Scott Walker WI governor vs the Packers & teachers (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Awesome]

This all started with the way the healthcare bill was handled.

How do you figure?

 

[Ookie Pringle]

This all started with the way the healthcare bill was handled.

And the stimulus bills with massive spending. This is only the beginning. For those that think this will help the Dems come 2012 you need to wake up.

 

[bueno]

Thanks, Scott Walker...Landslide VICTORY for Obama in 2012 guaranteed! This is the pebble thrown into the ocean, that will turn into a tsunami, that will crush the RNC in 2012.

I dont know you or know your user name but you have given me an idea...I will make a bet with Tim on the outcome of this in 2012...I will retire my username if this turns out to be a tsunami for the democrats if Tim will retire his username if it does not...This will for sure make one side or the other really really happy...Come on Tim man up and take the bet, put your username where one of your mouths are... There will also have to be a sig bet included in this offer, details cant be worked out...

Geez......I'm not sure the FFA is brave enough to venture on with one of these user names missing.

They would jusy re-appear with another alias. I have hard enough time figuring out aliai.

 

[Sarnoff]

22. Y2K/The Millennium Bug

Some say it was overhyped. But, maybe, it was hyped just enough, and we were just lucky that everything important got fixed in time.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

22. Y2K/The Millennium Bug

Some say it was overhyped. But, maybe, it was hyped just enough, and we were just lucky that everything important got fixed in time.

Same thing with the ozone layer.

 

[quickhands]

First you have the Democrats skipping to another state.

You've got the death threats to the Republican Senators and Gov. Walker.

You've got the democratic senators chanting shame and one of them telling a fellow assemblyman "You're f***ing dead"

You've got the protestors overtaking the capitol.

And now you have the unions threatening to boycott the WI businesses that supported governor Walker and calling for them to oppose Gov. Walker's efforts by March 17th or else.

Letter to M&I Bank

Sheboygan T-shirt maker threatened by Two Rivers Education Association

Just stupid. Actually beyond stupid, asinine. What do they hope to accomplish?

They hope to intimidate people, tim. Its pretty obvious, even i figured it out.

 

[bueno]

I didn't mean that. I meant people's reactions including my own (not including yours as stated.)

The debate over the power, influence and cost of public employee unions isn't a small debate, nor is it confined to Wisconsin.In New Jersey, our Governor is in year 2 of a plan that is slowly and bluntly taking power away from public employee unions. He has basically removed the NJEA from the budget process, something no one ever thought would happen in our state. He has faced protests, but has stood up to them and has won every battle he's fought and in fact now even the democrats in the legislature are introducing bills whose language is written in Christie's terms - in other words, the overall public debate has been won and the debate is now on his terms.In Wisconsin, the Governor is taking that tact one step further and going right to the heart of public employee union power. He has faced protests and a legislature that refuses to do its job (one party) but hasn't backed down. It remains to be seen what happens there.In Indiana, the democrats tried to pull a Wisconsin over these type of issues but at the last minute a deal was struck and they didn't leave, but the writing is on the wall on these issues.Ohio is currently debating a bill to limit collective bargaining rights of public employee unions.Oklahoma has already passed a bill on the issue.Washington state is dealing with the issue right now.Gov. Cuomo in New York has talked about the issue but I don't know if any active bills are being discussed.Iowa is currently debating the issue.And I'm sure there are more that I haven't seen in the past few days. New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Washington, Iowa. That is a pretty solid cross section of this country. This issue is coming to a head - it will be part of the national domestic debate. What we see in Wisconsin are the bloody beginnings of that national debate. If these trends continue, this issue will be one of the prominent and important ones in 2012 on the national level, and I'm not so sure that the general public buys into the rhetorical nonsense of union leaders who are trying to tie public employee union collective bargaining powers to the civil rights cause of Dr. King or as something that is the very backbone of our republic. Maybe that will work. I have my doubts.So, this isn't an insignificant policy debate. Why an earthquake in Japan would make you search yourself while at the same time thousands of innocent people are being killed in various middle east countries as those governments fall apart didn't is odd. The world continues no matter the debate of the day.

Add Idaho to your list. Unfortunately, the entire education system not been working in the interest of their customers (society is the customer, and educated graduating class is the product), and has not been producing a good product. The union one of the biggest obstacles to changing the status quo.

 

[Fensalk]

This all started with the way the healthcare bill was handled.

How do you figure?

1. Obama wasn't able to get republicans on board.2. Obamacare was unpopular when passed and signed into law.3. Obamacare remains unpopular today.4. Democrats argued that going against the will of the American people was justified because once people saw the results of these changes, they will slowly come to support the move. Or at least they will just get used to it.But if these are the new rules, then the republicans are going to play by them as well.What we've lost is listening to the people and bipartisanship.

 

[timschochet]

This all started with the way the healthcare bill was handled.

How do you figure?

1. Obama wasn't able to get republicans on board.2. Obamacare was unpopular when passed and signed into law.3. Obamacare remains unpopular today.4. Democrats argued that going against the will of the American people was justified because once people saw the results of these changes, they will slowly come to support the move. Or at least they will just get used to it.But if these are the new rules, then the republicans are going to play by them as well.What we've lost is listening to the people and bipartisanship.

I think you raise some very good points here. I'm not sure it actually started with Obama; the polarization had been building on both sides before that point, but certainly the healthcare bill was a landmark step in that direction. But what the politicians on both sides don't seem to get is that the public doesn't like this. Look what happened when Obama agreed with the Republicans to extend the tax cuts: the approval ratings spiked, not over that particular issue, but because both sides were agreeing for once. The public prefers consensus over just about any particuar position.

 

[Fensalk]

This all started with the way the healthcare bill was handled.

How do you figure?

1. Obama wasn't able to get republicans on board.2. Obamacare was unpopular when passed and signed into law.3. Obamacare remains unpopular today.4. Democrats argued that going against the will of the American people was justified because once people saw the results of these changes, they will slowly come to support the move. Or at least they will just get used to it.But if these are the new rules, then the republicans are going to play by them as well.What we've lost is listening to the people and bipartisanship.

I think you raise some very good points here. I'm not sure it actually started with Obama; the polarization had been building on both sides before that point, but certainly the healthcare bill was a landmark step in that direction. But what the politicians on both sides don't seem to get is that the public doesn't like this. Look what happened when Obama agreed with the Republicans to extend the tax cuts: the approval ratings spiked, not over that particular issue, but because both sides were agreeing for once. The public prefers consensus over just about any particuar position.

Hard to say why the approval ratings spiked. Maybe they would have spiked even without agreement on tax cuts. Maybe they spiked simply because the 2010 election was over and some people felt it was a good moment to give everyone a second chance. So there was a natural pop in the numbers.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

If the Republicans *really* wanted to win sympathy points and the pr battle, one of them would have tried to address the crowd while secretly hoping to get attacked.

 

[cr8f]

Live coverage.The farmers sound angry.

Grothman was on TV last night and sounded scared and said he was.

If this bill is thrown out by the court (because they broke the open meetings law) they can introduce it again but I wouldn't be surprised if they got 2 more senators to vote against it.

 

[cr8f]

Old video of Walker defending David Duke

These guys really over-reached. They may have woken up independents who don'y pay attention to politics so now millions in attack ads work less.

If they check facts the GOP here could be in trouble.

EDIT

The 14 that left are speaking now. One is saying we want do over. 8 dems and 8 republicans are under recall. We shall see who wins.

Whatever the state decides is fine with me but Walker didn't run on stripping collective bargaining and the voters should decide what they want.

Right now he's given $140 million in tax cuts then saying he has to do this because thew state is broke. We aren't broke-it's like someone having a mortgage(a debt) and then saying he is broke because of the debt.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

I don't like extreme right or left when they manipulate facts to win an argument.

 

[jon_mx]

I don't like extreme right or left when they manipulate facts to win an argument.

......The quote the keeps giving and giving.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Old video of Walker defending David Duke

These guys really over-reached. They may have woken up independents who don'y pay attention to politics so now millions in attack ads work less.

If they check facts the GOP here could be in trouble.

EDIT

The 14 that left are speaking now. One is saying we want do over. 8 dems and 8 republicans are under recall. We shall see who wins.

Whatever the state decides is fine with me but Walker didn't run on stripping collective bargaining and the voters should decide what they want.

Right now he's given $140 million in tax cuts then saying he has to do this because thew state is broke. We aren't broke-it's like someone having a mortgage(a debt) and then saying he is broke because of the debt.

I'm quoting this post so you'll finally stop editing it to make yourself look less awful.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Whatever the state decides is fine with me but Walker didn't run on stripping collective bargaining and the voters should decide what they want.

I was under the impression Walker ran largely on promises to fix the budget. Is this true?

 

[The Kerminator]

First you have the Democrats skipping to another state.

You've got the death threats to the Republican Senators and Gov. Walker.

You've got the democratic senators chanting shame and one of them telling a fellow assemblyman "You're f***ing dead"

You've got the protestors overtaking the capitol.

And now you have the unions threatening to boycott the WI businesses that supported governor Walker and calling for them to oppose Gov. Walker's efforts by March 17th or else.

Letter to M&I Bank

Sheboygan T-shirt maker threatened by Two Rivers Education Association

Just stupid. Actually beyond stupid, asinine. What do they hope to accomplish?

They hope to intimidate people, tim. Its pretty obvious, even i figured it out.

Fox Valley chapter of Wisconsin Education Association Council's e-mail seeking support from businesses falls flat

A plea by the union representing teachers and educational support staff to the Fox Cities business community apparently did not generate the spark the group hoped to get.

In some cases, the e-mail solicitation sent Friday by the Fox Valley Chapter of Wisconsin Education Association Council to about 1,400 members of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, either was not received or simply deleted, according to a few chamber members reached by The Post-Crescent. A message left with the chamber Friday seeking comment was not returned.

Those who did see the e-mail had varying views.

"The way it was sent out, it implied it was sent in collaboration with the chamber," said Todd Hanson, president and founder of Catalyst Performance Group in Appleton.

Hanson, like many people across Wisconsin, has been monitoring the events unfolding in Madison. Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature ended a budget repair bill stalemate by approving a measure effectively ending collective bargaining for about 175,000 public employees.

Collective bargaining empowers employees to negotiate wages and benefits, as well as workplace benefits such as hours and duties, that apply to all members of a union.

Hanson said he "wholeheartedly supports and appreciates the teachers in the Fox Cities." Still, he did not appreciate the WEAC solicitation.

"I left a message with the chamber (president Shannon Meyer)," Hanson said. "I thought they should know this took place."

An excerpt from the WEAC e-mail reads, "Undoubtedly, you have heard about the attacks on worker rights, including the pending loss of our right to bargain collectively. This is a right that has existed for over fifty (50) years and that has enabled our members to improve the economic status of their families. It has also given us a voice at the table in improving our work environment, which is the learning environment for our students.

"While these attacks will have many negative consequences for my members, one result will be that they will have substantially less discretionary money to spend at businesses in the Fox Cities," the e-mail continues. "Therefore, my members will need to be very selective about where they spend their hard earned dollars, only supporting businesses that value their labor and worker rights such as collective bargaining.

"Would you be willing to support the rights of Wisconsin public sector workers, including the right to collectively bargain?" Hanson interpreted the e-mail as a boycott of his business if he did not offer his support.

"WEAC leads me to believe if I don't sign their pledge to support collective bargaining they would take action to prevent teachers from supporting my business, and that seems unfortunate," he said.

Henry Krokosky, executive director of WEAC-Fox Valley, said Friday he had received a "couple dozen" responses to the e-mail sent by his group. Some requested to be removed from the e-mail list, some shared their views, and others were automatic out-of-office replies.

Krokosky wasn't expecting much sympathy.

"I didn't think I would go home a winner after sending this out but hopefully there will be something positive that comes out of it," he said.

Catherine Tierney, president and CEO of Community First Credit Union in Appleton, received the WEAC e-mail but had no comment on it.

However, Tierney said she and the credit union had received calls and e-mails seeking support for the state's budget repair bill and for preserving collective bargaining powers for public employees.

After the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce endorsed Walker's budget legislation Wednesday, Tierney said her credit union received threats, because it is a member of the Green Bay chamber.

She said threats ranged from pickets outside credit union branches to people closing accounts. Tierney said she also was asked if the credit union had support Walker's campaign for governor.

Tierney said by law the credit union cannot make any political contributions to any candidate, though she can't say whether her employees did or not.

Milwaukee-based M&I Bank on Friday issued a statement, noting it was in response to a letter from a "Wisconsin union group threatening to boycott M&I." The union was not identified.

M&I said it has not taken and will not take a position either for or against the budget repair bill.

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Ooof. Sending threats to businesses is a horrible idea. WTF gave those the okay?

 

[Statorama]

Did someone forget to send Obama the memo? The bill is already signed. There was no need for him to bus in his professional protesters from Organizing for America today.

 

[Mr Two Cents]

More union bullying.

Read the comments after both this link and the one posted above, the public is turning hard against the unions, epic fail on the union movement with their bullying tactics. In spite of what Tim wants to believe I think that when the professional union protesters are gone there will be little support for their cause. They are their own worst enemies.

Another Union Threat

 

[Dr. Awesome]

More union bullying.

Read the comments after both this link and the one posted above, the public is turning hard against the unions, epic fail on the union movement with their bullying tactics. In spite of what Tim wants to believe I think that when the professional union protesters are gone there will be little support for their cause. They are their own worst enemies.

Another Union Threat

That picture is going to make tim unhappy. They wouldn't like tim when he's unhappy.:timsmash:

 

[Teumessian Fox]

I'm in favor of the passed legislation, so I'm biased, but the union letters to M&I seem particularly egregious. "Do what we say or else" is akin to extortion and is quite ugly, even by union standards..

 

[Teumessian Fox]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock – not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

We could lose the children themselves.

 

[jon_mx]

Out of all the things the teacher mentioned, not one of them will be affected in any way by collective bargainig. She made no sense whatsoever.

 

[parasaurolophus]

Out of all the things the teacher mentioned, not one of them will be affected in any way by collective bargainig. She made no sense whatsoever.

I kept waiting for the crazy reach and how she was going to bring it back around, but nothing. What was the point of that?

 

[Soonerman]

Wait, that wasn't from the Onion?

 

[thatguythere]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

No, public education isn't being dismantled. Public Unions are. Big difference.

I think maybe she is worried about her colleagues that are going to go to work and take it out on the kids.

 

[uwgb96]

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

They are bombarding the airwaves with anti-Walker ads, and I think it is really going to turn off many people.

 

[cubd8]

Union bargaining at the public level is basically just legal political bribery. They dump millions into the politicians coffers to jam them into office, and then get rewarded with contracts that are far better than those in the private sector who are FORCED to foot the bill via tax law.

I'm all for Unions in the private sector. I'm super opposed to bailing them out for anything at any point in time. If you want to jack up your wages to the point that the product you're making becomes too expensive for people to buy it, then so be it. When they stop buying it due to affordability, your company will fire or lay people off because nobody sees the value in your ####. Then your decision to jack up your wages has ramifications that you have to deal with. In the public sector, these don't exist. The public just keeps burying itself deeper and deeper in debt, and people who are making $100K+ without benefits even being factored in keep calling themselves middle class.

It's a joke and the ho-hum attitude about it is exact reason why it needs to get torn apart.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

I'm not in total sympathy with Walker and the WI Republicans on this one, but I still laughed while reading this. Great stuff.Edit: Bonus points for use of the word "ilk."

 

[The Kerminator]

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

They are bombarding the airwaves with anti-Walker ads, and I think it is really going to turn off many people.

And this from one of the Democratic Senators:

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said consumer actions may be a better option in continuing the fight against the Republican budget proposals."People we're up against care about money and are very greedy," Vinehout said. "Look at the companies and products these people manufacture. When I buy something, I make my vote known."

 

[ericttspikes]

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

They are bombarding the airwaves with anti-Walker ads, and I think it is really going to turn off many people.

And this from one of the Democratic Senators:

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said consumer actions may be a better option in continuing the fight against the Republican budget proposals."People we're up against care about money and are very greedy," Vinehout said. "Look at the companies and products these people manufacture. When I buy something, I make my vote known."

She's right. In a free market society that is politically tilted to the foreign worker all people have is the power of the pocketbook. The power of the consumer. Buy American.

 

[The Kerminator]

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

They are bombarding the airwaves with anti-Walker ads, and I think it is really going to turn off many people.

And this from one of the Democratic Senators:

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said consumer actions may be a better option in continuing the fight against the Republican budget proposals."People we're up against care about money and are very greedy," Vinehout said. "Look at the companies and products these people manufacture. When I buy something, I make my vote known."

She's right. In a free market society that is politically tilted to the foreign worker all people have is the power of the pocketbook. The power of the consumer. Buy American.

But she's not saying "Buy American". She's saying what the unions have been saying "Don't buy from any businesses that supported Walker or aren't speaking out against Walker."

 

[bueno]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock – not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

4 year olds? pre-Kindergarten? For some reason, losing what amounts to a professional baby-sitting service for kids too young to be learning the 3Rs doesn't tug my heartstrings.

 

[Ranethe]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock – not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

4 year olds? pre-Kindergarten? For some reason, losing what amounts to a professional baby-sitting service for kids too young to be learning the 3Rs doesn't tug my heartstrings.

Ever been in a pre-k classroom (probably a dumb question since you have apparently done every job known to man)? It's a bit more than a professional baby-sitting service. Believe it or not kids do learn in pre-k.

 

[Uber]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock – not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

OMG I HAVE TO PAY 10% OF MY HEALTH INSURANCE, HOW WILL I EVER BE ABLE TO PLAY ####### BACH TO MY STUDENTS.

What a joke.

 

[Sarnoff]

21. Cincinnati

There aren't many cities in the US named after Roman dictators. Perhaps there should be more. Caligula, Texas, anyone? Pertinax, Wisconsin? Didius Julianus, North Dakota?

 

[Class Dismissed]

A teacher weeps for the future of Wisconsin schools

Vikki Kratz on Thursday 03/10/2011 3:25 pm, (6) Comments, (47) Likes

The morning after the Republicans stripped me of my rights, I stood in the hallway of my school, watching my four-year-olds stream in. They gave me hugs. They ran up to show me things: a new shirt, an extra pretty hair ribbon, a silly band. They wanted to know if it was chocolate milk day. They pointed out that one of their classmates, who had been out sick for a few days, had come finally come back! And for a little while, normalcy returned to our world. I had spent the evening before at the Capitol, in the crowd of thousands that pushed against the locked doors, demanding to be let in. I think I spent most of the night in shock – not only at how suddenly I could be deprived of everything I had worked for, but of how suddenly the country I thought I knew could become unrecognizable. I was standing with a crowd on the steps in front of the Capitol door when a police officer slammed it shut in our faces. I walked around the building until I found a spot where protesters had lowered a bathroom window. And I watched in disbelief as people began hoisting each other in through the open window, while dozens milled around them. "Ssssh," they warned each other. Don't make any noises that might attract the police.

This was my country now.

But this morning, I had to pretend that none of that had happened. I had to pretend that my colleagues were not sobbing in the teachers' lounge, wondering why the world had suddenly turned on them. I had to pretend that teaching is still a respected and valued profession. I had to pretend that the future for my young students is still as bright as it seemed a few weeks ago.

So today, my children and I discussed music. We talked about how you can't see music, but when you listen to it, you can imagine pictures in your head. How sometimes those pictures can lighten your soul.

All of them lay down on the carpet and closed their eyes. I turned on a piano concerto by Bach. They saw mermaids, whales, ballerinas twirling. I played some jazz. "Look, my toe is tapping!" one girl exclaimed excitedly.

I don't cry in public, and not in front of my students, but I felt tears suddenly well in my eyes. These are the moments that Scott Walker and his ilk are letting go. These moments when children transform because of something they learned in school. An experience they had because of a loving teacher and a dedicated staff.

And I know that all of this could soon be gone. My rights were taken away in a blink of an eye. Now how easily will they take away the right my students have to an enriching, enthralling education? Under Walker's budget, my school and all the other public schools in the state are facing drastic cuts. We could lose the arts. We could lose music. We could lose sports. And counselors. And librarians. Custodians. Secretaries. School nurses. Field trips. Summer school.

We could lose pre-kindergarten.

Which is what I thought about as I looked at my class, lying on their backs, eyes scrunched close, imagining music. Which is why, when you see teachers weeping today, you should know they are not crying only for themselves. They are crying because public education in this state is being dismantled. It started with the unions. And it will end with hurting our children.

I pulled out the watercolors. We have been making a mural for the hallway outside our room. I turned on another jazz song and modeled how to let music inspire your painting. I started with dark colors, the blues and greens, then unconsciously began to add yellows. "Yellow is for happy," one child observed.

"It's for hope," I agreed.

4 year olds? pre-Kindergarten? For some reason, losing what amounts to a professional baby-sitting service for kids too young to be learning the 3Rs doesn't tug my heartstrings.

Ever been in a pre-k classroom (probably a dumb question since you have apparently done every job known to man)? It's a bit more than a professional baby-sitting service. Believe it or not kids do learn in pre-k.

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

 

[jon_mx]

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

No, they only learn if they are exposed to some officially sanctioned educator who is capable of producing the above rant. Preferably a union member.

 

[sts911911]

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

No, they only learn if they are exposed to some officially sanctioned educator who is capable of producing the above rant. Preferably a union member.

Seems logical that the more time a child spends in an enriching learning atmosphere where they are exposed to learning experiences with literature and reading would help...But if you want children sitting at home watching TV while parents are gone at work that's cool...

 

[Soonerman]

See, before 1959, there were no rainbows and unicorns in Wisconsin schools. Then the unions conjured them up. Now the evil wizard Walker has taken them away again, and darkness has descended on the land once more.

 

[The Kerminator]

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

No, they only learn if they are exposed to some officially sanctioned educator who is capable of producing the above rant. Preferably a union member.

Those poor 4-year olds in the 20+ states that don't have collective bargaining are doomed.

 

[jon_mx]

See, before 1959, there were no rainbows and unicorns in Wisconsin schools. Then the unions conjured them up. Now the evil wizard Walker has taken them away again, and darkness has descended on the land once more.

 

[Soonerman]

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

No, they only learn if they are exposed to some officially sanctioned educator who is capable of producing the above rant. Preferably a union member.

Seems logical that the more time a child spends in an enriching learning atmosphere where they are exposed to learning experiences with literature and reading would help...But if you want children sitting at home watching TV while parents are gone at work that's cool...

If 4 year olds are home alone watching TV while their parents are at work, then we have bigger problems to talk about.

 

[jon_mx]

Don't 4 year old kids learn whether they are in a pre-k or not?

No, they only learn if they are exposed to some officially sanctioned educator who is capable of producing the above rant. Preferably a union member.

Seems logical that the more time a child spends in an enriching learning atmosphere where they are exposed to learning experiences with literature and reading would help...But if you want children sitting at home watching TV while parents are gone at work that's cool...

Yes, because that is what parents do. And every moment inside some government preschool is exposure to an enriched learning atmosphere.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

The union shakedown continues. Do they really think this is the way to gain the public's support?

They are bombarding the airwaves with anti-Walker ads, and I think it is really going to turn off many people.

And this from one of the Democratic Senators:

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) said consumer actions may be a better option in continuing the fight against the Republican budget proposals."People we're up against care about money and are very greedy," Vinehout said. "Look at the companies and products these people manufacture. When I buy something, I make my vote known."

She's right. In a free market society that is politically tilted to the foreign worker all people have is the power of the pocketbook. The power of the consumer. Buy American.

But she's not saying "Buy American". She's saying what the unions have been saying "Don't buy from any businesses that supported Walker or aren't speaking out against Walker."

I have no problem with that. Some people don't buy from WalMart because of their anti-union stance. You don't want to buy from a certain company? Cool. You're some individual nut sending out threatening letters? Whatever. You're the leader of a union sending out the same letter? I take issue.

 

[CrossEyed]

Man, I really hate the union mentality.

 

[jon_mx]

I have no problem with that. Some people don't buy from WalMart because of their anti-union stance. You don't want to buy from a certain company? Cool. You're some individual nut sending out threatening letters? Whatever. You're the leader of a union sending out the same letter? I take issue.

I liken it to political terrorism. Picking off easy targets they can destroy so that they put fear into other companies. I really don't see it as a winning tactic. Reinforces the point that they are just thugs who will do anything to keep their power.