Althouse: "What the Democrats don't like isn't dictatorship, it is democracy."

February 17, 2011

"What the Democrats don't like isn't dictatorship, it is democracy."

"That is why the Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate fled the state en masse — they prevented a quorum, so that a vote they were going to lose couldn't take place. Once again, it is democracy they are trying to frustrate, not dictatorship."

214 comments:

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Leland said...: What's the rush anyway?

It's called compound interest. When you owe a debt they charge an interest rate. As you continue not to pay, that interest is compounded. If you at least make the interest payment, the amount you owe stays the same. But if you don't make the payment (say because you are short on cash by about $3 billion), then the amount you owe increases. Eventually, you can end up with some really big numbers.

Again, Garage, I know that the teachers are calling in sick on you; but I'm always here to school you.; 2/18/11, 10:08 AM
Triangle Man said...: I just want to know, why the taxpayer should be forced to contribute more of their wages to public worker wages and benefits ensure that public workers don't have to.

In Wisconsin, the public sector workers are contributing an additional 8% of their compensation in perpetuity to help the State budget. This despite the fact that the compensation of many public sector workers does not come from State funds. The taxpayers, including the tens of thousands of public sector workers who also pay taxes, will be getting some small additional tax breaks this year.

Again, I think you are making things up.; 2/18/11, 10:09 AM
Triangle Man said...: It's called compound interest. When you owe a debt they charge an interest rate

Nonsense. The budget concerns are not related to debt, but future deficits.; 2/18/11, 10:12 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The unions have a moral obligation to our children and to the people who pay their salary and benefits.; 2/18/11, 10:12 AM
Triangle Man said...: "2c" is actually one of the biggest problems with school budgets right now, TM.

@Calypso

I agree that if a highly paid senior teacher is not good, that it is a needless drain on the system. But isn't this addressed by the new merit pay and performance evaluation systems being set up? Pay becomes linked to quality rather than seniority over time.; 2/18/11, 10:15 AM
Calypso Facto said...: TM: We'll see. I'm glad there was SOME recognition of the state of things by WEAC last week, but they should have acted much sooner (years ago) to avoid this.

As I've stated before here, I agree with you that the bargaining rights piece could have been handled separately, and initially thought it should have been. But after 3 days of illegal striking, I'm ok with all the public union busting I can get right now.; 2/18/11, 10:29 AM
Christopher in MA said...: "Another douchenozzle heard from!"

Somehow, Roach, I suspect you'd not be as respectful of the good Archbishop if he were talking about gay marriage or abortion. But hey, any port in a storm, right?; 2/18/11, 10:34 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: This despite the fact that the compensation of many public sector workers does not come from State funds.

It doesn't? Are they being paid by the Federal government?

Again, I think you are making things up.

If public workers are paying more into thier benefit packages then bully for them.; 2/18/11, 10:46 AM
Mutnodjmet said...: Ann: I have NEW pictures of the protesters in Madison. It clearly shows they are ORCS.

http://templeofmut.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/aragorn-walker-battles-union-orcs/; 2/18/11, 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: "Wisconsin teachers on average are paid around $49k with $25.5k in benefits. They have, on average, 15.6 years of experience. Wisconsin routinely ranks in the top 10 in the U.S. for education quality, though usually behind Minnesota (to our eternal shame).

You think this is unreasonable?"

It's unreasonable if the state can't afford that amount and there is no mechanism in place to adjust that number to match reality.

What part of "we don't have the money" is so hard to understand? I could go to a car lot tommorow and find a car for sale that should cost $40,000 but for some reason is marked down $20,000. Is that an unreasonable price? No, it's a great price. But if I only have $4500, it's more than I can afford.; 2/18/11, 11:17 AM
former law student said...: It's called compound interest. When you owe a debt they charge an interest rate. As you continue not to pay, that interest is compounded. If you at least make the interest payment, the amount you owe stays the same. But if you don't make the payment (say because you are short on cash by about $3 billion), then the amount you owe increases. Eventually, you can end up with some really big numbers.

This never bothered Reagan or Bush jr. Why is it an issue now?; 2/18/11, 11:27 AM
Trooper York said...: Roachy if you don't think a bishop can be a douchenozzle then you haven't met as many bishops as I have.

Being a douchenozzle is almost how they get promoted. The real men of faith are parish priests who get screwed over by the biships anyway.

Youse guys are really reaching.; 2/18/11, 1:15 PM
Trooper York said...: By the way does anybody know how to trademark an insult?

Maybe I can make some money on "douchenozzle."; 2/18/11, 1:16 PM
ken in tx said...: I am retired from the military. I am also retired from teaching. Teacher unions are not allowed in my state. However, teaching was the most stressful of the two. In the military, my boss said, do what I want you to do, and I will write a good report and get you promoted. In education, my boss said, control your classroom or I will write you up, but if parents complain about it I will write you up for that too—or words to the same effect. In other words, I had no control over the outcome of my efforts. BTW, nobody cared if the students learned anything—parents or administrators. What does this mean? Teachers in Wisconsin are acting the way they are because they are in a dysfunctional system. It needs to be closed and replaced.; 2/18/11, 1:45 PM