Protesters react to court decision on collective bargaining;

[iwishiwas]

Source: Wisconsin State Journal






Protesters react to court decision on collective bargaining;

DOUG ERICKSON and SANDY CULLEN | Wisconsin State Journal | (118) Comments | Posted: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 3:00 am



Despite a blow from the state Supreme Court that opens the way for Gov. Scott Walker’s limits to public sector bargaining to take effect, protesters who returned to the state Capitol by the thousands Tuesday said they are not defeated and won’t give up their fight.
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Madison firefighter and Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President Mahlon Mitchell and Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt told the crowd the fight now goes out to districts to recall Republican legislators who supported the measure.

“This fight is not over,” Mitchell said.
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Retired attorney Theresa Carey of Viroqua said “it’s awfully coincidental” that the Supreme Court decision came a day after Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, expressed optimism the ruling would come Tuesday. “Does the GOP control the Supreme Court?” she asked. “I just think it’s all a big travesty.”..............................

Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c59fd60e-96b5-11e0-94cb-001cc4c03286.html

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Fitzgerald and his brother were set to insert the collective bargaining provision that was on HOLD into the budget. Then magically, the RW leaning court announced that the bill could go forward. In the first place, the SC heard arguments only 8 DAYS ago on whether to hear the case or not. It was a rushed deal. Something is stinky here.

[LAGC]

1. GENERAL FUCKING STRIKE.

Until the Supreme Court reverses its decision, or the Republican leadership is all recalled.

[iwishiwas]

2. The assembly and Senate 'leadership' is not up for recall but Walker

will be come November of this year. I only hope we -the Dems can get the 3 Dems we need into the assembly to put the breaks on this crap during our Aug 7 recalls.

[Boxturtle]

3. What about recalling the supreme court judges?

Get them all out!

[elocs]

5. No. At this time we have all the recalls we can handle here in Wisconsin.

We are attempting to recall 6 Republican state senators and that is going to be a battle in each of their districts. We want to recall governor Walker next year and that will be a statewide election battle. A recall of a state supreme court justice is never going to happen just because people don't like how they ruled.

We just had a close election for the supreme court where the Democratic supported candidate lost (I know, I know, every close Democratic election loss means it was a stolen election). It should have been crystal clear to all Democrats in this state as to the importance of electing Kloppenburg yet the statewide turnout was widely lauded for being 33% for a spring election.

That was an election where Democrats and those who agreed that Kloppenburg should have been elected should have been far, far more motivated to turn out and vote than Republicans. If 50% of Democrats had voted for Kloppenburg she would have easily won, yet again it evidently was not important enough an election for thousands of Democrats to bother to vote.

[pacalo]

16. If Democrats in Wisconsin can't get out the vote after what Walker has done to the state,

I see little reason to be hopeful about success in the upcoming recall elections.

However, the Wisconsin GOP seems to feel Democratic voters pose a major threat, as they just passed a voter suppression bill. Why would they make it difficult for anyone to vote?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1299522

[elocs]

4. Be real, this is not France or some other European country. A general strike is a fantasy.

That a conservative state supreme court would rule this way is no surprise to anyone who lives in Wisconsin.

A general strike, which would be "general" is the most loose sense of the work and more likely a joke, would accomplish nothing more than to piss off thousands of people who would then vote against our senate recall candidates, and it would do nothing to help the recall of Walker next year.

So thanks for the opinion, but no thanks. I think that we here in Wisconsin have a good handle on what to do and we are doing it now. Any strike anywhere, any time, and for any reason is a last resort and we are far, far from that at this time.

[Snoutport]

6. So strike after all the damage is done?

If you don't recall walker then you are stuck with the budget bill and it sets the scene for the rest of the country. Part of me wishes there was a strike...otherwise they are just winning one small step at a time.

ANd if Walker stays then collective bargaining is done and the Dems, afterall, did very little to stop it. The rest of the country watched while the Unions in WI got busted. Goodbye middle class.

[Downtown Hound]

9. "I think that we here in Wisconsin have a good handle on what to do and we are doing it now."

Really, because from an outsiders perspective, I'll just let you know how it looks. You are being WAY too timid. Y'all are very organized and mad props to you for that, but until you're actually willing to take it to the next level, they're just going to keep walking all over you. I've seen it before. Massive peaceful protests against the Iraq War in the months leading up to it. By the time people actually got around to being more confrotational it was too late. The war was in full swing.

Yet I remember how in San Francisco tens of thousands took to the streets in civil disobedience the weekend the war broke out. Thousands got arrested, the financial center of town was blockaded off, mobs tried to shut down the Bay Bridge, it was total chaos.

Well, the city could only stand that for a few days before they started to go bankrupt. The mayor actualy began to make public pleas to us to stop what we were doing because they couldn't afford it. If you think civil disobedience can't be effective, well, you weren't there. With the numbers you guys have, you could cause a whole lot of mischief. I realized that if we had been doing that all along, all over the place, the outcome of the war might have been very different.

You're right about one thing though, this isn't France. Because in France they would have already started striking, and not be moaning about how such things are only a fantasy. They would have stood up and fought back. I don't mean to imply that you'/re not fighting back, just in a very limited fashion. Maybe it's time you try something new.

[elocs]

11. The point is that the conditions & citizenry in France are entirely different than here.

Unions are much stronger there and fighting would at least stand a chance, but not here and that is reality. But you know this already, don't you?

[Downtown Hound]

12. No, I don't know that

You have all the numbers you need. More than enough. Why is everybody always waiting for the conditions to be perfect? They're never going to be perfect. You just got to make due with what you have. And you have a hell of a lot. I only wish we'd had your numbers at some of our protests.

[Sonoman]

13. GF is from Milwaukee...

We are out here, now, but I'll tell you right now that those people in WI are just weird as heck. They have a far different mindset than we do in Bay Area.

I agree with you about civil disobedience. I say let some houses burn and some banks get robbed, let all hell break loose.

Trouble is, in Wisconsin they would blame the firefighters and police. When we go to Wisconsin I feel as if I am on another planet.

I wish I hadn't dropped a tad more than a thousand bucks at Ian's Pizza. GF told me it was a waste of money and I just didn't get it.

Oh, well...

Sonoman

[L. Coyote]

7. How about a work strike instead

Oh wait, that's a really bad idea that is certain to fail and make a laughing stock of the three people who participate.

[Proletariatprincess]

8. I agree.

A general strike is the only answer now. The Political and judicial system have failed and are dysfunctional. Wisconson Labor needs to lead the way now and I hope that other states will follow.

[elocs]

10. Regarding a general strike: it's pretty easy to call for one when you don't live here

and have nothing to lose. It's real easy to call on others here to make financial risks with their lives and jobs, maybe losing their jobs, when you are personally risking nothing. If there were any kind of general strike here Walker would call out the National Guard and people could likely be hurt or even killed, but again, those from outside Wisconsin who find it so easy to call for a general strike here are at no personal risk and have nothing to lose.

Here in Wisconsin we know what we are doing and I've think that we've done very well so far this year. We have multiple recall elections coming up and we intend to recall Walker next year. We appreciate any support of our own decisions here, but we don't need others from outside Wisconsin to attempt to guide us as to what they think we should do.

So for any of those outside Wisconsin who are calling for a general strike here and think it is a great idea: leap if you feel froggy and start with your own state and put yourself out there at risk.

[buckrogers1965]

14. Nothing is going to change

Until the workers in America have a 1-2 month general strike that shuts everything down.

[Downtown Hound]

15. Actually, I've been arrested twice for civil disobeidence and have been in two

near riots. All while holding down a job and supporting myself. There's always risk involved. Are your rights not worth a few risks?