Of course in Wisconsin a few percent of the membership makes quite a crowd on the capital lawn, but many of the protesters were from other states and private sector unions. Most members aren’t thugs but the few who are get around.

The truth is that in a any large organization there are legitimate reasons for union representation; paradoxically the direct deduction of union dues is against the workers interest. In the early days a union steward had to make the rounds collecting monthly dues; if he wasn’t doing his job you would tell him you forgot your wallet that day, FDR brought in direct deposit to give union leaders guaranteed income without having to provide that pesky representation.

For years I’ve been advocating for elimination of payroll deduction of income taxes, now it occurs to me that we should require all members of congress go door to door and collect the money in person.

Kathleen Falk is a HORRIBLE candidate.

1.) She’s from Madison – the rural areas won’t trust her.
2.) As Dane County exectuive she let the Bond rating slip from AAA to AA
3.) She resigned as county executive in 2010 — “A quitter!!”
4.) She heavily backed commuter rail
5.) She’s got poor name recognition
6.) She’s run twice unsuccessfully for higher office.

I’m considering going to vote in the Democratic primary for her as I think she can win that primary but not the general.

Walker , Scott GOP 1,128,159 52%
Barrett , Tom Dem 1,005,008 47%

The Dems got a million signatures of which probably 75 % are legitimate.
The re~call election of walker is a non-story. With a 51 % approval rating for Walker now, it’s doubtful the unions can energize enough for a big turnout on what is essentially a non-issue for the citizens of Wisconsin.

F&%#@ the unions. Let ‘em burn.

Wow, you still trust Republican politicians to take a meaningful stand and stick to their principles?

Brave man.

mankai on February 9, 2012 at 9:29 AM

I take your point, but in this instance they have to. If by some miracle the recall was successful and the Republicans capitulated, it wouldn’t help any of them get reelected. This fight is existential for the Democrats and the unions, which is why they’ve fought like hell. If they turn the tables, the Republicans will be in an equally existential fight. And trust me, the Republicans in Wisconsin understand that.

jwolf on February 9, 2012 at 9:37 AM

Yes, you are missing something.

Many states are neither RTW or forced union.
And BTW, they must be doing fairly well.

What a choice for the union goonmember. Recall Walker and possibly lose my job and pay higher taxes or keep Walker and keep my job and taxes low.

What will they do?

banzaibob on February 9, 2012 at 11:58 AM

keep your taxes low??? I think you meant “lower”. Wisconsin hasn’t been known for low taxes in decades (in fact the last I checked, we ranked #4 in the nation on per capita taxation, in a state ranking middle of the pack on per capita income).

that’s the price for being the birthplace of the “progressive” (a kinder term for socialism) movement. and that’s what this fight is all about.

November 2010 was when the people said “enough already”…employers were leaving, taxes were continuing to increase and the state was facing a $3bil deficit (all the budget tricks having been played only meant one thing…even higher taxes coming).

good luck Ms. Falk…I await your speech explaining why undoing the walker moves will be good for the state. it should rank right up there with Animal House and Blazing Saddles.

What will they do?

Wow, you still trust Republican politicians to take a meaningful stand and stick to their principles?

Brave man.

mankai on February 9, 2012 at 9:29 AM

The national GOP is run by a bunch of turds. But the WI GOP is great. Walker has the party tuned up like a machine. They get done what needs to be done and they don’t waste time on silly sideissues.

Walker 2012 (I could care less about the Presidential race, THIS is the real race this year).

And after he wins, and then wins re-election in 2014, I’d love to see him in the White House.

As for the potential crisis, if there is no biannual budget by the end of FY2013 (June 30, 2013), spending and taxation continues at the prior budget’s rates.

Steve Eggleston on February 9, 2012 at 11:24 AM

So, amending: “Encourage the Illusion of Restored Union Control while Actually Insuring the Status Quo–Vote Falk.”
(This WI-style triangulation sure is tricky).

Bzzzt. Wrong on two counts, Mr. Ross.

First- given that the name “Mickey Mouse” is on one of those petitions, I highly doubt there are a million “people” that signed them.

Second- Walker was elected in part based on his promises to reform psychotically out of control deficits and PEU excesses. Ergo, his actions DO in fact reflect citizens’ values- just not yours, such as they are.

double fail.

Unions demand budget-veto pledge for from Dems seeking recall against Walker in WI

fify

So the campaign reduces to “Restore Union Control–Vote Falk.” That pretty much capture it?

Barnestormer on February 9, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Pretty much. There’s also the “Avenge 2006″ angle, as Falk was the only Democrat in the entire country to lose a statewide/Congressional office held by Democrats going into the cycle (attorney general – after she ousted incumbent Peg “The Keg” Lautenschlager in the primary, she lost to J.B. “See No Evil” Van Hollen in the general).

Hey Dems, how do ya like being run by the mafia?

Speakup on February 9, 2012 at 10:59 AM

They ARE the Mafia.

IIRC, one provision of the WI law is that public sector unions run for re-certification every two years. Usually it is difficult to decertify a union (giving how much a fight the international will put in), but an automatic re-certification election every two years requires the unions to answer: “What am I getting for my dues?”

Wethal on February 9, 2012 at 9:25 AM

It’s actually every year. Most of the teachers’ unions have recertified, while many of the municipal unions decertified.

Nice column Ed, lets hope that voters realize what the unions really care about.

Mord on February 9, 2012 at 9:28 AM

Let’s also hope that unions realize what the voters really care about.