the rix mix

The problem in Wisconsin, as I understand it, isn't that public workers are defying the wishes of their fellow cheeseheads, or that they are obstinately uncooperative with regard to the state's budget problems; they've shown a willingness in the past to "give back" benefits & accept furlough days, though there's no reason they should be happy about it. The problem is that the governor & Repug majority want to break the unions & not have to negotiate at all (much less in good faith) with the workers. They want to end collective bargaining. Union-busting is a goal of Republicans no matter what shape the economy is in, they've been incredibly successful at it in the private sector over the past 40 years,  which corresponds to stagnation of middle class income & the massive redistribution of wealth upward,  & now they have what they believe is a fine excuse for stomping public sector unions of teachers, cops, firefighters, social workers & etc.

Ironically, we encourage young people to take their valuable college educations - especially in math & the sciences - & become teachers rather than accept jobs in the private sector that could lead to far higher salaries than what they'll be earning in public education even after twenty or thirty years. Extra swag is needed to entice competent young teachers into urban schools. They can't all be select charter schools & "academies." The children already twisted & broken when they come to grammar school need teachers who are both tough & hopeful.

The dangerous occupations of cop & firefighter have always beem stepping-stone careers for young people from families where no one has ever gone a couple of years beyond a high school education. In most towns & cities, starting salaries for these jobs aren't that good, but if you stick it out you'll eventually do alright, thanks to unions.

"Police and fire unions, which have some of the most expensive benefits but who supported Mr. Walker’s campaign for governor, are exempted." Hmm. Remember that Niemoller statement about Germany, "Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." That works in other things.

Scott Walker won the 2010 Wisconsin governor's election rather handily on percentage points, but the actual margin of victory was 128,000 votes of over two million cast. That is a mandate for something, but I wouldn't call it a radical shift in a midterm national election year during an economic crisis. Wisconsin also tossed out Senator Russ Feingold by about the same margin, a decision I think they will regret - just as I believe Massachusetts will get rid of Scott Brown in 2012 unless he succeeds in recasting himself as a moderate (which he is already trying to do.)