Appearances Can Be Deceiving
February 18, 2011 – by Gregory Franklyn
I don’t think that collectively we’re really connected to just how important what is happening in Wisconsin tonight really is! Yes, we’re talking about a political protest against a Governor’s attempts to balance his state’s budget on the back of working people. He wants to cut spending by messing with Union contracts expecting that to fix the problem. Nothing out of the ordinary there.
On the surface it’s pretty simple. Union workers are trying to protect what they’ve worked so hard for so they hit the streets in protest. But wait! Let’s take a closer look for a minute. If it’s a simple disagreement, why is there so much power from national levels of both political parties coming to bear on this protest if it’s just a local labor dispute.
“The Democratic National Committee’s Organizing for America arm is playing an active role in organizing protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to strip most public employees of collective bargaining rights.” Ben Smith @ Politico.com
“With help from the billionaire Koch Brothers, Wisconsin’s new Republican Governor, Scott Walker, is “taking a page from Mubarak’s playbook” in a scheme to destroy the state’s unions.” Newsvine.com
This dispute is way bigger than it looks and has much more far reaching implications than most people realize. The 2 party system of government is standing at the precipice of a major event that could change everything we’ve come to know about self governance in a Democratic Republic. Think I’m exaggerating? Let’s have a look.
Unions support Democrats, big business supports Republicans. We’re pretty clear on that by now. The Supreme Court has just opened the door for unlimited spending by big business to effect elections. At the same time, Republicans are gathering the forces of big business to bust Unions and Wisconsin appears to be their “Test Balloon” to see if it’s going to work. If Governor Scott Walker can get this Union Busting Bill through his state legislature it will set in motion a string of Republican State Governors doing the same thing.
That’s why there is so much energy being put into this dispute by both sides of the aisle. This isn’t what it appears to be on the surface. For example, The governor is insisting that his state’s budget is hurting and he has an obligation to balance the budget by the State’s Constitution. He’s right, it’s constitutionally mandated, but there’s evidence that the State’s budget isn’t in the red. For example:
“In its Jan. 31 memo to legislators on the condition of the state’s budget, the Fiscal Bureau determined that the state will end the year with a balance of $121.4 million.” – Capital Times of Madison
To compliment that, there’s evidence that if the State’s budget WERE in a shortfall, the shortfall may have been CAUSED by the Governor himself. For Example:
“Since taking office last year, the governor has allocated $25 million for an economic development fund for job creation, which still holds $73 million because of anemic job growth, $48 million for private health savings accounts — a perennial Republican favorite and $67 million for a tax incentive plan that benefits employers, but at levels too low to spur hiring.”, among others found in that same State Fiscal Bureau Report.
Now, let’s look at exactly which Unions are being targeted and which ones aren’t. Firefighters and Police are exempt from Governor Walker’s Bill and they were the only two unions to endorse Governor Walker and contribute to his campaign! While the target of the bill is AFSCME which is the largest of the unions and the largest contributor to Democratic Political Campaigns. Crush AFSCME and what happens next?
I think you’re beginning to get the picture. Republicans are dehumanizing Union Workers by convincing you that they are the bad guys who are wrecking your economy. It’s a slight of hand that is not lost on me. Those corporate moguls who you bailed out with your taxes, who are posting record profits year after year in an economic depression, while foreclosing on your home, couldn’t possibly be the bad guys. No, the bad guys are service workers who make a living wage!
No, dear reader, this dispute in Madison Wisconsin is not at all what it appears to be. If Republicans/Corporations are able to crush Wisconsin’s Unions, those unions will be the first in a long line of such destruction. Those unions are the lifeline of support for the Democratic Party. If you cut off the lifeline to Democratic/Progressive support, you will have the crowning jewel of the corporate take-over of America that is currently under way!
This very thing just took place in Egypt, preceded by Tunisia and followed by Yemen. What those places all have in common with Madison Wisconsin is a widening distance between wealth and poverty. And, tonight we’re hearing stirrings from Ohio for the same reason.
To me there is a big difference between winning, and being dedicated to defeating your opponent. One is a positive motivation, the other is negative. To me, Republicans are about defeating Democrats. They offer little to inspire votes or win hearts and minds. They simply scare voters to drive them away from other ideas and eliminate the competition rather than compete in the marketplace of ideas with something that might inspire positive action. I’m reminded of John McCain’s Presidential Campaign. I don’t remember what his policies were, but I certainly remember Sarah Palin insinuating how frightening it would be to have an Islamic Terrorist in the White House. We deserve better! I proudly stand in solidarity with my Brothers and Sisters of Wisconsin and understand, as they do, just how important what they are doing tonight, really is!
Much Love,
Gregory Franklyn
Union Steward AFSCME Council 75, Local 88, Sub-Local 03
February 18, 2011
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Tags: civil rights, Current Events, Democratic Philosophy, Economics, Media, Politics, Republican Philosophy, Unions · Posted in: Current Events, Economics, Media, Politics
