Where are the Wisconsin Democratic State Senators?

March 2, 2011 - PRLog -- Outside of how we feel about the Unions I think it is important to take a step back and look at what these elected officials have done.  It doesn't seem courageous to walk out on your elected duties.  What if the senate and house reps walked out on the healthcare vote?  We would be calling them spineless, and rightfully so.  Elected officials have a responsibility to cast their vote in a democratic system, and let the voice of the people be heard through the due process that has been functioning as our government since its beginning.  
The article that we were sent claims these senators took a bold stand? By running from responsibility?  
Quoted from a recent article this author believes that, " In fact, Democratic state senators boldly left the state in order to deny Republicans the quorum they need to pass Governor Walker's radical anti-worker, anti-union bill. As long as every Democratic state senator refuses to go to the capitol, a vote cannot be held..  "

Running from responsibility is what has gotten us in this mess.  Our states are broke, American's can't find jobs.  Most of the relatives on this email work for themselves paying for their own insurance. Most take a cut in salary when clothing, furniture, cars, and promotional items don't sell.  We are going to dig ourselves out of this economic hole only when our politicians stand to fight, acknowledge the elephant in the room, and tackle the massive debt that is piling up from spending way more than we have.  Unfortunately, people are losing their houses for spending more then they had.  Meanwhile, weak politicians in hiding, aren't willing to rock the boat and talk about what our country stands to lose from this collective debt.  Most all of us feel the effects of this overspending, when we can't sell our houses for fair value, try to get a loan, or notice the decline of customers to our businesses.  I know it is scary and sad, but it looks like even Union workers are going to have to make small sacrifices.  Sacrifices like, paying a percentage of their healthcare and retirement.  This might not cripple teachers, but allow the states to hire more teachers, maybe giving overqualified teachers like Erica a much deserved job?

My Dad tells the story of how he built his dental practice through the Union workers at International Harvester Corp.  It worked until the union was asked by the company to giveback a portion of their benefits so they could remain competitive in the the global economy.   Their strike was a classic case of lose/lose.  The company went broke, from 3000 hourly employees making a wonderful middle class living to no pensions or jobs in 5 years.  Good people who were mislead.  Local businesses also suffered because of this strike.  The local businesses took years to rebuild. Similar examples show GM  Unions solving their problems through bankruptcy instead of the Unions joining the table in dialogue.  Now Detroit is a ghost town and everyone loses.  The state of Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Nation is insolvent and the American student and parents will suffer if the unions are unwilling to look the problem in the eye. The public unions have not lost the right to discuss issues that pertain to them, but this should be done at the local level, in school boards and communities across the country who have a right to be protected.  It is only a matter of time before we too are bankrupt and second class.  The federal government IS the next Bernie Madoff, social security is going to be exposed and everything that we work hard to fund will dissolve if these fleeing cowards don't sit down at the table to defend and talk out our problems.  I applaud Gov. Walker for making the tough and politically damaging decision to save his state from collapse and force a dialogue.  One which I hope leads to compromises on both sides for the collective good of the working class.

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