Wisconsin Doctors' Notes; Wisconsin Protests: It's for the Chi-hhhilll-dren
Monique Chartier
The protests at Wisconsin's capitol have been carried out for the children. Truly! Just ask the Reverend Jackson and the protesters.
Speaking to a near-capacity crowd from the second level of the Capitol rotunda, the civil rights activist [Jesse Jackson] led protesters in chants of "Save the teachers. Save the children." Protesters swayed as Jackson led them in a rendition of the song, "We Shall Overcome."
Isn't it beautiful?! All of this agitation has nothing to do with the preservation of advantageous compensation terms or the bargaining structure that ensures its perpetuation. It's all about "saving the children".
Oh, and you know about those "sick" teachers who bunked work to attend the protests, forcing the cancellation of classes at several Wisconsin schools? They don't need to worry about the repercussions of an unjustified absence from work because
doctors from various hospitals set up a station near the Capitol to provide notes covering public employees' absences from work.
The bill would strip public unions of most of their collective bargaining rights.
For most of the past week, thousands of union members and their supporters have protested Walker's measure at the Capitol. Some have called in sick so they could demonstrate here.
On Saturday, family physician Lou Sanner, 59, of Madison, said he had given out hundreds of notes. Many of the people he spoke with seemed to be suffering from stress, he said.
The issuance of bogus sick notes to excuse the classroom absences of hundreds of unprofessionals resulting in the hampering of the education of thousands of students: prima facie, it's for the children! Right, doctor?
Video Addendum - Snap diagnosis of Walker Pneumonia
This thought does not arise from the article, it did stir recollection. I have noticed that, in groups, teachers behave similarly to children. I don't think it is "peer pressure", simply a "learned behavior" from constant association with children.
I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviors I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space.
"I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviours I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space."
It's funny that I never had this problem in 15 years of teaching. Must be the NRA bumper sticker and mug.
There's definitely a Lord of the Flies effect that can manifest from ruling over a classroom full of young adults with an iron fist. It's psychologically difficult to go from being the biggest, baddest, and smartest person in the room, and being the center of attention every day to being treated like a mere peon of the state whose meager salary can be raised or lowered on a whim like water in a bathtub. When all you have is a hammer... the politicians need to be "punished" now, you see.
Posted by kramer:
"I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviours I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space."
It's funny that I never had this problem in 15 years of teaching. Must be the NRA bumper sticker and mug."
The examples given are simply easy to describe. While I can not easily describe them (it has been a while)I remember that many of their mannerisms were childish (perhaps "youthful", it was high school), as were their speech patterns. It may have been a bad group, but "you only get one chance at a first impression".
I also recall being in Salem, MA on business, about 20 years ago. Teachers were "protesting" their condition by marching in a circle carrying grievance signs. I noticed two things, they wouldn't make eye contact and appeared embarrassed as "professionals"; and they were dressed in rags. I wondered if the rags were "suggested" by the union.
It has become obvious to me, hrough my frequent contacts with teachers, that they often take on the same personality traits of the group they teach. Elementary teachers will act like little children, middle school teachers will rebel and act out, and high school teachers will stay home while the crazy zealots do the heavy lifting at events such as these.
Interesting take on Wisconsin
Bringing Home 150 Troops from Afghanistan Would Fix Wisconsin’s Budget “Crisis”
Walker’s slash-and-burn attack on the unions in his state would save $150 million per year for two years. But if Wisconsin is truly in a state of fiscal emergency, as Walker claims, why is he not demanding the president withdraw troops from Afghanistan and make the savings available as fiscal aid to states? Every troop deployed in Afghanistan costs the U.S. $1 million per year, so simply bringing home 151 troops would save more money than his plan. And, with fiscal 2011 Afghanistan War spending alone to top $1.7 billion for Wisconsin taxpayers, an end to the war would free up more than ten times his plan’s cash, which the president could use for state fiscal aid.
From The Young Turks. Submitted by OldTimeLefty
A less noticed provision in the wild and wacky Wisconsin world of Walker would allow the state to sell or contract out any state-owned energy asset in no-bid deals with private corporations.
Here is the provision. My emphasis.
16.896 Sale or contractual operation of state-owned heating, cooling, and power plants. (1) Notwithstanding ss. 13.48 (14) (am) and 16.705 (1), the department may sell any state-owned heating, cooling, and power plant or may contract with a private entity for the operation of any such plant, with or without solicitation of bids, for any amount that the department determines to be in the best interest of the state. Notwithstanding ss. 196.49 and 196.80, no approval or certification of the public service commission is necessary for a public utility to purchase, or contract for the operation of, such a plant, and any such purchase is considered to be in the public interest and to comply with the criteria for certification of a project under s. 196.49 (3) (b)
It's unclear what "the best interest of the state" is. Apparently the governor alone decides.
Power of approval or certification is moved from a body of people (the Public Service Commission) to a single person - from many into the hands of one. You make the call as to how the democratic process is served by handing an individual dictatorial powers.
If this deal goes through, one of the companies that could stand to benefit significantly is Koch Industries. Koch already has several companies in the state, including a coal subsidiary, timber plants and a large network of pipelines.
During the 2010 election cycle, Walker received $43,000 from the Koch Industries PAC, his second-largest contribution. The PAC also gave significantly to the Republican Governors Association, which in turn helped out Walker considerably in his race. Koch also contributed $6,500 to support 16 Republican legislative candidates in the state.
The Koch-funded group Americans for Prosperity has also been standing with Walker throughout his budget battles, busing in Tea Party activists and launching the site, Stand With Walker. After the election, Walker and other Republican governors received guidance from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that is also funded by Koch dollars and has pushed anti-union measures.
Funny how that works out to the advantage of the already advantaged. We shouldn’t complain though. Remember
Observe how easily a crowd turns mob
Through ignorance of its wise ruler’s job.
Work for and trust the powerful few.
What’s best for them is best for you.
OldTimeLefty
Come on OTL, do you really think anyone on the right will see a problem with that. Many of these people think it is unAmerican to protest and think that Glen Beck is a legitimate high level thinker.
with fiscal 2011 Afghanistan War spending alone to top $1.7 billion for Wisconsin taxpayers, an end to the war would free up more than ten times his plan’s cash, which the president could use for state fiscal aid.
Posted by OldTimeLefty at February 21, 2011 11:46 AM
No He Can't-because the overwhelming Republican majority in the House (not to mention a dozen hard core Blue Dogs) is SICK of bailouts to the NEA and other public payroll parasites.
Elections have consequences-so eat s*** OTL.
Enough of this "stop the war" and spend the "peace dividend" on bloated bureaucracies. The salient fact is that costs are too high, the question is not "where else can we get the money". If money is saved by ending the war, let us give the taxpayers a break. After all, it is their money.
The time is fast approaching when I will have to assume the helm of the ship of state.
Demonizing the Kochs. Just another failed exercise in Leftist character assassination.
How's your main funding source, the Nazi collaborator, doing?
BobN
1. I thought that you were the Nazi collaborator. If you aren't, you'll certainly do.
2. If pointing out what the Koch brothers are doing and how much money they have contributed to causes that eventually enrich themselves is demonizing, in the words of the Syracuse Orangeman mascot from Ohio, "So be it".
OldTimeLefty
If the Koches keep doing what they're doing, well, that just means more non-union workers standing up to the oligarchs.
That would be a very positive development for America.
I just wonder what Tommy will do the day his boast "Elections have consequences" gets thrown back in his face. I hope no spouses are injured or pets get kicked.
Perfect example of the Leftist ignorantly but stubbornly repeating his Big Lie in defiance of the plain and widely known fact. Soros is an admitted Nazi collaborator. That is a fact. It is also a fact that he has written extensively of his vision of a world controlled by an elite, totalitarian government that looks exactly like the Fascist model.
When one of the Leftists calls me a Nazi, he is merely spitting out a gratuitous insult which says more about him than about me.
Once again, it is a pleasure to have reduced the Leftist to such red-faced, hyperventilating panic that all he can do is call me a Nazi.
The rest of us here know better.
Nothing to see here. Move along, OTL.
(thank you, T-partiers. love, your corporate overlords)
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This thought does not arise from the article, it did stir recollection. I have noticed that, in groups, teachers behave similarly to children. I don't think it is "peer pressure", simply a "learned behavior" from constant association with children.
I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviors I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at February 20, 2011 9:20 PM"I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviours I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space."
It's funny that I never had this problem in 15 years of teaching. Must be the NRA bumper sticker and mug.
Posted by: kramer at February 20, 2011 9:34 PMThere's definitely a Lord of the Flies effect that can manifest from ruling over a classroom full of young adults with an iron fist. It's psychologically difficult to go from being the biggest, baddest, and smartest person in the room, and being the center of attention every day to being treated like a mere peon of the state whose meager salary can be raised or lowered on a whim like water in a bathtub. When all you have is a hammer... the politicians need to be "punished" now, you see.
Posted by: Dan at February 20, 2011 9:38 PMPosted by kramer:
"I taught for a bit once. Among the behaviours I noticed were hiding my coffee cup in the teachers lounge and letting the air out of my tires because I took someone else's parking space."
It's funny that I never had this problem in 15 years of teaching. Must be the NRA bumper sticker and mug."
The examples given are simply easy to describe. While I can not easily describe them (it has been a while)I remember that many of their mannerisms were childish (perhaps "youthful", it was high school), as were their speech patterns. It may have been a bad group, but "you only get one chance at a first impression".
I also recall being in Salem, MA on business, about 20 years ago. Teachers were "protesting" their condition by marching in a circle carrying grievance signs. I noticed two things, they wouldn't make eye contact and appeared embarrassed as "professionals"; and they were dressed in rags. I wondered if the rags were "suggested" by the union.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at February 21, 2011 12:14 AMIt has become obvious to me, hrough my frequent contacts with teachers, that they often take on the same personality traits of the group they teach. Elementary teachers will act like little children, middle school teachers will rebel and act out, and high school teachers will stay home while the crazy zealots do the heavy lifting at events such as these.
Posted by: John at February 21, 2011 7:35 AMInteresting take on Wisconsin
Posted by: OldTimeLefty at February 21, 2011 11:46 AMBringing Home 150 Troops from Afghanistan Would Fix Wisconsin’s Budget “Crisis”
Walker’s slash-and-burn attack on the unions in his state would save $150 million per year for two years. But if Wisconsin is truly in a state of fiscal emergency, as Walker claims, why is he not demanding the president withdraw troops from Afghanistan and make the savings available as fiscal aid to states? Every troop deployed in Afghanistan costs the U.S. $1 million per year, so simply bringing home 151 troops would save more money than his plan. And, with fiscal 2011 Afghanistan War spending alone to top $1.7 billion for Wisconsin taxpayers, an end to the war would free up more than ten times his plan’s cash, which the president could use for state fiscal aid.
From The Young Turks. Submitted by OldTimeLefty
A less noticed provision in the wild and wacky Wisconsin world of Walker would allow the state to sell or contract out any state-owned energy asset in no-bid deals with private corporations.
Here is the provision. My emphasis.
It's unclear what "the best interest of the state" is. Apparently the governor alone decides.
Power of approval or certification is moved from a body of people (the Public Service Commission) to a single person - from many into the hands of one. You make the call as to how the democratic process is served by handing an individual dictatorial powers.
If this deal goes through, one of the companies that could stand to benefit significantly is Koch Industries. Koch already has several companies in the state, including a coal subsidiary, timber plants and a large network of pipelines.
During the 2010 election cycle, Walker received $43,000 from the Koch Industries PAC, his second-largest contribution. The PAC also gave significantly to the Republican Governors Association, which in turn helped out Walker considerably in his race. Koch also contributed $6,500 to support 16 Republican legislative candidates in the state.
The Koch-funded group Americans for Prosperity has also been standing with Walker throughout his budget battles, busing in Tea Party activists and launching the site, Stand With Walker. After the election, Walker and other Republican governors received guidance from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that is also funded by Koch dollars and has pushed anti-union measures.
Funny how that works out to the advantage of the already advantaged. We shouldn’t complain though. Remember
OldTimeLeftyPosted by: OldTimeLefty at February 21, 2011 12:10 PM
Come on OTL, do you really think anyone on the right will see a problem with that. Many of these people think it is unAmerican to protest and think that Glen Beck is a legitimate high level thinker.
Posted by: triplerichard at February 21, 2011 1:14 PMwith fiscal 2011 Afghanistan War spending alone to top $1.7 billion for Wisconsin taxpayers, an end to the war would free up more than ten times his plan’s cash, which the president could use for state fiscal aid.
Posted by OldTimeLefty at February 21, 2011 11:46 AM
No He Can't-because the overwhelming Republican majority in the House (not to mention a dozen hard core Blue Dogs) is SICK of bailouts to the NEA and other public payroll parasites.
Posted by: Tommy Cranston at February 21, 2011 2:13 PMElections have consequences-so eat s*** OTL.
Enough of this "stop the war" and spend the "peace dividend" on bloated bureaucracies. The salient fact is that costs are too high, the question is not "where else can we get the money". If money is saved by ending the war, let us give the taxpayers a break. After all, it is their money.
The time is fast approaching when I will have to assume the helm of the ship of state.
Posted by: Warrington Faust at February 21, 2011 4:29 PMDemonizing the Kochs. Just another failed exercise in Leftist character assassination.
How's your main funding source, the Nazi collaborator, doing?
Posted by: BobN at February 21, 2011 4:48 PMBobN
1. I thought that you were the Nazi collaborator. If you aren't, you'll certainly do.
2. If pointing out what the Koch brothers are doing and how much money they have contributed to causes that eventually enrich themselves is demonizing, in the words of the Syracuse Orangeman mascot from Ohio, "So be it".
Posted by: OldTimeLefty at February 21, 2011 10:20 PMOldTimeLefty
If the Koches keep doing what they're doing, well, that just means more non-union workers standing up to the oligarchs.
Posted by: bella at February 21, 2011 11:15 PMThat would be a very positive development for America.
I just wonder what Tommy will do the day his boast "Elections have consequences" gets thrown back in his face. I hope no spouses are injured or pets get kicked.
Perfect example of the Leftist ignorantly but stubbornly repeating his Big Lie in defiance of the plain and widely known fact. Soros is an admitted Nazi collaborator. That is a fact. It is also a fact that he has written extensively of his vision of a world controlled by an elite, totalitarian government that looks exactly like the Fascist model.
When one of the Leftists calls me a Nazi, he is merely spitting out a gratuitous insult which says more about him than about me.
Once again, it is a pleasure to have reduced the Leftist to such red-faced, hyperventilating panic that all he can do is call me a Nazi.
The rest of us here know better.
Posted by: BobN at February 22, 2011 8:28 AMNothing to see here. Move along, OTL.
Posted by: Russ at February 22, 2011 1:36 PM(thank you, T-partiers. love, your corporate overlords)