Center of the world

The place I call home has been the center of the political world lately it seems (if you don't count the Middle East). Madison, Wisconsin, is filled with union supporters and tea party activists passionately voicing their opinions.

In last Fall's election, Republicans took control of the governorship and the State House and State Assembly. In an effort to repair Wisconsin's huge budget shortfall, Governor Scott Walker announced deep cuts for state workers and the end of almost all collective bargaining rights for public unions. Salary negotiations would be the only area still allowed.

Wisconsin has a rich tradition of workers' rights, and this decision is not sitting well with thousands of teachers, firefighters, police officers, and public health nurses. (One note: Walker's proposal exempts public safety workers, though most are still throwing their support behind teachers' unions and other state workers.)

Now things are really getting interesting as 14 Democratic State Senators are hiding out in Illinois to stop the bill from passing. Protesters are sleeping inside the capitol rotunda, and it apparently is kind of rank in there. School was cancelled for four days but is now back in session.

The Assembly did quickly pass the bill during a lull in debate in the middle of the night, causing an uproar and shouts of "Shame!" from surprised Democrats. So much for the civil political discourse supposedly in place after the shooting of Democratic Representative Gabby Giffords in Tucson, Arizona.

I think the days of fat public pensions and free health care are a thing of the past. It's not justified for public employees to have a much cushier deal than the rest of us. But I think public employees realize that and are not asking for more than their fair share. In fact, they agreed to the steep cuts that Walker proposed, as long as they could keep their collective bargaining rights, and Walker flat-out refused. It makes one suspect there must be more than the current budget motivating this bill.

Wisconsin led the way for workers' rights that we now take for granted. Abolishing those rights puts workers at risk of mistreatment by their government. And there has been no good explanation why collective bargaining rights must be slashed even if public unions agree to salary and benefit cuts.

Democrats don't have every solid footing, and Republicans clearly have the upper hand. The Dems can't stay out of the state forever. I hope that the GOP will see it fit to give a little and reach some sort of compromise rather than acting like toddlers that insist on getting their own way.

One thing is certain, we live in interesting times, and if nothing else, it is enjoyable to have a front seat to political discourse.

--MM