So sad for Wisconsin today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am not against unions, private or public, provided you are not forced to join one. I think they did great things for the labor movement in this country, and forced the labor laws that we have today. Once they met their goals, they tended to (like all such organizations) get fat and corrupt. personally I'd rather not have to pay the dues.

Please explain your logic more. You are against the public unions in Wisconsin because you think the corruption among the teachers, police officers, and fire fighters lead to the budget crisis in the state? Explain please.

No, I am not AGAINST public unions. I am against collective bargaining with public unions. It is not a true management-labor relationship, and it is not the norm in most public workplaces (i.e., feds don't collectively bargain over these items). Compare the UAW negotiating with GM to a public state union negotiating with local elected officials. They spend 90% of their dues revenues on lobbying those very elected officials (not management, per se) who approve the above-market benefits packages. The GM bosses are not put there by the UAW dues. It just doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

Why does anyone have to write a treatise to explain an opinion to you? Will it help you change your mind? Will it help the poster change their own opinion? No? Okay, then let it go.

[Anonymous]

*her own

[Anonymous]

Hey Green Bay won the Super Bowl so be happy

[Anonymous]

If this is what democracy looks like, what does it look like when elected officials fail to represent the will of the people who elected them?

Call me silly, but I would have thought that if the majority of people were upset with their elected officials, they'd organize mass demonstrations against them and swamp the capitol building in an effort to be heard.

[Anonymous]

Why does anyone have to write a treatise to explain an opinion to you? Will it help you change your mind? Will it help the poster change their own opinion? No? Okay, then let it go.

No one *has* to do anything. I'm trying to understand if there is something behind all this anger other than "I can't have it so neither can you."

Apparently there isn't. Thanks for clarifying!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If this is what democracy looks like, what does it look like when elected officials fail to represent the will of the people who elected them?

Call me silly, but I would have thought that if the majority of people were upset with their elected officials, they'd organize mass demonstrations against them and swamp the capitol building in an effort to be heard.

a few thousand out-of-state nimrods acting foolish really has no effect other than hardening resolve.

[Anonymous]

Indeed. And I think the resolve has been hardened. What is that smell??

A recall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Why does anyone have to write a treatise to explain an opinion to you? Will it help you change your mind? Will it help the poster change their own opinion? No? Okay, then let it go.

No one *has* to do anything. I'm trying to understand if there is something behind all this anger other than "I can't have it so neither can you."

Apparently there isn't. Thanks for clarifying!

That's my point. If someone doesn't engage with you then you make assumptions. So if they care about helping you "understand" then they *have to* respond at length.

[Anonymous]

I think conservatives know with the changes in campaign finance laws they do not need the middle class. They just need a few rich donors and corporation to write checks. If they can suppress the vote or its a low turn out year, they will win.

[Anonymous]

A larger question is what will happen when people start to retire, people are not saving(401ks are a joke for many reason), sss and medicare are the next targets for the republicans, old age in the US looks bad. I remember seeing a report on returns in 401ks during the internet bubble/boom, the average return for the market was 12%, the returns in 401k were 3%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A larger question is what will happen when people start to retire, people are not saving(401ks are a joke for many reason), sss and medicare are the next targets for the republicans, old age in the US looks bad. I remember seeing a report on returns in 401ks during the internet bubble/boom, the average return for the market was 12%, the returns in 401k were 3%

SS isn't going to go away. You just might have to wait a few years. I'm sure I will be working into my 70s.

[Anonymous]

That's my point. If someone doesn't engage with you then you make assumptions. So if they care about helping you "understand" then they *have to* respond at length.

I'm confused. If you don't want to discuss politics, why are you on this forum? Do you have a point?

[Anonymous]

It'll all make a great Michael Moore movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It'll all make a great Michael Moore movie.

You know, that's right! He's a great storyteller, too. I just wish he was a bit better about not shaping a documentary to make the story better.