Thoughts on Democracy in action...

So, yesterday in Wisconsin, we had a recall election and Gov. Scott Walker remained in office. I didn't happen to vote for him. Yes, it was disappointing but I think there is some merit to what's happened in Wisconsin beyond the usual arguments. I think that the political atmosphere in Wisconsin has been recharged in a way that I don't remember ever happening in my life time. People are feeling passionate about the issues in a manner I've not seen before.

Yes, it can get heated and it does get personal at times. Teachers have been especially vocal about the majority voting against their rights. Now while the majority voted to retain a governor who believes killing off unions is a way to balance a budget I'm not convinced this is a personal issue. The argument I hear more often than not from non-union wage earners is this - if I can have those kinds of benefits why should they? I get that. I really do. I agree there is a disparity in how we here in Wisconsin and throughout the US receive our health care, our retirement funds and our basic needs met. But to blame that disparity on unions or union employees is a mistake. And it's exactly what Scott Walker and his like wants us to do. Because if we believe his hype and feel slighted because there are people out there getting "more" than we are and we believe his hype that it is the unions fault because they've somehow held a proverbial gun to the heads of school boards everywhere, than we have allowed ourselves to vote, not based on the need for equality but rather based on our own sense of jealousy and envy over what we do not have.

Additionally, teachers have allowed their arguments to fall into what I will describe as a "whining" state. They have countered their hurt feelings over this election with the argument that they have paid for their education and have to deal with everyone's children no matter what and by virtue of that they should have their right to collective bargaining restored. In my opinion neither side of this argument makes any sense at all. They are both emotional reactions to what I see as a much  larger problem. Of course teachers have paid for their education. So have I. I am a social worker. So have any number of other individuals who have gone to school for any reason. We all have paid, so get over that. Yes, teachers have to deal with other people's children, and often without much support from the parents, but guess what? That was the way its' been since before you all became teachers. I have to deal with a lot of people that don't always treat me well in a social service system that is constantly suffering budget cuts. Again, it's the nature of the beast. So get over that!

The bigger issue here, the one that goes beyond the emotional knee jerk responses we are getting from both sides actually involves all of us. Should people be able to have some backing in their jobs so that their rights are upheld? Yes. So should we all. Should people be able to have wages and benefit compensation commiserate with what they do for a living? Yes. So should we all. And there in lies the rub...

this was never about busting unions to balance a budget though they say it was. This was never about denying union employees their rights, though they feel it was. What it is really about is that everyone should have these things - affordable health care, employment support, and benefits that make sense. When are we, as a people, going to stop fighting with each other and start demanding that our politicians actually do something for the people? When are we going to start demanding that all people had access to health care, have some reasonable retirement benefits, have some support in finding and retaining employment? Our nation used to be a nation that found solutions to our problems. We have become a nation that has allowed our own government to pit us against each other, sometimes in a most vehement manner, and to allow our government officials to wheel and deal with big business and billionaires. Our government has long ago stopped representing us as a people and we always seem to buy the bill of goods they sell us and then turn on each other in the end. It's maddening and counterproductive to the good of whole.

What's even worse is that we have become so numb to this that they don't even attempt to be subtle about leading us down this path anymore. Scott Walker is like a bull in a china shop. He isn't even savvy enough to try to sugar coat his blatant actions to tear down unity in Wisconsin. He just steamrolled in and gloats about it. And shame on us for letting this happen.

We need to stand together. Not be jealous of some for what they have but demand that we also have it. Demand that, once and for all, this nation does not allow our own government to divide and conquer us but rather that it sees us as the unified, dignified people that we are. Scott Walker may have won the recall vote but we did send a powerful message that he and the other Republicans have to take note.

Forward, Wisconsin. Forward.