Issue of the Week: Walker's Latest Distortions of the Truth
Plus Hero of the Week
- "We promised to help employers create jobs. Today, Wisconsin's unemployment rate is the lowest it's been since 2008." That is not the way to measure job creation. The way to measure job creation is to simply count the number of new jobs, but Walker won't do that for a good reason: Walker's job-creation record in the second half of 2011 is the worst in the country. While the nation as a whole is adding private-sector jobs, Wisconsin lost 27,700 private-sector jobs in the last six months of 2011, each month since Walker's budget has been in effect. Those job losses are wiping out the gains made in the first half of 2011.
- "We balanced the budget without raising taxes." Again, Walker is twisting the truth. First of all, every governor balances the budget—it is mandated. But despite the fact that Walker used many of the same accounting tricks of other governors in the past, the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) still estimated that the state would have a $143 million budget deficit in 2013, when the current biennial budget ends. The Walker administration itself told the federal government it would have a deficit so that it could kick people off of BadgerCare. And although Walker and Republican legislators cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations, they raised taxes on low-wage workers and caused tuition to increase throughout the University of Wisconsin System.
- "We eliminated a $3.6 billion deficit." The well-respected, nonpartisan LFB disagrees. And Wisconsin's long-term structural deficit is as big as it was in previous administrations.
- "After years of tax increases, school property taxes actually went down because public employees now contribute to their health and pension benefits." Walker and his fellow Republicans cut a historic $800 million from K-12 education and capped the taxes that local districts could raise. As a result, districts lost an estimated 3,400 employees, class sizes became larger and next year's budgets will be even tighter. And contrary to Walker's claims, public employees have contributed to their benefits package in the form of deferred compensation, meaning that when they bargained for wages in the past, they chose to take less salary now so that they could draw a higher pension when they retire.
- "Help me oppose the recall." Walker isn't opposing the recall. His campaign committee declined to challenge even one signature requesting his removal from office.
Heroes of the Week: Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County
Housed in the Family Enrichment Center (885 Badger Circle) in Grafton, the Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County matches individuals to volunteer opportunities with more than 60 nonprofit organizations.
Agencies served by the Volunteer Center work to alleviate homelessness and illiteracy, improve senior care and provide food and clothing to those in need. By publishing and promoting volunteer opportunities, the Volunteer Center increases the community's volunteer workforce and directly contributes to the productivity of nonprofit agencies who serve the community.
Readers who wish to match their skills and available time to one of many groups doing positive work in Ozaukee County are urged to visit www.volunteerozaukee.org or call 262-377-1616.
@jusme
Isn't this your opportunity to point out how Scott Walker is taking credit for the Volunteer Center of Ozaukee County? The two articles above are clearly related.
MFoynes no need as you just did. Thank you very much.
You are welcome! I'm trying to earn a merit badge for assisting the feeble-minded and illiterate. I just need to reply to a few more of your posts and my Scoutmaster will sign off on my card. I'm so excited I could plotz!
MFoynes: You are welcome also. You will never achieve your goal as you do not remember your pledge. The Merit Badge is not to be disrespected as you do, Your Miss-Guided Brag Disqualifies you automatically. But I will give you this. You and walker will be the Scouts that could not.
Hmmm...well, it's actually an oath...and then there's The Scout Law (12 points)....not sure how his excitement about helping is misguided bragging "disqualifies him" but if you're going to try to throw a zinger, you probably should pull your head out of your ass first
TheBieb: You and MFoynes are picking key words and they are hard to dispute. The words are ment to guize the intent of statement. NO BADG. Next look up the word pledge and come back with your new word fot the day.
@jusme
Wow. I think the new word of the day is retarded. And I direct that at you and use it in the most politically incorect method possible. Too many sylables? O.K. You're a dip-shit. Granted, that's hyphenated (look that up) but I'm sure it's not the first time you've been called that name.
Don't forget all the Food Stamp millionaires and W2 daycare scammers.
I didn't know teachers that help produce an educated youth and later workforce were redundant. Thanks for informing me! I wish I would have gone to school when there were fewer teachers and larger class sizes. I bet I would have come out misinterpreting facts, using words like "betcha" and ending my sentences in prepositions like you, anonymous.
Well I'm keeping score and I make about 15 times what the average teacher makes. I win, and can misspell words and say betcha all day long.
Most of the layoffs were the bad teachers. Or excess staff. Sure it would be nice to have one teacher for every student and claim they are worth it because they will produce a better workforce. I disagree. I think we should fire all teachers who profess a liberal doctrine. If you want to produce a better workforce, employ teachers that teach the principles of Capitalism, survival of the fitest, and the tools to wealth accumulation.
Survival of the fitest (sic), huh? So what would your "principles of capitalism" tell us to do with the un-fittest? Let them live on the street, starve, die of treatable illnesses, resort to crime out of desperation? Exterminate them?
And if everybody used those "tools of wealth accumulation", would everyone then be wealthy? If so, then who would wash our dishes, mop our floors, take our garbage, etc?
We really achieve nothing by rewarding failure. No one should have to live on the street as long as they are busting their ass working a couple of full time jobs at low pay. Thos who "wash our dishes, mop our floors, take our garbage", well while not good jobs, they are jobs which the unmotivated can do.
If we subsidize their ineptness it discourages them from working. Latin American countries that are based in capitalism have a system where many of these "unwashed" class work as personal servants to the middle class. In the USA it is very difficult for the middle class to employ servants because they can get by on welfare. My collegues in Latin America who only make about $100k to $200k a year are able to easily hire concubines and housekeepers because there is no welfare.