WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

For those who are not aware,Wisconsin is currently going through some issues with Budget shortfalls, and we need to find ways to save money. Currently our newly elected republican governer has made a proposal regarding public employees, with the exception of Police and Fire employees.Among other things, he has proposed that public employees begin contributing to their pention to the tune of 5.85%, contribute 12% to insurance costs, and he wants to remove the collective bargaining from the negotiation process. This would mean that salary can be negotiated, but not other benefits. Some other things he is proposing involve merit based initiatives so good teachers will get recognized and bad teachers will lose there job. Well as you would expect, teachers are not happy. Protesters have taken to the streets. Both sides are digging in, and in the process, the national conservative talk radio has jumped on the band wagon.
I have issues with everyone involved.
First, I am a privately employed citizen, who has paid well more that 5.85%of my pention. In fact like most, I pay 100% of my pention in the form of an IRA right off the top of what I make. Second I have paid well more than 12|% of my health insurance for my entire working life. I have heard many people claim that because Police and Fire fighters are not a part of this legislation that they must somehow be special.Well, to that I say, what makes the public employees so special that they have not had to pay for these benefits, while I in the private sector have been. I say nothing. Nearly everyone in the private sector lost benefits two years ago, assuming they were lucky enough to keep there job. If we didn't like it we were free to protest while the employer replaced us. People were laid off and their jobs became a part of our jobs. No raise, no vote. Many even took pay cuts to remain employed. Protest all you want public employees, that is your right, but its also your time to suck it up.
Second, lets discuss protesting. In this great country of ours we have freedom of speech. We have the right to take to the streets in peaceful protest of our government. But as a responsible employee, you do not have the right to call in sick to protest. You do not get to walk off the job to protest. Those constitute a failure to be a responsible employee and should be subject to immediate termination. 17% of the unemployed population is waiting to have your job and contribute to their health insurance and pentions in the process. PROTEST ON YOUR OWN TIME.
Now lets deal with the conservative media.You claim that Walker was voted in and the democrates were voted out, and there for he should be allowed to make watever changes he wants. Sorry, you dont allow Obama that type of leeway. Remember, he was voted in in a landmark clearing of the republicans. If someone agrees with you they are smart, intellegent, common, American. Any one who disagrees with you are Liars, idiots, hitlers or natzies. They are un american or terrorists. One talk show host went as far as to say that when the democratic minority in the Wisconsin senate walked out and prevented a vote by exercising their minority party rights in legislature, that they should be arrested.??? Arrested? for behaving well within the law and exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech. (Protesting) Stay off our band wagon. You don't have the ability to be objective, and you do not have to. You are entitled to your opinion just like everyone else, but I see you for what you are. Hypocrites. STAY OFF OUR BAND WAGON.
Finally, I come from a home where my dad was a teacher all of his career. My opinions here will not be popular with him, My sister and her husband also work in the school system, so my opinions will not be popular there, but you cannot dispute that my opinions here have nothing to do with democratic or republican views, just what I feel is fair and just. Just like 70% of the working private sector employees. I don't expect the people who have been able to benefit over the years by their contracts, to understand. They will protest, they will object, and then, they will need to join the rest of us.
WELCOME TO OUR WORLD
PS. Teachers all say "Its about the children". Well?? If these concessions are not made, teachers WILL lose there jobs and class sizes will go up, ergo, the quality of education will go down. Hmmmmm???????

I think this whole think is an interesting display of democracy in action.