Elected Officials

[lroberts]

I agree Unions did not cause the economic bubble that burst. I will say they had a handout from politicians for years. In good economic times people don't really notice the bond between unions and politicians but it hasn't been good for many years.
Now it's time to check our spending and it's getting ugly. Throughout the country folks are not getting raises, getting laid off, paying more for insurance, losing retirement momentum with lower rates and basically being financially strapped. Am I understanding this correctly about the Wisconsin problems that they don't want to be treated like the rest of us? Is that the real issue? They might have been told they are safe from the reality of how the rest of is live and are now having to feel the pinch?
The country has to start somewhere. Plus remember we all recently sat back and watched millions go to the auto industry unions. When does it stop?

"Now it's time to check our spending and it's getting ugly. Throughout the country folks are not getting raises, getting laid off, paying more for insurance, losing retirement momentum with lower rates and basically being financially strapped"

I'm not sure about all unions across the state, but my local teachers union has made many concessions in the past two years. No raises, paying more for insurance, teachers being laid off, and larger class sizes. Not all unions are the same....some are much more out of touch than others.

[DJD]

"Now it's time to check our spending and it's getting ugly. Throughout the country folks are not getting raises, getting laid off, paying more for insurance, losing retirement momentum with lower rates and basically being financially strapped"

I'm not sure about all unions across the state, but my local teachers union has made many concessions in the past two years. No raises, paying more for insurance, teachers being laid off, and larger class sizes. Not all unions are the same....some are much more out of touch than others.

Well sounds like you folks are doing what alot of private sector jobs are doing. As an example we still pay for the employee health insurance but the deduct is up to $3000. So every office visit is out of pocket at the negotiated rate of in network doctors. Family healthcare coverage is up to $650 a month and we still pay for our meds. Increased work loads since we are much more lean now. We can't chance hiring or adding folks we need with Obamy at the helm (we did replace one guy...a little different) since who knows what they plan on doing to HELP us little family owned companies.

If we want personal retirement we have to contribute our money in the plan but we do get matching funds from the company if we follow the guidelines. I'm not sure how that compares to teachers union bennies but thats how we do it.

Many companies I deal with don't pay for employee health insurance or not 100% of it. Family plans are about the same. Some have little to no retirement plans as well.

I keep reading/hearing that the union folks up there are making more than alot of the folks who pay taxes and pays their salaries. With that info and seeing the folks walking out as they did and the unions organizing and the dem senators running away they are pissing off alot of voters. The Gov. ran on the ticket up there to clean up and focus on balancing the budget and was voted in which means to me that more folks approve than disapprove of what he is doing.

I see these unions and it looks like a strong showing but there are alot more folks who think like me. Unions make up a small percentage of the work force but they are very powerful in the Dem party. I am hoping that the Gov sticks to his guns and cuts these unions deeply.

Most of us have heard the old saying of working for the gubment and your set for life. I think people are tired of seeing that happen. Those days are coming to an end and I'm hoping it happens sooner and quicker than ever.