WI Governor Scott Walker for President!

As "born and raised" Wisconsinites (we left in '97) it has been wonderful to watch as the adults reassert contol in the statehouse. The last decade was almost too embarrassing to watch, as the Democrats ran the state straight into the ground.

I say Walker should fire every one of those over-paid/underworked government workers (most of whom are NOT teachers -- putting them "front and center" is nothing but political theater) and watch how fast the unemployed ****** up those cushy jobs.

 

Cry me a river!

I work 8 hours a day, drive 3 to 4 hours ( my truck and gas), carry thousands of dollars in tools (my own), then work on plans at night and weekends. So I should be happy to pay MORE taxes to cover a broken education system-------YEA RIGHT!

Part of the story that isn't mentioned is these "teachers" were probably all paid for today in the form of sick pay or personal day. I have little sympathy for them. And what's up with them taking students with them? Using the peoples kids to protest so the parents can pay higher taxes to support the teachers union? I'd be pizzed if it was my kid.

 

It may be that way in Houston but isn't in Lubbock or my sister would have retired already instead of busting her backside 10 hours a day, taking courses during the summer to maintain her certification, etc. The teachers there are also considered to be government workers, so they aren't on Social Security.

I'm finding it interesting that four of the people here with the idea teachers are overpaid and underworked are from Texas.

 

Thank you for making my point. Most apparently you are as confused about the real world as is the teachers union. I know of very few people that are lucky enough to have a cushy job of 10 hours a day and then have the summer off regardless of pay. You must be a democrat. When you really want to know what's wrong with this nation, look in the mirror. Most everybody in the 2 industries that I have made a living in work 10-12-14 hours a day and a lot of times it's 6 days a week....and no, we don't get the summer off and it's frowned upon if you take any vacation. None of the industries are known for any retirement program and healthcare is out of yer pocket, no contribution by the employer but you do get the group rates. That LF is the real world.

 

The individual school districts, not the state or fed govt, are the ones that overload teachers because they have no clue how to balance a budget. They would rather get all the kids a laptop and the best football uniforms on the planet than God forbid a provide a quality education.

Focus on the kids for a change!!!

BTW my mother taught HS Spanish for thirty years and was the foreign language department head and hardly ever brought her work home with her.

 

It's not just teachers attending these protests. It's a lot of different municipal employees. They've decided to bite the hand that feeds them. The taxpayer.

Hey, if they have an issue with proposed legislation, they have every right to voice thier opinion. This has gone beyond voicing their opinion. They are demanding that the tax payer continue to compenstate them at the levels that have caused huge deficites. They are complaining that the government isn't big enough. They are demanding unsustainable spending to keep them happy.

These "hate" protests are planed to occure around the country. They are just like Greece (yes Greece, not Greese).

Never let a crisis go to waste...

 

First, I'm a registered independent.

Second, I worked in industry (primarily power generation and distribution) for 32 years, mostly in warehousing (indoor and outdoor in all kinds of weather and all hours). I'm disabled now, partly because of the abuse my body took while working there so I know what hard work is. I got sick pay (that was the one my empliyer didn't like us using), vacation pay, and retirement. The most I ever made was $21/hr. Believe me, I earned what I got.

I'm not one bit confused about what teaching jobs are like. Mama taught in AZ. My sister teaches in TX. I have friends who teach in AZ and CA. Some of my friends are on a trimester system. They work year round while the students only attend two of the three trimesters a year (there is a month between trimesters but the teachers get only a week or two off at best). I've stayed with a teacher friend in CA (not far from Corona, btw) on many occasions and have seen how many hours she works. I often spend more time visiting with her husband than I do with her because she is so busy.

I'm sure there are some "cushy" districts and private schools but, overall, teachers are overworked and underpaid for what they do. Anyone who thinks otherwise is not seeing the full picture.

 

I was trained to be an English teacher. Alas, I was at the tail end of the baby boom, and all the old(er) baby boomers had snatched up those cushy jobs by the time I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1981.

So, I went into newspapers. My sister, 11 years older than me, taught Spanish, English, and French for 33 years as a unionized teacher in Michigan. She retired on a full pension while still in her early 50s. She is now in her early 60s, having already enjoyed more pay and benefits than I will ever see.

I'm now the owner of my fourth small business. My take-home pay last year was less than my sister's pension. My last day off was in July, 2010. My regular work-day is 14 hours.

Anyone who thinks that being a union teacher isn't cushy is probably another government employee. By comparison to virtually every other gummint bureaucrat, teachers are ***-busters. Compared to the real world, however -- you know, the rest of us who actually EMPLOY these people -- teaching is a dream world of nearly endless paid vacation, short work days, and great health coverage.

Wisconsin is only the first state to face the facts that We, the People are sick and tired of this grossly unfair situation, and can not -- WILL not -- pay for this crap anymore.

 

The Bill they are protesting Takes away all collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin's public workers. Teacher's, Nurses, Prison Guards, etc. They're not even protesting the cuts they have to take, they pretty much have accepted that.

So now, in the USA, you can just pass a law to make your Union Illegal?? What kind of **** crap is that?!? I don't care if your Anti or Pro Union. You Know that's not right. What's next? A law making the NRA illegal? The Tea Party Illegal?? They're all "collective" groups. It just doesn't work that way. This is America!

If you wanna make the "Killer" salery of a teacher, then go to college and Earn it. I suspect if you actually Did earn a degree, you would seek a job earning a lot better Money than a Teacher though.

I'm sick of people dissing on the "Rich". You wanna make money, go to school, and work for it.

Fire the teacher's so you can send my Tax Dollars to BP and Wall Street. They deserve it more than my child in school. I'm sure the future of the USA will be fine.

 

Yeah, ok...

Teachers overworked is a myth. I'm tired of such propaganda crap. They are paid well and get great benefits. Teachers have a a choice....leave the profession or quit.

I agree that teachers have to put up with much BS.....but blame that on the Liberal nutjobs. Liberals cause much of the problems that directly result in students acting out in schools because of their lack of enforcing strict rules and discipline.

 

Nice post. This pretty much sums up much of what has been discussed.

 

Well, NO, you don't have to pass it. It does however have to go through the legislative process. The governor doesn't just propose a budget and it's passed. The legislature has to do thier job, debate the merits, propose amendments and compromizes. They are supposed to do their job and send it back to the governor. They are not supposed to go to resort hotels in a completely different state.

The governors proposed budget doesn't take away all of the unions bargining rights. Just the ones that allow them to pile on benefits. Wouldn't it be kind of silly to require them to start paying for a small portion of their pension and health insurance and them let them negotiate a bigger pension or better health insurance? They can still negotiate their pay, but not the benefits. If the unions get everything they want, many will lose their jobs.

No matter how much some in this country want socialism, or your more friendly term, "state capitalism", many of us are going to resist.

 

I believe that here in MA teachers pension is 80% of their best year. Same goes for many other municipal employees.

I wonder what my company would have to do to pay me 80% of my best year for years after I retire?

 

Does anyone not see the true conspiracy that has been carried out by the GOP in the past 30 years?

They destroyed the unions in the private sector and are now out to destroy those in the public sector.

I don't hear anyone screaming about the fact these lawmakers all make more money and get better benefits than the teachers they are wanting to strip of their pay.

The goal of the GOP is to destroy the middle class within itself. They got the middle class to battle themselves and the CEOs and Wall St bankers are laughing all the way to the bank!

But of course CEOs and Wall St bankers need the 20 million a year they get while tossing people that make 1/500th of their wages to the street!

 

When the going gets tough, wisconsin democrats get going to illinois. Glad to see my taxes are going to schools and politicians that care more about their pocketbook than doing their job objectively and fairly.