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babylonsister

(170,963 posts)
Mon May 4, 2015, 05:50 PM May 2015

Scott Walker Says He Would Crush What’s Left Of Unions If Elected President

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/05/04/3654397/scott-walker-says-crush-whats-left-american-unions-elected-president/

Scott Walker Says He Would Crush What’s Left Of Unions If Elected President

by Alice Ollstein
Posted on May 4, 2015 at 4:03 pm


Though he has yet to officially declare his bid for president, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is frequenting early primary states and hinting at what he would do if elected to the White House. In a recent interview with Radio Iowa, Walker said he would champion a federal version of the controversial ‘right-to-work’ law he signed earlier this year.

“As much as I think the federal government should get out of most of what it’s in right now, I think establishing fundamental freedoms for the American people is a legitimate thing and that would be something that would provide that opportunity in the other half of America to people who don’t have those opportunities today,” he said.

With Walker’s blessing, Wisconsin became the 25th state to pass a so-called ‘right-to-work,’ which bans workplaces that have voted to unionize from collecting mandatory dues to support their collective bargaining efforts. Since then, the state’s union membership has been decimated. Two-thirds of the state’s members of American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have dropped out, causing membership to plummet from 63,000 to less than 20,000.

Governor Walker’s pledge to bring this policy to the “other half of America” would exacerbate the existing decline in union membership that began in the late 1960s and sped up in the 1980s, and would hit hardest the country’s few remaining labor strongholds: Kentucky, New York, California, Alaska and West Virginia. With the sharp falling off of union membership comes increasing economic inequality and a drop in middle class incomes. Several studies have also found that ‘right-to-work’ laws result in lower wages and a lower likelihood of health care and pensions for all workers, both union and non-union.

As new ‘right-to-work’ bills come up for debate in Maine, Illinois, Ohio and other states, Walker vowed to aid those efforts if elected in 2016 by governing the US as he has governed Wisconsin.

“Really what we did wasn’t just fight unions,” he said. “It was fight the stranglehold that big government special interests had on state and local governments. I think in Washington we need that even more.”
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Scott Walker Says He Would Crush What’s Left Of Unions If Elected President (Original Post) babylonsister May 2015 OP
Do for the United States what he did for Wisconsin Koinos May 2015 #1
It demonstrates what you can get away with... elzenmahn May 2015 #34
What is wrong with the 40K who dropped out of the Union? yeoman6987 May 2015 #54
That and privatize social security, take away food stamps, cut medicare, repeal the ACA, leftofcool May 2015 #2
Scumbag, shitweasel, rat bastard. hifiguy May 2015 #3
Hey - you just said what I was thinking. blm May 2015 #17
Good description atreides1 May 2015 #27
These are just a few of the things that are made to look good in comparison with Scott Walker... Salviati May 2015 #38
It's the Republican blueprint for the nation. Starry Messenger May 2015 #4
And the death of the US as we know it. leftofcool May 2015 #6
US in caps and small letters. Koinos May 2015 #7
Yep. Starry Messenger May 2015 #8
The billionaire class dreams of feudalism hifiguy May 2015 #11
AKA.. the Koch blueprint for our country. Cha May 2015 #31
Right to Work passed in Michigan,I never thought sufrommich May 2015 #5
WI used to be a pretty good union state too. Jackpine Radical May 2015 #9
I'll give him credit, he is far more honest about the Republican vision of the future than Raine1967 May 2015 #10
He is one of their Chosen Ones. hifiguy May 2015 #12
If I were religious, the word "antichrist" would come to mind. Koinos May 2015 #13
And they got lots of bucks to spend on him. leftofcool May 2015 #14
Ruthless, rich and open about his intents. A seriousy well paid Koch stooge- appalachiablue May 2015 #19
One thing you can say about 'pukes. hifiguy May 2015 #20
Now he is even weirder than before. Raine1967 May 2015 #22
I'm not so sure about the story, but he's losing hair fast as I wrote in # 19. Strange- appalachiablue May 2015 #23
Yes, but up until now, The Koch's like to be in the dark as far as what their candidates said. Raine1967 May 2015 #21
Embrace dystopia: Walker 2016. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #37
They probably don't care... awoke_in_2003 May 2015 #44
wouldn't he have to become human first ??????? olddots May 2015 #15
An odiferous gas bubble escapes a quivering blob of santorum. Scuba May 2015 #16
That is an interesting, and rather gross, mental image. hifiguy May 2015 #18
He said, while holding a large sack of money with a Koch Industries logo on it. Initech May 2015 #24
I think this is a contemporaneous picture hifiguy May 2015 #26
Maybe if we were Poland or some former Russian satellite he would be for unions...like the Gipper. n kelliekat44 May 2015 #25
I long to see this trite little twat Greybnk48 May 2015 #28
Psychopath blackspade May 2015 #29
Scary shite coming from the right.. iow, business as usual.. freaking sociopathic, devoid of human Cha May 2015 #30
he is a pile of shit. n/t PowerToThePeople May 2015 #32
I wonder when doctors will realize that union healthcare daredtowork May 2015 #33
This would end the middle class as we know it AgingAmerican May 2015 #35
Time to dust off the Molly Maguire paraphernalia. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #36
Walker may be the first candidate to admit to this... jmowreader May 2015 #39
Unclear. Unclear. Doc Holliday May 2015 #40
Those of us who are not in a union or retired had better stand up and fight with them. We owe them jwirr May 2015 #41
Another ass heard from Angry Dragon May 2015 #42
SCOTTY WALKER NEEDS TO BE OUT OF THE BOOK WIERD...REMEMBER HIS PHONE CALL FROM drynberg May 2015 #43
K and R for exposure Stuart G May 2015 #45
And to think all this Anti Union bullshit got a firm boost when INdemo May 2015 #46
Hey, some people who should know better nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #48
Republicans like to report that union INdemo May 2015 #55
Locally we see it chiefly with the SEIU nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #56
kick..... midnight May 2015 #47
Hmm. davidthegnome May 2015 #49
God. I HATE this little turd so fucking much! AngryDem001 May 2015 #50
Just in case anyone BlueMTexpat May 2015 #51
I'm sure the police and firefighters leftynyc May 2015 #52
Scott Walker Says He Would Crush What’s Left Of Unions If Elected President doubtingtom May 2015 #53
People like him won't be happy until everyone is making minimum wage Hugabear May 2015 #57
Please research our History of the 1930's INdemo May 2015 #58

Koinos

(2,792 posts)
1. Do for the United States what he did for Wisconsin
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:01 PM
May 2015

Since he ran Wisconsin into the ground, I suppose he means to run the United States into the ground.

Is he really that uninformed about what happened on his watch in his own state? Or does he really believe that what is good for the Koch brothers is good for Wisconsin and the United States?

Maybe he believes that the United States = the Koch brothers (and Scott).

elzenmahn

(904 posts)
34. It demonstrates what you can get away with...
Tue May 5, 2015, 10:58 AM
May 2015

...when you constantly distract Tea-Freak voters with the shiny little distraction keys of God, Guns, Gays, and Gynecology.

You can rob them blind - because they are.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
54. What is wrong with the 40K who dropped out of the Union?
Wed May 6, 2015, 08:12 AM
May 2015

That is 2/3 of union members dropped out when given the choice. I think that needs to be examined and find answers. To me that is a problem.

leftofcool

(19,460 posts)
2. That and privatize social security, take away food stamps, cut medicare, repeal the ACA,
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:02 PM
May 2015

ban gay marriage, try to repeal Roe v Wade, get rid of the EPA, raise taxes on the middle class and a half a dozen other atrocities.

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
4. It's the Republican blueprint for the nation.
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:03 PM
May 2015

Any complacency about this election will be the utter death of labor.

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
11. The billionaire class dreams of feudalism
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:22 PM
May 2015

without the feudal obligation of the lords to the serfs. They look at the antebellum south and say to themselves "now THAT is the way to organize a society!"

sufrommich

(22,871 posts)
5. Right to Work passed in Michigan,I never thought
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:04 PM
May 2015

I'd see the day,but it did. Crap like the Michigan passage is what emboldens these assholes.

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
10. I'll give him credit, he is far more honest about the Republican vision of the future than
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:15 PM
May 2015

any one else.

I wonder how the Koch Bros feel about his stupid, unbridled honestly?

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
19. Ruthless, rich and open about his intents. A seriousy well paid Koch stooge-
Mon May 4, 2015, 06:58 PM
May 2015

But what about his health! Trivial compared to the damage he's caused, but still curious. Especially his story about hitting his head on a kitchen cabinet.

I know little about baldness, but this was fast. Hair loss in spots that results quickly can be alopecia sometimes, a hair loss condition that can reverse, or result in total, permanent hair loss.
My niece got it in her 20s, permanent, poor child. Docs never knew why except stress maybe.

NOT that I have any sympathy for Walker after what he's done-



Link...http://crooksandliars.com/2014/10/scott-walkers-bald-spot

 

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)
20. One thing you can say about 'pukes.
Mon May 4, 2015, 07:02 PM
May 2015

When they're bought they STAY bought until they are fitted with toe tags.

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
22. Now he is even weirder than before.
Mon May 4, 2015, 07:12 PM
May 2015

From the links link:

The bald spot, he said, was the result of a repair incident in the kitchen when he banged his head on an open kitchen cabinet door while making repairs requested by his wife, Tonette.

She kept telling him to go to the doctor to get the scar on his head looked at, he said. When he finally did, the doctor said his hair would never grow back in that spot, the governor explained.



appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
23. I'm not so sure about the story, but he's losing hair fast as I wrote in # 19. Strange-
Mon May 4, 2015, 07:24 PM
May 2015

And he mentions it in a self-deprecating attempt.

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
21. Yes, but up until now, The Koch's like to be in the dark as far as what their candidates said.
Mon May 4, 2015, 07:07 PM
May 2015

It is almost like they don't have any F*cks to give with Walker saying this…

Greybnk48

(10,148 posts)
28. I long to see this trite little twat
Mon May 4, 2015, 07:59 PM
May 2015

go down in a ball of flames, which I truly believe will happen in the somewhat near future. He is a vile puke of a man.

Cha

(295,915 posts)
30. Scary shite coming from the right.. iow, business as usual.. freaking sociopathic, devoid of human
Mon May 4, 2015, 09:55 PM
May 2015

compassion, assholes.

 

AgingAmerican

(12,958 posts)
35. This would end the middle class as we know it
Tue May 5, 2015, 11:26 AM
May 2015

Every country with a solid middle class has strong labor unions, no exceptions. End unions and you end the middle class.

jmowreader

(50,453 posts)
39. Walker may be the first candidate to admit to this...
Tue May 5, 2015, 01:43 PM
May 2015

...but every Republican in the clown car will do this if elected, and probably before they get to repealing all the social programs.

Doc Holliday

(719 posts)
40. Unclear. Unclear.
Tue May 5, 2015, 02:05 PM
May 2015

" I think establishing fundamental freedoms for the American people is a legitimate thing...."

You mean such as the freedom to collectively bargain for living wages? The freedom to join a union?

That kind of freedom?

Walker promises us the 'freedom' to sit around on the porch and sing spirituals after a long hot day in the cotton fields.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
41. Those of us who are not in a union or retired had better stand up and fight with them. We owe them
Tue May 5, 2015, 02:13 PM
May 2015

a lot. If you are poor the unions helped create the safety net. If you like the labor laws that protect you at work - stand up for them. Those in right-to-work states it is the union both in your state and other states that keeps you at the standard of living you are at. Without them you are in a real race to the bottom.

If we lose the unions we have lost the most consistent voice for the people we have ever had.

drynberg

(1,648 posts)
43. SCOTTY WALKER NEEDS TO BE OUT OF THE BOOK WIERD...REMEMBER HIS PHONE CALL FROM
Tue May 5, 2015, 05:04 PM
May 2015

David Koch for 40 minutes with the hook swallowed totally...bad news.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)
46. And to think all this Anti Union bullshit got a firm boost when
Tue May 5, 2015, 08:29 PM
May 2015

Reagan fired the Air Controllers. Most Unions wanted to shut the country down in support of the ACU but the AFl-CIO President said "no we will work through this". Then the trickle down BS put the Koch Bros on a path to earn billions.

All unions should have went on strike and shut the country down and the Air Controllers would have been back on the job within 24hrs.
Unions through their solidarity would have maintained their power and Republicans would still be reeling from their defeat

But that didn't happen and Reaganomics created idiots like Walker,and Cruz and the list goes on and on.

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
48. Hey, some people who should know better
Tue May 5, 2015, 10:36 PM
May 2015

are there as well...

The SEIU broke from the AFL due to that, and much bullshit that came afterwards. My view, from watching unions closely, they will be back. In fact, they are starting to grow in some places like California. This is why people like Walker are desperate to stop that.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)
55. Republicans like to report that union
Wed May 6, 2015, 10:33 AM
May 2015

Membership declined the last couple of years but WRONG. Membership actually increased as well as organizing increased The VW plant in Tenn is a good example and now The UAW has several irons in the fire as far as organizing non union shops.Im a skilled trade member and I can say our union is growing.

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
56. Locally we see it chiefly with the SEIU
Wed May 6, 2015, 10:41 AM
May 2015

they are organizing one supermarket after another, as well as the UFCW.

Overall, in raw national numbers, they are correct, but that is starting to reverse itself.

This is what scares them, I think. Because new union members are seeing the difference outright. And let's not forget the fight for 15, and a Union.

davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
49. Hmm.
Tue May 5, 2015, 11:52 PM
May 2015

It's when these bastards go after unions that I really have to shake my head in disgust. I'm not fortunate to be a union employee, but I know a good number who are - and they are some of the best, most skilled, most experienced workers (in their fields) that I know. I'd love to see Walker try to take them all on - it might just be what they need to start coming back in strength.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
52. I'm sure the police and firefighters
Wed May 6, 2015, 05:38 AM
May 2015

will be thrilled to hear that. That the clown thinks he actually has a shot at the nomination is hilarious.

doubtingtom

(22 posts)
53. Scott Walker Says He Would Crush What’s Left Of Unions If Elected President
Wed May 6, 2015, 08:06 AM
May 2015

Isn't the clown car a bit full? I'm sorry LIMO. It's obviously a LIMO.

Hugabear

(10,340 posts)
57. People like him won't be happy until everyone is making minimum wage
Wed May 6, 2015, 10:46 AM
May 2015

And they'll fight to repeal minimum wage laws as well, so that they can return to near slavery.

INdemo

(6,994 posts)
58. Please research our History of the 1930's
Wed May 6, 2015, 03:56 PM
May 2015

And you will discover that Walker is acting like pHitler on his rise to power as he banned unions and any organized labor movements

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