the wealthy that are pushing the republicans so hard. CAn not wait to see your wages start to drop...bet on one thing however..the pay to CEO's will not drop...the pay our so called reps in washington get will not drop..only the middle class will get the cuts.

Wow. You really think there are only 25 million out of work? You mean the 25 million that filed for benefits last week. Try 82 million, plus. It'll give a more accurate picture of the landscape. PS- putting those 82 million people to work in a "right to work" environment (is the minimum wage in Florida still $3.32 an hour, or did it go up since I was there...?) will not serve to create the demand necessary to resuscitate a consumption-based supply-side economic model that has crashed and burned because of corporate greed. Seek facts, not just Bureau of Labor statistics.

Wake up people, the world has changed! We are becoming a global economy and in order to compete in a global economy people who don't have technical skills can anticipate lower incomes. Why do you think wages have dropped with this last nearly world-wide economic adjustment? If you're waiting for the old economy to come back, you're in for a rude awakening. That economy is gone. This is the new economy. Don't like competing with an immigrant that thinks making $11.00 is like getting rich, then move to another planet.

I do agree there is corruption and greed in some unions (very similar to those corporations FIGHTING for their share of the pie using lobbyists) and reforms are needed. However, Unions do have a place in this country. This is not Adolf Hilter of 1933:

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike.”

The headline left out the other part of this ordeal.

"and Taxpayers everywhere will celebrate."

And Diatribe, You're more like diahrea of the mouth. $3.32 for min wage? Really? Are you from the 60's? The minimum wage is $7.25 set at the federal level. Only the state min wage kicks in if it's higher then the federal, like in California. Yeah it's going great for them out there isn't it?

Granted Corporate greed is responsible for a lot of things, but then again who wrote the loopholes, or more who passed the loopholes that allowed that greed to go unabated for the last 40 years? Guess what it was largely DEMOCRATS in the Legislature. But I don't let the Republicans off the hook either. Both of them just want sheep to keep them in power and will sell out everyone for it.

The Democrats have just realized the 'Union' model is outdated. It's much easier and you have much more control making welfare recipents of everyone to garner votes. Also a lot cheaper. Face it Unions are being sold out by their own cause celeb political party. Because they are difficult to work with and can't bring the bacon to the table.

KSW I do not need to pay a union rep 3 times what I am making to negotiate my pay and benefits.

Does that union rep have a law degree? Does that union rep negotiate on behalf of hundreds or maybe thousands? There may be a valid reason the union rep is making what he is making. Of course, if you are a school teacher who put in the college to earn a masters degree, you probably already know that you didn't maximize your earning potential by choosing that field. While I salute all teachers for the work they put in educating our children and acknowledge that they are underpaid relative to their education, maybe that union rep is working at a market rate. Not his fault that you aren't.

Unions gave America the 5 days work week, 40 hour work week, and child labor laws. Hate unions? You're benefiting from their work.

This recall election will be about who has the most money, not about ideas. Corporations have already sabotaged unions, making it difficult to form unions and raise dues.

Walker is controlled by corporation money. Do you really want the corporations to control America? The bottom line is their only god.

to eric913730, i have worked at least 2 jobs for the last 23 years. if employers pay too much per hour(thanks to unions) then they can't hire many more people, and have to charge more for their product, which would mean lower sales, and cut jobs. i worked for a unionized company, i didn't like it. depending on your lifestyle, you can survive and support a family on $12 per hour, dave ramsey did it. rice&beans.

It has been said on this site and needs repeating , THEIR IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UNIONS ! This cannot be emphasized enough, public unions should NEVER have been allowed to form as the people THE UNIONS help elect decide the PUBLIC UNIONS benefit packages !!! Totally immoral !!!

States all across the country are drowning in union debt. Huge benefits negotiated between the unions and the politicians they helped to elect. People with no vested interest in the financial cost of their decisions doing so for political and personal gains. Nope, no conflict of interest or corruption in that formula. The cost of doing business in the US has driven jobs overseas, and now the unions are bleeding the public sector dry. Walker is going to win because his policies are working and people find them as a positive change.

I didn't realize this was a UNION HATING thread. You DO realize that Wisconsin ranks 49th in the Country for jobs right? If idiots keep this CRIMINAL as Governor (YES HE IS BEING INVESTIGATED), then the people of Wisconsin deserve everything they get.

This will set a precedent in the fact that Wisconsin is willing to throw its OWN people under the bus, for big Corporate donors and any people or companies than can BUY THE ELECTION.

Wisconsin is DEAD LAST IN JOBS........... Sheesh what a bunch of idiots people are, that vote for this guy. He is A CRIMINAL.........

Keri - working two low wage jobs is YOUR choice. And doing so for 23 years? Wow - are you Lacking ambition, motivation, or BOTH?

You are where you are in life because of decisions & choices YOU have made. It's not Bush's fault, Obama's fault, or society's fault.

Suck it up - it's YOUR fault.

Johnny...

Not really a fan of any union...but you are correct...it is public union members whose dollars are confiscated by union hacks and turned in votes for politicians who shine their shoes. The SEIU is one of the largest 'special interest' groups in the country.

The folks who are so involved and informed about this nation that they need "same day" voter registration to cast a vote ??? They get brought to the polls inside SEIU vans.

I hope this ba$tard son of the Koch brothers gets sent packing just because he is an arrogant $onofab!tch that thinks he is a king or something. I do not think state,county, city workers, or teachers should have a union to blackmail taxpayers out of more money than they are worth but this Walker f*ck is a low life criminal.

Barrett arrest felons, Walker hires them!

I don't trust Walker as far as I can spit.

Why do public employees need union protection from us, the people. If the majority of the people think you need a raise, you should get it, if not you should not.

Public employees should not make higher wages than people with equivalent jobs in the private sector.

So it boils down to you either vote for Scott Walker or big union to run the state.

Oh libtard chad, public employee unions serve no purpose other than trying to grab as much tax money as they can. All state workers make more and have more benefit plans than their private sector counterparts, costing states WAY too much. This has nothing to do with 1 percenters, it has everything to do with balancing the state check book.

Here is a good article for your info,
www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2012&month=03

Allen, it would help to actually read before you respond. Of COURSE unions make political donations. However they DO NOT IT WITH UNION DUES. They can ONLY use PAC funds, which are funded in their entirety by donations.

"you can survive and support a family on $12 per hour, dave ramsey did it. rice&beans"~Keri

I guess this is Keri's solution, along with the conservatives, on what the middle class can expect.

Public employees should not make higher wages than people with equivalent jobs in the private sector.

@Iwonder: Teachers generally speaking make less than what they would earn in the private sector, but are routinely vilified. And if your response is going to pertain to "summer's off", please know that research indicates that teachers work within 1% of the total number of hours as private sector workers.

"you can survive and support a family on $12 per hour, dave ramsey did it. rice&beans"~Keri

Try living in NJ and seeing how that $12/hour works out for you.

And on another thread:

Feds close in on Scott Walker......... He is a criminal, and everyone is so concerned about what a teacher makes? Public school teachers make nothing compared to what their education requirements are. The republican party is destroying Public Education in the US. They want the entire school system as charter schools.........and to be made for PROFIT..........

@Forrest Grump 2.0

I don't have much time, but once again I will explain this as I have at least a half dozen times. Unions do not use members dues money for political actions.

I suspect the reason you have to keep "explaining" it is because you are dead wrong. Unions can not donate dues money to political causes or candidates but they can spend that money in other ways "for political actions". For example unions "employees" can work for political campaigns and they can also picket and protest on the union dime. And then of course there is a little know loophole in which union members can have their dues automatically diverted to the union's PAC, in some cases without their knowledge.

Forrest and others that are nailing Texas as a right to work state. Do you think illegal immigration is skewing any of your stats when comparing Texas to NY and Cali. I think inadvertently I have come up with a common denominator of indebted states.

Forrest Grump 2.0 John I made more than $11.20 an hour in 1982 as a grocery clerk, 30 years ago

either you are lying or using an exception (still misleading) because no one made 11.20hr in 1982 for being a checker. why mention that, do you think we all should make $100hr or what? one of the reasons why we have inflation and other economical problems if because of artificial wages set by the governments, forced by the unions that are unsustainable in the long run. government has no authority to set wages at any level and you are grossly overpaid at $54hr, must be nice to have a union extorting for you. as far as CEO's and what they make, its none of your business unless you are a shareholder!!!! how insanely arrogant of anyone to think they have any say in a company they have nothing to do with.

does anyone read any history besides what is told by the right or left? union were created by the italian mafia, before that there was no unions. they wanted to run the city and eventually the federal government like they did in italy, italy fought against their rule but we encouraged it here, why do you think the old union bosses were mob affiliated? union also did not create the 40hr/5day workweek, job perks, child labor laws or any of what anyone thinks they created. all that was created by different parts of our government (ie 40 hr workweek was created by the military). all unions did was extort businesses under threat of violence or other persuasive means to give their member more than the average so they in-turn could gain more power and money (influence over our government).

while the private sector unions member roles has declined as a % of our population, they have succeeded in infiltrating our government by created public unions (unconstitutional) and have used the same tactics the did in italy to gain influence from politicians to gain more power and money. i cant say all unions in the present operate that way but they ones that were formed before do. there is no reason for unions when you can hire a personal manager to negotiate with your employer or here is a novel idea, do it yourself!!!!!

unions have no rights over anyone else, extortion is still a crime but somehow unions do it all the time.

Extortion (also called blackmail, shakedown, outwresting, and exaction) is a criminal offense which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person(s), entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection

so when a union threatens a company with a worker strike if their demands for more money and other perks of value are not met, is that not extortion? and when the federal government prevents businesses from taking legal action against the unions is that also not a criminal offense? the old unions were notorious for beating up shop owners and scabs who broke strike lines and the government turned a blind eye due to the amount of money the unions would give.

unions do not represent anything close to fairness, they represent power.

ps. waste of time i see........

Not lying one bit swaqgganut, I made $11.80 an hour plus full benefits as a union grocery clerk for the Kroger company in 1982 that is a fact. Why do you think I am overpaid at a $54.00 an hour wage and fringe package do you think my employers are paying more than they can afford and they themselves are going hungry. I guarantee you no employer has ever paid me more than could afford to. How about when I charge 3 times that much to simply describe what needs to be done and just walk around and watch others perform the actual work. So would you be happy if I made $13.00 an hour did not owe any federal taxes and used medicaid and food-stamps to get by. If I worked a full year under my collective bargaining agreement I would gross $104,000 in wages and benefits, and pay twice the percentage in taxes that someone like Mitt Romney pays on their income.

anddon'tcallmeShirley -- Okay, well then let me be Frank.

The American workers did NOT cause the Great Recession. Stop blaming workers for problems that have been caused by the oligarchy (the rich and their corporate interests). How can you be so ignorant as to shoot yourself in the foot? Instead of attacking unions, ask "Why not me too?!"

Why can't YOU have decent wages, benefits like health care, and retirement -- why not you too? You won't if labor can't organize and have a voice and some power against corporations that ARE organized along with the Chamber of Commerce and now Super PAC's representing the oligarchy.

Stop playing the fool and allowing the greedy plutocrats like Romney and their henchmen in Wisconsin like Scott Walker and Paul Ryan to privatize profits and socialize debt -- the corporate welfare way of redistributing wealth from you to the 1%. Don't be fooled again.

Romney -- He's not in it for you.

Bart,

Still clinging to that old tired mantra that the unions gave us everything? Please... we are talking about PUBLIC unions? Did the public unions give us all that?? Of course not...the public unions here in California have transformed what was a thriving economy into a wasteland. California now sits on a multi-billion dollar unfunded pension liability, plus another multi-billion dollar health care liability... From the average tax payer, it looks like the only thing the union gives us is being financially destitute!

Even in failure, a message is sent - put Walker on notice - you won't be getting away with anything easily. Failure is not a sure thing yet - Wait at least 30 hours to settle the score.

People will speak tomorrow ...and again on November 6.

You know, I've been union before and this is what I experienced: I made the same wage as the non-union shop down the road. I had to pay for the privilege. My dues WERE used for lobbying regardless of the law. The majority of the workers at our plant were illegal. Bogus ID and SSN's were provided by the union for the small sum of $400. These illegals were paid more for being bilingual, although they only spoke spanish. I was expected by the union to sign over my proxy for voting, and when I wouldn't I wasn't allowed to vote anyway. I made barely over minimum wage while my union rep bought a new car every year and once bragged about her new fur coat. Middle management was investigated once and 3 arrests were made. Eventually, all charges were dropped (amazing!), though.

Because of existing laws, I make a good wage and have the protections I need. I don't need greedy damned unions rummaging in my pocket. I don't have to watch slackers being rewarded while workers get the shaft anymore. I don't have to deal with any of the graft or corruption anymore. Why? Because I'm not union anymore. RAT AND PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will tell you about living in the past elliot, the median income in Texas is $10.80 an hour, I was making more than that in 1982, as a union grocery clerk plus benefits, while I was still in college. I quit that job because I was starting a family and did not think that was enough income. Do they live in the past in Texas, do they pay 1982 prices to get along with their 1982 wages?

If working conditions are better now, than they were in the 1920's, it's because of organized Labor's hard work. Child Labor laws didn't just "evolve" out the goodness of the corporations' hearts. The forty hour work week didn't just "happen." Somebody worked very hard, against Republican opposition, to make that a law.

If you have a fire escape outside your office window, thank Frances Perkins, who fought to make that mandatory, after she personally witnessed the Triangle Shirtwaist inferno, and all the lives lost because a sweatshop locked it's doors. Republicans have no sense of history, no willingness to acknowledge the work that labor activists have performed to make this a better country.

The unions set the bar for lots of people pay, the non union have to pay closer to union scale to get good people and middle management expects to earn at least a little more than the people they manage. When the unions get a raise so does the non union worker and so does management, and when the unions take a pay cut so will they.

Wow, the vaunted Triangle Shirtwaist Inferno as an example of union relevance. Thanks for coming up with an example that even pre-dated the Depression!

Is 11 men vaporized on a non union BP oil rig, or 29 men buried alive in a non union Massey energy coal mine because they were too scared to say sh!t if they had a mouthful for fear of losing their jobs recent enough for you?

I think people everywhere have a misunderstanding of what a union is. Its not some gang or monster that take over and destroy everything. A union are you and your co-workers banding together to bargain collectively. By banding together we bargain from a position of strength, as opposed to trying to negotiate with a cooperation alone. When people bargain collectively they get all those promises in writing as oppose to the lies that you hear when company's are trying to keep unions out. Think about it, why would an employer have a problem putting his or her "promises in writing and signing their name? why would anyone take the word of some one that will not sign their name. If we buy a car, a house, or most anything we do requires our signature. Another thing, did you know that all of these companies that don't want you to form a union, belong to a union themselves ? What do you think the chamber of commerce is. For that matter, the greatest country in the world is a union. The United States Of America, the key word is "UNITED". You don't need to listen to any side of this argument, all we need to do is just THINK

There are two sides to a story. In 1974 I worked on a pomegranate farm in Plainview, California driving heavy equipment when the UFW (United Farm Workers) tried to organize. Threatening letters were left on the vehicles of every worker and sharpened steel spikes were thrown in the roadways during the night so that we all got flat tires. Then, when the Union lost their certification vote it really got ugly. Tractors were drivien over 200 concrete standpipes and the irrigation system was destroyed. When this destruction was complete the drivers dumped sand into the gas tanks and crank cases of all the farm equipment they could get to. This bunch of union organizers were certainly thugs, bent on destruction.

Eric,

Your comment shows that you are probably not old enough to vote. Do you know what a fascist is Eric? If you did, you would not have posted your comment.

And ItsAboutTime. Cherrypick your quotes much? Wow, keep using that one, it's very effective. ;-)

Republicans love lobbyists, unless they are lobbyists for working people, then they are called "thugs."

Unions stand between you and the corporation, which only cares about making a profit.

Want a strong middle class, support the union. Otherwise America will be divided among the wealthy and the poor and that's it.

if all a union does is "collective" bargaining, then they need to be thrown out. How about we reward people for how hard they work and what good jobs they do???? Novel concept isn't it?

You know based on MERIT and not time in service? we have all seen the bad teachers, the bad painters, the bad oil guy or construction guy. Unions collective bargain for THESE people. The good workers don't need collective bargaing to get paid.

I was in a union in CA back in the 80's ... it was one of the scariest times of my life.

• I was picked on by guys who didn't think I should "be there".
• Hit on by my foremans on several different job sites.
• Degraded every time I turned around by guys my age and older who thought I was "hot" and should be able to "take it off" while I was working....
• Put up with constant *&** from my male co-workers who didn't think I "deserved" to be there because I was a woman.
• I was fired from a job for being too short. I was wiring a house and I couldn't reach the rafters without a ladder and that meant I took too long so that foreman fired me so he could request another apprentice who was taller.
• His suggestion to me was to go work on the commerical side as I was way too short for house wiring...
• I worked commercial sites for 2 years before I finally had enough (as if the above wasn't enough ....) The last straw? My foreman following me into a room and locking the door behind him......and when that didn't work climbing up behind me on ladders to show me what he could "give me"....

The union did nothing when I reported the last one foreman, not a thing... after all I was just an apprentice and even though they knew they had "issues" with some of their male union members I was told that I just needed to get over it and that I was being way too sensitive as a woman. They explained that those kinds of things were common with apprentices... (REALLY???)

I left that industry and went to work in a different one, highly competitive, I had to work hard, had to pay for my own training and even certification testing. I lived in 2 "Right to work states" while doing so, and frankly I'll take that any day.

PLEASE... Reward ME for MY PERFORMANCE.

Fire me if I do bad.....

I'll take that anyday over union collective bargaining where the slacker gets paid more than I do because they have been there longer...

Forrest, I believe if existing government regulations were enforced the BP disaster would have been avoided. They were private employees as well who answer to their shareholders. Walker is dealing with the Public Employee Unions who don't really answer to the taxpayers but should. Again, that is what this recall election is about.

So it boils down to you either vote for Scott Walker or big union to run the state.

Public employee unions serve no purpose other than trying to grab as much tax money as they can. All state workers make more and have more benefit plans than their private sector counterparts, costing states WAY too much. This has nothing to do with 1 percenters, it has everything to do with balancing the state check book.

Here is a good article for your info,
www.hillsdale.edu/news/imprimis/archive/issue.asp?year=2012&month=03

Worm meat, the myth that public workers get paid more than workers in the private sector has been debunked time and time again. Hillsdale is a rightwing college dedicated to furthering their ideology, it is NOT a nonpartisan source of information.

The problem I have with this recall is it was set up to unseat a politician that was doing illegal or corrupt activities while in office. Now because the Democrats and the union do not like the outcome they have decided to take the process and corrupt it and rather then do what has always been done, let the governor serve out his term and then elect someone else in, they have turned the process upside down and in the process have wasted millions of our taxpayers money on a useless recall. All I know is I am hopeful that after this election regardless of who wins this loophole will be fixed, and in the future the Democrats have lost forever a vote from independents like myself. So for once, when this is done please quite acting like a tit baby and let what we the people have decided to stay, or is it that Democrats are so arrogant that they feel they are above the will of the people?

have you ever worked in a union job vs a non union job? Have you ever been herded like sheep with no say? Think you have a more effective way of doing things and say something and get canned? Walker is trying to knock the country back 200 years. I work in a union job. It is a VASTLY better working environment than any job I've had before. I work hard, very hard and I have nothing in my file to say I'm a bad worker. Yet, when the market crashed I was TOLD BY MY MANAGER THAT IF THERE WAS NO UNION I WOULD BE GONE!!! You tell me if you would support it. These corporations which control much of the PUBLIC AND PRIVATE sector want us to go back to eating pour age if they could. I cannot understand why anyone would vote for Republican and vote against their very working interest. People are so stupid in this country

My uncle worked for a large corporation, he was a company man all the way. He came to work on time, everyday and gave his job 100%. To thank him, the company eliminated his job, when he was in his fifties. They had hired in new employees and had him train them before they let him go.

It seems an exec decided they could make more profit by eliminating people nearing retirement, however they could only let go the non-union employees of which he was one. The corporations can't do this to union employees. Which would you rather be?

One more thought, did the price of new cars drop after shipping the manufacturing plants overseas to sweatshops? Of course not, that move was to make more profit so the CEOs and execs could get bigger bonuses. The corporations want to take us back to the time before unions and workers rights. When they get rid of unions they will reduce all the salaries and benefits, and then start eliminating them. The politicians who are just puppets for the "power brokers" will not stand up to them or help us. Google what working conditions were like prior to unions, that is what you will be facing.

I can't speak for unions in Wisconsin, but if they are anything like unions here in California, the government needs to reel them in big time.

In my case, the hospital my wife works at recently had a vote to possibly change unions (likely because they were bought by another medical company). It was really interesting to know that the choice was between red union and purple union because that was their colors. The day of the vote, three men showed up at my wife's mom's house though my wife hadn't lived there for about a month, but because of slow paperwork processing it was still indicated as her place of residence. They were all dressed in purple shirts. It would have been one thing if they had knocked politely, but they practically stormed the door and began banging on it and the nearby window and peaked through the window as best they could. Her mom was home and, while the men didn't appear to be armed, was scared out of her mind. The three eventually left, but when her mom went to take a peak outside, she saw them in a car nearby. My wife's younger brother eventually got home from school and was pulled into the house. Seconds later the men were at the door with same routine. Sometime around 6, which was when the final vote came in, the men finally left.

You can talk about calling police all you want, but remember it's just a mom and a teenage boy living there so you can imagine the terror running through their heads and terror has a tendency to paralyze at times. Something I realized as I was typing all this out though, people want to say that unions are not thugs, but "gangsters" are generally associated by their colors and look at that, so are unions. Not just a logo with colors on it, like most companies, but full-blown dress in purple in this case.

Something I also realized as I was typing this, in the beginning I talked about government reeling the unions in. I notice how the left wants government to reel in all the private companies but don't want squat to happen to the unions and their representation. Well, from someone affected, by tertiary to be certain but still affected personally, by these unions "representation" clearly the unions have gotten pretty bold, bolder than any company I know of.

And no, I don't know which way the vote went.

To the contrary. The Democrats want to imprison people in poverty. That is their core voting constituency. Republicans want to get people back to work and to lower the debt. That will give us freedom. Union perks are unaffordable driving jobs overseas. It may have worked in the 40's and 50's but it doesn't work in a global economy. Unions are NOT for the 99%. Unions are for the union fat cats.

If you could pull your head out of the MSNBC-hyperobl-O-Matic for just a second...please explain to me why the sky will fall, exactly? There are many "right-to-work" states that are doing just fine last time I checked.

And if the reason for you screaming all that non-sense hyperbole is because WI state union employees no longer have collective bargaining, then how do you explain federal union employees not having collective bargaining since 1978 when Jimmy Carter and a democratic Congress took it away?

Lloyd ignores the fact countries with stronger unions have stronger manufacturing. The US has one of the lowest union memberships in the western world. We have had no income growth among the middle class in 30 years. See a pattern here? But the right tells us that, as long as the wealthy are doing fine, as long as we bail them out, it doesn't matter what happens to the middle class.

Every country in history has had the rich. Very few have a strong stable middle class. Soon we will not be among them. As Paul Krugman pointed out recently, that's a recipe for revolution.

Yeah, the Teacher's Unions are really doing our country a great service. And the union strongholds in New York City. How about the airline unions??? TWA, Eastern Airline, etc...

Bob, let me be sure I understand your stand-up comedy mindset.

WI has proven that when people have the choice to join a union or not, they chose not to in this day and age. And you're argument (in the below comedy sketch) was because they don't know any better, and your "proof" was because a European country has supposedly better manufacturing numbers than we do.

OK, I'll play along. Are you saying Americans should be FORCED to join a union? Just checking...

Hey Lloyd...Texas has no teacher's unions. And it ranks 47th in the nation for education. You America hating right wingers have all the lies, just no facts

uh...Jax...I simply report the facts. You don't like 'em? That's too bad. Conservatives generally don't. You have all this mythology about America as the land of meritocracy. Even Rick Santorum knew THAT was a lie. So tell me again...you guys destroyed labor unions, saying this would make America the land of milk and honey

OK we killed the unions. Where are the jobs, cuz there ain't none.

47th? Damn Bob that's higher than I would have guessed.

Just for kicks, tell us #48, 49, and 50.

everyone that has NEVER been in a union is an expert on how unions work and what their mission statement is.....

Bye Bye Unions!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for your service, but you have out-lived your usefulness. Unions are simply in the way of the USA successfully competing globally. We certainly thank the unions for the labor laws we have today, but its time to step aside and let the global economic machine begin to work here in this country.

bob-1008224

Hey Lloyd...Texas has no teacher's unions. And it ranks 47th in the nation for education. You America hating right wingers have all the lies, just no facts

My home state of California does have teacher's unions (the most powerful in the country) and is 49th or 50th in the nation for education, depending on which poll you look at. That's with being 21st in spending per child. How do you reconcile those facts?

One of the major magazines just ran a feature on the 1000 best high schools in the nation...Texas had several schools up at the very top of the charts.

Had to be 'Newsweek', 'Time', or 'Money' magazine...unsure which.

You must not be a resident of WI. The previous Gov bankrupted this state with spending and special deals with public unions. Public unions required the state/scools to use WEA Trust - a union owned insurance co. Guess what, when the schools were allowed to get competitive qquotes..... the cost for the exact same coverage was on average 25-30% less! Now each school district that didn't use Act 10 reforms is requesting that contracts be opened again. Milwaukee mayor Barrett even used Act 10 to balance his own city budget! With Walker's leadership, WI is moving forward!

Republicans won't be happy until we are all making $3/hour, so that we can bring the jobs back from China.

The gap between the wealthy and poor has gotten worse due to Republican policy. They aren't going to reverse this.

Their gambit of "we are trying to help the middle class" is BS.

On the contrary, when Walker wins it will it will be the begining of the end to unions whose only purpose is to leech off of the work of others and the start of an economic rebound that will finally bring the real unemployment numbers back down to reasonable levels.

CorporateShill...and plenty of those who are speaking out against unions now have been in unions in the past. I am one of them. I worked in two seperate industries that required membership to work. Both times I left the industry because of it. I have never felt that the unions were actually in business for me or my co-workers, but for those who controlled them. I believe that for a union to actually succeed, no one should draw a salary for their service. Have them run by actual worker's making the same as everyone else, who are doing it because they believe in it, and not for the large salary that goes with it. That is what cracks me up about people crying out against the "have and the have nots". Take a look at most unions, and they are a perfect example of HAVE AND HAVE NOTS. In addition, the simple fact that someone is required to join and pay dues in order to work in certain industries is rediculous. It is the unions way of forcing payments. All I wanted to do was work. I have no problem busting my butt, and I also have no problem negotiating for myself. I don't need anyone else doing it for me. Yes, unions served us in the past, but I honestly believe their time should be done. I believe in right-to-work conditions. I do not believe in contracts. Do the work, get paid the rate you agree to. If you don't want to work or don't want to accept the rate, feel free to find something better for yourself and I wish you the best. And before you go off...I am BARELY lower middle class, scrimp for anything extra in life and have never been accused of being rich. So don;t try to make it automatically out to be that.

@Jax #4.2: Where did you obtain that history you spout in your last paragraph? Whomever gave it to you was either lying to you or, more probably, screwing with your mind. Jimmy Carter and a Democratic Congress????????????? You're ashamed of Ronald Reagan aren't you?

The bad thing is, if he wins, considering just how much money he got from out of state to push out the campaign ads and what not.... Can one honestly even say that it's WI voters being represented, or speaking their mind, when the vast MAJORTY of funds aren't even comming from voters in the district? What reason would the govenor even have to listen to his constituents, if he knows his re-election bids (aka those who are paying to keep him in office don't even live there).

It's saying a lot, when I in all honesty have to admit that Scott Walker's campaign had emailed me several dozen times in the last few months to ask me to donate funds to his campaign.... And I live in Jersey.... Exactly who is he working for (well we all knew they worked for the PACs, the lobbyists, and the special interests, not for "we the people") when the politicians are hitting up the inboxes of everyone who lives in another state, even when the people in question didn't sign up for his campaign emails.... Thunderbird, and/or my ISP also flagged it as spam in most cases, as most of it got automatically put to the spam folder (without me directing it there)....

So, where exactly is WI's voice in this, if they're not even the ones the candidates are getting the funds from, to go releasing propaganda/PR type messages to "motivate them" to vote against the other guy, etc.... If he wins, he will have arguably bought the election, from money he got from abroad... And we can all "thank" the Supreme Court for this in their Citizens United decision, where not only can special interest money from outside a given jurisdiction be included, super PAC money can be unlimited, but there's probably a loophole by which foreigners through multi-national corporations could also contribute to campaigns, aka getting a financial say in US based elections also....

triple dog

The Answer is .....................Illegal Aliens and their spawn.

Keri Eggeman Beckman, Forrest Gump is not overpaid. You and many others are unfortunately UNDERPAID. Wake up and demand to be paid what you are worth!!! The money is there. It's just going to the wrong people for the wrong reasons. After you retire (if you are able to)... I guarantee you will not have FREE medical for life like our beloved people of congress. Lets audit all those crooks before you break unions.

bob...

Here in Connecticut where public sector unions run the schools in a stupifyingly liberal Democrat run state...the educational "achievement gap" between urban and suburban students is the absolute worst in the nation...and this is a big money place to live.

Doesn't seem like the poor folks in the cities are getting much help from the politicians those very same poor folks are voting into office. And this educational failure cannot be blamed on those "right wingers" you despise so much. And that's no 'lie' !

To Eric60watts who stated:

"I have never felt that the unions were actually in business for me or my co-workers, but for those who controlled them. I believe that for a union to actually succeed, no one should draw a salary for their service. Have them run by actual worker's making the same as everyone else, who are doing it because they believe in it, and not for the large salary that goes with it"

Replace the word "UNION" with the word "Government"... You just described how the United States SHOULD work. Nice job!! And you're against Unions???

tony-268769, #4.22

Our Sunday Star Tribune newspaper ran an article examining why the money allocated under No Child Left Behind for tutoring assistance hasn't improved test scores over the past decade. Guess what? The private corporations paid under the law aren't actually teaching the kids who need the help but they are enriching their executives. It's a profitable venture for those private tutoring firms who get to charge struggling school districts for services that often aren't even delivered. Some of these districts had to cut educational assistants in order to pay for the private tutoring corps. So you see, it IS the "right wingers" to blame for the continuing failure of many schools.

Breaking news from the Milwaukee Sentinel, Tim Russell, Walkers top aide, who embezzled over $60,000 from the veterans, is talking and is about to stick to Walker. Diane Wink is about to talk as well, look out Scottie, your about to be indicted.

Nuardormac,

I live in Wisconsin and find your suggestion offensive. Are you trying to say we are so stupid that we are unable to make decisions for ourselves, or are you saying that we should be forced to think the way you do. As for the money, who cares, all it has done is annoy the daylights out of all of us and have turned us off towards watching any political commercials. If I want to find out something I look it up through the internet through independent resources, since not one new station will ever do something so novel as report the news in a truthful manner. Or are you one of the union thugs that feel we should be forced to join the union if we like it or not. Personally I would never vote for anyone but Walker during this recall, and not because I support him, but because I feel that this recall is just the actions of spoiled people and the union throwing fits because we did not vote their party line. This is a abuse of a system that was set up to get rid of a politician that was corrupt or violating the law, not to get rid of one that you have a problem with his ideology.

Wow, the lies, speculation and flat out BS is showing how desparate the Unions and thier Democrat buddies are. They are going to lose and lose big. Everyone who wants to preserve our Constitutional rights and our country must get out there and vote for Walker. This will signal the end of our jobs being driven overseas by outrageous demands. Public workers have survived for over a hundred years without a union and were better off since the bad workers could be gotten rid of . GET out there Wisconsin and vote for WAlker.

Tbenton

Brilliant and well said post!

If unions are the bees knees, why don't they purchase 1 buisness and make it a role model buisness? Then their can be no bitching and everyone will be happy, that is untill the unions want more, because they always want more!

Corporate America = Modernday Slavery

To make myself clearer Democrats don't have A solution.

Do wish we had Republicans.

Abraham Lincoln was a Republican.

Now we have corporate parties. I do believe they all sit at the same table playing the same game just with different agendas.

Why is party affiliation a must have on the ballot?

More breaking news http://progressive.org/legal_cloud_gathers_over_walker.html

Federal Investigation, not only when he was County Exec, but as Gov too, more illegal activities.

RECALL RECALL!

Corruption that has been tied to some unions in the past is not reason to completely end labor's right to organize now in the 21st century. And the problem with ending unions in the public sector is this would allow compete decimation of organized labor in the private sector.

Keri Eggeman Beckman -- We are well aware of the GOP/Teabagger Race to the Bottom, or plutocrat Romney's Social Darwinism of every man, woman, and child for his/herself. Why would anyone subscribe to such an nightmare existence? Especially when we know it is not necessary, and that when the middle class and working poor do well, everyone does well including businesses and the rich.

Checks and balances in a democracy comes in many forms. We need at least two parties -- Not the one-party oligarchy Scott Walker and Paul Ryan fight for -- Yes, a one-party system by destroying the other Party's ability to compete fairly, thereby having opposition in name only. This is what "divide and conquer" is about, and destroying unions are only one part of the plan. Cooperation = prosperity.

Stand up for democracy. Stand up labor's right to organize. Stand up for yourself.

BlueCollar1103 -- The data and facts are there for those who open their eyes to see. Just the stats on what CEOs earn in comparison to employee wages alone are yet another indicator of the skyrocketing gap between rich and poor in this country.

If anything, what we need are unions back in the private sector. It's at 6% now or some very low percentage. Wages have gone down with reduction in unions. And the economies in right-to-work states versus states with unions, or areas with minimum wage versus living wages, and on and on -- One can see it is all just a Race to the Bottom.

Those in the rightwing Echo Chamber of FIXED News and Hate Radio (the mouthpiece of the oligarchy), are brainwashed to vote against their own best interests. Disturbing really.

I have no problem with unions, I have family members who are, and the unions have done a lot of good in the workplace.

That being said, when my income is decreased due to the economy by more than fifty percent and I have to suck it up, it is only fair that those that have incomes derived form taxation understand that I have less to give and should take a cut as well. It is not my fault, it is not theirs, it is the reality. I find it sad that those who's existence is based on receiving wages earned from taxation of others that they have no compassion for those paying taxes.

ITripleDogDareYou!

bob-1008224

Hey Lloyd...Texas has no teacher's unions. And it ranks 47th in the nation for education. You America hating right wingers have all the lies, just no facts

My home state of California does have teacher's unions (the most powerful in the country) and is 49th or 50th in the nation for education, depending on which poll you look at. That's with being 21st in spending per child. How do you reconcile those facts?

Hey I am a Texas Teacher and I am not in a union. Massachusetts has a Teacher's union and is NUMBER ONE in the country, can you reconcile that? Finland has the best education performance in the world and has the strongest teachers union that there is, how can you reconcile that?

Now you see how that republican rhetoric doesn't lead us anywhere?

Perhaps the unions need to back up from this and do some honest reassessment. The fact is that since the time Wisconsin no longer required teachers to join the union, the union has lost well over 50% of their membership. People tend to pay for things they perceive as adding a lot of value to them, so why would over 50% of the members bolt? I am sure the union people with their heads buried in the sand will say it's as simple as people won't pay for something they don't have to pay for, but I believe it runs much deeper than that. The average union member would have no problem with their dues going to benefit them and their workplace... to make their lives better. But a lot of union members really resent being forced to pay dues, and then see the unions spend the money on things like:

• Fat cat membership perks and topheavy union leadership structures
• Massive political handouts to political candidates NOT of the member's choice (not ALL union members want to automatically support democrats).
• Handouts to other unions to fight legislation halfway across the country
• Money for occupy movements and any other liberal cause.

The bottom line is, a LOT of members feel like the unions waste their money, just as the taxpayers feel the government wastes theirs. And you know what? WHen given a choice, over half of them balked at paying.

The unions need to take a serious look in the mirror and ask themselves, "How can we REALLY add value to our members?" If they would lower their dues to reasonable levels, cut their leadership ranks, quit lining their pockets with perks, and focus on making the jobs of their members better (instead of throwing money at every liberal cause), they would have much higher participation. THey KNEW this is what would happen, and it DID.

This recall election is not a battle of ultimate good against pure evil. It is a litmus test of peoples attitudes towards unions and organized labor.

Whatever comes of the election, it will represent the will of the people of Wisconsin, which has to be a good thing. I personally favor retentionof public agency unions' right to bargain collectively, but if the people of Wisconsin feel differently, that should reflected in the public policy decisions of the state government.

Good Bye Middle Class. Been a good ride. What a shame my kids won't acchieve what I have.

dman-353357

I don't know if it is a litmus test of peoples attitudes in general. It may be one of unions and organized labor in respect to government though. When times were good, this was not an issue, and since times have turned, the taxpayers expect skin in the game from those that pay none.

Laura,

Next time you post something as newsworthy, please use a news source that's reputable, not a politicle mouthpiece posing as a news source.

Bob

Wisconsin Teachers are in the top ten in pay, but the education results were less than mediocre.

And Bob the union means nothing. Almost all States Washington DC is the perennial last place dwell. It is unionized, and pays the most per student to be in the cellar.

And Bob - here is the source of the jaded information you are trusting - ripped apart as it should be.

http://www.theyoungturks.com/story/2011/2/23/050/26914/Diary/Students-in-States-Without-Teachers-Unions-Get-Lower-SAT-ACT-Scores

The Middle Class is counting on you Wisconsin, GET OUT AND VOTE, if all those that signed for the recall will vote then Walker is gone! Show them that "We The People " will not take it anymore.

Hey bob-1008224, Not sure where you get your facts from, Possibly the Democrates book of lies. Texas in 2010 ranked 31st in education just below the national average. and in 2011 Texas ranked 24th. So it would seem to me Texas is improving their education system. Typical democrate using lies to justify their false beliefs!!

And to you, yomero1994, Believe what you want, We are a free nation. But unions in this country have outlived their usefulness. Unions only cover up the poor performance of teachers that only hide behind the unions and do nothing to inmprove a students education. The problem in this country is Unions and Government that feel the need to dumb down the testing and performance ratings just to make education look better.

Union members are supposed to be working class, not middle class. The middle class are the employers, owning the small businesses that employ 70% of all American workers. They are the professionals, lawyers and doctors. They are the middle managers in the Fortune 500. They aren't the people who work paycheck to paycheck for someone else. Those are the working class, the union members, who are not now, and never have been, the middle class.

Why do NON-UNION oil workers make $100,000 a year in Texas and ND when we are all being raped at the pump.

High wage = high prices.

NON-UNION WAGE CUTS NEED TO BE THE NEW FOCUS OF REPUBLICANS.

END the 40 hour workweek and overtime. Those federal regs destroy American companies ability to compete. Why pay an american worker $10, $15, $20+ an HOUR when they can pay a Chinese worker $1 an hour?

REPEAL the 40 hour workweek

REPEAL overtime pay

REPEAL the minimum wage

BAN OSHA

BAN National Labor Relations Board

American workers GREED is what is driving our companies and jobs to China.

A $2.00 an hour wage will bring jobs back home.

Vote Republican and Go Walker!

ALL workers wages, NON-UNION and UNION, PRIVATE and PUBLIC sector, need to be brought down under control.

DB Akron

so you are for or against unions? i ask because you say you are not but your source is. seriously did you even read the source? well geuss anything you say can no longer be taken seriously anymore. i mean way to @!$%# up big time buddy.

Unions represent the American worker, Walker represents the corporate America and low wages,no retirement, no safe working conditions, no health care for workers. Duck Tape said it all. Are you for a better America or an American China.

duck tape

ummm no what we need is a larger middle class again. remember the 50's 60% middle class with thousands of trained disciplined WW2 vets being paid through college on the government dime. now if only there wasn't that damned jim crow racism crap then i would consider it the best era of American history.

@Duck Tape - Are you kidding me?! A $2 an hour wage? When you show me how to support a family on $2 an hour in the US, then I'll take you seriously. But that's what you have to live on too. That's $320 a month if you work a 40 hour week BEFORE taxes. That doesn't even cover half my rent and I live in a very modest place.

How about just boycotting American companies that choose to use foreign workers for everything but their corporate offices. Sounds like a better plan to me. Then maybe some decent companies, with honest management and fair business practice will succeed in the US and these corporate cronies can be the ones in the unemployment line.

And you don't need unions for that. Just don't spend your money with companies that don't pay their workers a fair wage for a days work.

So sick of this waste of money recall BS...... Let Walker serve out his term, after all he was elected BY THE PPL! Cracks me up all this talk about the Republican Greed and wasting money; yet spending 9 million dollars on a recall so your paychecks can be bigger seems totally ligit?!?!? Comical!

This is simple Genographics folks, have you noticed Walkers eyes"one is three inches lower..

duck tape, are you joking? i mean, really, was your post meant to be sarcastic? because if it was, i all there, but otherwise, you are CRAZY! if you want to work for $2.00 a day, knock yourself out, but i want to get paid what i am worth, and i am worth a heck of a lot more. yeah, they can pay chinese $2.00 an hour and they have their children working, and they work until they die. we are supposed to be evolving into BETTER human beings who CARE about one another. i assume by your post you're an atheist, which i could understand, although i wouldn't want to insult atheists because most of the ones i know are must more caring about others. if you are a christian then you better stay out of open spaces cuz God's gonna getcha!

the problem with getting rid of unions is that there would be nothing to keep businesses from doing exactly what ducktape is suggesting. if all of them decide to lower wages across the board, what will we do about it? go on strike? yeah, right. you can't see the forest for the trees, my friends. look at the last thirty years. just take a moment to really think about how things have gone. think about your friends and relatives. have your wages gone up to keep track with inflation? no, they haven't and even if you work for a union, you're bargaining power has deteriorated because, unlike the right would like you to believe, unions are no longer filled with mob bosses who threaten businesses with violence, they have to Bargain and businesses have become unwilling to compromise. why? because, they figured something out several years ago, during the Reagan era. they could move their workforce out of the country and people here would whine and cry and then STILL buy their goods! but, what it helped create over the last few decades is a high unemployment, high anxiety amongst workers and desperation. now, they decided to start bringing the jobs back to the U.S. because workers overseas are finally beginning to see that they are worth more than bags of rice, and it is no longer cost effective to ship work overseas. but, what they are finding is that they can now demand that the same workers they left hanging ten years ago, work for half the wages they were making before...and the workers will do it. why? because the unemployment has become so high and people are so desperate that they are willing to work for any wages under any conditions just to care for their families. AND we keep buying the products so the owners stay rich!

now you have politicians and businesses and right wing organizations fighting to lower the working age (Pennsylvania) and trying to brainwash us all into believing that education is highly overrated. they start by attacking education in this country saying that pubic education is a socialist institution and then they spend millions fighting to take as much money out of public education as humanly possible so that those who can't AFFORD to PAY for their childrens' education get a lousy one. the right wing Republicans are all about doing away with the department of education. they are all about turning education into a for profit institution.

i guess i am just blowing into the wind, because those who understand where this is leading us, don't need me to tell them what they already know. and those of you who are not going to listen, well, there's nothing i can say to help you understand that this push to the right and every man for himself is going to destroy our freedoms, destroy the middle class, turn us into a third world country and our grandchildren will suffer for it. our country is becoming the nation of the Ferengi( look up Star Trek trivia). it will be a country run for and by business and we will be reduced to little more than indentured servants. i don't fear for myself, i'm getting old, but my kids, my granddaughter? i'm really scared that she may not have the opportunity to do something as american as buying a home or seeking her dreams. the radical right is all about morality and God this and God that but they don't understand the simplest of ideals that Jesus tried to teach us. "Love thy neighbor as thyself." instead they believe in 'every man for himself and to H*ll with everyone else."

people who purchase goods from a company with a private sector union can go elsewhere if the product is not to their liking! Public sector union personnel are locked in. Once they are on board you play hell trying to get rid of them! In turn, they use their money garnered from money paid out in taxes by the rest of us to support and elect if possible, someone who will give them even better perks and wages! In this cycle the public sector unions serve the part of a parasite draining ever increasing amounts of money from the rest of us. I have no problems with private sector unions , but I feal that public sector unions have to have some control placed on them for the sake of the rest of us! I own my own home until they manage to tax me out of it!

ductape doesn't understand that even if you are in a Union corporations still profit generously even to the fact they could reinvest in growth..He wants Mega profits its a simple term called Greed.

Those who are complaining about Walker should take a look at what the governor of New York has done to public sector union contracts! Not a peep has been heard about a recall, but off course he is a Democrat!

@jrom77:

Walker barely won the election in 2010, and he will lose tomorrow! If you had all your workplace rights stripped from you, wouldn't you want to do something about it? That's only the beginning of what Walker did to our state, and it's time the people took it back!!!

Back in the olden days, about 30 years ago or so, I was a rather idealistic young person. After studying the evolution of unions in this country in a history class, I remember sitting down with my grandfather and lecturing him on how wonderful labor unions were. As someone who lived through the Great Depression, WWII, etc. he had seen and lived alot. He had been a member or unions and management in his lifetime. He educated me!

You see, he worked for a company that had union and non-union plants. He explained how, due to less red tape, no threat of strike or slow downs impacting revenue, the plants that were non-union actually had better benefit packages than the union shops. He explained that unions were established to give the worker some basic human rights and provide safety and job stability. They were not intended as a way to hold the employer hostage over unrealistic demands.

Watching what has been happening in Wisconsin and other states reminds me of this discussion. First of all, HONESTLY, why does someone who sits on their butt behind a desk all day need to belong to a union? What protections are they being provided with that are not given to ALL employees under federal and state laws? The packages that these folks have is so far and above what the average person gets these days it verges on thievery - especially since it is taxpayer dollars that they are getting.

Being forced to join a union just so you can work is wrong. Being forced to pay that organization that you don't want to belong to is wrong. Being forced to join an organization that has political views that are significantly different than your own is wrong.

To quote Mr. Spock of Star Trek fame - during this time of economic instability and crisis in our country - "The needs of the many outweight the needs of the few".

here is my experience with the right to work laws. I worked for a manufacturing co. here for over 12 years. During the worst time of the recession, our co. profited over $90 million, again ,in the worst economy in decades. When things started to loosen up again, the co. showed its appreciation to all of us hard workers who put in 20 or more hours of overtime every week, buy getting rid of 235 employees and replacing them with scabs they could pay $6 an hour less. If that isn't 100% pure corporate greed, what is? The new workers also get a benefit package 99% of people would consider an insult.

yomero1994

Hey I am a Texas Teacher and I am not in a union. Massachusetts has a Teacher's union and is NUMBER ONE in the country, can you reconcile that? Finland has the best education performance in the world and has the strongest teachers union that there is, how can you reconcile that?

I’m afraid you missed my entire point so I’ll spell it out for you. Bob was arguing that the lack of a union in Texas is the reason it ranks so poorly in education. I countered that with the example of my home state of CA which has the most powerful teacher union in the country and is dead last in education.

So your counter-argument is that MA is first with a union?? My CA example still holds up and proves that the existence of a teacher’s union does not necessarily equate to a good education record. I reconcile your argument by accepting that other factors can be just as important as a teacher's union to the education record of a state. The Finland example doesn't hold water because its a very different system, apples to avacados...

Now you see how that republican rhetoric doesn't lead us anywhere?

If this is true and its only Republican rhetoric, please explain the horrible record of education in CA and NY, which have both been under Democratic control for decades?

The bottom line is no party has all the answers and no party is completely wrong on education. We need some protection for teachers (unions) and we also need to make schools and school districts compete more to provide better services. Good teachers don’t mind districts and schools having to be accountable, especially here in CA. My sister, mom, 2 cousins and aunt are all teachers here and wish for more accountability, if nothing more than to weed out those who get paid the exact same wage and give only 70% effort.

Because we don't know any better. Germany has 30% union membership and outperforms us in manufacturing exports. Americans are fed on a diet of the myth of 'rugged individualism', a fantasy that Wall Street takes to the bank. Being anti-union is a losing proposition for the middle class.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Great comedy!

So, all the people who left the union when they were allowed to "just don't know any better!" Is that really your argument? I just want to be sure I'm quoting your comedy correctly.

Yep. Every country has its myths. Ours is that if you work hard, you'll succeed. WRONG. We killed the labor unions and have had 30 years of no income growth for the middle class. I notice you don't DISPUTE the facts you simply want to HIDE from them

No more middle class if the unions go.

Which is why the Koch brothers and greedy GNOP want to end them now.

They have brought themselves an election worth 65 million dollars and they will drain every once out of it for personal gains. Welcome to the year of the corporate-nationals. By the way run our country not elected officials.

No more middle class if the unions go.

Which is why the Koch brothers and greedy GNOP want to end them now.

The funny thing is, the middle class is the driving force behind the economy. Killing off the middle class will completely collapse the economy, I can promise you that.

With no middle class, who's going to buy all those goods? That will lead to more layoffs, more in poverty, which in turn means less consumption, more layoffs....need I continue? Open your eyes, this has only been going on since Reagan.

Can someone explain to me why so many employees are leaving the union (AFSCME) if the unions are so necessary?

How does one miss such an obvious answer? Union membership is down because the governor eliminated the ability of the unions to negotiate labor contracts. Why continue to pay dues to an organization that can no longer, by law, represent your needs.

Why continue to pay dues to an organization that can no longer, by law, represent your needs.

Does this mean that you would support ballot measures in other states that would end forced unionization and forced dues collection? That is assuming, that the unions in other states can "represent your needs". I am sure that if folks were given a choice, they would still choose that union right?

China, India, Brazil, Singapore, and other "emerging" economies are building robust middle classes, and that's the target for American-based companies. They will build even more manufacturing facilities in these places and earmark their products for local consumption. The financially crippled American consumer won't be needed anymore to generate demand.

Americans make up only one-sixth of the global population - not a significant amount. And another point worth making: America's middle class was generated by the post war manufacturing boom, with unions being a big part of that boom. America built American prosperity from within. But these days prosperity is a zero sum game. Prosperity abroad is being achieved by raiding America of it's workforce, and the corporations involved in offshoring are complicit in this scheme.

Maybe some day there will be an equilibrium established where there will be a world wide underclass overseen by the big multinational corporations and their political stooges. This will represent an unstable situation.

Adam Smith, in "The Wealth of Nations" predicted that capitalism was flawed because greed would set in and big companies would take over smaller companies - a sort of big fish eat the little fish and bigger fish eat the big fish scenario. Eventually, there would be nothing left but huge monopolies with fewer customers, and the system would collapse. I am not an Adam Smith scholar, and don't necessarily see it that way, but I do see a continuing erosion in living standards in this country. And I also see a lot of corporate mergers and hostile takeovers, which is good for Wall Street and institutional investors, but that usually involves significant job losses. I don't see any improvement anytime soon.

Yep. Every country has its myths. Ours is that if you work hard, you'll succeed. WRONG. We killed the labor unions and have had 30 years of no income growth for the middle class. I notice you don't DISPUTE the facts you simply want to HIDE from them

OK, so you're saying people, when given the choice to be in a union or NOT be in a union, and they choose NOT to, it's because they don't know what know what's good for them. Check.

So all the successful people lets say, in the 10% or better, are only successful because of unions? You mean all the middle class people in America are there just because their unions put them there? How do you explain people making their livings in the right-to-work states? Oh that's right, you can't.

You're the one running from facts, Spraky. I'll post them again:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304821304577436462413999718.html

Wisconsin membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees—the state's second-largest public-sector union after the National Education Association, which represents teachers—fell to 28,745 in February from 62,818 in March 2011, according to a person who has viewed Afscme's figures.

Deal with it. You're wrong. Despite what MSNBC and CBS and CNN tell you, people DON'T WANT UNIONS. If they did, there wouldn't be a mass exodus from them the minute they're given a choice to participate in a union or not.

In WI it was because collective bargaining was legislated away from most of the public sector unions, along with banning union dues from being taken out of paychecks, and also requiring unions to recertify every year.

State governments should have nothing to do with collecting dues for union management....what a joke !

germany also doesn't have all the regulations and red tape that America has. here's a classic example of how unions are hurting america. brainwashing the weak minded and choosing politics over their dues paying members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkuTm-ON904

Everyone should have the right to join or not join a union.

Unions were a needed evolution in the early days of the industrial revolution. Many laws, safety standards, and better treatment of the individual have come from Unions. In the same respect, many of the higher costs of goods and services have come from unions and their demands. They have caused great companies to fall. They are an active political force. Their main purpose is the survival of the Union and then the employee. Many companies have had the foresight to try to operate by keeping their employees content by offering them a voice, asking for suggestions, and keeping up others with a competitive wage.

Unions have made it harder to fire the non-performing worker and have slowed the performance of the over-achiever. Unions standardize reward and performance. It gives security even when undeserved. They equalize every worker.

In the competitave bidding process, they are bullies and threaten picketing and potential PR nightmare for businesses that have had an open bidding process. Those that are not a part of unions ( independent contractors) are pushed out.

If that is what you seek, then join a union. Does the good out way the bad? I don't know?

They retired early to get their pensions before Walker uses the money for his defense fund! The Jonh doe investigation is about him!! Whay would Walker set up a defense fund if he is not the target!

Bob,

To dispel your myth. I used to own a business and stupidly allowed the union to set foot in my doors. After four years my production was down by 34% and I started to loose money, and before that I was the highest paying business of my kind in the area. You know what I did, I fired everyone, told the union to go to hell and went to work just me, the only person working. And you know the sad truth, I made more money then when I have 76 employees and a union that did not care if I ran out of business, they just wanted more money because of greed. Then when I shut down and down sized to just myself they cried in outrage when I told them they were the ones that got themselves fired because I could no longer stay in business paying what I did for the little work I got.

Those trying to make the argument that the people elected Scott Walker, and though he pulled a bait and switch should be stuck with Walker -- If Wisconsin's laws allowed the stripping of union bargaining rights to be voted on as a prop before going into law, this recall would not be necessary. This was the case with Kasich in Ohio.

Each state is set-up differently. Right now the Emergency Manager anti-democracy crap in Michigan takes the cake. But suffice it to say that all this crap is coming from Teapublican governors and state legislators in red states.

Stand up for democracy, and throw the Teapublicans out!

@newdayDAWNING...RETURNED, I work for a small business without a union. I have worked here for 5 years as a technician start at $11/hr now at $14/hr. I get 15 days paid time off and 15 days paid vacation plus Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (and usually the day after because it just doesn't make sense to come back unless production is going bad), Christmas and New Year's Day off. Tell me, where do I need a union to "bargain" for me? (please keep in mind while replying I do work for a small business. I know that differential can be an issue)

The Middle Class is counting on you Wisconsin, GET OUT AND VOTE, if all those that signed for the recall will vote then Walker is gone! Show them that "We The People " will not take it anymore.

Hey, Middle. "The people" have and are speaking. We can't afford your union BS.

Got Work?

SSPerfectChaos,

The only reason you are getting those benefits is because of unions even though you're not in one.

Once the Republicans and greedy corporations get rid of all the unions believe me, you won't be getting those vacation days.... and you'll be getting minimum wage if there is still one.

Why do NON-UNION oil workers make $100,000 a year in Texas and ND when we are all being raped at the pump.

High wage = high prices.

NON-UNION WAGE CUTS NEED TO BE THE NEXT NEW FOCUS OF REPUBLICANS.(after we destroy these unions)

END the 40 hour workweek and overtime. Those federal regs destroy American companies ability to compete. Why pay an american worker $10, $15, $20+ an HOUR when they can pay a Chinese worker $1 an hour?

REPEAL the 40 hour workweek

REPEAL overtime pay

REPEAL the minimum wage

BAN OSHA

BAN National Labor Relations Board

American workers GREED is what is driving our companies and jobs to China.

A $2.00 an hour wage will bring jobs back home.

Vote Republican and Go Walker!

Duck Trap why do exec's make 7 figures? Because they're honest? You are brainwashed!

newdaydawning - returned,

People who ascribe to the Tea Party are Tea Party members, or Tea Party endorsers. The name calling certainly didn't prevent the routing of the democrats last November. Your name calling means nothing. These are people that work and have worked hard for what they have; and they want to keep it - not like the little destructive occupiers or entitlement wannabe's. Protest, whine, tear up what others have worked and paid for; and somehow feel justified that you've been wronged. You've never run a business of your own, have you? No, I'd absolutely bet not.

Laugh all you want (by your own words). It would be my guess that's probably the extent of your ambitions anyway.

There's that name again new day. You and your like minded friends use it frequently to describe others. Is it meant to deflect from, no doubt, your own personnel habits! I have nothing against private sector unions but the parasites have to be reined in!

As for someone being a scum bag, I bet all of your retirement money is invested in the most profitable company you could find regardless of whether it was unionized or not!

"Quit accusing decent people, teachers, firefighters, police, EMT workers, Search and Rescue of being lazy and corrupt. Because when you need one of those workers, especially in an emergency, they might not be there for you"

I pay my taxes for this kind of service. I don't pay my taxes to pay for the pensions of people who retire at 55 and collect almost full salary for another 5o years. These people you mention here are corrupt because they are union bought off thugs. They all think they are entitled! My money is theirs! Your money is theirs! I hope Scott Walker wins the election because if he doesn't we Americans are screwed. Walker is doing a great job and those union ba$tard thugs have recalled him because he is doing the job he was elected for and not for anything corrupt. I thought in America you were only recalled if you did something corrupt!! Unions are nothing but fronts for communism! Bring out your union baseball bats and beat the crap out of those who oppose you! Unions leaders are the most crooked ba$tards in this country and the world. Unions are why the world is crumbling. Unions have more power than 'we the people'. We need to take our power back!!!!

@ against union thievery - seriously???? "These people you mention here are corrupt because they are union bought off thugs?" "Unions leaders are the most crooked....in the this country" "Unions are nothing but a front for Communism"???? WOW!!!

I respect other's opinions but when you call a teachers (my wife), police, firefighters and EMTs thugs - the respect is gone.

And thats the problem with the country today - not that you and I differ in thoughts or philosophy - but that instead of having a level headed discussion where we may learn something from one another, one party decides to demean and undermine the opposing party's views.

My wife works hard for the small salary she has. She gets lousy benefits, a year to year contract with a set 2% raise and way more work focusing on standardized testing than teaching to each individual child's needs. She works at home 3-4 hours a night simply to provide the necessary instruction to each child.

She is a thug? Her Union is led by individuals more corrupt than those in such wonderful American institutions as AIG? Goldman Sachs?

When did we turn on the people that make this country run? When did start protecting businesses and start chastising the hardworkers in this country, union or non union, that have not received raises in years?

AS with all organizations, there is corruption in unions - without a doubt. Things may need to be modified in some - but that does not change the fact that they are meant to protect the worker from the corporations that because of their nature - try to provide less pay and less benefits to ease the bottom line. Which we are now apparently considering a noble effort while the thugs like my wife try to steal their $35k salaries away from these innocent and benevolent companies.

At the end of the day - people like you prevent the evolution of the business world. I may have my own ideas- but I can talk about them with people who do not share my views without throwing around harsh attacks. Its called discussion or negotiation - something we are stripping away from the middle class because citizens like you have become so misinformed that you have forgot the meaning of the word. Maybe thats why unions are a thought of as bad now - because they negotiate for the middle class to protect them.

Contrary to popular belief, most public pensions are not paid by the gov't or the taxpayers. The workers fund the pension through weekly contributions and the gov't typically is asked to match said contributions. However, the gov't typically doesn't match said contributions because if the pension goes belly-up the gov't has to raise taxes to fund the pension. Therefore they use the money they are supposed for contribute to the fund on other things. It's a gamble that usually works in the gov't favor. Meanwhile, the vast majority of these pensions are invested and over time have got a good return on their money even without the Gov't contributions. The pension paychecks DO NOT come out of the Govt coffers, they come out of the investments made from the fund. Therefore hardly any of your tax dollars go toward funding the public employee pensions.

The GOP has wisconsin and most other republican state believing it is Unions that are usurping money. If any of you have kept up with what goes on in China you would know that the workers there are now making as much as the American worker and due to that Corporations are looking to come back to the States because the labor cost there added to shipping is costing them more. Corporations are behind the republicans in the hopes of gaining cheap labor once the unions are ousted. This is the primary goal of the Republicans. And they need it done soon as the Corporations want to start moving back by 2015.

Do you know what that means? They want slave labor.... are you ready for that?

Thank you bohoops for clearing that up for folks on this post. The money is earned by firefighters, police and teachers and then with the money earned, it is invested in pensions. At that point the public cannot dictate how that money is invested or saved. Public employees are NOT the enemy here. Everyone should ask though, who benefits when people "think" public employees are the enemy?

If any of you had heard Walker's testimony to Congress, Kucinich got him to admit that getting rid of collective bargaining saved no money for the budget in Wisconsin. He did this because he's a political climber who wanted to create a Republican monopoly in Wisconsin. I see some of you are willing to work for slave wages like they pay in China. Might I suggest that you sit down with pen and paper and see how much of your lifestyle you can maintain being paid two dollars an hour.

The only reason you are getting those benefits is because of unions even though you're not in one.

More than 50pct of union members are public sector employees, which has no bearing on the experience of someone working for a small business in the private sector. Even the pride of the liberals, FDR thought that collective bargaining for public sector employees was wrong, and many Federal employees dont have that privilige either. In many cases public sector employees act as managers as well as employees, they are on both sides of the bargaining table, having elected their own guys. Union membership in private sector has been declining for many years, regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats were in office.

I don't think anyone can blame the people of WI for trying to recall the snake that tried to put one over on them. There's a reason Walker didn't mention any of this while he was campaigning- because he would have lost. I know that union labor is expensive, yes. Non-union labor is expensive too. Simply paying your workers is freaking expensive. Still, has anyone heard an executive from any company complaining that he/she hasn't had a raise in 10 years? There's a difference in complaining about not getting a raise when you already make 90K/year, and complaining when you've been making 30k/for ten years without a raise. Our crippled economy has been the best excuse for employers to take money away from workers, and they are not giving it back.

Judging from some of the posts on here, if any one of you Walker supporters is not an upper level executive or retired, you're all idiots. This is a slippery slope my friends. It's a battle of money vs. working people. If money wins here, the rest of us, including any Walker supporters, should resign to making creative use of the wages we currently earn- because we are not getting our money back.

I see some of you are willing to work for slave wages like they pay in China.

Since GM has come out of bankruptcy, half of the new hires are in China, so it doesnt really matter what wages employees are willing to accept. And in order to make money selling sub compacts in the U.S., the union had to accept a wage of 14 dollars an hour from GM. Their subcompact is the only subcompact actually made in the U.S., but in order to do so the workers get less than half of what the other workers at GM make. Its nothing to do with Republican or Democrat, though the GM "deal" was done under a Democrat administration.

To dispel your myth. I used to own a business and stupidly allowed the union to set foot in my doors. After four years my production was down by 34% and I started to loose money... blah, blah, blah

I call BS! C'mon, give us the name of the company. If this is indeed true, then it should all be a matter of public record. Give us the name of the company, let us research the particulars and judge for ourselves.

You say you owned your own business and the unions destroyed it. C'mon, put the name of the business out there and we'll see. Did the unions really destroy you? Or did your own stupid business management run the company into the ground?

Enough anecdotal evidence! Give us some facts!

Scott Walker DID NOT campaign on removing collective bargaining rights! HE NEVER MENTIONED IT while a candidate. Check this link at politifact Wisconsin.

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2011/feb/22/scott-walker/wisconsin-gov-scott-walker-says-he-campaigned-his-/

He is NOT just some altruistic guy who was trying to balance the state budget. He came in with a secret agenda to destroy unions. He has collected over 31 million $$ for his recall election and you know that's not coming from grandmas and soccer moms sending him 10 dollars each. So sugardaddy billionaires (Koch brothers) are just fine with him but union members are communists in his book.
Then you have Diane Hendricks from the "divide and conquer" video. She is worth almost 3 BILLION dollars but yet she is still not a happy person. What would make her happy? To see the chance for a middle class lifestyle taken away from most of the public by getting rid of all unions, public and private. It is also noteworthy that this woman somehow paid no state income tax last year. How do us commoners get that deal? These millionaires/billionaires will get even richer when they can pay everyone minimum wage with zero benefits (and get nice tax breaks while doing so).

Unions DON"T protect or help the middle class. The government now has OSHAregulations, Minimum wage laws, equal opportunity laws, and the Federal Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The unions only purpose now is to try and get members so it can get revenue in which it uses to try and buy politicians. Unions are now nothing more then a special interest group just like the Airline Industry, the Energy Sector, the Medical field, and now Union Labor. They talk about the middle class but they were against Public employees in Wisconsin paying a small share of their retirement and health cost (Still less of a percentage then what most private sector employees pay) and instead wanted the State to lay off hundreds of teachers to pay for short falls in the budget. They spend money on politicians who support illegal immigration, high taxes, more regulations, all of which hurt businesses. Unions are nothing more then a money raising tool for Democrats, they don't care about the employees they represent and they especially don't care about the Business or Public Sector field they cover. Teachers unions, and police unions have made it harder to get rid of bad teachers and bad cops which has contributed to poor education and police departments that run like Federally funded gangs.

There is a need for Unions if they want to get back into the business of employee protection and get out of the business of being Democrat political shills.

If Obama did for the Country what Walker did for Wisconsin, we would be out of this economic mess that his failed economic policies have only made worse. With Walker winning today, it will set a path for other states to get back on track. Lower decifit and lower unemployment.

Judging from some of the posts on here, if any one of you Walker supporters is not an upper level executive or retired, you're all idiots.

I know a lot of Wisconsin teachers who would of lost their JOBS if the unions had gotten their way who are in full support of what Walker did.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/walker-s-vindication_577310.html

Emily Koczela had been anxiously waiting for months for Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill to take effect. Koczela, the finance director for the Brown Deer school district, had been negotiating with the local union, trying to get it to accept concessions in order to make up for a $1 million budget shortfall. But the union wouldn’t budge.

“We laid off 27 [teachers] as a precautionary measure,” Koczela told me. “They were crying. Some of these people are my friends.”

On June 29 at 12:01 a.m., Koczela could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The budget repair bill​—​delayed for months by protests, runaway state senators, and a legal challenge that made its way to the state’s supreme court​—​was law. The 27 teachers on the chopping block were spared.

don'tlikehypocritesSSPerfectChaos,

The only reason you are getting those benefits is because of unions even though you're not in one.

Once the Republicans and greedy corporations get rid of all the unions believe me, you won't be getting those vacation days.... and you'll be getting minimum wage if there is still one.

You forgot to include the bull@!$%# scare tactic of "throwing grandma off the cliff".

"Throw the Koch paid Bum Out"

in my years of work experience i have found union workers lazy and not self motivating.

the attitude of it's not in my job descrition really shines tyhrough!

Imagine what Unions could do to help middles class employees, schools, pensions, health cost, and budgets restraints if it didn't spend all of it's money on losing campaigns.

Who said this vote is strictly about unions? You have the GOP extreme mentality at work here if allowed to continue. Common people will lose more then you think if Walker is allowed to continue. He has just started his hacking and hewing. Only the super rich will benefit and common citizens of these United States will be left flipping the bill and start to lose what made this country great.

JustSlapMeIn WI it was because collective bargaining was legislated away from most of the public sector unions, along with banning union dues from being taken out of paychecks, and also requiring unions to recertify every year.

The legislation did not "ban" union dues from being taken out to paychecks. What it did was give the option for the person receiving that pay to opt in or opt out of having dues taken from their paychecks. Most chose to opt out. $40 a pay is a lot of money to people now days so most would chose to opt out.

strmz,

Your post was nothing more then a campaign slogan. "Hacking" and "hewing", "common citizens", "super rich" are nothing but buzz words. You brought no facts or data to the table, and you can't dispute what many on this thread have asserted which is Walker saved teachers jobs, lowered unemployment, and balanced the budget, all good for the state and the "common citizen".

I hope Walker loses today. But whatever happens, this recall has focused attention on union rights and made a lot more people sit up and take notice of what the GOP is trying to do to our middle class workers.

We get the leaders we deserve, don't we? Americans who are apathetic about the political process and who fail to exercise their voting rights will pay a terrible price. This election is helping to clarify that.

CLB that is a very irresponsible statement. You may not understand the issue. Unions are required by law to represent ALL workers under its contract whether or not a member has paid dues. It is illegal for them to hold back benefits to get paid. Essentially the law provides a way for freeloaders to get benefits without putting anything in and letting the rest of the union workers to foot the bill. The government in recent years has past law after law requiring the unions to cover the non-payers while removing their ability to collect their dues. It legalized theft. If you want the benefits you should pay the dues like everyone else. The unions have a huge job to do and can't do it for nothing. It is not welfare so wise up! How would it be if banks loaned money out but when a customer didn't pay it was illegal for the banks to call, contact, take to court, or attempt any means of collection?

How does one miss such an obvious answer? Union membership is down because the governor eliminated the ability of the unions to negotiate labor contracts. Why continue to pay dues to an organization that can no longer, by law, represent your needs.

@RedDevPS - I'm not sure if you were deliberately playing obtuse or if you were just oblivious to both the subtle and the obvious, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt in missing my point.

Walker is a Koch snorting criminal that will sell all Wisconsin's public land and utilities. He wants to privatize the University of Wisconsin. Walker is a...well I can't say it or I'll loose my account and have to start two or three more. This article is twisted lying and cheating. Why don't they have an article titled that the Kochs, pigs and corporate fascists are facing prison sentences when they loose?

I hope Walker loses today. But whatever happens, this recall has focused attention on union rights and made a lot more people sit up and take notice of what the GOP is trying to do to our middle class workers. It has shown how the Democrats are completely controled by Big Labor and don't care how it negatively effects the middle class they will fall in line even if it means less jobs, higher taxes on hard working Americans, and an education system held hostage by Unions.

We get the leaders we deserve, don't we? Americans who are apathetic about the political process and who fail to exercise their voting rights will pay a terrible price. This election is helping to clarify that. Yes, and America can see when a leader like Walker takes on a special interest group to balance the budget, lower unemployment, and save jobs he gets attack by liberals, yet when Obama increases our debt, has unemployment go through the roof, dumps millions of tax payer dollars into Solyndra and "shovel readyjobs we never saw" he gets praised. I'll take Walker's strategy over Obama's any day of the week when you look at performance.

Logic Walker didn't do any of those things. Show your data. What he did was further undermine the already underpaid teaching profession which by all standards is the lowest paid profession to education ratio of all professions. It takes a minimum of six years of college to become a teacher at a cost of 80- 200 thousand dollars. Do the math Einstein! Working at McDs they would be better off. In the meantime the administration, which has always been non-union is raking in the bucks. It requires a high-school education to work for the department of education. Total investment -ZERO! Do the math. So Walker has do absolutely NOTHING to address this issue which is the root cause in the first place. He has not cut the pay of any State Administrative government employee, their hours, their benefits...... So all he has done is steel from the teachers and give to the administration...the people that can't do their jobs in the first place. That is what you consider progress!

I will type this slow so you can keep up.

Unions provide collective bargaining - remove the ability to collectively bargain is removed - why join a union?

Horribly complex I know but try and keep up.

@Mike 416, thank you, Captain Obvious, I apologize that my subtlety flew right over your head.

Seems like you and RedDevPS both failed to grasp what everyone else was understanding as my point. Better luck next time.

One thing I do find interesting, though, is the fact that federal union employees can't collectively bargain either (CSRA of 1978, ironically, passed under a dem president and dem Congress), yet people are still in federal unions. I'd be very curious to see, though, how many are there by choice.

Walkers next agenda..Right to Work, there are still plenty of bills that would crush wages and limit health care coverage for working people in the ALEC playbook. These bills benefit one group only -- the corporate CEOs of Wal-Mart, Koch Industries, State Farm, Exxon Mobile, big tobacco and big Pharma, that fund ALEC and whose representatives sit on ALEC's "Private Enterprise" board of directors. If you are confused on these bills/issues. Look It Up.

Walkers next agenda..Right to Work, there are still plenty of bills that would crush wages and limit health care coverage for working people in the ALEC playbook. These bills benefit one group only -- the corporate CEOs of Wal-Mart, Koch Industries, State Farm, Exxon Mobile, big tobacco and big Pharma, that fund ALEC and whose representatives sit on ALEC's "Private Enterprise" board of directors. If you are confused on these bills/issues. Look It Up.

While wonderful hyperbole, it doesn't explain how people are making very good livings in the right-to-work states, now, does it?

Squidword Union's in the past use to represent their people. They don't now, they represent the Union leaders. 100% of the Union members rarely have a say in what happens in regards to their benefits anymore than the average non-union member has. Companies that are non-union their benefits are negotiated in Human Resources and/or by owners. Union leaders are the Human Resource department of Union Companies.

That said, you evidently don't know the basic rules of Unions. A "non-paying dues member" who does not pay their regular monthly dues to the Union is simply not covered by the Union's rules and bylaws. A person who resigns from the Union is not covered by the union's rules and bylaws and, obviously would not be paying union dues. Each union often has its own rules as to whether such employee can become a "full member" again. So once they stop their dues, its possible they cannot start paying them again & belong. Again depends on the Union. However, the Union cannot harm employee individual pension or other Insurance, ie Life/Health benefits because the employee changed their union status. Because benefit items, regardless of whether they are union or non-union, are re-negotiated on an annual basis anyway. But the Union, no longer represents these individuals if they get fired, demoted, are hurt on the job, and if the Union decides to strike.

Logic Walker didn't do any of those things. So they happened all by themself? Great! Since things just fix themselves we don't need government to help at all.

Show your data. I have already linked to articles and stories showing the data.

What he did was further undermine the already underpaid teaching profession which by all standards is the lowest paid profession to education ratio of all professions. What are you talking about? 1.) If it sucks so bad DON"T BECOME A TEACHER. 2.)I know a lot of teachers and the pay, benefits, job security, and summers off to vacation or take on another job make being a teacher a dream job, so says TEACHERS. (My cousin, uncle, mother in law, and three neighbors - all teachers.)

It takes a minimum of six years of college to become a teacher at a cost of 80- 200 thousand dollars. Do the math Einstein! Working at McDs they would be better off. Well maybe they should get jobs at McDs.

In the meantime the administration, which has always been non-union is raking in the bucks. WRONG - They are UNION. SAA / AWSA / WASDA

It requires a high-school education to work for the department of education. Total investment -ZERO! Do the math. So again, become an administrator instead of a teacher.

So Walker has do absolutely NOTHING to address this issue which is the root cause in the first place. He has not cut the pay of any State Administrative government employee, their hours, their benefits...... So all he has done is steel from the teachers and give to the administration...the people that can't do their jobs in the first place. That is what you consider progress! You can not take from teacher and give to administrative employees without still having a budget deficit. Face it the money wasn't there, hence the "deficit" which is why things were changed. Money that wasn't there can't then be transfered! Your post is just a joke of lies and talking points, save it for the Huffington Post.

I see and hear so many comments from Public Union members who cannot fathom why middle class Americans have turned against them. The problem is that Public Union members have been isolated to a certain degree from the volitility the economy has caused in the Private Sector.

Here's the reality for most Americans for the last 4 years. Stagnant wages, loss of job security, increased health premiums, decreased 401K matches, increased responsiblity, decreased compensation. The private non-union employee is doing the job now that 3 people did 5 years ago and haven't had a raise in as long. They are given "use it or lose it" vacation that they can't take because coverage is so slim. They are tired and cranky and doing whatever they have to do to keep their jobs because this is a terrible time to be unemployeed.

Then they turn on the news after working a 10 hour day and hear that Public Unions are fighting against having their members pay ANYTHING into their health plan. They hear that Union members are outraged that they are ONLY getting a 2 or 3% increase. They hear about teachers who call special needs students stupid being caught on tape and then hear the Union rep defending them and that they have been put on paid leave. They hear about how union member are getting paid triple time for working over 40 hours or holidays and that they are allowed to retire with hundreds of days of sick and vacation time on the books.

They hear all of that and it pisses them off. They say to themselves "why should a cop get to retire and get paid for 5 years worth of vacation and sick time?" "Why can't a teacher pay 10% of their health insurance premium?"

And then it occurs to them, when the unions are fighting "managment" who are they fighting? The middle class tax payer! See it's not like with private sector unions fighting against a corporate hierarchy who is trying to increase profit at the expense of Labor. No one wants teachers to starve or for cops to be burnt out. No one hates public servants. But at the same time, we all have to be willing to compromise to get through the changing economic times.

Even FDR was against public sector unions having collective bargaining rights.

"Meticulous attention," the president insisted in 1937, "should be paid to the special relations and obligations of public servants to the public itself and to the Government....The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service." The reason? F.D.R. believed that "[a] strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to obstruct the operations of government until their demands are satisfied. Such action looking toward the paralysis of government by those who have sworn to support it is unthinkable and intolerable."

The time has come for Americans to step up to the plate and no longer think of themselves as Republicans or Democrats; Union or Non-Union; Upper class or Middle class; White collar or Blue collar, etc. We are Americans and our future is dependent on us finding a way to work together and fix this mess we're in. If we remain short-sighted and only look to the next contract negotiation our children won't have to worry about whether or not they join a Union because there won't be any jobs left.

TODAY

Buses load of union cheaters from Illinois are going to Wisconsin to vote against Walker.

You know, I've been union before and this is what I experienced: I made the same wage as the non-union shop down the road. I had to pay for the privilege. My dues WERE used for lobbying regardless of the law. The majority of the workers at our plant were illegal. Bogus ID and SSN's were provided by the union for the small sum of $400. These illegals were paid more for being bilingual, although they only spoke spanish. I was expected by the union to sign over my proxy for voting, and when I wouldn't I wasn't allowed to vote anyway. I made barely over minimum wage while my union rep bought a new car every year and once bragged about her new fur coat. Middle management was investigated once and 3 arrests were made. Eventually, all charges were dropped (amazing!), though.

Because of existing laws, I make a good wage and have the protections I need. I don't need greedy damned unions rummaging in my pocket. I don't have to watch slackers being rewarded while workers get the shaft anymore. I don't have to deal with any of the graft or corruption anymore. Why? Because I'm not union anymore. RAT AND PROUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the recall eletcion is an interesting view into factions and the use of a local issue to promote national political belief. Here are some basic facts about Wisconsin:

State had major fiscal problems, Governor attempted to control budget problems by rewriting union contracts and the state's job procurement policy. National unions(ACLU, SEIU) spent millions bussing protestors from as far as California to Wisconsin to create a mass protest. Those protests lead to millions in damage to the Capitol, illegal doctor's "sick notes" as identified in the national press (but no charges were filed by the state so far as I heard), and a recall election was pushed for.

Since the public displays the number of people at additional recall rallies (including very recent) have fallen off dramatically (hundreds, not thousands) and the money is slowing down. Public support of the Governor is growing and his money is flowing in more and more.

Now the election is upon them and the unions and the national press is distancing themselves and stating: 1. That the governor received a disproportionate amount of out of state financial support., and 2. That he's likely to win, unless their last push in the media to get the vote out works.

So how are we supposed to take the facts. Well, it seems obvious that the established, national unions are trying to flex their muscles and prove their power going into the national election. This would get them even more traction within the White House (eventhough their leaders Trumka and Stern visit often and consult with the President on policy). From the analysis I'm getting it appears that if Walker wins by a small margin the unions can save some face, however if Walker wins by 5-6%+ then the unions are going to look weak.

I believe Bill Clinton called the unions "small governments" in a speech I watched this morning. A slip of the tongue I'm sure, but it seems the unions think they can make policy over our elected, democratic government. Time for them to go the way of the dodo.

Yea, so Walker is to credit for his state's unemployment rate, but Obama is to blame for the national unemployment rate?

It's one or the other, not both.

Another referendum on the Obama legacy.

Romney 2012

Ruken, you define the liberal mentality. Thank you so much. You are right. Obama is to blame for our staggering economy and unemployment rate over 8.3%. Walker is to blame for LOWERING the unemployment rate in WI. Thank you sir.

Obama is the head coach of the NFL. Walker is a college coach. Both have their own records to answer to.

Ruken, you define the liberal mentality. Thank you so much. You are right. Obama is to blame for our staggering economy and unemployment rate over 8.3%. Walker is to blame for LOWERING the unemployment rate in WI. Thank you sir.

So Lloyd, if Walker is to credit for lowering WI, why aren't the other states' governors to blame for not lowering theirs?

After all, the national rate is merely a reflection of the rate of all the states.

Obama is the head coach of the NFL. Walker is a college coach. Both have their own records to answer to.

That makes no sense whatsoever. As I said before, the national rate is reflected upon all the individual states' rates. If Obama is to blame for the bad, he must also be credited with the good.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too.

Ruken,

The other states ARE holding their governors responsible for their unemployment. That's why Gov. Perdue of North Carolina is not running for re-election.

The other state governers should be held responsible for their records as well, however this discussion is about the Walker (and Obama) recall, right?

The other states ARE holding their governors responsible for their unemployment.

Therefore, Obama cannot be blamed for the national unemployment rate then, since it is merely a reflection on the states'; however the governors then with lower unemployment can be credited, and not Obama.

Agreed?

The other state governers should be held responsible for their records as well, however this discussion is about the Walker (and Obama) recall, right?

Indeed. I'm just pointing out some flaws in the discussions. People seem to credit their state government whenever something goes right, but whenever something goes wrong they tend to place blame on a national level.

I would agree if you would agree that all the job creation we saw earlier was due to the now Republican House and not Obama.

Fair enough?

"The other states ARE holding their governors responsible for their unemployment. That's why Gov. Perdue of North Carolina is not running for re-election."

That and the fact the Democrat Party of North Carolina has simply imploded on it's self...can't wait to see the Dems in Charlotte this summer. Now THAT is going to be a party...LOL

Ruken,

Give it up. Obama is the President of the United States. He is responsible for the nation as a whole. Every mayor and governor can tweet their own states to make them more competitive, i.e. taxes, regulations, etc. Each state can attract or run off businesses by their policies, but the major influence comes from the top.

the job creation we saw earlier was due to the now Republican House and not Obama.

So would they not be responsible for the latest job report then?

Ruken,

Give it up. Obama is the President of the United States. He is responsible for the nation as a whole. Every mayor and governor can tweet their own states to make them more competitive, i.e. taxes, regulations, etc. Each state can attract or run off businesses by their policies, but the major influence comes from the top.

Well if Walker can do it, why not other governors? You seem to be a little lacking in your logic there Road Warrior.

Because after all, you said "the major influence comes from the top". Therefore, Obama is at least partially to credit for WI's lower unemployment rate. Which one is it?

Ruken,

Wisconsin made gains inspite of Obama with conservative policies. They stifled the unions. Take California. There is nothing Obama can do to help the state because the state is run by liberals. Wisconsin was like that for the last 30 years, beyond help. Wisconsinites like what their governor has done.

Take California. There is nothing Obama can do to help the state because the state is run by liberals.

Then why does MN, a historically liberal state, have a balanced budget and a thriving economy?

I'll give you a hint: CA is too large for a single state. It has a bigger economy than many nations. The state should really be split into two, if not three states.

Of course if we want to play the stereotype war, I could bring up Mississippi, Alabama, etc.

Unemployment rate when Walker took office 8.7%. May 6.7%.

Curious thing, the Walker unemployment rate keeps going down, even though we have proof that job losses continue under his watch.

Walker claims that in 2011, Wisconsin saw job growth of 23,300 in the private sector. This data was in direct conflict with verified data from the BLS showing a net loss of over 30,000 jobs during the same time period. In the April Jobs Report released by the DWD the day after Walker’s miraculous press release, the verified BLS data shows Wisconsin with a net loss of 6,200 private sector jobs from March-April 2012. Private Sector losses for the year April 2011-April 2012 were 11,100.

If Wisconsinites want a governor that publishes a lower employment rate, regardless of the accuracy of the claim, they own it and they deserve it. Likewise, if they want a governor that makes claims jobs have increased while the data proves jobs have been lost, they own it and they deserve it. Hopefully, the folks involved in the recall effort will prevail and elect a governor that gives the populace the real picture, vs. the picture viewed through rose colored Walker glasses.

http://bdgrdemocracy.wordpress.com/2012/05/24/the-unemployment-numbers-scott-walker-doesnt-want-made-public-while-he-plays-politics/

Ruken,

Check the Minnesota legislature and governors for the last 20 years. It is controlled by Republicans. I'm glad you brought it up because Minnesota is one of few Midwest states that is doing well. The state is getting more and more red like of all the Midwest. Unions out, prosperity in. It remains to be seen if the current Democrat governor can get re-elected or go the same way as Perdue of North Carolina, one and out.

That's funny Road, as the budget wasn't balanced until we elected our current DFL governor.

Wanna try again?

The state is getting more and more red like of all the Midwest. Unions out, prosperity in.

That all depends on your definition of prosperity. An inroads to prosperity for the lower class, and prosperity for the middle and upper class is blue. Prosperity for the upper class only is red.

Ruken,

Good, maybe your Minnesota governor is forced to act like a Republican being pushed by a Republican legisture which has been in power for the last 20 years. He obviously wants to get re-elected. Face it. Minnesota is not the state of Mondale and Humphrey anymore. It's becoming conservative just like Ohio and Indiana. Walker is a sign of things to come in the Great Lakes region. Better pack up your bags and move to Canada.

Red,

You can only have prosperity if there are rich people. If there are no rich people, i.e. Bill Gates, Koch Brothers, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, there would be no jobs and no middle class. Not that hard to comprehend.

Good, maybe your Minnesota governor is forced to act like a Republican being pushed by a Republican legisture which has been in power for the last 20 years.

No, because we actually raised taxes, and cut spending.

there would be no jobs and no middle class. Not that hard to comprehend.

Without any middle class, there would be no jobs for them either. Has it ever crossed your mind that the driving force behind the economy was the middle class?

The Bush tax cuts have been in effect for many years, and the wealth of the highest earners keep drastically outpacing the rest of the economy, so I ask you: where are the jobs?

Ruken,

Yep, kill off the rich and the middle class will thrive. We'll all be happy and have a fair share of zero. LOL

As for your governor raising taxes to balance the budget for one year, we'll see how it works out with businesses by the end of his term. Governor Perdue in NC raised our taxes, too, to balance the budget. The state's unemployment rate climbed to number four and she announced she will not run for re-election.

Yep, kill off the rich and the middle class will thrive. We'll all be happy and have a fair share of zero. LOL

Link me the post where I advocated "killing off the rich". Taxes are lower for the highest brackets than they ever have been.

Road - The issue of comprehension is at the feet of corporate shills, for which you seem to have adopted the spokesman role. Hate to break it to you, but without a strong and vibrant middle class, the billionaires you listed would have no one to utilize their products and line their pockets in gold.

Road Warrior-252445

Ruken,

Give it up. Obama is the President of the United States. He is responsible for the nation as a whole.

Thanks for the laugh. Obama is to blame for the performance of 50 independently elected governors of each state. You people are dim.

57

Obama has never been accountable for the bad, it's always Bush's fault. Bush tax cuts are extinct, Bush is not the President, Obama extended the tax cuts, they are now owned by Obama. Oh, that's right, if you are not in favor of the tax cuts, then they are Bush's. If you are in favor of the tax cuts, then it's thanks to Obama. What a crock of liberal B.S.

@Ruken: Taxes are lower for the highest brackets than they ever have been.

Taxes can't get any lower for the 50% who pay NOTHING, can they?

Flat Tax across the board for everyone!

On Wisconsin!

Corrupted Politicians lies

,

Still Believing that American are so Stupid to See what's happening ?

President Bush spend 2 wars (Off-Book ) trillions to Debt.

President Bush spend Tarp $700 billions(On Book Official ) $16 trillion (Off Book Official) Secret to bailout Corporation -To Debt.

President Bush spend $800 billions as Tax Cut for 1% to Debt

President Bush created Medicare part D : cost $500 billion to Debt

What President Obama did as President to be Big spender than Bush?

The budget projects a $1.3 trillion deficit cut this year, and $901 billion in 2013. But by 2018, the deficit is forecast to fall to $575 billion.

The President $787 billion economic stimulus package to Debt- What is Bigger than this $787 billion to Debt ? GOP you tell me !. If you had forgotten,its the "SENATE JOB" on President Budget that prepared all this expenditure.The President has NO right on spending ANY fund without Both House APPROVAL,except during national emergency.

Then what Qualify him as big spender?Some Project still yet coming to rolls in ,included, Bush Corporation bailout and GOP talking point -solydra all within this budget.

Infact he wanted to do the 4 trillion Cut-for a decade Who Opposed it?

Ans: GOP

President Bush spend 2 wars (Off-Book ) trillions to Debt.

And the U.S. continues to spend money in an expanded war in Afghanistan, so lets get off this "off book" bs, since the wars still reflect in the figures for the national debt, off book or not. What you are spouting is a soundbite, that is all, party slogan, for people with attention spans of gnats. BTW the first thing Obama did was to sign a 106 billion dollar "supplemental" bill to pay for the two wars, off book, as it were, despite saying he would never to that. It would pay to do some research before posting a bunch of inaccurate soundbites. This in no way excuses what Republicans did, but lets not be hypocritcal about all of this, since Democrats are politicians the same as Republicans, they just lie differently.

As far as the TARP is concerned, that was not a cost, since it is being paid back and was successful, something that cannot be said of the stimuless of 2009. And lets face it, many people credit Obama with "saving" GM even though the money came from that evil TARP. You cant have your cake and eat it.

Thank you Jack355.

This is so easy to check. Why hasn't anyone else done so?

Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics web-site (www.bls.gov). Click on Subject Areas->Employment->State and Local Employment. Click on SAE Tables. Find D-1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by State and major industry, seasonally adjusted click on that. The first entry in this PDF file is the total. Look up Wisconsin...

Feb 2011 = 2750.2 (thousands of workers)

Feb 2012 = 2733.3 ( thousands of workers)

A net loss of 16,900 workers!

Unless the state magically added about 50,000 workers in 2 months, Walker's data is suspect.

It is amazing how these union people are constantly grabbing at more and more of our tax dollars with every breath! So many state employees can retire after 20 years of work and receive most of their pay and have health benefits for life. This is being paid for an ever decreasing middle class and on the backs of our children and grand children. Yet, when you take a few goodies out of their gaping maws, they go nuts! I wish that I could be guaranteed a life long pension, but, I don't live in "Fantasyland" like many of these union nuts!

Hey Jack, Lets not make another mistake like "W" again, this war criminal and the GOP-TeaBaggers destroyed this Nation.

Patriotic American USA....your name is a joke. GOP/Teaparty destroying this nation? Keep living in your fanasty land socialist.

Your name says it all, Clueless !!!

RukenYea, so Walker is to credit for his state's unemployment rate, but Obama is to blame for the national unemployment rate? It's one or the other, not both

It is actually both. Yes, as the leader, President Obama's policies or lack of policies are to blame for the current unemployment rate. And yes, Walker should be credited for lowering his State's unemployment rate below the National rate. WI would probably be much lower if Pres. Obama's policies were not interfering with the States.

The same would hold true for those States who's rates are higher than the National rate. They are to blame for not making the changes in their States, like WI, OH, FL etc... Governors have to get those rates down. Policies on the Federal level create problems on the State level, but good Governors can change certain things within their State that help their State. If they do make changes that improve the State, know that those changes would be far better if the Feds would get out of the way.

Just curious, how much did Walker cut his own pay and benefits to save the state money? AND did he cut his buddies benefits and pay too or just the union workers? After all the administration takes the lion's share of the pay....what no pay cuts for them?

Hey jack, when you become literate I may take what you say with more than a grain of salt. As for Walker and his pay, squidword, he gives 50% or more of his pay back to the state.

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2010/oct/29/advancing-wisconsin/group-says-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-scott-walke/

Now stop lying, lib.

lampell, I curious; how are we getting our money back from TARP and how did it "save" GM? When Obama took over GM I lost all of my stock. That stock was given to the unions and China for pennies on the dollar. Seems to me that I got screwed twice, once on the stock and then on my taxes; all for the benefit of a political organization and a repressive communist regime.

Stocks are risky That's called free market. Stop whining and get over it! As for the bank bailouts you'll have to ask Bushy about that one. As for GM a whole lot of employed people are holding up their middle finger for you!

Yo squid, you missed my point; my property(the GM stock) was taken from me and given to someone else. So now I have to worry about my gov't ripping me off and somehow it's my fault? BTW, the chinese don't use the middle finger that way. Just wait until they take away your xbox because it causes obesity; bet you'll be whining louder than anyone......

Oh, squid, BTW, I believe Wisconsin is holding up their middle finger for YOU, lmao!!!!!!!!!!

Then how do federal union employees who can't collectively bargain get by? None of them are middle class?

The constituency for federal unions is quite a bit different than for state unions. Congress generally isn't going to take on federal unions like the cowards and thugs in WI have. WI voters seem to hate the middle class almost as much as their idiot friends in Indiana do.

Congress is taking on WI now? Wow, news to me.

And this is seriously your answer? State workers need union "protection" more than federal workers? Seriously? You're going to have to back up that hyperbole pretty concretely if you want to be taken seriously.

And while you're at it, explain to me why all the right-to-work states aren't impoverished and completely devoid of a middle class. I'll wait patiently and prepare for your next flailing and babbling tantrum.