Declaring War On The Worker: The Wisconsin Edition

The war against the government worker is getting nasty in Wisconsin. The people elected a real winner to run the state, this last November. Not to mention the State Assembly and State Senate.

Scott Walker says the Wisconsin National Guard is prepared to respond wherever is necessary in the wake of his announcement that he wants to take away nearly all collective bargaining rights from state employees.

Walker said Friday that he hasn't called the Guard into action, but he has briefed them and other state agencies in preparation of any problems that could result in a disruption of state services, like staffing at prisons.

Walker says he has every confidence that state employees will continue to show up for work and do their jobs and he's not anticipating any problems.

His plan would require higher pension and health insurance contributions and remove bargaining rights except in a limited way over wages.

 And lots of folks are reacting. Protests. Rallies. Vigils. People coming together all over the state in town-hall style discussion to express their feelings, and share their sentiments.

"Democracy is messy. Dictatorship is easy," said listening session attendee Bill Delaney. "We do not intend to have a dictatorship."

"And I dare the National Guard to drive the buses and repair the buses, and diaper the people in the centers," said former state employee Ruth Gundlach.

It's one thing to slash budgets, medical benefits and pension plans. It’s another thing to do it with the direct intention of squashing unions. In Wisconsin, no less.

Republicans have control in the State Assembly and the State Senate, although it’s considerably smaller in Senate. This thing could pass – Republicans control Madison.

The Governor’s Mansion. The State Assembly. The State Senate. Buyers remorse, Wisconsin?