How often have you heard the past few days "They are taking our rights away!"
The reality is that is a load of bull$hit. The Collective Bargaining Agreement "CBA" behind that statement is not and never was a right, its a privilege and can and in this case should be taken away. The Unions would have us believe if they lose the CBA there will suddenly be all kinds of workplace injustices that would occur, you know Ogres stomping through cubicles demanding people work harder, random be-headings to keep everyone on their toes, someone taking all of the pens from the inventory closet. What they really mean to say is if you take away the CBA we wont be able to bargain back everything that was taken back and they would actually be forced to live like a normal taxpayer.
If you dont believe me here is a simple question to prove the theory. "Would you be willing to accept an offer that allows you to keep the CBA but wouldn't allow you to bargain for anything that would increase costs to the taxpayer" The answer is a resounding NO! Why ? Because the unions fully expect to bargain back whatever concessions they lose or to replace them with something of equal or greater value. Yeah I know it sounds like a game show, Ill take the ceramic dalmatian and the rest on a gift certificate Pat.
They would also have us believe that if this happens to them it could happen to anyone, apparently oblivious to the fact that most non Public Union workers have lost the very things they are demanding they get to keep, think about that if your reading this you likely dont have that sweet benefit package but they expect you to pay for theirs. Notice how I pointed out Public Unions, private sector unions like the Harley Workers, Sub Zero Workers, Mercury Marine Workers have all had massive give backs, where were the shut down demonstrations for their union brethren when all of that happened? Even better where were they when all of us non union workers were giving up pensions, paying for increased health care and paying increased taxes? I dont remember anyone storming the capitol for my family. I wouldnt have expected them to either, like any sane individual I recognized the fact my employer was struggling and if I wanted a job it was necessary to do things I didnt like.
While I listen to the union mouthpieces talk about rights I was struck by how vague they were, they are great at shouting slogans "Stop the assault on teachers" " Dont let a dictator take our rights" "Wisconsin is going back to the dark ages" " I need my Viagra"
That last one is only a half joke, last year MTEA sued to keep Viagra as part of their health care coverage. , yes they sued to keep it!I guess it makes sense now, they need to make sure they could keep screwing the public. Back to where I was though, you dont hear them talk about actual rights, because well most of the stuff they could actually complain about is covered by laws and many of the others they themselves negotiated. For example, Labor Laws now cover things like discrimination, harassment, un lawful termination and the like. Workplace Safety is now covered by OSHA, ask these people what rights they are talking about, you"ll get one of three things, a blank stare a flat out lie or a slogan shouted at you "Walker is Hitler"
They never really talk details though and the fact is if you look back over the CBA's you'll see why, they didnt care about rights as much as they demanded individual perks. These rights became a good slogan when it was needed but never really mattered until they felt threatened. When 50 % of MPS kids were dropping out, African American kids were scoring at the bottom of standardized tests were they willing to work to get rid of bad teachers and improve schools? Hell no they demanded seniority be left in place making sure no matter how worthless a teacher was if he/she was teaching for a long time they got to keep right on doing it, they bargained to keep teacher evaluations and removal so watered down they are useless and havent been used. Hey I know Johnny cant read but man a 2500.00 deductible just wont fly,the education of your kids be dammed the kids future batted aside in favor of making sure I get to keep what I bargained for. Remember a few years ago when teachers didn't get what they wanted they refused to write recommendations for graduating seniors to get into college holding kids education hostage in favor of their needs. These are the people I am supposed to believe are doing it for the kids? ((Now dont get me wrong, I know their are a lot a TON of dedicated, caring, hardworking teachers who are doing it for the kids. It just so happens most of them are in non union Parochial or Choice schools ;)...))
They also never talk about the negative side of the CBA, they never tell us how it slows down just about any implementation of Labor Savings, they dont mention that to get a contract has been averaging 15 months. What happens is if they do know they have to give something back, they delay, argue, refuse to vote on a contract ensuring the existing contract is held in place for over a year and then finally they say well "we gave up our raise this year" never mentioning the fact that the concessions they bargained into the contract often increased the overall labor/benefit costs.
I'm sick of redirection ploys, Im sick of being lied to, Im sick of spending money I dont have. When we talk about the need to limit Labor Costs via eliminating the CBA I dont want to hear about how someone spent this or that, we are talking about this now so lets stay on topic, this is about the CBA not about how Bass Pro Shops getting some wetlands deal. If you didnt like that attack it when it happened dont bring it up now because you dont want to talk about the CBA. Dont lie to me about what is being lost or trying to make anyone believe Wisconsin is suddenly Egypt and we are under a dictators rule (Ahem Eugene Kane) saying Scott Walker called out the National Guard to quell protests and comparing it to the riots of the 60's get a grip and stop trying to froment dissention with lies. The reality was he readied them to cover services that could be impacted by self interested greedy people who cared more about what they got and didnt care if they screwed a million taxpayers/parents/children or others along the way.Hell they dont care if the state goes bankrupt because they got theirs. In a ironic twist they same thing you will hear them claim the evil corporations do.
Time to wake up.This state is too far in debt to keep up what we have been doing, you have to pay into your health and pensions and you have to give up the CBA it has not helped the state and the taxpayers it needs to be gone.
These teachers who were so willing to try and slam a contract through before Walker took office, now say they want to negotiate and hes not fair for not giving them time, a bit of do as I say not as I do. These union hacks who preach about unfairness and family sent pickets outside of the Governors home in Wauwatosa to picket his elderly parents and children a none to subtle hint of we know where you live. These same people who called for more civil politics when Gabby Giffords was shot are posting pictures of our state reps as jack booted Nazis and I even saw one post wishing cancer on all of them. When a Republican lawmaker received threats today people actually said oh they all get threats but Republicans need to tell the press.
These are some of the people telling us its for the kids, its for us ....
Well no thanks I dont need or want you support, each day I learn more about what this is really about and each day I am more and more sure the Governor is right. Stay the course Scott Walker, we believe in you and we support the bill.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Speechless....
Well not quite.
Ill start at the end here and work backwards hoping to keep this brief.
WI SB11, unless you have been in a hole this is known as the Budget Repair Bill and has been the genesis of major protests throughout the state. teachers have walked off the job, the protests have been in the major media hell Obama even commented.
Thats not whats getting my goat right now though, its these damn teachers and even more than them the Dem. Reps who bailed out and are hiding in other states, are you kidding me? These people are pulling the same thing my 3 yr old does when he shits his pants and dont want us to find out.
They are not helping me come down in favor of them when they walk out on the kids (teachers) and walk out on the electorate (Representatives).
So here's the deal Mr and Mrs. Union worker, I dont hate you, I dont wish ill will on you and I know this is not going to be good for you. With that said we cannot afford to keep paying you what we have been, the state is broke, more than broke we are billions in debt. Like any sensible person buried in debt you look at your biggest expenses and hindrances to making your budget and you cut them.
Labor in WI. is 60 % of the state budget we cannot afford to keep increasing wages and benefits. Now before I hear it, I know you say you will negotiate the pension and health, but see the problem is we would still have collective bargaining, meaning we would still be hamstrung to make any labor cuts and balance the budgets because all of that needs to be done through the unions. We cannot make real progress on the problem if we have a roadblock at every turn.
Think of it like this, you walk into your house and say ok we are broke and we need to make some cuts. Then 27 people stand up and say you cant take this and you cant limit that and we still need those and oh by the way next year we'll need extra. You are standing there going well ok well now not only did I not save anything I somehow managed to spend even more money I dont have.
Thats where we are as a state right now, nobody wants to give up anything and in fact keep seeking more. We cannot afford this , thats where we are, we cannot afford to keep doing what we have been.
I have been hearing a lot of "we take less in salary so we could have good benefits and a pension" Well guess what, your new deal allows you to now negotiate more wages so you can be just as well paid as you seem to think we in the private sector are, you will also have a better benefit package than most of us ever will but thats still not enough.
No your not going to get a lot of sympathy from us, we didnt see you guys storming the capital or employers when our wages were froze (in some cases for years and years) nobody was making commercials for us when health care costs increased for a decade and yet you somehow managed to get better benefits. We didnt get to keep our jobs simply because we had them longer than another guy, we have to produce and prove our worth everyday and still face the loss of a job because, well thats how the real world works.
Welcome to it, now get back to work.
Ill start at the end here and work backwards hoping to keep this brief.
WI SB11, unless you have been in a hole this is known as the Budget Repair Bill and has been the genesis of major protests throughout the state. teachers have walked off the job, the protests have been in the major media hell Obama even commented.
Thats not whats getting my goat right now though, its these damn teachers and even more than them the Dem. Reps who bailed out and are hiding in other states, are you kidding me? These people are pulling the same thing my 3 yr old does when he shits his pants and dont want us to find out.
They are not helping me come down in favor of them when they walk out on the kids (teachers) and walk out on the electorate (Representatives).
So here's the deal Mr and Mrs. Union worker, I dont hate you, I dont wish ill will on you and I know this is not going to be good for you. With that said we cannot afford to keep paying you what we have been, the state is broke, more than broke we are billions in debt. Like any sensible person buried in debt you look at your biggest expenses and hindrances to making your budget and you cut them.
Labor in WI. is 60 % of the state budget we cannot afford to keep increasing wages and benefits. Now before I hear it, I know you say you will negotiate the pension and health, but see the problem is we would still have collective bargaining, meaning we would still be hamstrung to make any labor cuts and balance the budgets because all of that needs to be done through the unions. We cannot make real progress on the problem if we have a roadblock at every turn.
Think of it like this, you walk into your house and say ok we are broke and we need to make some cuts. Then 27 people stand up and say you cant take this and you cant limit that and we still need those and oh by the way next year we'll need extra. You are standing there going well ok well now not only did I not save anything I somehow managed to spend even more money I dont have.
Thats where we are as a state right now, nobody wants to give up anything and in fact keep seeking more. We cannot afford this , thats where we are, we cannot afford to keep doing what we have been.
I have been hearing a lot of "we take less in salary so we could have good benefits and a pension" Well guess what, your new deal allows you to now negotiate more wages so you can be just as well paid as you seem to think we in the private sector are, you will also have a better benefit package than most of us ever will but thats still not enough.
No your not going to get a lot of sympathy from us, we didnt see you guys storming the capital or employers when our wages were froze (in some cases for years and years) nobody was making commercials for us when health care costs increased for a decade and yet you somehow managed to get better benefits. We didnt get to keep our jobs simply because we had them longer than another guy, we have to produce and prove our worth everyday and still face the loss of a job because, well thats how the real world works.
Welcome to it, now get back to work.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
From the channel3000.com School Watch Page
Madison Schools
Closed Teachers Should Report
Submitted at: 11:54 PM CST on Tuesday, Feb 15
Report Updated 02-16-2011 00:03
Mike McCarthy set to make roughly $5 million-per-year
I've been hard on him in the past but he has proved me wrong. Locked up until 2015. Great news for the entire Packers organization.
From profootballtalk.com
From profootballtalk.com
Union leader calls for Madison schools to close during planned sickout
Quote from Mary Bell President of WEAC:
"Taking away the union’s role in support of teachers will mean teachers no longer have a voice in issues like class sizes, curriculum and other school quality issues. This proposal has a negative impact on every child and on every parent."
This only hurts the kids.
I thought this was about children and their parents. BULLSHIT! Now parents throughout Madison will have to scramble to find a place for their children. Unlike teachers & state workers a lot of parents do not have the vacation time to accommodate this. This is going to prove nothing. Gov. Walker has the votes and the writing is on the wall.
"Taking away the union’s role in support of teachers will mean teachers no longer have a voice in issues like class sizes, curriculum and other school quality issues. This proposal has a negative impact on every child and on every parent."
This only hurts the kids.
I thought this was about children and their parents. BULLSHIT! Now parents throughout Madison will have to scramble to find a place for their children. Unlike teachers & state workers a lot of parents do not have the vacation time to accommodate this. This is going to prove nothing. Gov. Walker has the votes and the writing is on the wall.
Deficit Bill Details
Here are the details of the Budget Adjustment Bill
Click here from The Wheeler Report
Guess what?
Click here from The Wheeler Report
Guess what?
PENSION CHANGES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND APPOINTEES. Modifies the pension calculation for elected
officials and appointees to be the same as general occupation employees and teachers.
The Cost of Public Sector Benefits
And the numbers are in..... Thoughts?
- In 2001 taxpayers contributed $423 million dollars to state employee health insurance premiums, while in 2011 taxpayers contributed more than $1 billion dollars. In 2011, state employees paid $64 million toward their health insurance, or about 5.6% of the total cost. (ETF Health Care Analysis)
- From 2001 to 2010 taxpayers spent more than $8 billion dollars on state employee health care coverage—over the same period of time state employees contributed about $398 million. (ETF Health Care Analysis)
- Public employers contributed almost $1.37 billion to the state’s pension fund in 2009, while employees contributed about $8 million, or about 0.6%. (LFB paper 84 Wisconsin Retirement System, Table 28)
- From 2000 to 2009 taxpayers spent about $12.6 billion on public employee pensions, during the same period public employees contributed $55.4 million. (LFB paper 84 Wisconsin Retirement System, Table 28)
- When looking at state operations, state employees account for about 60% of taxpayer cost—77% of state operations for the UW are employees, 70% for corrections, 63% for health services. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
- Wisconsin taxpayers currently make nearly a 100% payment for the employee portion of the public sector pension contribution. Illinois and Indiana taxpayers contribute the entire employee portion as well, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio pay 0% of the employee contribution. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
- Public employees in Wisconsin are vested in the retirement system immediately, while in Illinois it takes 8 years, 10 years in Indiana, 4 years in Iowa, 10 years in Michigan, 3 years in Minnesota, and 5 years in Ohio. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
- Survey data finds that private employer HMO plans in Wisconsin typically require a co-pay of $18 per office visit, $45 per specialist visit, $75 per emergency room visit, or $175 in-patient treatment. The average health insurance premium for these plans averaged $108 per month for single coverage and $261 for family. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
- Taxpayers spent $733 million of general purpose revenue on fringe benefits for state employees in fiscal year 2010. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
- Fringe benefits made up 25.6% of school district expenditures in 2008-09. (State Budget Office Memo 2-9-11)
It's Got To Start Some Where
National headlines today show that we as a nation are at our highest percent in debt since World War II. So how bad is Wisconsin off? Being ranked the 6th most in debt state in the US, I would say we are in big trouble. Lets break it down by the numbers. We have a bill for over $50 million owed to Minnesota for our tax reciprocity agreement that we need to still pay, we have over $3 BILLION in budget shortfall. If McDonalds was in the red by $3 billion, can you honestly say that they would be paying their employees? No way, they would file bankruptcy and go under. How did the state employees not see this coming? How did they not know that we cannot continue to pay them with money we simply do not have? How do all the services that the government of Wisconsin supply’s to their citizens continue to do so when there is not enough money to pay for it? I would like to challenge anyone to bring me any successful business model for a non-for-profit organization that is still around that operates $3 billion in the red. I can help you out and give you the answer, there are NONE. Times are financially tough, and we have enjoyed a lot of services that cost us little to nothing out of pocket. BUT what it has done is put all of us in such a bad place financially it is going to take drastic measures to avoid a local, state, and national financial meltdown.
I have said this before; the solution starts right here in our community. We can no longer expect our state to give us more money because we are further in debt, that’s the same thinking as: "I know I’ll get pregnant again to get more aid”. That is irresponsible, immature, selfish, and lazy. Funding for programs like 4K work just like that. The “profit” the supporters talk of for programs like that comes from the state giving us more money than we need to support it. That money does not exists, it hasn't for a long time, the state just borrowed from other states to cover the costs. Time for a decade of responsibility, if we want all these great programs the state currently provides, we need to pay cash for them, not IOU’s. There are obvious lines drawn in the sand and you know which side I’m on, who else will join us?
I have said this before; the solution starts right here in our community. We can no longer expect our state to give us more money because we are further in debt, that’s the same thinking as: "I know I’ll get pregnant again to get more aid”. That is irresponsible, immature, selfish, and lazy. Funding for programs like 4K work just like that. The “profit” the supporters talk of for programs like that comes from the state giving us more money than we need to support it. That money does not exists, it hasn't for a long time, the state just borrowed from other states to cover the costs. Time for a decade of responsibility, if we want all these great programs the state currently provides, we need to pay cash for them, not IOU’s. There are obvious lines drawn in the sand and you know which side I’m on, who else will join us?
Monday, February 14, 2011
It's the Bullet Train ... to Nowhere
Why does Obama keep ramming high speed rail down our throats? This is NOT Europe.
Read this from foxnews.com
Read this from foxnews.com
Walker won't back down from plan to remove collective bargaining rights, unions fight back
I don't think he should. Maybe he could have went about it differently. Opened negotiations publicly let the public see if the unions and I quote Marry Bell "(we) understand the situation" . When they fell apart as I believe they would have then public perception would have swayed his way. Either way this is a must to start getting us out of the hole our state government has put is in.
Here's an interesting part of the article on the average cost to each state employee:
To help offset the average 8 percent increase in costs for state employees under his plan, Walker has promised no furloughs or layoffs. He also wants to make it illegal for public employees to be forced to pay union dues, something he said would save some workers hundreds of dollars a year.
So what's the real problem here? An 8% decrease in PRE-TAX income or union brainwashing?
Here it is from gazettextra.com
Here's an interesting part of the article on the average cost to each state employee:
To help offset the average 8 percent increase in costs for state employees under his plan, Walker has promised no furloughs or layoffs. He also wants to make it illegal for public employees to be forced to pay union dues, something he said would save some workers hundreds of dollars a year.
So what's the real problem here? An 8% decrease in PRE-TAX income or union brainwashing?
Here it is from gazettextra.com
Are Our Teachers Doing What Best For Our Kids???
Students at Stoughton High School are planning a “walk out” today. I called the school because my daughter attends there and asked what the school plans on doing about it. The clerk said, “nothing”. I asked if they would be marked absent or tardy, again she answered “No”. After calling the Principle, Vice Principle, and the Superintendent, the answer changed to, “they will marked absent as any other day”. Thank god commonsense prevailed. HOWEVER the immediate response from the clerk is a very good indicator on just how far some people may go for their own personal agenda. Teachers have an incredible amount of influence over our children and should NEVER use it for their own self interest. I can only hope our Evansville teachers do not allow themselves to go down this path. If they do and are caught, I will campaign to have them excused without pay. It is completely UNACCEPTABLE. It is an egregious abuse of power and is not in line with the moral values I want my daughter or any of my younger children to be subject to.
I know these are difficult times for all teachers and state workers, but we must not allow our emotions to influence our decision when it comes to our children. A walk out without consciences is not in the student’s best interest, it is in the teacher best interest; please do not allow these two things to be mixed. If they want to walk out, let them, but the penalty should be the same as any other day, unexcused.
I do want to emphasize that I did speak with the principle of Stoughton High School and he did ensure me that the school will not be promoting this event, and his plan was sound on how the school was going to handle it. However I am still very concerned with the first response I received and ask that we monitor this very closely. Any teacher that is using his or her influence over the student body for their own political interests should have some sort of punitive action.
I know these are difficult times for all teachers and state workers, but we must not allow our emotions to influence our decision when it comes to our children. A walk out without consciences is not in the student’s best interest, it is in the teacher best interest; please do not allow these two things to be mixed. If they want to walk out, let them, but the penalty should be the same as any other day, unexcused.
I do want to emphasize that I did speak with the principle of Stoughton High School and he did ensure me that the school will not be promoting this event, and his plan was sound on how the school was going to handle it. However I am still very concerned with the first response I received and ask that we monitor this very closely. Any teacher that is using his or her influence over the student body for their own political interests should have some sort of punitive action.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Evansville Teachers see the benefits of 4K programs
So the real reason they want to do this is to make it easier on the teachers??? What don't they understand about broke? The taxpayers of Evansville cannot afford this.
Read it here.
Read it here.
Evansville School District piloting late-start days
While I understand the premise behind this I think it is a bad idea for multiple reasons.
1. It could be a financial burden for some unless they continue to provide the early morning activities.
2. Kids need more time in school not less. I would like to see an extended school year instead they are taking away time.
3. We already pay for 4.5 staff development days. Use that time.
Here's the story from Gina.
1. It could be a financial burden for some unless they continue to provide the early morning activities.
2. Kids need more time in school not less. I would like to see an extended school year instead they are taking away time.
3. We already pay for 4.5 staff development days. Use that time.
Here's the story from Gina.
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