Last night the Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate used a procedural back door to ram through a bill that strips collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin public employees, excepting police and firefighters. This marks a significant turning point in the weeks-long struggle that has captured the attention of the country and the world. Similar struggles between the government tools of big business and people who work for a living are playing out in other parts of the country. Many of those who are watching are looking at Wisconsin as a bellwether for how things might go elsewhere. For this reason the actions taken last night are particularly disturbing.
It should also be said that the bill will not become law immediately; there were any number of procedural rules bent or even broken in this maneuver, which is what we have come to expect from the likes of Scott Walker and his fellow travelers. However, there are plenty of people who are more than willing to call them on it. I would not be surprised if this bill eventually finds its way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
A couple of thoughts. First is the blatantly unfair and underhanded tactics used by the GOP to engage in what is by their own admission is union-busting. It has nothing at all to do with balancing the budget, and given the GOP’s massive tax breaks and giveaways for large corporations we can easily dispense with any pretense that this has anything to do with fiscal responsibility. It is also clear that a lot of people are starting to realize that the conservative and their enablers among the Democrats really are engaged in class warfare, and they are playing for keeps. Sadly, the Obama administration has been virtually absent in all this and it turns out that the DNC was all set to jump right into the fray, but word is that the new White House staff vigorously shut this down. I believe that 2012 is not going to be good for Obama, although it may be worse for the Republicans.
It has also occurred to me that I at least need to re-think some of my conclusions regarding how to get along in these times. Much of what I have advocated here has been along the lines of evading the powers that have wrought so much havoc in the lives of so many by presenting a smaller target. If you need less and spend less and can do more for yourself or though the use of community groups and small business, then in theory you are less liable to be hit by the blundering, bludgeoning corporate bulls in the national china shop. But the activities of the current Congress along with those of people like Scott Walker and his Koch puppet masters makes me think that they are intent on creating a permanent underclass. Whether deliberately planned or not, that seems to be the outcome.
There comes a point beyond which no amount of scrimping or saving or coupon-clipping or thrift store shopping will protect you from what these people want to do to our society. At some point, passively trying to stay below the radar will not work. The people in Wisconsin are taking a stand at great personal sacrifice. Those of us who worry about jobs and health care and public education and so many other vital things must stand with them and fight alongside them. Whether you realize it or not, their struggle is your struggle.
