Olo Baggins of Bywater says:

TeaDude, I think you need to learn a bit more about the nation’s education system as compared to other countries…in terms of the public/gov support, relative importance of the systems to society as a whole, and intended outcomes. Oh, and the fact that many of them simply discard those who can’t keep up, which helps the score averages.

Mr. Fusion says:

#67, Alphie,

Dang dude, you have gone over the cliff.

Tell me though, how much income tax do you pay on that Social Security you receive?

So what says:

Ok Alfie you proved it. You can make an even more stupid statement. I stand corrected. Your stupidity is apparently limitless, and matched only by your incomprehensible view of reality.

Greg Allen says:

>> pedro said, on March 5th, 2011 at 3:36 am
>> Who cried about filibustering? Go run like chickens!

Here is the difference — the GOP filibustered EVERYTHING. Unless it was good for billionaires.. then they fast-tracked it.

In this case, the Dems are blocking legislation that is horrible for average working people.

But it’s very good for billionaires! So the conservatives are ready to shoot people over it.

Mr. Fusion says:

#75, Lyin’ Mike,

From your link.

Governor Walker has made statements recently regarding the WEA Trust on national media as well as his local addresses. We want to take this opportunity to respond.

Governor Walker has stated that school districts are “forced” to buy from the WEA Trust.

* School boards bargain their benefits and carriers. The Trust only provides health insurance benefits to approximately 35% of public school employees in Wisconsin. Some of the largest school districts in Wisconsin such as Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay are self-insured or purchase from companies other than the Trust. Our contracts are with the school districts—not with the unions.
* Wisconsin’s health insurance industry is highly competitive and districts already solicit bids. The Trust gains and loses districts all the time. A recent example of this is the Kenosha Unified School District, which left the Trust and has returned, much due to our competitive pricing.

For example:
Trust rate increases have been BELOW national averages for the past three years. For the fourth year in a row the Trust has delivered a mid single-digit base rate increase.

Governor Walker has also stated, “If instead of being forced to buy from the WEA Trust, which is the teacher’s union health insurance company, school districts could buy off the state employee health care plan—they could save 68 million dollars.”

* School Districts are not forced to buy from the Trust and can already join the state health plan. Furthermore, the WEA Trust was chosen by the Wisconsin Group Insurance Board in 2010 to be in the State Group Health Insurance Program in 24 counties. The Trust was selected as a Tier One option, the lowest cost tier in the state plan. In order to be placed in Tier One in the state plan, the Trust must be extremely competitive. Our pricing is not an artificial price but comparable to what the Trust charges school districts.

Governor Walker has further claimed that union leadership benefits from members participating in the WEA Trust plan calling the Trust the, “union run health insurance plan.”

* WEA Trust is an independent, not-for-profit insurance company that is regulated and overseen by the State of Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. WEA Trust is paid by school districts for services just like electric, gas, construction, or repair companies that work with Wisconsin public schools. Not only would it be unethical for the WEA Trust to transfer any funds to union leadership for political purposes, it would be illegal.

The WEA Trust is a Wisconsin-created and Wisconsin-located company employing 500 Wisconsin residents who, like the WEA Trust, contribute to the tax base and build our communities.

I guess Walker has been caught in another lie.

MikeN says:

Nope not a lie. It’s what collective bargaining over things other than wages means. The unions bargain to have the school districts buy from the union. In some places they get it, some places they don’t, but because it’s collective bargaining, the union has leverage of strikes to get the school district to give them what they want.

>WEA Trust is an independent, not-for-profit insurance company that is regulated and overseen by the State of Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.

That has offices in common with the unions.

Uncle Patso says:

Note the carefully phrased character assassination of master of political slash-and-burn rhetoric #3 1873 Colt when he said, in part:

“[…] And the out-of-state Union thugs? Disgraceful conduct.
The teachers? Hell! I don’t get all summer off and free medical for life!
Firefighters? Cops? I don’t get to retire at 51 at 100% of my highest salary including overtime!
Most workers slave all their careers, and survive on social security and medicare. […]”

Notice the careful tailoring of adjectives — no actual person belongs to a union, only thugs and fat cats. No one in a union ever works, and they’re all rich! rich! rich!

He may have misstepped in specifically calling out the firefighter and law enforcement unions, as they were specifically exempted from the parts of the bill denying public unions collective bargaining power. Since they supported Governor Walker’s campaign, they are not targeted. (Yet.)

I may have missed something — just who gets to “retire at 51 at 100% of my highest salary including overtime!”? The obvious implication is that it is all union members, or at least all public sector union members.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

# 19 jbenson2 said:

“Walker’s not the one in trouble. The Wisconsin budget is the problem and giving more money hand over fist to the unions won’t do a thing to solve the problem. Cry all you want, but public unions’ days of gimme, gimme, gimme are over.”

I might put more credence in your hypothesis if the unions Walker is trying to destroy hadn’t agreed to the give-backs he demanded, but that wasn’t enough for him. His purpose is not to balance the budget, but to bust the unions.

= = = = = = = = = = = =

From
http://truthdig.com/report/item/what_gov_walker_wont_tell_you_20110220/

What Gov. Walker Won’t Tell You

Posted on Feb 21, 2011
AP / Andy Manis

By Stanley Kutler

There is a kernel of truth in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s claim of a “budget shortfall” of $137 million. But Walker, a Republican, failed to tell the state that less than two weeks into his term as governor, he, with his swollen Republican majorities in the Wisconsin Legislature, pushed through $117 million in tax breaks for business allies of the GOP. There is your crisis.

The state Legislature’s Legislative Fiscal Bureau—Wisconsin’s equivalent of the Congressional Budget Office and a refuge for professional expertise and nonpartisanship—warned Walker and the Legislature that the measure would create a budget gap. There is your shortfall—and not one resulting from established public employee benefits. Before the tax giveaways, the fiscal agency predicted a surplus for the state.

So what says:

No alfie, again you not getting it. Other than commenting on your usually idiotic posts because they are so transparent. I really tried to understand your point in your comment in 82. Either you failed to supply the context correctly, or you failed to supply the rational to you argument. You can connect the dots in your mind, but don’t assume that every one can follow your train of thought. You assumed that I made a complaint, and made an ass out of yourself again. So try again.

So what says:

Ok alfie I tried to be pleasant and conversational. Neither comment was a rebuttal nor criticism of your comment.I asked a rational question which you again assumed was a complaint. Its now plainly obvious that your just being yourself, and that you have no point other than the one hidden by your hat.

tcc3 says:

#94 TeaDud:

I’ve been round and round with you on this already. You’ve got nothing. Here’s what you refused to respond to last week:

1. There is typically a gap between the value of a voucher and the cost of private education. A voucher program only helps to reduce the cost for people who can almost afford or can easily afford to send their kids to private school. It still leaves a vast uneducated underclass who will never rise out of poverty, generation after generation.

2. Vouchers?!? issued by the government!??! That sounds like a government subsidy, you crazy baby eating liberal.

3. Teachers over paid? Not really http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/6785/

4. http://www.privateschoolreview.com/state_private_schools/stateid/WI

I don’t see any school on this list that charges less than $60k a year. You already think $10k per year cost is exorbitant. If private schools can do it cheaper, then why don’t they? If the market supports that price now, what happens when you increase demand by eliminating public schools?

So what says:

#96 now that’s funny.