In seemingly all cases there are good points and good sides to opposing views on issues. The problem is that political party's and unions both press to polarize their members into a defensive fight rather than a proactive and compromising negotiation. The solutions to all of these problems and disputes are compromises from both sides. What is each side willing to give up as a lower priority so that they may win on their higher priority?

I agree completely with your safety concerns regarding prison staff. Unfortunately the unions often times bundle all of their demands into packages that union members are forced to vote, in an accept or deny fashion. That process makes no sense. The issues need to be looked at separately, one at a time, and a negotiation process must take place trading one thing for another. Today's problem is that unions and their leadership have developed a take it or leave it strategy which is harming their members long term and creating this polarization. The unions and their leadership take this strategy because they have stacked the deck into an underhanded game to line their pockets at all of our expense....even the union members expense themselves. The WEAC forced insurance in a prime example. And when the union members allow this and don't clean it up themselves.....then the public looses sympathy for them and supports someone like Governor Walker who just comes in like a Tornado and crushes it all in frustration.

If you don't want to find yourself in this polarized environment filled with constant battles and tough choices, then the union members have to take back control of their unions and weed out these instances of ridiculousness which turn people against them.

The recall effort and process is a waste of time. Even if the left is successful in ousting Walker, it will be temporary. If the union members don't clean up their back yard of problems, another Governor Walker will come along shortly to do it all over again. And then we'll waste millions$ again on cleaning up the capital and paying for a recall election again when that $ could be spent paying for jobs and benefits.

Don't you see...the problem that doesn't go away is that expenses exceeding revenues will always be a problem. And their is a ceiling threshold limit to what people are willing to tolerate in taxes. The only way to avoid this looming battle is for everyone to do their fair share of ensuring that expenses are minimized and reasonable. Currently the public perception due to countless ridiculous examples is that the unions and their leadership (not the members) are fleecing the rest of us with their scams which line their pockets, create their little kingdoms of power, ensure their cushy jobs, and generate pools of campaign money to throw into efforts they want to back at the national level which aren't even their business.

Wader- Yes, I am the spouse of a prison guard. That is how I can firmly state that there are major differences in contracts and protections needed for different positions in the state. I too vote for the candidate and not the party. Has always been that way. We were paying for health insurance and pension before this, and had no real opposition to the increase. The ability for the guards (I'll use them as example)to have proper staffing, safer work conditions, rights against the idiots they have to watch over, and many other issues has been taken away. They have no say. There have been multiple attacks on guards in the last 3 months, this is mostly due to lack of staffing. That's the issue that gets me. No voice, take this and like it, or leave. People did leave, and no one wants to join up to work in such conditions. The hubby is rabid with the union stuff, I am not. The other stuff is more important to me. I'm a mother and grandmother, and education, public safety, and the environment are my main concerns. I do agree that the WEAC insurance and some other provisions for teachers has needed revamping and revision. I have complained about it for years. I sure wish that people could sit and discuss like this. I do with folks a lot, and have never been called names from the opposing side, nor called names on an issue because we discuss and can agree to disagree. I did go to Madison with the hubby, and was impressed by how it was organized. So many (especially on here) get rabid about it. Pity really, oh well. I have said things I'm sure, but when are folks going to just discuss?

Tamrlu - I believe you and I can solve this problem for everyone else. I think we can agree....let's try. I am a moderate conservative who votes the candidate and the issue, not the party. I am not anti-union employee...I am anti-union practices, policies, protectionism, and manipulation....of even the union employees them selves by-the-way. It's the unions and the union bosses themsleves that drive me crazy. This WEA insurance scam is just one of countless examples of what i'm talking about. I equate it to Quid pro quo. Forcing the districts to contract for inflated non-competitive insurance is something that should have been appauled by and opposed by the union employees themselves but they didn't. When they allow these things to happen I feel it tarnishes their reputations and opens themsleves up for the criticism. Do you see what I mean on this?

Tamrlu...fair enough...finally someone who articulates their position fairly without resorting to name calling and canned regurgitated talking points. As well....I have many reasons for supporting the Governor and opposing his opponents, but given the limited space here I just chose to focus on a couple of highlights. Let's however be honest....your a union employee or spouse, right?

wader- that's the teachers. What about the DMV worker? The garbage man? The snow plow driver? The prison guard? Different positions and much different contracts and protections. I will tell you that I signed against Walker because of the education cuts, the pro-business, anti worker stance (and that's not just union workers), the legislations against our natural resources, the lack of consideration and compromise. The appointment of persons appropriate or not to positions that he filled or created, at higher wages than the prior person earned. The crowing and untruths being touted by him and his office, the attempts to privatize schools, prisons and services. There are many more reasons. Paying more for pension, not a factor for me. Bet there are a bunch of people like me out there. Get off the idea that it's all "union"

and...like I said, here is yet another example where when given a choice...they choose selfishness while knowing that choice will shaft fellow members in lower standing. This is the behaviour and choices you support. Your a coolaid drinker!

"The Milwaukee School Board asked its teachers union for a side agreement requiring teachers to contribute 5.8% of their pay toward pensions, as the teachers union contract extends through 2013.

The pension contribution would have saved about $20 million and 200 jobs, however the union rejected the concession."

Realist....change your name because your not a realist. The majority of the signatures are pushing self interests. They are the 400,000 union employees, their spouses, family and friends, and their spheres of influence. They are citizen's who derive their income or benefits from the unions, their members, or they are sympethetic to these groups for their own interests. Let's review the FACTS:

"It was in the collective bargaining agreement that we could only negotiate with them," said Arnoldussen referring to the past, when Kaukauna's agreement with the teachers union required the school district to purchase health insurance coverage from WEA Trust - a company created by the Wisconsin teachers union. This year, the trust told Kaukauna that it would face a significant increase in premiums. With the collective bargaining agreement gone, the school district is free to shop around for coverage. Kaukauna can reduce the size of its classes - from 31 students to 26 students in high school and from 26 students to 23 students in elementary school. In addition, there will be more teacher time for one-on-one sessions with troubled students. Those changes would not have been possible without the changes in collective bargaining. The money saved will be used to hire a few more teachers and institute merit pay.

Other examples of district savings include Oshkosh school board, which will save over $3.7 million over the next three years due to switching health insurance providers away from WEA Trust,[342] Menomonee Falls school board will save $2.4 million by changing health providers,[275] Hudson school district will save over $1 million by changing health providers,[343] Ashland school district will save $378,000 by changing health providers,[344] and Wauwatosa school board which would have faced a choice of laying off more than 100 teachers and other employees, yet were able to prevent that outcome by implementing pay freezes and employees accepting higher pension payments and higher deductible health care plans as well as the property tax levy projected to decrease.

So I say you get your facts straight my friend!

donnaw, you describe yourself to a "t".

When Walker is re-elected, it will really give the socialist/union/puppet/crybaby/takers something to cry about....... and us the givers will be stuck paying the election tab for the takers...........as usual

"Walker says he believes he will prevail in any election"
Walker's said a lot of things in the past year, most of them incorrect or lies.
Maybe if Walker would have believed the people instead of believing in Koch cash he wouldn't be facing a recall today.

If Walker wants it to happen, why count all the signatures then? Waste of time... just hold another election. Quit wasting money and get it done.

bassman -- could you please provide the statistics that show your claim that Wisconsin is now in the top 5 states with our budget? I'd like to see those figures. Thank you.

You recallers need to take a break from all the hate mongering. Take a deep breath and relax. You sound like first graders at recess time.

GO UNION POWER
RECALL walker & co.

12oz
GOOD ONE

Yes, the actions of the Republican Party in changing the state venue law of decades standing so that they can pick their own favorite judge in a heavily right-wing county and have him oversee the Government Accountability Board, something in which he has no experience, forcing them to spend weeks vetting petitions on the taxpayer's dime, instead of the Walker campaign challenging signatures at their expense the way it has always been done in Wisconsin, certainly shows someone who is doing everything he can to not delay the process. I mean, who would go to all that trouble if they wanted an election sooner? The very idea is ridiculous. Obviously my example is completely hypothetical and something I am just imagining that Walker and the Republicans would do, as nothing so outlandish has happened in reality.

Take your friends and neighbors to vote.
Car pool.

etown....Walker believes he will be re-elected because he knows the republicans have now complicated the voting process so much (re-drawn the voting districts and require photo ID)that they believe the average joe (lower income class which now has grown expotentially)will either not turn out to vote or will turn away once they see how difficult and lengthy the process will be just to cast a vote!

bebe you sound like your the p###d off.

LMAO...this sounds just like the debate between the Packer fans and Giant fans...Scooter should start packing.

Wader,
You are wrong. "The vast majority of the people who have signed these petitions are pushing self interests and not the interests of "The People" in the collective. They are mostly public service employees who were asked to contribute more....and thus they felt it in the pocket book a bit."
There are less than 400,000 public employees in Wisconsin and I would guess that maybe a quarter of those are police and fire, who were not asked to contribute. So you do the math. You obviously should do a little more research before drawing your conclusion in this debate and not base it on something you saw on fox news.

Running to NY is a little bit farther than running to the Clock Tower...and a bit more costly!

Wisconsin Constitution: Article XIII, Section 12 (4) Unless the incumbent declines within 10 days after the filing of the petition, the incumbent shall without filing be deemed to have filed for the recall election.
-
Walker still has 9 days to get this over with really quick. He could simply decline to face a recall.

horsepucky wader8, do pee on my shoos and tell me its raining. Teabagger.

I'm not directly involved with either side of this debate....but i've formed an opinion and drawn my conclusions. The vast majority of the people who have signed these petitions are pushing self interests and not the interests of "The People" in the collective. They are mostly public service employees who were asked to contribute more....and thus they felt it in the pocket book a bit. Well, my analysis has determined that although the Governors budget changes have not been popular with the affected vocal minority, they have been effective. Take a look at the State Budget office numbers folks....things have gotten back on track nicely since the Governor instituted these changes and reforms. I'm voting for Scott Walker.

It will be as soon as ALL signatures have been looked at, it will be interesting to see the final tally of VALID signatures. I believe there will be enough, but it will be interesting to see if 30-40% are invalid.

The pinhead was on wtmj just a bit ago saying he thought the signatures needed to be carefully scrutinized and indicated time was not a factor. Was he lying to this reporter or to wtmj?

If Walker is serious he should authorize Fitzgerald to call together his Republican legislative minions and immediately authorize the recall petitions. That would save time and money. The legality of such an authorization isn't important, at least it has not been thus far concerning Republican legislative dealings. Republicans could just pretend to take a break then quickly call for a vote before the Democrats get back to their seats. How important is it to special interest groups that Walker gets re-elected? They have contributed over $5 million to Walker for a job that pays $144,423 per year. Walker is a tool.

"Walker said Wednesday the sooner the election is over the better it is for the people of Wisconsin."

Since when is he worried about the people of Wisconsin? Doesn't he realize that he wouldn't be where he is now (up for recall) if he cared in the first place?

I'm wondering if Walker wants the recall election sooner to give the Democrats less time to try to pick someone electable who will agree to run, or if he is using reverse psychology to get Democrats to try to delay the election, or if he is just sitting in his office grinning because he knows each time he issues a statement about the recall that a good number of Democrats get that much closer to an aneurysm or stroke due to blood pressure spikes.

Walker's problem will be this FBI and Justice Department investigation on his gay pedophile buddies who are stealing from veterans, campaign fraud and his economic policies leading the nation in job loses!.....oh and the million constituents who signed to replace him

And you will lose....
I voted for this turnip initially.. what a mistake that was.. I have learned, as have thousands of others..
Don't go away mad scooter ... just go away....

I'm ready to vote for Walker again right now
............that will be MY signature of support

Scooter was in New York yesterday. Drive the Saturn Bud? Oop's, no the brown bag and saturn to be use for going to work. What a joke!

Sounds like the Scott Walker supporters would like to vote right now to prove that signing a petition doesn't mean very much in the end.

Question. Will all of the people that signed the recall petitions actually vote against him ? I highly doubt it. There are plenty people who will vote in favor of Walker,far more than against,just wait and see.

Who pays for all of Walker's travels? Not to mention, I'll bet he takes along state troopers for protection. Who pays for their air fare and hotels?

Walker talks out of both sides of his mouth. If he really believes himself on no doubts about getting enough signatures and wanting the election ASAP, he should drop his challenge to the petitions. Let's get it over with! Save the state some money. Where was Walker when they conducted this interview? At the VIP humidor room on Wall Street? Will Walker be visiting Wisconsin anytime soon?

Scott Walker does not get to chose when this election occurs. He does not have authoritarian rule, though I can understand how he could delude himself that way, since he's surrounded with lockstep republicans and rolling in Big Money's dough.

i wonder where he took his math class if they can get 1 million signatures against him what makes him think he will win ?

I would also like to see the Democrat hysteria stop. But when Governor Walker is re-elected, what will the union leaders do next?
Being rejected doesn't seem to sit well. Is that why union votes get taken over and over and over again until they get the outcome they are looking for?

Yes he will prevail,what a waste of taxpayers money.Just think if the Democratic party and unions,would put all of this effort into something positive for this State. Spoiled little crybabies. Have they seen how he has turned our financial situation around ? We were in the bottom 5 States with deficits,and now we are in the top 5, HMMM ! He is doing a great job ! Thank you for your finacial contribution it's about damn time.

Sort of like getting a wisdom tooth pulled, Scooter. Might be painful, but why not get it over and go on vacation....permanently.