We're Badgers
Abraham Lincoln famously said:
If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.
At this point, that's how how I feel about the Wisconsin budget repair bill. I've read a lot and I still believe that the power of public employee unions needs to be curbed.
However, if the price of this legislation is the destruction of the Wisconsin union (no, not that one), then it's too high. There's nothing to be permanently gained by antagonizing the side that lost the election. I think Obama learned that in 2010 and Walker should learn that in 2011.
Wisconsin doesn't need to take the lead on this, particularly as there are many states in worse financial situations than the Badger State. Rather than pissing everyone off, let's just see how things shake out across the country in the next couple of years and then revisit the idea.
The worst thing that can happen isn't public union busting or continued public union power. The worst thing that can happen is a permanent division of the people of Wisconsin. Our union is more important than any organization with initials. As Bono said:
"We're one, but we're not the same.
We get to carry each other."
We're not Republicans or Democrats or Progressives or Tea Partiers. We're something far, far, far better. We're Badgers.
Posted by kris at February 22, 2011 08:55 AM
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| # February 22nd, 2011 9:05 AM BVBigBro |
| Permanent division of the people is what is risked with public unions and government run amok.
What you are seeing now with the consequences of Walker's election is people wanting to fight back against a government and public unions that declared war on them. The real risk is that division can rise to the level of vengeance. The unbelievable sense of entitlement and arrogance by elements of the the democrats and the State employees union makes me fear more their return to power. They truly believe they were born to rule. |
| # February 22nd, 2011 10:18 AM james |
What you are seeing now with the consequences of Walker's election is people wanting to fight back against a government and public unions that declared war on them yeah, the 1,500 people (of the 100,000 that showed up to the rally) want to fight back. lol. but never mind those other 98,500... just call it a tea party victory! |
| # February 22nd, 2011 11:16 AM kris |
| I don't understand how your comment is relevant. You don't determine policy by counting the number of people at a rally. That determines passion, sure, but if you're going to count something, you count votes or look at polling data, for example. |
| # February 22nd, 2011 11:22 AM james |
| The 52% of people who voted for Scott Walker didn't do so to "fight back against a government and public unions that declared war on them." They did so because they always vote republican, or b/c they're christians, or b/c they didn't like Tom Barrett, or maybe they hate trains, or whatever. For maybe 0.5% of people it was "to fight back against a government and public unions blah blah blah." |