Predictably, right wing pundits rushed to claim that Wisconsin's recall election was something bigger than it was. According to Charles Krauthammer it was a referendum on the nation's feelings toward labor unions.
To listen to him, it was the valiant citizens of Wisconsin standing up to organized labor's ginned up, mobbed up assault on the state.
He conveniently forgets that WI was flooded with out-of-state money and that Walker's campaign outspent his opponent 7 to 1. He also neglects to mention that Tom Barrett wasn't even the union's choice. Kathleen Falk was their candidate, but lost to Barrett in the truncated primary.
He fabricated a hilariously at-odds-with-itself comparison that unions give their members massively overblown pensions, while at the same time do nothing but extort dues. Which is it? He then points out that Indianans have largely opted out of paying dues to their public sector unions. Hey great work. A bunch of lazy slackers who want to coast on the hard work unions did, paying nothing into the system but enjoying all the benefits.
He then makes a lame attempt to paint all unions as corrupt gangsters, ignoring their necessity and all of organized labor's accomplishments, such as the 40 hour work weeks, minimum wage, overtime and a multitude of other things.
It's no secret that, culturally, conservatives are way waaaaaaaaay behind the times. But it's pathetic to see they're still mired in an era that ended over 40 years ago. It's especially awful given that big business is richer than ever while worker wages stagnate and fall. Got to keep those red staters angry and voting against their own interest right Charles?
To listen to him, it was the valiant citizens of Wisconsin standing up to organized labor's ginned up, mobbed up assault on the state.
He conveniently forgets that WI was flooded with out-of-state money and that Walker's campaign outspent his opponent 7 to 1. He also neglects to mention that Tom Barrett wasn't even the union's choice. Kathleen Falk was their candidate, but lost to Barrett in the truncated primary.
He fabricated a hilariously at-odds-with-itself comparison that unions give their members massively overblown pensions, while at the same time do nothing but extort dues. Which is it? He then points out that Indianans have largely opted out of paying dues to their public sector unions. Hey great work. A bunch of lazy slackers who want to coast on the hard work unions did, paying nothing into the system but enjoying all the benefits.
He then makes a lame attempt to paint all unions as corrupt gangsters, ignoring their necessity and all of organized labor's accomplishments, such as the 40 hour work weeks, minimum wage, overtime and a multitude of other things.
It's no secret that, culturally, conservatives are way waaaaaaaaay behind the times. But it's pathetic to see they're still mired in an era that ended over 40 years ago. It's especially awful given that big business is richer than ever while worker wages stagnate and fall. Got to keep those red staters angry and voting against their own interest right Charles?
