I don't comment nearly as often as I'd like on political matters here, but in order to keep this blog light-hearted, which is the overall intention, I try to stay away from rants like the one last week about abortion rights. However, I'm going to comment today about the vote yesterday in Wisconsin that sneakily twisted around the back door and managed to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights despite the lack of Democrats in the Wisconsin State House for the vote. (As I understand it, Wisconsin's State Legislature needs only a simple majority for a vote on any non-fiscal bill.)
There are many quotes and statements and comments flying around the web on this. I'm sure on many wing-nut sites there is jubilation. I am livid. (Shame on you Ohio, too!)
There may be people who think that teachers or firemen make too much money, but I am not one of them. I will never begrudge a teacher or any public employee their salary AND their benefits. I may envy them, but that is not the same thing.
A long time ago, we Americans looked at union employees as decent hard-working folks. Now, with biased media twisting our vision, we are told that they are "what's wrong with America." Bullshit.
What's wrong with America is that is has been sold --lock, stock, and barrel-- to the huge multinational corporations and the billionaires who run them. This is just the first truly visible step down ladder. It's been going on for years, but last year with the Citizens United Supreme Court case, it came out into the open. Now, it's as if the Bank of Americas, Citigroups, BPs, ADMs don't even care if we notice that they are owning us.
There is only one way to undo all the treachery big money has done. Unfortunately, it involves an educated, active populace, and with teachers becoming even more underpaid, and text books being rewritten to disregard historical truths, and more reality shows than actual housewives on television, the likelihood of anyone in this country becoming more educated, informed and active seems infintesimal.
1 comment:
I was going to hit a reaction, but you only have available "funny," "interesting," and "cool." You should add "Correct."
My only quibble is that the mechanics of the vote--fiscal, non-fiscal, quorum--shouldn't be the issue. This is a disgusting move even if it was done legally.
Post a Comment