I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised, but Dave Westlake, the arch-conservative “tea party” Republican who got crushed by Ron Johnson in the 2010 Republican U.S. Senate primary, is organizing an event supporting Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to take away collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin’s public employees. I never pegged Westlake as a rabidly anti-union guy (clearly I was wrong), but apparently he wholeheartedly supports Gov. Walker’s attempts to take away the collective bargaining rights of public employees.
The goal of the event Westlake is organizing is to get 60,000 people to show up and voice their support for Gov. Walker, but I’m betting turnout will be significantly less than that, so let’s have a little fun predicting just how many folks will show up in Madison on Saturday to support Gov. Scott Walker:
[poll id=”13″]
Who is behind this dog and pony show going on in Madison, Organizing for America, they were behind getting the buses of protesters who flooded the state capital of Madison and ran 15 phone banks urging people to call state legislators. This was not about everyady people worried about thier jobs this is really an attaemt of the far left to keep control and continue bankrupting this state and the country. Too bad for them that other states are now ready to follow Wisconsins lead and put in end to union extortion tactics.
So wait, you mean to tell me that none of the folks who showed up in Madison this week were “everyday people” worried about their jobs?
That’s idiotic.
Why are they fighting this bill, simple protection. The bill has in it that the government’s practice of automatically deducting union dues from employee paychecks would stop. For Wisconsin teachers, union dues total between $700 and $1,000 a year. So that means that would put a serioous dent in there vote buying efforts with the DNC.
As a teacher affected by this issue, I need to say that it really isn’t about the money, its about responsibility.
Look at it this way:
Paying 5.9% of my salary toward retirement on a pre-tax basis means I’m taking home about 4.4% less.
Paying 6.2% of health insurance costs is about 2.5% of my salary on a pretax basis, meaning I’m taking home another 1.9% less.
Not paying union dues would my take-home pay by 1.8% more.
Putting all that together, my take-home pay would be reduced by about 4.5%.
In short, I’m willing to take a 4.5% reduction in take home pay in order to know I’m paying my fair share toward retirement and healthcare. If this change takes effect with the next school year, that deduction would be almost perfectly offset by my annual increase.
All of this is more or less equivalent to not getting a raise for this year. Again, its not about the money.
My beef is with the procedure. One side of the state senate is trying to strongarm the other with a numbers game. But, which side is which? The Republicans have the numbers to proceed without the input of the Democrats, but wasn’t that precedent set nationally in the last two years when the tables were turned? This is the new face of American politics.
So which is worse…19 senators trying to run the show unilaterally, or 14 senators trying to do the same?
14 senators who run away from their elected duties.
19 Senators trying to ram something through.
If Democrats were trying to ram something this consequential through in a week, you conservatives would be pitching a fit, but yet when Republicans do it, you’re totally supportive.
I assume you’re replying to notalib, Zach; I am clearly no Republican. Republicans and Democrats could both say what you did about the other side; its all the same. The Democrats have the support of television media, and Republicans have radio media on their side.
But in response to Zach, I hope you see my point. Democrats and Republicans have both been on the upside and the downside of partisan bullying in recent years.
Before anyone jumps on that one, I concede thet conservatives have Fox News and liberals have NPR. The TV/Radio comment is therefore not absolute, just in general.
Zach, “pitching a fit” and leaving the state are 2 different things. When Democrats passed a repair bill last session that raised taxes and did not receive a public hearing, they passed it in 2 days. Did Republicans leave the state then? It’s only “ramming something through” when YOU don’t like it.
Tak a look at what these people are really like, no respect, http://www.flickr.com/photos/althouse/5453784850/in/photostream/
It’s settled. ” How many will they get?” The American Spectator ( the cons publication ) says over 2000.
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/19/tea-party-joins-the-battle-of
Madison police are estimating a total of 60,000 people at the Capitol today.
This website (Wisconsin Radio Network) estimated 55,000 – 70,000
This website (Wisconsin Radio Network) says 55,000 – 70,000
And…surprise, surprise…the liberal-leaning newspaper Wisconsin State Journal says 2,500 to 3,000 showed up on Saturday, citing that the speakers claimed it was 8,000 – 10,000.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_7dac8c9e-3c7d-11e0-a2ae-001cc4c002e0.html
Just to get back to the original post, I was there from 1 to 6 today. The count:
People on the side of middle class rights: ~40,000
Tea partiers/Walker supporters: ~30
Not exaggerating. 30 might be generous.
…and the Wisconsin State Journal reports 2,500 to 3,000
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_7dac8c9e-3c7d-11e0-a2ae-001cc4c002e0.html
Just saw the Carlson comment saying 2000 TPers. Now f-ing way. Spent the day constantly walking around the capitol, occasionally switching directions. No more than 30 TP-ers.
Here’s my link from the Wisconsin Radio Network, which says 55,000 to 70,000
http://www.wrn.com/2011/02/walker-support-gather-in-the-capito/#more-37463
It makes it pretty easy to tell which media outlets skew their stories to one side or the other.
Just saw the Carlson comment saying 2000 TPers. Now f-ing way. Spent the day constantly walking around the capitol, occasionally switching directions. No more than 30 TP-ers. Maybe there were more there before 1:00, but their presence certainly was not felt for long if that’s the case.
Because we all have jobs during the week and we actually go to our jobs we don’t get fake doctor excuses and avoid working. So while teachers continue to teach their students how to be irresponsibly the people who pay their salaries are showing how adults really act.
The tea party rally happened on a Saturday, which the last time I checked, is the weekend.
I said 1,000-5,000. And having been at the Capitol today, that seems about right. MAYBE 4,000. Their crowd didn’t come close to making the street in the one corner they took up.
And they were outnumbered at least 10 to 1 by a lot of people who couldn’t make it down until today, along with the die-hards from earlier this week. The media’s trying to portray it as an even match, but in the real world, it wasn’t close. And no real incidents, either.
When asked by a reporter why supporters were not there during the week a lady replied “we all have jobs, we were working.”
Later she said – but if my job was threatened by cuts from a Governor who connected a dot from the deficit to my job and my coworkers I would fight.
I was there yesterday and I can confirm other reports that the opposition composed mainly of people who were afraid of freedom!
Bob first you are a liar, she did not say what you have posted, but then I am sure you are a union member so it is hard for you to tell the difference between fact and lies. Next the bill saves jobs but if the unions get what they want 7,000 people will lose their jobs, and I will not shed a tear for a single one of them because they would be the ones who were responsible for their job loss.
Liar I AM.
I admit it because almost everything EVERYONE said on this blog is a LIE.
I wish we could all find a common ground but feel that the media, as much as the politicians, and as much as the internet has failed us miserably.
I can hear and understand part of your side, I can hear part of the other side – but in reality there are more than two sides.
I side more with your opponents because I believe they have the higher moral ground when it comes to democracy and freedoms.
I agree with you because I believe in hard work and self sufficiency
I do not agree with the Governor because he does not believe in either position.
He is creating jobs with our tax money by not asking business and corporations to pay their fair share. They are the reason we have a deficit and they need to pony up. All of us do. And I have to say I heard the other people the will pony up and I believe them – that is no lie.
Also I am not a Union member. Never was. I am a business owner, pay taxes, and never asked government to waive my taxes for hiring employees. In a recession that not only is plausible but profitable. Good Businesses like mine will always survive without handouts by government. Large corporations like to think otherwise and they think they are entitled – just like some people do.
Again my apologies for my rants against you, forgotmyscreenname, Mom, and anyone I may have offended.
I am tired of this crazy nonsense and would like to find civility again.
Best to all of you and your families – honestly and seriously! I hope we find ways to support each other and come to a fair, honest solution.
Bob