An Assault on Democracy

"We are calling on all people from throughout the Midwest to descend on Madison and make a stand.  We did not create the economic crisis and we are not going to pay for it!" -- Bryan Pfeifer, organizer for part-time faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit.

When I read that quote from the The Capital Times, a "progressive" newspaper in Madison, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Why the hell was someone from Michigan organizing a rally in Madison to fight a decision by voters to address a budget crisis facing Wisconsin?

Last November, the MAJORITY of WI voters decided to put Republicans in the State Assembly, Senate and Governor seats, leading many of us to believe the Badger State was finally going to do something about our out-of-control spending.  After reading today's papers and watching local/cable news, I'm beginning to see what we're up against.

In addition to out of state teacher groups (like Wayne State University), organizations like the Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America (OFA) are helping promote these protests by providing buses and offering phone banks to promote a week long sit-in.   President Obama himself stepped in and accused Walker of promoting "an abuse of unions".

Why the all-out war?

Like most states, Wisconsin is out of money.  It faces a current budget shortfall of between $2.2 and $3.3 billion.  Wisconsin was rated in 2009 by the Pew Center on the States as among the top ten states with budget problems, having run negative balances in the general fund for five straight years.  It is also the nation's fourth most indebted state, per capita, for unemployment costs, which have exceeded $1.4 billion.  Wisconsin has a total state debt of $17,971,519,547 when calculated by adding the total of outstanding debt, pension and OPEB (which is defined as benefits that an employer offers to retirees as compensation for past services, such as healthcare, dental, life, disability and long term care), unemployment trust funds and the budget gap as of July 2010.

I mention this not because I want to impress you with my knowledge of bad economics in my state, but because I want you to understand the seriousness of our problem.

As a result of this debt, Republican Governor Scott Walker has proposed a $137 million budget repair bill that requires state employees to contribute 5.8% of their salaries toward their pensions, and also pay 12.6% of their health insurance premiums.  This move alone is designed to save $30 million by the middle of this year, and $300 million over the next two years.

In addition, Walker's budget also eliminates almost all union bargaining rights on everything except salaries.  Unions would be unable to seek pay increases above those pegged to the CPI unless approved by a public referendum.  Finally, unions would have to hold annual votes to stay organized and would be unable to force employees to pay dues.  Thus the all-out war.

The problems I have with the ongoing reaction (protests) to Governor Walker's proposal are:

1) As part of a democracy, we voted last November to do something about our budget shortfall -- cut spending, cut taxes and control future expenditures.  What the state employee unions, the DNC and President Obama are doing is refusing to listen to the people of Wisconsin.  Doesn't our vote count for anything?

2) Teachers always claim to want to help kids, whether it's school lunches, athletics or studies.  So what do they do?   They close schools throughout Wisconsin, mislead students about why they're protesting (taking valuable class time to do so), and set a horrible example by skipping school and throwing temper tantrums when they are asked to pay more for their Cadillac benefits.

3) The Democrats, as reported today, bailed out on even voting on the bill.  They jumped in a bus and headed for Illinois to prevent a quorum from being present (twenty senators are needed for a vote -- 19 Republicans were present).  According to one of the missing senators, this move was designed to "give the people of Wisconsin time to discuss the issue."  Talk about an assault on our democratic rights!  They are disenfranchising their districts and voters by refusing to participate in this process.  Once again, politicians putting themselves before the wishes of their constituents.  Who voted for these cowards?

4) At one time, unions were valuable to workers -- demanding fair wages, safe working conditions and providing a legislative voice.   In the early 1960's, Wisconsin even played an important role in developing the modern-day collective bargaining agreement for public employees that is being challenged today.

Unfortunately, unions today are functioning as labor cartels.  Union contracts give teachers, nurses, and other state workers group identities instead of treating them as individuals.  Unions want employees to view the union, not the individual's abilities and skills, as the source for economic and monetary gains.  As a result, the collective bargaining agreements being so fiercely defended are actually hurting workers, keeping individual wages, promotions and excellence -- in check.

5) State public employees complain about poor wages, with the trade off being excellent benefits.  According to the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, the average annual salary for a Wisconsin state employee in 2008 -- the last year available -- was $53,703.  Factor in benefits and the total compensation package for them is worth $71,000 a year.  UPDATE:  The MacIver Institute just reported that for the first time in history, the average 2010 teacher salary in the Milwaukee Public School district is $100,000 when taking the full compensation package into consideration.

In addition, teachers get time off during the year for holidays, conferences and summer.

I can understand why they like the compensation they are getting.  What's most frustration, however, is their reaction to paying a little more for these benefits.  Comparable wages and benefits in my office are nowhere close to what they are receiving (on average).  It's time they start paying their fair share or they will be out of a job.

6)  Democratic supporters claim their human rights are being violated by Walker's actions.  They are wrong.  US labor laws do not provide protection for collective bargaining for the majority of businesses in the United States.  In addition, the Bush Labor Board excluded employees with minimal supervisory duties, disabled janitors, grad student assistants, independent contractors, newspapers and others.  If these workers are not protected, then it is not a "human" right.  Collective bargaining is a privilege, not a right.  Visit Saudi Arabia, Iran or Iraq if you're unclear on what constitutes human rights.

During his rush to pass Obamacare last year, President Obama was quick to remind Republicans that "Elections have consequences.  I won and you lost."  It's too bad today's state workers (and those helping them) don't remember last November's election results.

Let me remind you:  "We won, you lost."