On Tuesday evening, I attended a small live fantasy football draft with my father. It just so happens, all of the people there were members of a union. None of them seemed to like Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker; surprised, right? One in particular was very vocal about his hatred for the Wisconsin governor. Keep in mind, this was not a political event by any means. He made jokes about conservatives, yelled at people who agreed with him, and basically made a fool out of himself in every sense. This one individual at one point was even talking about working on a recall election for Governor Scott Walker. Not realizing I was conservative and highly offended, he simply kept running his mouth and making up facts about our nation.
On one of the breaks from the draft, we were all outside smoking. The same man (I'd call him a gentleman but he was anything but) was complaining about the private industry. He said everyone in the private industry was lazy, simple minded, and doesn't know what is best for our state. Not only did I find this hilarious, but one would think the exact opposite was true. Actually, common sense proves otherwise; the best and brightest, the ones with talent, the ones that work hard to succeed generally work in private industries. Can you imagine government bureaucracies recruiting the best and brightest? The DMV sure would be a much different experience than the one we currently have. But I diverge. The ultra liberal man stated how people are 'so dumb because under Scott Walker, Wisconsin will give billions of dollars of tax breaks to small businesses and corporations.' He then complained that these businesses only create 'a bunch of $8 an hour jobs with those tax incentives.' He called it a 'waste of resources' and said we could use that money for our public school system, which is apparently in shambles. Another gentleman blindly agreed and complained that the crackdown on the unions is costing him. He 'only makes $25 an hour,' and thought it was preposterous he should have to pay a little bit more for his already free benefits. It would 'hamper' his lifestyle and make it 'hard to support his family.'
This was all stated without facts, and here are the facts. A USA Today article on March 3, 2011, stated Wisconsin is one of 41 states where average salaries of public workers is higher than that of their private counterparts. In fact, they make about $1800 more. Add benefits, guaranteed raises, and easy work, the Wisconsin public sector sure is living the life.
Now I find it funny these men were complaining about lower paying jobs being created, when they themselves make about $15 more on average than these new jobs. Also, I find it hilarious that they're complaining about job creation under a Republican governor. With unemployment hovering around 9% nationwide, foreclosure rates at their highest ever, and people desperate for work, I'd think people would be grateful for finding a job that pays $9 per hour. They asked how can one support a family on that. Well, how can one support a family on no income? Additionally, tax incentives and breaks not only creates minimum wage jobs, but encourages additional investment in communities and business. Why do we have a major problem with companies like GE moving overseas? Maybe it's because the corporate tax rate in America is the HIGHEST in the world. Don't believe me? Google it. It's a fact.
Also, tax breaks and incentives encourage companies to relocate, creating jobs that pay in all ranges. And like I said, at least our governor is creating jobs, not losing them as seen under President Obama. Here's a fact: more conservative states with conservative policies such as Louisiana and Texas were much more insulated from the blows of the economic depression than were heavily unionized liberal manufacturing states such as Michigan and Wisconsin. Unemployment, foreclosure rates, and bankruptcies are at lower rates in more conservative states. I know this because I lived in Louisiana when the recession first hit. Governor Scott Walker realized this, ran for governor, and won on economic issues. There was no vendetta against labor unions; they were simply costing our state too much money that we simply didn't have. The end of collective bargaining will be the greatest achievement for Wisconsin, that is until conceal carry passes. It will ultimately lead to a balanced budget, job growth and creation, investment from the private industry, and ultimately prosperity for a state ran into the ground by former Governor Doyle. I don't think anyone making a secure $25 an hour, who probably lives in an expensive house with a huge plot of land, and driving a brand new vehicle has any right to complain about job creation under a Republican governor.
The events that took place that night were astounding. Of course, I kept my mouth shut, not because I had nothing to say, but because I am part of a silent majority in Wisconsin. Governor Scott Walker's labor union crackdown has a lot of people hostile and bitter. Why? I can't quite say. They're all still making their $25+ an hour for work ethics that most in the private industry would be fired for.
My father is in this union as well, and don't get me wrong, not every union worker is lazy. My father is probably the hardest working man I have ever known. And for what? He took a pay cut to keep his job, he does others work, and he does the work of 10 of those union workers. Yet, because he isn't the top of this union hierarchy, he gets nothing. He receives MUCH lower pay than many of his coworkers. He pays his union dues and has no voice in his union. He does work that needs to be done that many of his coworkers are simply too lazy, and with union protection, too stubborn, to do. Before landing a state job, he worked in the private industry. Sure he makes more with the State of Wisconsin, but not much more. And for what? To work tirelessly to support his family. Well I'm sorry, but I know he sure wouldn't complain about $25 an hour, and definitely deserves it.
The union crackdown cracks me up with how bitter fat cat union bosses are. Jokes, threats of recall elections, hostility; all coming from the progressive union leaders. It is no surprise that unions cost the government a huge some of money, but those with power will claw at the thought of losing it. Now that they have lost it, the unions will claw at anyone to get it back. But here's what gets to me. Honest, hardworking men like my father, whether part of a union or not, are the ones that get hurt. The unions take away individual voices of both the private sector employees who pay to support their high wages, as well as the voices of union men and women who aren't fat cat union bosses. I see and I know that anyone in a union without power or tenure is subjugated to union will, and have no option but to simply deal with the demeaning ways the union bosses keep them down.
I know that my father is so hardworking and honest, that had he chosen the private industry, even at minimum wage, he'd have worked his way up. Then maybe my family would be one enjoying a $25 per hour salary. Only difference? My father would have deserved it.
Cauchon, Dennis. "Wisconsin one of 41 states where public workers earn more." USA Today 2 Mar. 2011. Web. 7 Sept. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-03-01-1Apublicworkers01_ST_N.htm>.
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