There have always been "robber barons" among us. They morph from century to century, wearing different disguises to suit the times. They are lackeys of the truly wealthy, though many of course fall into money. That's their job, isn't it? My big question is - why do they want to keep the rest of us from having it?
The situation in Wisconsin is our primary national example of this constant societal theme. This is a moment of national Truth. It has to do with the bottom line, and whether the Rich really do get richer while the Poor stay poor. I thought we as a society had decided to be "A Great Society" and "A City on a Hill" -- or even, as George W. Bush said, an "Ownership Society?" I never dreamed that one lousy Presidency could bring us to the brink of losing, precipitously, the American Dream. The numbers of people that have crowded the streets of Wisconsin say I am not wrong.
The workers in Wisconsin fight for a voice at the bargaining table, as is the American way. This movement, to protect the rights of workers in America, began in the great state of Wisconsin. Why now do the Republicans want to take these rights away? Why did this upstart new Governor do the unthinkable, by threatening violence the moment this issue arose? Why do the city streets in the Madison, WI look like a dictatorship on lock-down? The hubris involved in both Governor Walker's initial threat to call out the National Guard and his statement that he could imprison and expel the Democratic Senators with the use of force is shocking.
The Democratic Senators, the Wisconsin 14, while currently in the minority fight to save the rights of the majority. The Governor has illegally ordered that the Democratic Senators be brought home whether or not force is involved. My God, you don't go around threatening to use force on your Senators!!
That's absolutely unconstitutional -- many of the policies that Governor Walker propose are blatantly unconstitutional under Wisconsin law. Why are these few, brash, mostly young white males in various states, newly elected -- why are they imperiously insulting the fine working people of our country while they undermine our national traditions of protecting the working class? What's up with this?
The situation in Wisconsin is our primary national example of this constant societal theme. This is a moment of national Truth. It has to do with the bottom line, and whether the Rich really do get richer while the Poor stay poor. I thought we as a society had decided to be "A Great Society" and "A City on a Hill" -- or even, as George W. Bush said, an "Ownership Society?" I never dreamed that one lousy Presidency could bring us to the brink of losing, precipitously, the American Dream. The numbers of people that have crowded the streets of Wisconsin say I am not wrong.
The workers in Wisconsin fight for a voice at the bargaining table, as is the American way. This movement, to protect the rights of workers in America, began in the great state of Wisconsin. Why now do the Republicans want to take these rights away? Why did this upstart new Governor do the unthinkable, by threatening violence the moment this issue arose? Why do the city streets in the Madison, WI look like a dictatorship on lock-down? The hubris involved in both Governor Walker's initial threat to call out the National Guard and his statement that he could imprison and expel the Democratic Senators with the use of force is shocking.
The Democratic Senators, the Wisconsin 14, while currently in the minority fight to save the rights of the majority. The Governor has illegally ordered that the Democratic Senators be brought home whether or not force is involved. My God, you don't go around threatening to use force on your Senators!!
That's absolutely unconstitutional -- many of the policies that Governor Walker propose are blatantly unconstitutional under Wisconsin law. Why are these few, brash, mostly young white males in various states, newly elected -- why are they imperiously insulting the fine working people of our country while they undermine our national traditions of protecting the working class? What's up with this?
Governor Walker in Wisconsin is an arrogant, slick, cruel piece of work. He's in league with the Koch Brother Billionaires in this class war -- watch him roll. His belief in himself is utter, despite the tens of thousands of people protesting his choices. When trouble began, he mentioned calling in the National Guard, but that didn't go down well. According to Rachel Maddow, the Governor has instead called upon private contractors -- scabs --from Blackwater/XE/Wackenhut to do his dirty "security" work.
This despicable jerk of a new Governor, who prides himself on "not budging" wants to force pink slips upon the teachers and firefighters, the police and the service workers -- he insults the people that are the bedrock of American society. If they are shut out of health care, jobs, dignity -- eventually there will be a reckoning, and perhaps a swift one.
By cutting the taxes for the rich, they have ginned up a clear cut case of a false fiscal crisis with an ulterior motive -- to destroy a time honored democratic tradition (or small r republican -- as collective bargaining is an excellent tool for our Republic as well).
What is this new breed of Republican, these servants of the Mighty? Who are they? What do they stand for? Of more importance -- what is it that they want? I want to see where folks will stand on this hugely important issue of collective bargaining. I know there might be Libertarian and Conservative elements of the GOP that are concerned about the traditional right to organize.
I would hope that some of these folks are not just pumped up tools of various politicians. I really do think the more Libertarian people, who are upset about the insane parts of big government, could bring integrity to the table. We have seen so many times that politicians and corruption go hand in hand that it is impossible for me to imagine that the Tea Partyers won't get co-opted and horns-waggled, so to speak, by the GOP proper.
Back to the new-style GOP- men and women -- the guys with Mr. Bean slicked-back hair, dictatorial pride and a fantastic role model in George W. Bush, who did everything he wanted and got away with it. Who is this guy, this Governor Walker, and how many other newly elected Governors are dying to bust Unions as well. Finally, why are the Republicans trying to kill a two party system in this country?
Without Unions, there are no big sources of campaign money for the Democrats, and since the odious Supreme Court:s Citizen United decision of late, the Unions are the last bastion of large Democratic fundraising. Kill the unions, the Democrats are dead. The Democrats die -- suddenly you've got something suspiciously like a dictatorship, with armed guards willing to do anything on the street. Think it can't happen here? Look at the streets of Wisconsin -- it already is.
People from Blackwater, as it used to be known, don't have a problem crossing union lines. They answer to a higher power, and it's NOT the government of the United States. Suddenly Madison, WI has the look of a police state. How's that for a bleak look into a possible future, America? If you don't believe me, here's a symbol of their reach into our country - an "emergency response team" badge for the Delaware County Prison that indicates a global reach:
I am longing for principled people of ALL parties to come out for the REAL America. It's got NOTHING to do with Rambo Governors on a rampage fulfilling private missions funded by secretive Billionaire policy makers backing and backed by a huge shadow army. Those guys have been planning for years to turn the screws on America in ways you don't even want to imagine.
Yes, it could happen here. Look no further than Wisconsin. This week a Democratic Assemblyman was tackled on his way to work in the Capital Building. The guy was brought to the ground by a pile of scab "security guards" -- employed by Wackenhut. (Blackwater/XE.) Anyone getting nervous yet??
Now back to that first, primary, and most troubling question: whence come these union busters, and why? I think they are tools of the GOP; but they are willing, boot-licking tools, on the make for money and power, the people be damned. They are useful tools for a subtle cultural revolution, where the rich do indeed get richer and the poor get the shaft.
If the good Governor Walker gets his way and busts those unions in Wisconsin, the folks in that fine state can look forward to police, prison guards, security guys etc., who have possibly seen more depravity in one lifetime than we can hold in our consciousness, and want to spread those Good Vibrations that came from Gitmo through Abu Ghraib straight to you. I don't much like the sound of this -- hold steady, Brave Wisconsin 14! As my husband Patrick, an astute student of History said, it's "very near impossible" to regain a Right once you have given it up.
Governor Walker, in my opinion, should be re-called as quickly as is lawfully possible. He has over-reached beyond all rational thought -- to the point of behaving in a fashion that could be construed as tyrannical. In MY opinion. Soooo -- on Wisconsin, on Wisconsin!!
There's a cost for choosing to maintain a society at the lower levels of education and poverty. Its pretty nasty price comes due at the end of that cycle, which we see in the Middle East. Those people who say there's "no connection" between the events of Egypt and the events of Wisconsin are dead wrong. If nothing else, the Egyptians taught their American brothers and sisters how to really stand up for ourselves again, even with the threat of violence. Believe me, those guys from Wackenhut know a thing or two about violence.I would hope that some of these folks are not just pumped up tools of various politicians. I really do think the more Libertarian people, who are upset about the insane parts of big government, could bring integrity to the table. We have seen so many times that politicians and corruption go hand in hand that it is impossible for me to imagine that the Tea Partyers won't get co-opted and horns-waggled, so to speak, by the GOP proper.
Back to the new-style GOP- men and women -- the guys with Mr. Bean slicked-back hair, dictatorial pride and a fantastic role model in George W. Bush, who did everything he wanted and got away with it. Who is this guy, this Governor Walker, and how many other newly elected Governors are dying to bust Unions as well. Finally, why are the Republicans trying to kill a two party system in this country?
Without Unions, there are no big sources of campaign money for the Democrats, and since the odious Supreme Court:s Citizen United decision of late, the Unions are the last bastion of large Democratic fundraising. Kill the unions, the Democrats are dead. The Democrats die -- suddenly you've got something suspiciously like a dictatorship, with armed guards willing to do anything on the street. Think it can't happen here? Look at the streets of Wisconsin -- it already is.
People from Blackwater, as it used to be known, don't have a problem crossing union lines. They answer to a higher power, and it's NOT the government of the United States. Suddenly Madison, WI has the look of a police state. How's that for a bleak look into a possible future, America? If you don't believe me, here's a symbol of their reach into our country - an "emergency response team" badge for the Delaware County Prison that indicates a global reach:
Now back to that first, primary, and most troubling question: whence come these union busters, and why? I think they are tools of the GOP; but they are willing, boot-licking tools, on the make for money and power, the people be damned. They are useful tools for a subtle cultural revolution, where the rich do indeed get richer and the poor get the shaft.
If the good Governor Walker gets his way and busts those unions in Wisconsin, the folks in that fine state can look forward to police, prison guards, security guys etc., who have possibly seen more depravity in one lifetime than we can hold in our consciousness, and want to spread those Good Vibrations that came from Gitmo through Abu Ghraib straight to you. I don't much like the sound of this -- hold steady, Brave Wisconsin 14! As my husband Patrick, an astute student of History said, it's "very near impossible" to regain a Right once you have given it up.
Governor Walker, in my opinion, should be re-called as quickly as is lawfully possible. He has over-reached beyond all rational thought -- to the point of behaving in a fashion that could be construed as tyrannical. In MY opinion. Soooo -- on Wisconsin, on Wisconsin!!
I'm horrified that the GOP continues to stifle our natural freedoms including the "pursuit of happiness" by cutting away further at necessary benefits for those in need. When you consider that our last President, the Fearless, feckless Leader George W. Bush put us into this bankrupt condition, it is asking a bit much of the average citizen to pay the greatest cost.
That our entire citizenry is being punished after giving the richest 2% a fat, unnecessary tax cut is utterly egregious, a blatant pandering curtsy to wealth. The stench of Greed lingers on, and it's the worst form of Greed -- Greed whose cost is born by those too fragile to bear it. Symbol -- fat sovereign on thin, starving donkey.
If the new GOP Governors and Congresspeople don't show some mercy and stop acting like Roman conquerors believing in their own Godhood -- well, they will have their own revolution to deal with, and perhaps rather quickly. I've heard there are recall procedures already in place for the GOP Senators on the "union busting" side. They are on the wrong side of the arc of history.
They aren't supposed to be feeding the Greed and Blood Lust of "Jabba the Hutt" -- that grotesque fat thing in the Star Wars cycle - that's my none too subtle metaphor for endless war, depravity, violence and all things that feed that monster in each of us, and in our country as well. America is not an Imperial Nation for the wealthy few. We are supposed to be better than that.
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