02 March 2011 By Stephen
Lendman Egyptians want it. So do
Palestinians, Arabs throughout the region, protesting
East and West Europeans, others across the world, and
growing numbers in America, especially in Wisconsin -
ground zero to save organized labor. At issue is freedom v. tyranny,
what Aaron Russo's 2006 film called "Freedom to
Fascism," identifying America's money system as
inimical to liberty and justice for all. Along with
American-style corporatism, it lets banking giants
control money, credit and debt for private
self-enrichment, colluding with government for laws
favoring them, as well as others destroying democratic
principles, fast eroding and disappearing throughout
the country. It produces: -- pervasive public and private
corruption; -- concentrated wealth; -- government serving America's
aristocracy, not popular interests; -- alliances with global despots,
replaced when they forget who's boss; -- America's war machine and
imperial arrogance; -- subjugation, not freedom; -- mass impoverishment and human
misery; -- a war on dissent; and -- another preventing
constructive change, forcefully when other ways fail. It makes America and similar
societies unfit to live in, heading them for tyranny
and ruin. It also fuels popular anger, bubbling
eventually to the surface, growing and now spreading
across the Middle East and parts of America. On Saturday February 26, all 50
states held pro-labor "Save the American Dream"
rallies, promoted by MoveOn.org: "in every major city to stand in
solidarity with the people of Wisconsin" and workers
in their own states under attack. Wisconsin is ground
zero. The cancer is national, pitting an alliance of
bought-and-paid-for governments, corporate bosses, and
corrupted union heads against organized labor,
democratic values, and basic freedoms, including a
living wage, essential benefits, decent living
standards, and a seat at the table representing
themselves. On February 26, AP writers
Patrick Condon and Todd Richmond headlined,
"Protesters across US decry Wis. anti-union efforts,"
saying: "Rallies were held across the
country Saturday to support thousands of protesters
holding steady at the Wisconsin Capitol in their fight
against Republican-backed legislation aimed at
weakening unions." In fact, Walker's bill wants them
and democracy destroyed, so other state governors and
Washington can do the same thing. It's been happening
incrementally for decades. "Union supporters organized
rallies from New York to Los Angeles....(Thousands)
gathered (in) Columbus, Ohio....(Others were held
across America, including) "Topeka, Kan; Harrisburg,
Pa; and Olympia, Wash. (In) Los Angeles, public sector
workers and others held signs (saying) 'We are all
Wisconsin.' Some wore foam 'cheeseheads' in support." In St. Paul, MN, union leader
Eliot Seide addressed protesters, saying, "The right
to collectively bargain is a American right. You can't
have American democracy if you don't have a strong
trade union movement." Others in Madison and across the
country expressed anger, saying they won't stand for
what Walker wants. Maintaining that spirit is key to
stopping him. On February 26, New York Times
writers Richard Oppel and Timothy Williams headlined,
"Rallies for Labor, in Wisconsin and Beyond," saying: In Wisconsin, tens of thousands
rallied for worker rights, chanting, "This will not
stand!" Over 100,000 turned out in Madison, including
celebrities like Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary
fame. The Times estimated the crowd at "70,000." It
was more than half again that size. Others rallied in
support across America, "a call (drawing) thousands of
demonstrators to state capitals and other cities from
Albany to the West Coast." Al Alt, a teacher for 40 years,
said, "We've had bargaining for 50 years (actually
75), and (Walker) wants to end it in a week." For two
weeks, thousands protested peacefully, hundreds
camping out every night in hallways, stairwells, and
public areas of the Capitol. Battle lines are now drawn after
state officials said they'd be evicted Sunday
afternoon at 4PM. Claiming health and safety issues,
it's a ruse to weaken resistance and push for passage
of Walker's anti-labor bill. Union officials and
protesters object, saying conflict may result. Wisconsin's Professional Police
Association (WPPA) head Jim Palmer called on police to
join the sleep-in, saying: "As has been reported in the
media, the protesters are cleaning up after themselves
and have not caused any problems. The fact of the
matter is that Wisconsin's law enforcement community
opposes Governor Walker's effort to eliminate most
union activity in this state, and we implore him to
not do anything to increase the risk to officers and
the public....Law enforcement officers know the
difference between right and wrong, and (Walker's)
attempt to eliminate the collective voice of
Wisconsin's devoted public employees is wrong. That is
why we have stood with our fellow employees each day
and why we will be sleeping among them" overnight. On February 27, Palmer said
authorities were backing away from their eviction
plan, saying, "Now it sounds like they are going to
let people stay." Protesters will only be asked for
"voluntary compliance." Some said if evictions happen,
they'll circle the Capitol holding hands. Prior to Palmer's Sunday
announcement, BailOutPeople.org's web site headlined,
"The Whole World is Watching! The Capitol Belongs to
the People!" They build it. They paid for it. They
deserve support from everyone. Maintaining pressure is
essential, inside and outside the building, across the
state and country. It's not just a Wisconsin issue.
It's a national and worldwide one - freedom or
fascism, global Walkers v. working people everywhere,
struggling for justice against dark forces wanting
greater empowerment and enrichment at their expense. On February 24, the Social
Justice & Labor Center headlined, "Why Wisconsin
matters in New York, and throughout organized labor,"
saying: "Unionists from across the nation
have come out in force to support our colleagues in
Wisconsin, as well as those in Idaho, Indiana, New
Jersey, Ohio and Tennessee. Other states are facing
unprecedented threats as well. And New York state is
not exempt." "Make no mistake about it,"
worker rights are on the line everywhere. It's resist
or die. "What is happening right now in Wisconsin is
historic." Standing firm there is crucial. Workers
didn't cause fiscal problems. Bad governance, Wall
Street crooks, corporate greed, predatory capitalism,
and corrupted union bosses are responsible. They
tanked the economy. Make them fix it, not workers,
suffering grievously as a result. Moreover, an Economic Policy
Institute (EPI) study showed Wisconsin public workers
make on average 4.8% less in total compensation than
private sector ones. In addition, teachers are on the
front lines educating future generations, and police,
firefighters, nurses, sanitation workers, and many
others provide essential services without which
societies can't function. They deserve support from
everyone for a living wage, essential benefits, a
decent standard of living, and right to bargain
collectively for self-betterment. It's them against
America's Walkers, struggling for rights too important
to lose. Everyone's in this fight together against
dark forces heading America for a future no one wants,
except elitists and their political allies benefitting
from other people's pain. Now's the time to stop them.
Below are 10 more reasons. On February 26, the web site Think Progress.org headlined, "REPORT: Top 10 Disastrous Policies From The Wisconsin GOP You Haven't Heard About." Access it through the following link: http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/26/report-top-10-disastrous-policies-from-the-wisconsin-gop-you-havent-heard-about/ In Walker's agenda and bill, much more is at stake than stripping workers of collective bargaining rights and making them pay more for healthcare and pensions. A previous article partly explained, accessed through the following link: http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/02/hidden-provisions-in-wisconsin-bill.html Included is more, repeating some of what the bottom link covers: (1) "Eliminating Medicaid:" Healthcare czar Dennis Smith (Wisconsin's Health and Human Services Secretary) may "override state Medicaid laws as (he) sees fit and institute sweeping changes," including big cuts, "limiting eligibility," perhaps ending state responsibility altogether at a future time. (2) "Power Plant Privatization and Environmental Neglect:" Use the above lower link for full coverage. (3) "Dangerous Drinking Water:" New bills introduced would end "requiring municipal governments to disinfect their water." (4) "Destroying Wetlands:" Walker's bill "exempt(s) a parcel of wetland owned by a Republican donor from water quality standards," and affects the entire county where it's located. Perhaps later the entire state. (5) "Fiscal Irresponsibility:" Another Walker bill requires a two-thirds supermajority to raise taxes. "Republican lawmakers are now reportedly considering a constitutional amendment that would make the rule permanent." At issue, is imposing a "fiscal strait-jacket" on Wisconsin residents. (6) "Disenfranchising Voters:" Another proposed bill "require(s) voters to present a photo ID from the (Department of Motor Vehicles) at the polls," causing added hardships for elderly, disabled and rural residents as well as students and persons without cars. (7) "Cutting Jobs, Losing the Future:" Walker killed a fall 2010 "$810 billion federally funded high-speed rail project," preventing potentially 130,000 new jobs. (8) "Stifling Innovation:" Walker introduced a bill to ban wind-powered energy, making Wisconsin more dependent on coal. A public outcry killed it. (9) "Naked Power Grab:" Along party lines, Wisconsin's "legislature ceded 'extraordinary control' of the state's rule-making oversight process to the governor," giving him near-dictatorial power. (10) "Politicizing State Agencies:" Walker's budget repair bill "convert(s 37) state employees from civil servants to political appointees," seizing even more power. Fascism landed in Wisconsin under Walker and his cronies, aiming to turn the whole state into Guatemala in the worst sense of its meaning. More than ever, exposing and stopping him is crucial. It's no exaggeration saying, as Wisconsin goes, perhaps also America, a possibility too grim to allow.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/. Comments 💬 التعليقات |