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-- reject unfair healthcare and pension contribution hikes;
-- demand social spending increases and right to continue bargain collectively; and
-- raise taxes on state elites and corporations, making them close Wisconsin's budget deficit and pay for essential social spending, the way all fair societies should function.
Public workers know Walker's "budget repair bill" is fraudulent, a way to reward special interests by gutting hard-won gains. Democrats and union bosses agree. Protesters want none of it, displaying signs saying, "tax the rich," and "we didn't create this crisis; don't make us pay for it."
Workers know draconian cuts mean more are coming, placing an enormous burden on them, already struggling to make ends meet. Many can't. A Madison teacher spoke for others saying:
"We need a general strike. We have to shut down the whole state unless they kill this bill and budget. Walker is gutting BadgerCare (healthcare for needy Wisconsinites earning too much for Medicaid) and education, selling off the publicly owned power plants," and providing more benefits to corporate favorites while hammering workers.
So far, public demands are firm despite powerful odds against them. No mas signifies street sentiment. Hopefully it won't wane when Democrats and union bosses blink. Indications are they already have short of announcing it. In Wisconsin and across America, battle lines indeed are drawn in a struggle affecting all public and private sector workers, victimized by predatory capitalism, the real villain needing to be expunged.
A Final Comment
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