Wisconsin

Are we watching the beginning of the American version of the riots in Greece over government austerity measures?

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed a bill that would limit the collective bargaining ability of public employee unions, although police and firefighters are apparently exempted.

Among the provisions being hotly contested is that under the bill employees would have to contribute 5.8% to their pension plans. Most currently contribute nothing. Also, the new bill would have employees increase their contributions to their health plans from 4-6% to 12.6%. My God, what are they to do?

Public employees in Wisconsin have gotten accustomed to having the taxpayer foot the bill for their pension and health care plans. And when the taxpayer can't take it anymore, those employees are shocked to confront the possibility of having to contribute amounts that most of the private sector would think is a pretty sweet deal. I watched a representative of Wisconsin teachers on the news tonight saying that the proposed bill would be awful for the education of Wisconsin's children. Excuse me? If teachers have to contribute to their pension and health programs, then what?, they won't be able to teach anymore? Give me a break.

This is the end result of programs whereby governments give lots of goodies to selected groups. Those groups quickly feel that they are entitled to those goodies, and go apeshit when fiscal reality smacks them upside the head.

The protesters in Wisconsin are carrying posters depicting Governor Walker as Hitler, Mussolini, Mubarak (one dictator down, one to go), and in the "crosshairs". I thought we were supposed to be entering a new age of civility?  I guess the left hasn't gotten the memo.