Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

@Pentadragon

As I said before...

Laws and statues only require a majority in Wisconsin. With the Democrats gone, the Republicans of Wisconsin can pass anything and everything they wanted that didn't involve the state budget.

Which they were going to do anyways, since they have a majority.

God I am tired of this "no new taxes" meme. All it does it result in cut funding to counties, which have to raise property taxes as a result. And then the average person's taxes increase, even relative to inflation.

Same shit happened in Minnesota, and when someone called Pawlenty out on it he said "I didn't make them raise their property taxes!" No, you just cut their funding so they could either raise flatter, less progressive taxes for you, or cut things like schools and face massive outcry. So really, it was just a sneaky way of raising middle class taxes and/or cutting popular programs without taking any blame!

Oh and also pretty much every fee went up ridiculously. Car tabs, parking tickets, etc.

I'll say it once: You cannot balance the budget with cuts alone, not without crippling the economy. Anyone who claims they are going to do this is a liar and a scam artist, or an idiot.

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.

I'm really annoyed with these cuts in general. Fix the damn problem first, which might include not letting banks give mortgages without any kind of down payment. Oh wait, that would require regulation. Never mind...

Point is, funding NPR isn't what got us into this crisis. Allowing oil to pretty much control our economy is indeed a factor that should be examined instead. Cheap oil = cheap everything, after all.

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time

^^^^ Sorry, I was thinking that raising the number of votes needed to alter income tax was included as involving the state budget. I now see that Wisconsin law means that only bills directly involving the allocation of funds cannot be discussed. A mistake on my part for not realizing that.

I hear Columbus was swamped with protesters today, but I am not exactly trusting of some of my sources. Governor Kasich is attempting to pass a similar bill (which is a tad odd as I believe Ohio is actually running a slight surplus) to limit the rights of Unions to negotiate pay. The major difference with Ohio and Wisconsin is that Ohio's version does not exclude police and fire fighter unions from those who would lose their ability to negotiate.

edited 22nd Feb '11 7:56:58 PM by Pentadragon

^ It's coming to my state too now? Another reason to dislike Kasich...

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:05:15 PM by snailbait

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time

^ I had no idea you were from Ohio, snailbait.

Ohioans, unite!

edited 22nd Feb '11 7:59:46 PM by Pentadragon

^^ The hell did Strickland do to merit your dislike? Kasich's the governor now. nevermind, unfortunate typo LOL

^^^ But, if I'm reading your wording right, I saw firefighters among the protesters in Wisconsin too.

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:05:59 PM by GlennMagusHarvey

Crap, I posted the wrong name without thinking. Thanks for pointing that out.

^^ Haha, you wouldn't expect it. I'm like the polar opposite of Ohioans politically.

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time

^ Does Ohio really have a specific political ideology? The state is usually pretty err.. swing-y.

Pro-Union Website blocked in Wisconsin's Capitol

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:06:57 PM by Pentadragon

I thought this was the United States, not Iran.

Oh well, at least they put it back shortly thereafter.

^^ Ohio is predominantly a red state, but we can swing Democrat sometimes. Notably in the Obama election. Even so, my beliefs pretty much match European socialists. So yeah...

Regarding the article, I don't think I want to assume it was blocked for political reasons. Perhaps the governor was right and they were about to launch it. Regardless, I still vehemently oppose this measure.

edited 22nd Feb '11 8:17:33 PM by snailbait

"Without a fairy, you're not even a real man!" ~ Mido from Ocarina of Time

That particular measure sounds more like a constitutional amendment than a simple law or statue, though. I mean, is the Wisconsin legislature allowed to alter their own powers through mere laws?

GM of AGOG S4: Frontiers RP; Sub-GM of TABA, SOTR, & UUA RPs

Nah, we're running something like a $7 or $8 billion deficit. But yeah, this whole union-busting thing isn't going to help, because the unions have already agreed to the budget cuts. Removing their ability to bargain collectively is just a cheap shot at a downed opponent. :/

But somehow,◊

Great, Walker, who, by the way, was tossed out of college for cheating and has never finished at any other college, comes in and:

• Disallows funding for a train system which would connect most of the midwest, bringing cheaper trade, tourism, and jobs, in favor of a shit bus system which has been consistently reduced in support.

• Given 140 million in tax breaks to the companies that funded him.
  • EFFECTIVELY MANUFACTURING THIS ENTIRE PROBLEM.

• Made it so that these tax breaks can't be undone without 2/3rds vote, which likely won't happen again.

• Cut funding (or threatened to) to schools and is trying to break Madison university from the UW system.

• Introduced a "budget" which is nothing but pet partisan projects tailor made to give his sponsors more profits and freedom to screw over the average person, and give him the power to effectively single-handedly rule the entire state.

This fucker is one of the few people I have truly considered assassinating. And I consider human life more precious than anything. But this is one of the times that I would claim justifiable homicide. >:(

edited 22nd Feb '11 9:42:21 PM by Enkufka

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

In other news, I am relatively hopeful that progressives will NOT sit out next election. If only because we're now getting a pretty ugly reminder of what happens when we do, and we also conveniently have a whole bunch of very obnoxious enemies to fight against.

Oh, and how about this, Mr. Walker?

• 2/3 vote needed to pass tax breaks.

edited 22nd Feb '11 10:01:38 PM by GlennMagusHarvey

He practically controls the entire legislature. They are just as stubborn about the union busting as he is. He probably went "So, this will give money to the people who got us here. You guys want it?" and they unanimously said Fuck yeah, love money.

edited 22nd Feb '11 10:05:01 PM by Enkufka

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

We've already mentioned Ohio, but it seems something similar is also happening in Indiana.

GM of AGOG S4: Frontiers RP; Sub-GM of TABA, SOTR, & UUA RPs

Well, the rich, greedy Tea Partiers are soon enough gonna reap what they plant.

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

I don't think that they're greedy, per se, just that they've been MASSIVELY mislead by Fox and news corporations who portray union workers as lazy bastards. There are some who are greedy, but most are probably ignorant of the truth.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

How any intelligent being could be misled by Fox News is beyond me.

Sign on for this After The End Fantasy RP.

You live your whole life being told what to do, what to say, what to think, listening to people tell you that the opposition just wants to take your home and give it to the poor... If I was in their position, I'd probably do the same thing. My thoughts is that the current dichotomy is:

• Right: We'll tell you what is right and what is wrong so you don't have to think about what is going on.
• Left: We'll let you learn about anything you wish so long as it is all Safe, Sane, and Consensual. You decide what is right and how to live.

That really shouldn't be it, but it is.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

You know... I might actually have to move to Canada now. Or at least stay up here in the cold reaches of the UP. I mean I seriously feel the state I love is getting butchered with a large, rusty knife.

I wouldn't. Your options are run or fight. Fighting is the option I take because this is going to boil over. Should the GOP gain power again, the new puppet will make policies that affect the entire world, both financially and militarily. Stay and don't let these greedy me take what you love.

Very big Daydream Believer. "That's not knowledge, that's a crapshoot!" -Al Murray "Welcome to QI" -Stephen Fry

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