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September 19, 2006

Watch the new ad supporting the workers of Wisconsin and taking a stand against Gov. Walker

March 04, 2011 09:01 AM UTC (Updated: March 04, 2011 09:05 AM UTC)

views: 0 | 11 people recommend this | comments: 95

Did you see MSNBC on Wednesday night?

Rachel Maddow called this new TV ad against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker "the most pointed, stand-with-the-people-who-work-for-a-living ad that we have seen for a very long time." Ed Schultz announced, "Pro-working groups, they are fighting back!"

Lawrence O'Donnell said, “The ad is beautiful film making. I’m really quite struck by it.” This new ad is inspiring people. Watch it and tell us what you think.

(This ad was covered yesterday by the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and others.)

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11 people recommend this post

Elizabeth (This place IS my Soap Opera) Larlham Oala

Cathi L.

0000-honey-0000

Gail Mountain

Ali Hussein Lopez

Angela A.

elizabeth evans Mar 4, 2011, 9:07am UTC

Fantastic ad. I loved what the last lady said....how true!

reply to this comment

Ken S. Mar 4, 2011, 9:18am UTC

If you had been given stolen property (and you knew or should have known that it was stolen), would you expect to be allowed to continue the arrangement and to receive more stolen property in the future?

David K. Mar 4, 2011, 12:05pm UTC

Huh?

Ken S. Mar 4, 2011, 3:44pm UTC

Guy, as usual, you presume wrongly. The contract is not valid if one of the required parties is not represented at the table. The taxpayer is not effectively represented by anyone who does not have a dire conflict of interest.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 10:10pm UTC

Inmate, you make a lot of sense. I've heard too, that the charter schools are making a lot of money for the investors who buy the buildings and rent them to the schools. It is another example of greed at the root of the decisions. Thanks for your comments.

Ken S. Mar 4, 2011, 10:15pm UTC

Not that it matters to you but children learn in charter schools. Kinda of an important consideration don't you think, whether or not any of that 'evil' profit is involved.

Ken S. Mar 5, 2011, 3:24pm UTC

Joyce, Why introduce class into this? Go see the documentary "Waiting for Superman" to see the value of charter schools. Why are all the dems oppsoed to them, opposed to some competitive forces to try and improve the schools.
702, In case you haven't noticed, education is functioning quite poorly. It is interesting that that has occurred concurrent with the growth of teachers unions and the introduction of the Federal Dept of Education (another Carter gem). How did we educate prior to these changes (when it seems to work pretty well)? Also, having a knowledge of a subject and a passion for it would seem just as much a recipe for a successful teacher as a teaching certificate unless you are afraid of competition?
BTW, why does (and are you happy that) the NEA has as recommended reading, books by that radical Saul Alinsky? Do most teachers know this? Do they agree? http://www.nea.org/tools/17231.htm
I could rebut your disdain for profit but life is too short.

Carla G. Mar 5, 2011, 7:00pm UTC

All kids deserve a good education. But as it is, the children of the rich have the advantages. I saw a teacher talking on TV and he said that the problem is poverty and not the teachers. He said that he had kids in his class that had been moved around to six different schools in one year. The parents (or more often a mother) gets thrown out of an apartment for not paying rent and then she moves the kids.

Nellie (RIP: Give to Life) Mar 5, 2011, 9:37pm UTC

I went to a charter school (we called it free school back then) the last year of my schooling and I got more out of it than a public high school.
Ok, we (students) went at our own pace, so I was able to graduate when I was 16 and also earned two college credits (and received a scholarship for one year at the Univ. of MN)
So I am kinda bias towards charter schools (and I went, not because I was poor, but because I was (oops) kicked out of public schooling (five of them..I was a bad girl) for fighting)....
WI public schooling is horrid...kids graduate plain dumb around here...literally.
I pulled my son out of public schoolng since spec. ed was more or less nonexsisting around here (they were paid babysitters, they didn't teach the kids anything)...when my son finally got into a private schooling (special needs) paid by the city since they weren't able to educate him properly (and also they were found to be abusive to him)..he did great, and graduated with honors before he was 18.

I get tired of having to pay taxes via schooling around here, and my location, I get double whammy.

Ken S. Mar 5, 2011, 9:45pm UTC

First, I'm talking about competition among providers (not customers). No class issue there. Yes, uninvolved parents, single parent households, and the like are challenges. Yet historically there have been many poorer learning environments than some have today yet learning took place. The key is not some new problem never solved before. Teach the truth, with discipline and expectation in the classroom and the children will learn. Yet the progressive left refuses to allow discipline in the classroom, many lessons plans are garbage meant to indoctrinate more than teach (focusing on "green"-ism, how horrible America and her Founders is & were, and other fictions and foolishness - did I mention Saul Alinsky) and misuses "collective bargaining" to protect weak teachers, oppose merit pay systems, and oppose charter schools.

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 9:20am UTC

I suppose the WI taxpayers are paying these people to spend 17 days in Madison instead of working. The way state government is supposed to work is that voters choose their Senators and Assemblymen and they show up and vote. Governor Walker, as well as anyone who has served on a school board or county government department or county board, understand how collective bargaining by government employees holds up budgeting processes and in this time of decreased funding can result in layoffs of government employees and reduced services. Meanwhile non-government employees and small business owners are struggling. The non-government employees who have joined the protest have done so because they fear that collective bargaining restrictions will spread to other unions. That is a separate issue, to be dealt with when and if it comes up.
I am for teachers and government employees when they do their jobs. I will hate to see many lose their jobs if the Democrat Senators continue their puerile pique.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 9:24am UTC

puerile pique?

or a political move ...

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 9:28am UTC

No, that's not the way government is supposed to work. It's blackmail. They claim they won't come back until the governor "compromises". What they mean is they won't come back until he gives in. That's against the institution of state government.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 9:41am UTC

Union busting is not how government is supposed to work either. The governor and republicans started out with a most extreme sweeping partisan union war, refusing to talk to their own employees who were willing to cave in to every financial issue.

The Dems reacted in an extreme way to stall it all, the only way they could, so the issues could be made public for a bit of time ... before the unions are creamed.

Both sides are using what political tools they have. The sides you pick are the sides you want to win.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 9:47am UTC

The Democrats said they were willing to "cave in to every financial issue." The fact is that instead those who could either proposed or locked in contracts which maintained their perks and in some cases included raises.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 9:51am UTC

This is what I e-mailed to a WI Democrat Senator. I have not received a response.

Senator
You must have received a lot of e-mail already from Wisconsin voters. Now it's time to act like an adult who, as well as Governor Walker, was elected by voters of this state.

Failing to show up and face the elected body of Wisconsin government is, in my opinion, not responsible. If you don't show up today, the voters of the state can appropriately and justifiably blame you for the loss of a number of government jobs, just show you can show your "solidarity" with the minority.

Why not allow the Senate to vote as its duty prescribes, and let Governor Walker take the blame for the things in the bill that the protestors don't like? You've made your point.

Sincerely

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 11:14am UTC

Your point is understood except for the inconsistency. You speak of "the will of the majority of Wisconsin citizens" as if that is the Democrat position, then turn around an speak of protecting "parliamentary minorities against the tyranny of the majority." There is no evidence that I know of that the position of the parliamentary minority in this case represents the will of the majority.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 11:44am UTC

I hadn't seen that poll, Guy. Thanks.

Carla G. Mar 5, 2011, 3:38pm UTC

Thanks for taking the time to explain this, Inmate.

reply to this comment

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 10:01am UTC

>The Democrats said they were willing to "cave in to every financial issue."

Not the Democrats - the unions that are involved, did. But the governor didn't want to hear from the unions even if they are agreeing to take huge cuts. He want's them totally silenced.

Usually the Dems are accused of not having a backbone. They could have stayed and "played by the rules" and gotten instantly creamed (we all know they don't have the votes). So they went to a "plan B". That's politics. When politics involves helping the union worker (instead of helping the super rich, like it usually does) it is a rare day.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 11:45am UTC

Yeah, the right doesn't complain when the Republicans filibuster.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 11:46am UTC

There is a difference between filibuster and hiding out of state.

reply to this comment

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 10:18am UTC

The union worker is being vilified now for having a pension and health care (otherwise most the State workers are underpaid for the education level they are at). That is shocking. We should be asking how ALL workers can have a pension and health care, and not have this - to have government work so hard to pull workers toward 3rd world standards.

The Wisconsin state workers pension fund is fine right now. The governor shouldn't be allowed to use it to pay other State bills, anyway.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 10:48am UTC

>teachers are paid a years salary of 9 months worth of work

I think we need to make school go all year long. Then teachers will get the professional respect they deserve, and our kids won't be so very behind compare to the rest of the world!

>who only hold high school diplomas and yet are paid as if they had college degrees.

40 thousand dollars a year?

401Ks are dangerous compared to Pensions, everybody should know that. But the Republicans want to even put your Social Security in the stock market!

There are no losses yet in pensions for state funds to have to make up for. But regardless, the union was willing to make cuts in that anyway.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 11:47am UTC

It's always education and teachers that take a hit when there is a budget problem. That tells us what the priorities are and it says that it's not our kids and grandkids. I think it's shameful.

reply to this comment

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 10:49am UTC

Republicans have always treated workers as being a nuisance to being dangerous. Their policies have always reflected that.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 11:16am UTC

I disagree. I know a lot of Republicans who value their employees and go way out of their way to support them, financially and otherwise.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 11:44am UTC

The opposing argument, Guy, is that for generations workers have been coerced, sometimes with the threat of or actual brutality, to join and pay dues to unions. Then the unions use those dollars to support candidates chosen by union bosses whether or not it is in the best interest of the workers. Labor unions are not all as democratic as some would suggest.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 11:47am UTC

>I disagree. I know a lot of Republicans who value their employees and go way out of their way to support them, financially and otherwise.

As employers I'm sure there are many. But not as politicians.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 11:49am UTC

>Labor unions are not all as democratic as some would suggest.

True. They are all very different from each other and some are very democratic and some not so much. I was in the grocery store union and they weren't democratic at all. But it was still better to be in a grocery store union, than not.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 11:49am UTC

Unions are not perfect. I once belonged to a corrupt one and had to fight them and the company I worked for, but the majority are well-meaning and they have brought needed change to the workplace and respect to workers. There has to be a balance. The companies are most always only concerned about the bottom line and their investors. Few companies have learned that if you treat your employees well, you don't have to worry about unions.

Peter Joseph Swanson Mar 4, 2011, 11:49am UTC

The Steel Workers is very democratic (and they don't just have steel workers in it anymore).

Carla G. Mar 7, 2011, 4:46pm UTC

Thanks, DoYou, for the information.

reply to this comment

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 12:03pm UTC

I see that so far in this thread I am essentially the sole voice presenting a view in opposition to the post. I feel that Peter and Guy have respectfully and sincerely presented their points of view with support from Carla and an opposing comment by Doug. We won't solve it today, but I feel it's been a good discussion. I have nothing to add.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 4:44pm UTC

At least there have been no insults and name calling on this thread as I've seen on some others. Thanks to all for that.

JOHN BECK Mar 5, 2011, 7:38am UTC

Thank you, Joyce. Although we disagree, I feel the discussion has been of value.

reply to this comment

William Dotani Mar 4, 2011, 12:13pm UTC

I personally do not believe government workers should have unions and I am very pro-union. Public service jobs are about service vital to the public interest. However, I think the approach Governor Walker and the Senate republicans have used deceitful and disgraceful. These are people of nothing but shameful behavior and they should not be in public service. We are a Democracy, but their actions are not in any way of Democracy.
This really affects me because I will not vote again for Prez Obama because he's a two faced liar in my opinion. I certainly won't vote for any GOP candidate that supports the disgraceful actions of the GOP in Wisconsin. Dialogue and not threats are needed for problem resolvement, but obviously the GOP doesn't think so. Such divisive actions to me are sinister and sinful.

JOHN BECK Mar 4, 2011, 12:16pm UTC

I'm not clear as to what actions you refer. Bills were presented and, when a quorum existed, voted upon.

William Dotani Mar 4, 2011, 12:31pm UTC

The GOP actions are DISGRACEFULLY trying to force their views without serious negotiations. I voted mostly GOP in the last election, but I view Gov Walker and the Wisconsin GOP as dictatorial scum. I cannot support that draconian no matter the reason outside of real war. The GOP has sunk to a low that disgusts me.

JOHN BECK Mar 5, 2011, 7:41am UTC

Joyce, here we have some agreement. Both in WI and in the USA, the politicians have become polarized into radical liberals and reactionary conservatives--not a moderate in sight. Many elections come down to whom do you disagree with least, not with whom do you agree the most.

William Dotani Mar 6, 2011, 9:54am UTC

Jesus plainly said a house divided will fall. When our elected officials act like the governor and Senate of Wisconsin, then the state should not expect a blessing from any outcome, but more problems. Those causing this problem have hearts filled with sin and disgrace Wisconsin. I personally believe what Governor Walker is doing is of Satanic reasoning. He is an evil man as the fake Koch phone call thoroughly proved.
I'm an Independent, but lean heavily towards Libertarianism.

reply to this comment

Debra C. Mar 4, 2011, 12:56pm UTC

Its going to be interesting to see what happens at the next election in WI ... IF collective memory is long enough to remember this incident.

Carla G. Mar 5, 2011, 3:50pm UTC

What about the recalls? I hear that four of the senators may lose their jobs.

Debra C. Mar 5, 2011, 5:07pm UTC

I forget if it is 8 or 13 State Senators who could be recalled. In WI, someone has to have served at least a year, which means those who rode the Tea Party into office are not yet recall-eligible. While I sympathize with those who are considering this, it takes a while to gather the signatures needed to file a recall petition in most cases. One must ask the question, in a time when money is the big issue, do you file for recall elections outside the standard times, or (presuming that waiting until the end of the term is vital) do you try to time it with other elections to save money? And is all of this about the state Senate, or is the governor's office part of this effort?

Carla G. Mar 5, 2011, 7:03pm UTC

Yes, that is something that has to be considered.

Debra C. Mar 6, 2011, 3:49pm UTC

The CA was interesting to watch. I guess I'd note that WI isn't CA. The individuals most strongly associated with the issues happening can't even be recalled yet by the state's laws ... by the time they can, it will be closing in on the two-year election. I'm just thinking -- get them on the ballot at that time and save the money.

Carla G. Mar 7, 2011, 4:47pm UTC

I don't think CA has the same laws regarding recalls.

reply to this comment

Frank Luke Mar 4, 2011, 1:41pm UTC

I was just going to comment about Ms Palin's popularity based on her attractiveness but it disappeared.

For what it's worth, I'd say she's totally unattractive and her cuteness is trumped by her strident tone she assaults us with.

I couldn't take that if she's elected for anything!!

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 4:45pm UTC

Different article, Frank.

Carla G. Mar 4, 2011, 4:48pm UTC

Frank, here is the article: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979109614

reply to this comment

Chris Morgan Mar 5, 2011, 1:48am UTC

I'll be interested in how the recall movement against several of the WI republican senators will turn out.

JOHN BECK Mar 5, 2011, 7:42am UTC

There are recall petitions on both sides.

Carla G. Mar 5, 2011, 3:50pm UTC

There is a one-year requirement I heard but there are four that qualify for that I think.

reply to this comment

Gail Mountain Mar 5, 2011, 8:46am UTC

Best ad I've ever seen -- taking time to actually get some truth out.

reply to this comment

Nellie (RIP: Give to Life) Mar 5, 2011, 9:45pm UTC

WI had to put up with Doyle and now Walker...both are running WI into the ground.

After over ten years of our old mayor who ruined our town (more or less) we finally got a new one this past year (one of the youngest mayors ever) and finally our town is going somewhere...slowly...but at least our hazard building is finally being taken down. )caused over 20 accidents in a three month period but parts of the roof flying off into the road)

But now, Walker has taken away three fourths of our towns state funds, and our mayor is trying to figure out how to adjust our budget to keep our town half alive at least. (thank goodness it is almost ferry time, that brings in outside tourists everyday)