Andy Stern: "Wall Street Created the Fiscal Crisis, Not Unions"

[ProSense]

Wisconsin Union Fight Is Really a 15-State GOP Power Grab

by Andy Stern

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2. Wall Street Created the Fiscal Crisis, Not Unions

Public workers, elected officials, unions, or others whom one might want to blame did not create today's fiscal crisis. An already weak and increasingly two-tier economy, dragged down by a 2000-10 jobless decade, globalization, and a lack of real wage growth for a generation, was sunk by greedy big banks and Wall Street. They, abetted by blind regulatory oversight, created irresponsible investment schemes.

When the fiscal tidal wave hit, American workers had exhausted their tools to maintain their standard of living—a second family income, second or third job, more hours worked, credit cards, a stock-market bubble before it burst, home refinancing, home-equity loans, student loans, and additional education. Most states, having used up many of their budget "gimmicks," also fell into a huge new hole, and are still digging out.

And here's a little-noted statistic: According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, two-thirds of corporations in the state pay no taxes, and the share of corporate tax revenue funding state operations has fallen by half since 1981.

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5. The Assault on Workers' Rights Is a Republican Choice

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Well, consider this: More than 15 other states are facing Republican initiatives to change their teacher, state employee, and local government bargaining laws, or private sector right-to-work laws.

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[old mark]

1. K&R- I'd love to see some truth about this on the MSM... Instead, got Stephanopolis

shaking hands with Huckabee on the TV this morning, and stating he will be a great candidate for President in '12...Huckabee just wrote a book, so I guess he will be running.

WE have to get the truth out by ourselves-the media whores certainly won't do it.

mark

[Armstead]

2. I certainly agree with this one

[TomClash]

3. A few points to add to Andy's

1. Walker exacerbated the 2012 budget deficit by advocating and executing a bill giving business additional tax breaks.

2. The deficit for the rest of the 2011 fiscal year is miniscule (less than 1% of revenues) by Walker's own calculation.

3. The Wisconsin AFSCME unions have already conceded increases in their pension/health contributions. The only issue on the table is whether the unions have a right to bargain collectively.

[Keith Bee]

4. K&R to da max!

Wish I could recommend this 100 times!

[Danger Mouse]

5. None of these assholes are serious about 'deficit reduction'...it's just a neat little excuse...

...for crushing unions and the rights of workers. Package it in resentment towards public employees, put a 'fiscal responsibility' bow on top, and it almost looks pretty.

But the stench tells you it's shit. And Walker, without a doubt, is shit.