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[mainiac]

Yes, and we like to call ourselves "taxpayers".

Funny, I pay taxes and I don't hate public unions.  Are my taxes defective or something?

[Aqizzar]

I've been working 60-80 hours a week, and I don't even get paid past the first 40 hours I work, where private employees will not only get paid, they get time and a half.

And are you union represented?  If you are your union is doing an awful job here.

Union is doing an awful job of representing public workers.  Union is making excessive demands and holding government hostage.

Tell me, what's it like to hold two diametrically opposed thoughts in your head at the same time?

[Bouchart]

I've been working 60-80 hours a week, and I don't even get paid past the first 40 hours I work, where private employees will not only get paid, they get time and a half.

And are you union represented?  If you are your union is doing an awful job here.

Union is doing an awful job of representing public workers.  Union is making excessive demands and holding government hostage.

Tell me, what's it like to hold two diametrically opposed thoughts in your head at the same time?

Unions are best at representing senior employees and retired members.  This guy sounds young.  The older union folk got theirs and are screwing him.

[Urist Imiknorris]

Doublethink isn't painful until it is realized. I know from experience.

[mainiac]

So did the unions sell out the younger members when they got the best deal they could in the good years or when they got the best deal they could in the bad years?  Because guess what; it's not the unions that decided to cut Vector's salary and use that money to give tax cuts to rich businessmen.

[Vactor]

Only ~30% of the population is with you on that one.

Yes, and we like to call ourselves "taxpayers".

Its especially ironic considering the portion of that 30% that evade or avoid their taxes.

Unfortunately for you politically the 70% of the population that is apparently living off handouts from the "taxpayers" wins elections.


To get the discussion back to facts, 12% of the Wisconsin workforce is employed by the various governmental entities within the state, this includes the State itself, the counties, cities, townships, villages, and school districts.

[Urist Imiknorris]

Because guess what; it's not the unions that decided to cut Vector's salary and use that money to give tax cuts to rich businessmen.

Vactor.

Vactor is not Vester is not Vector.

I, Vector, am the math nerd (small, female, but not a Pacific Islander).
Vester is the Filipina.
Vactor is the OP.

[Bouchart]

The state is broke.  When you have major debt you are at the mercy of your creditors and the people who have money.  It's no different than for an individual.  Blame the elected officials that drove your state into the ground. 

[Vactor]

The state is broke.  When you have major debt you are at the mercy of your creditors and the people who have money.  It's no different than for an individual.  Blame the elected officials that drove your state into the ground.

The budget shortfall is 0.4% of the total budget, Wisconsin is far from broke.

[Earthquake Damage]

As of December 2010, Wisconsin's unemployment rate was about 7%.  But only 30% are taxpayers?  The IRS is truly incompetent, or do you think they only pay federal taxes?

[mainiac]

The state is broke.  When you have major debt you are at the mercy of your creditors and the people who have money.  It's no different than for an individual.  Blame the elected officials that drove your state into the ground.

Or blame the economic crisis.  And who's to blame for that?  Oh yeah, poor black people of course! [/sarcasm]

The state is too broke to keep it's contractual obligations to school teachers but isn't too broke to do another round of tax cuts for the rich?

[Bouchart]

And who's to blame for that?  Oh yeah, poor black people of course!

Ok stooge, you are no longer worth my limited time.

[mainiac]

And who's to blame for that?  Oh yeah, poor black people of course!

Ok stooge, you are no longer worth my limited time.

Wow, way to edit out the sarcasm tag.  That would totally convince anyone too lazy to look an inch above.

[Vactor]

The state is broke.  When you have major debt you are at the mercy of your creditors and the people who have money.  It's no different than for an individual.  Blame the elected officials that drove your state into the ground.

The budget shortfall is 0.4% of the total budget, Wisconsin is far from broke.

Quoting myself, but in addition, Wisconsin doesn't allow itself to go into debt.  Every budget must be balanced.  Any shortfall is projected, and not current.  This is why we have budget adjustment bills come towards the end of a session, to account for what actually happened with revenue.

You have to remember I work in a non-partisan position, I get exposed to much more information than talking points.

[mainiac]

In Maryland we have a reserve fund which we saved up in the good years and are using it to bridge the budget gap this year (before that was the stimulus money).  Of course, some fiscal readjustments were needed too, but it's helping a lot.  Does Wisconsin have such a fund and how big is it?