Rumblings of using Wisconsin’s recall provisions to remove Republican politicians who support Walker’s attempt to remove bargaining rights from unions are going around. This is an excellent idea. Destroying the political viability of some politicians, making it so they can never run for office again, making them an object lesson is the only way to make this sort of all-out attack on basic bargaining rights less likely to happen in the future.
It won’t halt such efforts, though, because the Koch brothers and other multi-billionaires whose interests and ideology are served by reducing wages and taxes will continue to fund such efforts, and will make sure the ex-politicians are taken care of.
What will halt such efforts is destroying the people who are really behind them: oligarchs like the Koch brothers. And destroying them requires at least two things: an insistence that rich people actually be subject to the law, and that confiscatory levels of taxation be put back on the rich. 90% taxation on all income over 1 million dollars. Real taxation of corporations on their actual profits with measures put in place to tax all income, so it can’t be hidden overseas, and equally importantly, a reinstatement of the estate tax, so that 70% of estates over 5 million are taxed away. Nothing is worse for and more damaging to both real democracy and to general prosperity than high concentrations of wealth because wealth allows a few individual to buy great power. And in terms of concentration of wealth, the worst type of wealth is inherited wealth, which creates an aristocracy of individuals who did nothing to earn their power or wealth but win the lucky sperm contest. It is beyond ironic that the Koch brothers are libertarians, given that they are parasites who inherited their money.
Capitalism is a game, and games have rules. The first thing that anyone does when they “win” the game of capitalism does is they try and make sure that win is permanent by getting rid of the real free market. In a real free market, for example, banks with negative book values go bankrupt. In a real capitalist society which is functioning properly, executives who engage in widespread fraud go to jail.
Ending the market takes various forms, but one of the forms is reducing the power of other entities to bargain. Unorganized labor can’t bargain effectively. Most workers only have a bargaining position worth squat if they bargain collectively. So getting rid of collective bargaining is important. Public workers with good wages implicitly require somewhat higher taxes, as well, and less tax cuts for the rich.
Ending the market is also aided by controlling the market, and so the news out of Wisconsin, as this blogger who is on the ground details, has been extensively edited as well. Who owns the media, who the publisher is, matters hugely. At the end of the day, it’s a rare publisher whose outfit doesn’t start pushing the interests of the publisher.
If the left wants a nation they recognize, all sorts of things need to be done. Public financing of elections, overturning the money=speech provisions and breaking up the media conglomerates are high in that list. And when you increase progressive taxation radically, you’ll also get a better quality of journalists, because they won’t actually be making millions of dollars a year after tax, and so they’ll suddenly care about how ordinary people have to live, because they’ll be living like affluent ordinary people, not like rich people.
So, a recall effort is a good first start. Make an example of some Republicans. Then move on to maximal demands backed by the threat of general strikes and protests which shut down business as normal: confiscatory taxation on the rich, public financing of political campaigns, an end of speech=money, and a breakup of media oligopolies. In a war, you go after the enemy’s supply lines. Destroy the rich, or they will take everything you have, then reduce you to debt peonage, if you haven’t been so reduced already.
Jay
But what about all the good rich people like Buffett, Soros, and the various Hollywood big shots who provide funding for liberal NGO’s and think tanks? I doubt they would be very happy with activists who push for confiscatory tax rates on the superrich.
Without wealthy donors, liberal organizations and media outlets wouldn’t be able to provide their directors with the sort of upper middle class lifestyle they feel they deserve.
Without rich sugar daddies, the many of leaders of the left in America would be forced to live in working class neighborhoods, send their kids to crumbling public schools, drive used cars, and dress like ordinary schlubs. Imagine having to live like a working class schmuck in order to lead the movement that is supposed to represent the common man.
That is a fate to horrible to contemplate for the leaders of the Democratic Party, the unions, or the various progressive non-profits and liberal media outlets.
dameocrat
I am down on recalls, and elections. Remember how the antiwar movement got caught up in prowar Kerry and prowar Obamas campaign and did not actually succeed in ending the war. Many dems are antiunion too. Look at Andrew Cuomo and Rahm Emanuel. The Democrats just use lefties to get elected then they deliberately drop the ball on our political agenda.
jawbone
Scott Walker cannot be recalled until he has been in office for a full year, which makes his date 1/3 or 4/12, as he was inaugurated on 1/3. I don’t know if recall petitions can be prepared prior to that date, but I think that’s how it works. Then the petition signatures must be 25% of the total number of votes cast in the previous gubernatorial election.
On Wisconsin Public Radio last late afternoon, a Dem state senator being interviewed (with the host using lots of the right wing talking points) said it appears that every senator with one year of service has recall petitions being prepared or already filed. R’s are trying to recall D’s and vice versa in districts all over the state. For senate recall petitions, the number of signatures must be 25% of the total votes cast in the district for governor the preceding election.
Koch Brothers and Bradly money will be flowing to aid R’s. There will be far less money to aid D’s, but, if people are upset enough, that will be their motivation to vote for the D’s. There seems to be a real appreciation for politicians who are willing to take strong action to try to aid the state employees. People reason that if they do that for the public employees, the Dems just might fight for them.
As opposed to what Obama has done and not done.
I believe the D’s lost big in Wisconsin n 2010 because Obama’s actions in supporting the Big Banksters and Big Health Industry Players and his lack of support for the little people deeply angered, disappointed, and depressed the usual D voters. Whether this was an actual objective of Obama’s is subject to discussion, but the actual results are not.
Ian Welsh
Thanks Jawbone. Updated to correct.
Notorious P.A.T.
Glad you mentioned the Kochs, as word out of Wisc. is that Governor Walker wants to pass provisions allowing him to sell state properties (power plants, etc) to them for pennies on the dollar. Because, of course, his state has gone into debt by giving tax cuts to. . . people like the Kochs.
Sam Adams
It has to hit bottom before the peasants revolt. Its going to take a few more states and a couple years more of recession.
Notorious P.A.T.
“The Democrats just use lefties to get elected then they deliberately drop the ball on our political agenda.”
Yes, but this bottom-up movement in Wiscy could be an antidote to that. Here’s hoping.
David H.
It has to hit bottom before the peasants revolt. Its going to take a few more states and a couple years more of recession.
Agreed. And not only do the peasants have further to fall economically, but the scales need to fall from the eyes of the many people who are being screwed by the current system yet fully support it, due to their fear of scare words like socialism, or hatred of those lazy union bums & civil servants who get paid huge amounts of money for doing fuck all.
Until these misconceptions, nurtured by politicians for 30+ years, are cleared up, it’ll be hard to get a majority of the people out in the streets, unless you’re looking for a tea party revolt. As has been said here many times (by whom I can’t recall, sorry,) we have a culture of “I’ve got mine, now piss off.” Divide & conquer needs to be overcome as well.
Petro
@David H.:
It is interesting, isn’t it, that we consider changing the mindset of these folks (the “peasants”) a (necessarily) surmountable obstacle on the way to an “awakening” or a popular revolution. Keeping in mind that this is exactly the same mindset of the elites, our ostensible opposition – but perhaps we feel that theirs is set in concrete.
Not that there isn’t good reason for it – the, erm, “peasants” are more likely to suffer lifestyle “pressures” as things unfold, after all…
(No preview, crossing fingers…)
darms
Notorious P.A.T.,
I think the union-busting aspects of WI Senate Bill 11 are just a head-fake, at least for now. Like you said, it’s the public-owned power plants that are the Koch’s real targets this time. Patience John # Daily Kos has a good one up, The Koch Brothers’ End Game in Wisconsin. Too good to excerpt but here’s the relevant language from WI Senate Bill 11
Walker can appear to ‘cave’ on the collective-bargaining position but if this language remains the Koch’s win big time. Then they put the anti-collective-bargaining language in a non-budget bill w/o the quorum requirement.
darms
Headfake#2 -Shawn Doherty@The Capital Times has an article about language in WI Senate Bill 11 that gives absolute control of WI Medicaid programs to the governor –
It’s a gift that just keeps on givin’, eh?
Tom Hickey
Revolution is coming to a neighborhood near you. Get on board.
US Uncut — a Grassroots Uprising Against Corporate Tax Deadbeats
and if you missed this link the last time I posted it:
How to Build a Progressive Tea Party
Tom Hickey
BTW, don’t get too worked up over this. Conservative overreach is a huge gift to progressive. There are only two ways to bring major change. The first is through a depression (on the way), and the second is huge overreach by the opposition (in progress).
Now is the time for Democrats to throw out all the moderates and conservatives and replace them with young progressives. Take down the Democratic Establishment that is allied with the devil and rebuild the party. Otherwise, the game is lost when the crisis comes. The outcome could easily be fascism.
Tom Hickey
Oh, and don’t forget to read Paul Krassner’s latest. He and Hunter Thompson were the rhetorical spearhead of the countercultural revolution.
Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Paul Krassner’s 50 Years of Misadventures in Satire and Counterculture
Always remember, revolution has to be both fun and funny. Otherwise, it can get to be a real bummer.
Kaleidic
I am in principle very much pro-union. The problem with public employee’s unions is that bargaining between them and politicians is generally not an arm’s length transaction. Politicians may have great incentives not to bargain in the best interests of the public as a whole, either by overly accommodating unions or by using them as whipping boys.
Tom Hickey
Kaleidic, what you are saying in effect that operating in terms of existing institutional structure is replete with contradictions. That’s exactly right. The problem is with the way the institutions are set up. That all has to be changed. Either it happen within the system or you join other is creating an alternative system.
My experience has been that is far simpler and more fun to join with others in creating alternatives. That is what social innovation is all about. Think of it as creating experimental models for the future.
I realize that this avenue is not for everyone. So we have to stand together to change the established institutions, too. But I would not waste too much time on it unless you are a very committed activist. It is like chipping at concrete with a hand chisel. Some people have to do it, and I take my hat off to them.
guest
Kaleidic PERMALINK
February 23, 2011
I am in principle very much pro-union. The problem with public employee’s unions is that bargaining between them and politicians is generally not an arm’s length transaction. Politicians may have great incentives not to bargain in the best interests of the public as a whole, either by overly accommodating unions or by using them as whipping boys.
________________________
Right! Because public employees are so notoriously overpaid and coddled! Thank concern trolls for your “in principle” support/”in practice” oppostion to organized labor and repeating the memes and anectdotes of our corporate masters.
As though politicians don’t have to curry favor from nonpublic unions and members? As though a politician currying favor with a tiny minority of the population will not alienate an equal or greater number of nonpublic union members if they overreach?
I love the assumption in another thread that since we the citizens are the ultimate bosses of public servants, it is offensive to imagine that our collective will could be anything but supremely benevolent and wise beyond all human wisdom. And therefore the mere existence of public employee unions is morally questionable. Just ask the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, El Salvador, etc.
Lex
Not only did the Koch brothers inherit their wealth, their daddy got his start working for Uncle Joe Stalin (see Yasha Levine at exiledonline.com). That’s right, all those billions used to support “libertarian” causes were seeded by Communism and totalitarian dictatorship.
They don’t advertise that at Tea Party rallies….
Morocco Bama
I love the assumption in another thread that since we the citizens are the ultimate bosses of public servants, it is offensive to imagine that our collective will could be anything but supremely benevolent and wise beyond all human wisdom. And therefore the mere existence of public employee unions is morally questionable. Just ask the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, El Salvador, etc.
Wow! This one’s a real gem, and proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that your character, if this is what you truly believe, is no different than the Social Darwinians on the so-called “Right.” The part in bold spells it out. Assuming your stance about human nature, why then, since I’m not currently in a union, public or otherwise, would I support you and your union if, by your very implication, you are not benevolent and wise, but rather greedy and self-interested, and by the same token, so am I?
I suppose this is why so many union members vote Democrat, if at all, but are more aligned with the so-called “Right” on most everything else. The whole Might Makes It Right motto.
As I said on the other thread, I’m for an equal quality of life for everyone, however that can be determined, not just some select few in society, whether they be union members, or technocratic corporate cube dwellers.
John
90% tax rates on the rich and similar estate taxes will force them to invest in real businesses that will hire workers rather than seeking passive, rent seeking financialized investments.
With our present tax system, why would you invest in a real business with only a chance of a 8-10% return when you can turn it over to the derivative division of Goldman Sachs and get a 20-50%financialized jacked up return for doing nothing but receiving the rent?
Return to Eisenhower era tax rates for the rich, institute a Tobin tax to slow the hot money on Wall Street, reduce taxes on the peasants and restore the middle class.
.
Morocco Bama
In the last thread, I said unions will go the way of the Dodo bird, because so too, will Capitalism go the way of the Dodo bird, and the two go hand in hand, IMO. I know, I know, many, even on the so-called “Left” want to work within the existing framework and somehow reform the rotten system to be a more benevolent form, but that’s naive and unrealistic. This guy Zizek has it right, even if he is all coked up:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2010/jul/06/slavoj-zizek-living-in-the-end-times
I know he’s a trip, but what he’s saying validates much of what I’m thinking. One of the comments to this video nicely retorted the foreseen and manifested objections.
What he’s saying, among other things, is that capitalism has now become so rotten and immoral that no amount of asthetic tinkering by individual governments can save it and in fact, efforts to reform the current system and make it appear more humane merely lead to a new style of authoritarianism which is no better than the Stalinist totalitarianism of the past. He is also saying that a different system may not work that well either, but we should at least stop looking at our current framework as the only possible structure for society because it’s probably on the verge of collapse.
Admittedly he has an excitable enthusiastic style of delivery and you are free to disagree with him, but if you think he didn’t ‘get round to saying anything’ perhaps the problem lies with you.
Morocco Bama
will force them to invest in real businesses that will hire workers
What businesses would they be? More trinkets for Santa to deliver? Where will all the resources for these trinkets be found when you consider the world is running out of arable land, oil, fresh water and yes, even oxygen that keeps us from suffocating?
David Kowalski
Real businesses that hire workers don’t need to be major consumers of natural resources. Facebook made its founders multi-billions. Going back, Microsoft did the same. Many new businesses replace brick and mortar businesses with on-line models. Netflix is supplanting Blockbuster. Now Netflix is trying to do most of its business through downloads rather than delivery of actual DVDs. Amazon.com is still here; Borders is in bankruptcy. Downloads already have replaced much of the physical music sales (vinyl begat tape begat CDs begat MP3 begat iTunes).
We need demand and frankly we need to make investment less of financial gamesmanship and more real investment. The new jobs aren’t created fdor the most part through Wall Street. Get rid of their tax breaks before you start cutting back on mortgage deductions.
Notorious P.A.T.
Scott Walker: even worse than we thought.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-asks-when-democrats-are-goin
“With our present tax system, why would you invest in a real business with only a chance of a 8-10% return when you can turn it over to the derivative division of Goldman Sachs and get a 20-50%financialized jacked up return for doing nothing but receiving the rent?”
Exactly. Why don’t more people realize this? How much of our economy is financial services now, 40% or something like that. Rich people don’t build and wait, they gamble.
Morocco Bama
Oh My God.
This is the fishizzle.
http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/23/scott-walker-tricked.html
Stuart Zechman
Ian:
You advocate for:
, and yet nowhere in this piece do I see any effort at strategizing that which makes “the threat of general strikes and protests” at all possible: public persuasion.
Obviously reasonable, practical people like you and I would never base a list of actions such as you’ve described in this post on the presumption that vast swathes of the US population, tens of millions of people, would somehow magically become convinced of the wisdom of these prescriptions, blame the appropriate parties, and take immediately self-sacrificing street actions, all in the face of systemic disinformation campaigns waged against them on an hourly basis…right?
Surely we wouldn’t say to ourselves “It should be obvious to the masses that general strikes and civil unrest we advocate are absolutely necessary for their own well-being, and if it isn’t…well, then fuck those idiots, they’re just too stupid to deserve a first-world quality of life,” correct? We on the left would actually need to persuade folks that commitment on their part to such a program would be in their interests, and benefit them in some concrete way relatively quickly, isn’t that the case?
We can’t just declare there to be a threat of general, nationwide strikes –hell, Ian, Taft-Hartley renders general strikes illegal, as I’m sure you must be aware:
You’re obviously correct when you write
, “all sorts of things” probably starting with helping all the ordinary folks in Wisconsin who elected Scott Walker governor, and elected Republicans to a majority in both houses of their state legislature just last November understand how badly they’ve been had, and then, if that succeeds, maybe enacting plans customized for each of the 50 states to do the same.
So, what’s the plan to persuade folks, Ian?
I’m sure you can’t be suggesting that “the left” threaten general strikes –legal though they may be in France, prosecuted as Federal racketeering offenses here in the US– and mass civil disobedience all by itself.
Where do we start with the task of giving ordinary people the right information the right way, so that they can make the best political decisions, and take action to correct their fortunes…the first steps being electing politicians who will repeal Taft-Hartley, I mean?
Is an outline of that persuasion strategy in a forthcoming post?
malcontent
From Lincoln’s first SOTU address, the closing topic…
In my present position I could scarcely be justified were I to omit raising a warning voice against this approach of returning despotism.
It is not needed nor fitting here that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions, but there is one point, with its connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effort to place capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor in the structure of government. It is assumed that labor is available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors unless somebody else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it induces him to labor. This assumed, it is next considered whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their own consent, or buy them and drive them to it without their consent. Having proceeded so far, it is naturally concluded that all laborers are either hired laborers or what we call slaves. And further, it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer is fixed in that condition for life.
Now there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all inferences from them are groundless.
Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights. Nor is it denied that there is, and probably always will be, a relation between labor and capital producing mutual benefits. The error is in assuming that the whole labor of community exists within that relation. A few men own capital, and that few avoid labor themselves, and with their capital hire or buy another few to labor for them. A large majority belong to neither class–neither work for others nor have others working for them. In most of the Southern States a majority of the whole people of all colors are neither slaves nor masters, while in the Northern a large majority are neither hirers nor hired. Men, with their families–wives, sons, and daughters–work for themselves on their farms, in their houses, and in their shops, taking the whole product to themselves, and asking no favors of capital on the one hand nor of hired laborers or slaves on the other. It is not forgotten that a considerable number of persons mingle their own labor with capital; that is, they labor with their own hands and also buy or hire others to labor for them; but this is only a mixed and not a distinct class. No principle stated is disturbed by the existence of this mixed class.
Again, as has already been said, there is not of necessity any such thing as the free hired laborer being fixed to that condition for life. Many independent men everywhere in these States a few years back in their lives were hired laborers. The prudent, penniless beginner in the world labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself, then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him. This is the just and generous and prosperous system which opens the way to all, gives hope to all, and consequent energy and progress and improvement of condition to all. No men living are more worthy to be trusted than those who toil up from poverty; none less inclined to take or touch aught which they have not honestly earned. Let them beware of surrendering a political power which they already possess, and which if surrendered will surely be used to close the door of advancement against such as they and to fix new disabilities and burdens upon them till all of liberty shall be lost.
Read more: State of the Union Address: Abraham Lincoln (December 3, 1861) — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/t/hist/state-of-the-union/73.html
That’s old school. Walker seems to walk and talk more like a carpetbagger than a statesman.
chicago dyke
even when reduced to third world levels of poverty, which we will be, americans mostly aren’t going to ‘riot,’ so long as they are still fed a steady stream of televised propaganda. most americans are addicted to TV and given what is on it these days, i find it highly unlikely people will develop the consciousness of awareness and outrage necessary to target the criminals destroying this country. those criminals make TV, after all. i’m heartened by what’s going on in WI. but it’s a very specific issue and once there is resolution, the protest movement will likely sink back into the ground. sorry to be such a cynic, but there will have to be a lot more and widespread sustained action and among people who aren’t in a union before i’ll change my mind.
Morocco Bama
This part cracked me up. This Ian guy took it over the top.
Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that —because we thought about that. The problem—the, my only gut reaction to that is right now the lawmakers I’ve talked to have just completely had it with them, the public is not really fond of this…[explains that planting troublemakers may not work.] My only fear would be if there’s a ruckus caused is that maybe the governor has to settle to solve all these problems…[something about ’60s liberals.]…Let ‘em protest all they want…Sooner or later the media stops finding it interesting.
Koch: Well, not the liberal bastards on MSNBC.
Walker: Oh yeah, but who watches that? I went on “Morning Joe” this morning. I like it because I just like being combative with those guys, but, uh. You know they’re off the deep end.
Koch: Joe—Joe’s a good guy. He’s one of us.
Walker: Yeah, he’s all right. He was fair to me…[bashes NY Senator Chuck Schumer, who was also on the program.]
Koch: Beautiful; beautiful. You gotta love that Mika Brzezinski; she’s a real piece of ass.
Walker: Oh yeah. [story about when he hung out with human pig Jim Sensenbrenner at some D.C. function and he was sitting next to Brzezinski and her father, and their guest was David Axelrod. He introduced himself.]
Koch: That son of a bitch!
Walker: Yeah no kidding huh?…
John J Sears
Hey all. Just thought I’d leave a comment *from* the Capitol protests (via really questionable wifi) to let you know that we’re still doing great down here. Crowds are huge today, tons of union support. I’m seeing more and more flyers for a general strike, and there are a lot of efforts to get people pledged for the recall. (I do hope they come together under one umbrella soon though).
So many unions and a bunch of ‘third’ parties here today too, lots of students. Students and labor are definitely the driving forces.
Gotta run, going to get a little of the massive supplies of food that have been supplied to keep us from going hungry. Apparently NY teachers sent us bagels. Hmm, bagels.
John J Sears
Oh yes, and if anyone out there really wants to help, Ian’s Pizza on State Street is taking donations from around the world. They’re out here all day, every day with pizza and drinks.
http://www.facebook.com/IansPizzaOnState#!/IansPizzaOnState?sk=info
Notorious P.A.T.
Good show, John J. Wish I was there! I always wanted to participate in a general strike. Oh well.
John J Sears
I’m sort of ambivalent about the possibility of a general strike. I think having a general strike would be great for the country, but it would probably only happen if Walker wins this round, and that would be awful for all these workers to go through.
If it happens though, I’ll help out anyway I can. I’m planning to sleep over at the Capitol tonight.
anon2525
I’m sort of ambivalent about the possibility of a general strike. I think having a general strike would be great for the country, but it would probably only happen if Walker wins this round, and that would be awful for all these workers to go through.
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
–Frederick Douglass
Thanks for helping with the protest. Every schoolchild and union member needs to learn Douglass’s quote.
Morocco Bama
My children will learn, and are learning, why that quote is highly inadequate. Demanding from power gives weight and legitimacy to power. Power must be vanquished, not something from which to demand. Power only exists because it is conceded. It’s a mindset. It’s an illusion…..a powerful one, granted, but nothing more than an illusion.
anon2525
With our present tax system, why would you invest in a real business with only a chance of a 8-10% return when you can turn it over to the derivative division of Goldman Sachs and get a 20-50%financialized jacked up return for doing nothing but receiving the rent?
In an economy that is not growing or is growing at only one to four percent each year, it is not possible to have 8-10% or 20-50% annual returns unless you are committing fraud, theft, or some other criminal activity.
anon2525
Is this the Year of the Ian? JulIAN Assange, Ian’s Pizza, Ian Murphy… What is it that makes Ian’s such trouble-makers? Apparently, to be named Ian is to be against the current power structure.
John J Sears
I haven’t really helped much. I bring a sign, I go to pickets or protests around town. I’ve chipped in a bit here and there.
The sleeping in stuff is becoming more important though, due to the Republicans wanting to clear the Capitol so they can do their dirty work in secret, without being bothered by, you know, the voters. The organizer types want enough people there 24/7 to keep it opened up at least through Saturday when some more really big protests are in the works. So we need people there all the time, just in case the GOP gets itchy.
anon2525
I haven’t really helped much. I bring a sign, I go to pickets or protests around town. I’ve chipped in a bit here and there.
That is the help that is needed. It appears that one of the reasons that the Egyptians and Tunisians succeeded (yes, they have more work to do–surprise! Rome wasn’t built in a day) is that they did not have “leaders” that could be jailed or killed, or that could “compromise”, bringing the revolutions to a halt.
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
–Frederick Douglass
“I’m not negotiating.” — Walker, during his telephone call with “David Koch”
John B.
Looks like Walkler won this round. TPM reports that he already went and passed the bill last night somehow. I don’t really understand how he was able to do this with the 14 dem senators awol…face it…we’re fucked. Is Obama ever going to say anything? Is he the weakest president ever, or what? I am so depressed.
Adam Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5voSHCn6NE
Candidate Obama says, “Denied Right To Bargain, I’ll Walk Picket Line With You”
jawbone
The lower chamber passed the Walker bill, at 1AM with a very short time to vote (or was it voice vote?).
The Senate then voted to deny any amendments whatsoever to the bill as it came from the lower chamber.
So, when and if the Dems are found or return, the bill will pass as written by Walker (or was the Koch Industries’ lobbyinsts?).