Wisconsin Protesters' Entitlement Mindsets Create Thieves Where None Exist

on February 22, 2011 at 5:47 PM

Jenny EriksonAs a conservative, I am often accused of being a selfish, heartless, mean girl. Somehow, believing that Americans are strong, hard-working people well capable of taking care of themselves and their communities means that I’m a thieving capitalist who only wants the rich to get richer. Oh, and for some reason I’m also a racist.

Let’s take a look at the current situation in Wisconsin. The public sector unions are protesting at the state’s Capitol against Governor Scott Walker’s plan to make the members pay a fraction of their own health insurance and retirement contributions, and to limit their ‘collective bargaining’ capabilities to salary alone (as opposed to benefits as well). I stand with Governor Walker on this issue (incidentally, so would Democratic hero FDR), which obviously means I’m joining the ‘attack’ on workers in Wisconsin.

Why is it that every time conservatives advocate for taxpayers keeping more of their own hard-earned money, we’re accused of stealing from the poor? The GOP opposes Obamacare, and Harry Reid claims we’re stealing from the middle class. If we so much as mention privatizing Social Security, John Boehner gets painted as a clown and we’re accused of trying to steal from people’s retirement accounts. (Newsflash: that money is already long gone.) Parents that support a voucher system so that they can choose the best schools for their children are guilty of defunding the public schools they are districted for.

It doesn’t matter to which page of the budget I flip -- if I suggest that people know how to spend their money better than the government, then I’m a Republican mean girl that only cares about the rich getting richer, even at the expense of the poor.

Public education isn’t what it used to be (hey, maybe school choice is a good idea!), but the concept of ownership isn’t very difficult to grasp. A person owns their labor, which they exchange for a paycheck. The more highly skilled labor a person does, the higher the compensation will be. This is why doctors that go to school for 20-plus years and work 90-hour weeks make more money than the barista who whips up your morning latte.

Pay attention, this next part is important: The doctor has not stolen anything from the barista by not emptying out his wallet to her. Likewise, the so-called wealthy (I like to call them job-creators) have not stolen anything from teachers with bloated benefits in Wisconsin by opposing tax-increases that would cripple their businesses.

If liberals insist on seeing thieves in this Wisconsin situation, I suggest they look at the teachers that are costing the Badger state up to $3,000,000 a day by calling in sick with fake doctors notes. Not only are the teachers getting paid not to work, they’re being paid to protest unfair working conditions.

If people on the left want to accuse me of being a thieving Republican, they better make darn sure they’re not guilty of the crime themselves. Otherwise it just makes them look silly.

Go back to work, teachers of Wisconsin. The kids are counting on you.

Filed Under: economy, in the news, politics, taxes

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Comments (35)

Nonmember comment from Michael Brost

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:04 PM

Wisconsin's public schools are some of the best in the nation.

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Javi05Eli07

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:27 PM

Please stop writing things you do no research on. The teachers who have been protested are NOT getting paid for the days they miss. And, for some further information, there have been students and parents attending the protests to support not only the teachers, but everyone this bill hurt. Which, by the way will be everyone, because if the good teachers who care about what happens with their students are not going to get paid what they deserve, they will leave the state. In turn, the crappy teachers will stay and public education will have an even worse reputation.

Anastazia975

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:35 PM

Yet again, we ask you to STOP WRITING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU OBVIOUSLY REFUSE TO DO ANY AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ON!!!

billsfan1104

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:42 PM

It is obvious again that only liberals are entitled to free speech and violent rhetoric. Jenny has every right to blog about anything she wants. Its called free speech, and its call an OPINION. She is not suppose to be fair and balanced. Do you guys ask Jeanne to stop writing?? I dotn agree with anything Ms Sager says, but I dont tell to stop writing.

EvaSamuel

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:54 PM

As a teacher in Ohio whose collective bargaining rights are equally at stake, I have to tell you that I think you have it wrong. We cannot solve budget crises by removing what the middle class has worked for. We did not cause this crisis by mismanaging the government. We did not cause this by speculating on Wall Street. We cannot solve a budget crisis by taking away the workplace rights of thousands of decent people because of the poor decisions of multimillionaires (yes, those job creators messed up more than any one single police officer, teacher, or firefighter). We are not the problem. I am unsure of where this vitriol
has come from from the right, it really seems like an effort to dismantle one of the last bastiens of the Democratic Party.

on Feb 22, 2011 at 6:57 PM

Billsfan1104, I tell everyone to do research before writing anything. She can have her opinion, but when she refuses to even watch a news cast where they have clearly stated that teachers protesting have not been paid, then I get irked. By the way I don't care what side Jenny is on.

on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:02 PM

Javio, and what newscast should she watch?? The ones on TV, that are so blatently liberal, they dont hide their bias??? Instead of telling her not to write and do research, why dont you make a counter intelligent argument and make your points?? You have not shown proof, nor have you proven what she said was wrong. All you can do, is try to stop her from having the freedoms, that we all are entitled too, not just liberals and the unions.

on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:16 PM

She could try reading the whole bill. Which from the posts she has put up about our situation here in Wisconsin, she obviously has not even done that. She can have her opinion. But, it would be responsible of her to actually talk about the whole thing. Such as how Walker has been bought off. How people that once supported him, are now backing away very quickly, especially since the bill was published to the public in the Wisconsin newspapers. And online. He does not need to be auctioning off our commoditiesto who ever he feels like. He does not need to punish our teachers, nurses, emt's, and child care workers. He needs to leave badger care alone. And the UW systems. Stop putting more taxes on the small businesses we have left, while giving breaks to the ones that back him. He can also give up all his nifty little benefits he gets on our dime. Like his shiny new Escalade and tax payer provided cell phone. And his $142,000 a year for nothing. So, yeah, those of us here, living with this, can totally tell her to research at least a little bit before spouting off half cocked with an UNINFORMED opinion.

Nonmember comment from jody

on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:29 PM

There is something floating around facebook about paying teachers the "baby sitter rate" of $3 per hour (per kid). The math goes something like $3 x 30 students x 6.5 hours a day x 180 days per year = $105,300 per year. As a tax payer I'm now supposed to be convinced I'm getting a real bargain in teachers' salaries. I don't know any baby sitters making over $100,000 a year. Isn't it about time we privatize the public school system? School choice could save tax payers a lot of money and improve academic performance through market place competitiveness.

on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:35 PM

Do you have proof he was bought off??? Or is that your hatred speaking for a republican?? Or is that MSNBC telling you that he was bought off??