tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post5016606130786976930..comments2024-02-11T22:33:45.430-08:00Comments on Baker's Field: Multiplayer games, Wisconsin, Seattle springRichard Bakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10329182427795648081noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-73771667435029357952012-11-27T12:55:39.129-08:002012-11-27T12:55:39.129-08:00Hi, Meatrace, thanks for reading... wow, this is a...Hi, Meatrace, thanks for reading... wow, this is a bit of a belated conversation. I'm looking for more evidence on the out-of-state protesters thing from a neutral news source--I want to make sure I'm correct about that. I am pretty sure I *am* correct about the death threats; here's a link to a neutral source:<br /><br /> http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20041660-503544.html<br /><br />The story was also reported in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Here's more on the Prosser-Walsh dust-up, also from the MJS. This is after the incident was investigated. As best I can tell, nobody was choked, but a couple of justices were certainly out of line. I feel justified in referring to the charge as ridiculous, since it was dropped.<br /><br />http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/128463653.html<br /><br />You raise a good question with "How is it different from Republicans offering huge tax breaks [Etc.] to corporations?" Well, in the first place, it's pretty clear the corporations buy access to both parties, and both parties receive huge amounts of corporate money (have to do some digging to find out who gets more). But as to how it's different, well, unions vote, and corporations don't. Yes, big money can influence elections, but a politician can't directly buy 10,000 votes from a corporation the way he can from a union.<br /><br />A small anecdote: Former NJ governer Jon Corzine went to the New Jersey teachers union a few years back, and promised to help them stick it to the man in a big stemwinder of an address. As a voter, I was pretty outraged. Who the hell is the man? It's me, and anybody else paying taxes. When Corzine sits down with the teachers union to negotiate the next big union contract, who in the world is representing the taxpayer at that table? That's my objection to public sector unions -- it's privatizing payoff and collectivizing risk.Richard Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10329182427795648081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-86834558853111536982012-11-27T02:59:18.799-08:002012-11-27T02:59:18.799-08:00Hey, this is well after the fact, but I just wante...Hey, this is well after the fact, but I just wanted to tell you that...you're pretty much dead wrong on everything about Wisconsin. Let's do a point by point: <br />1)Busing out-of-state protestors into Madison. Didn't happen. Seriously, it's absolute nonsense, propaganda, and right-wing radio foilhat talking points. There were, however, counter-protesters who were being bussed in. I was there when the buses arrived...<br /><br />2)death threats against Republican legislators.<br />Had not heard of this at all. Perhaps one or two unruly protesters shouting as they came to work? Nothing substantive.<br /><br />3)Democrat(ic) legislators fleeing to Illinois to deny a quorum.<br />They sure did. It was a dirty move, but it was in response to an even dirtier one. The Democrats were filibustering the "budget repair bill" and the Republicans called for a vote to break the filibuster...without telling the Democrats. Basically they went "all in favor say aye AYE. PASSED" in about 5 seconds time and stormed out leaving the Democrats puzzled as to what happened. The bill eventually did pass, once the Republicans had (supposedly) removed all budgetary measures from the budget repair bill and voted without allowing Democratic legislators see the new version.<br /><br />3) the full-court press to elect a more favorable State Supreme Court and the ridiculous accusations of assault against judge David Prosser.<br />I'm not sure how the assault is "ridiculous". It's not even the first case against him for physical assault, all of his colleagues saw him, and he has legally browbeaten them into recusing themselves. The only reason he won is because a former aide was in charge of the votes in a key county. The night of the election she had some "voting irregularities", was the last county to finish counting votes, and at the last moment "found" just enough votes to swing the election in Prosser's favor.<br /><br />As for the union thing:<br />1)How is it different than Republicans offering huge tax breaks, incentives and exemptions to corporations who line their pocket?<br />2)Did you know that in the state of Wisconsin you can choose to refuse to pay the portion of Union dues that would go to political advocacy? For a teacher making about $40k a year, it amounts to 10 bucks a paycheck.<br /><br />I understand the stance against public sector unions, but it's just a smokescreen to decrease wages in America. There's this continual crunch in corporate America to decrease labor costs and maximize profit, and that meme, as it were, has carried over into neo-con, Ayn Rand "conservatism" in shouts of "starve the beast." With an honest government, they'd say "we have to reduce costs, and that includes labor", they'd slash wages, but that money would go somewhere important like investment in infrastructure or education. Not just more tax breaks for corporations.<br /><br />The whole "budget repair bill" was nonsense anyway. We had a projected surplus in 2011, and he basically gave away 150 million--the amount he said there was now a deficit of that we need to fix--in tax breaks to big, out of state corporations. Same ones who contributed to his election fund hmmm...<br /><br />Walker (unconstitutionally, as it turns out) revoked unions' right to bargain for anything except wages. Then he cuts wages. A veteran teacher who had a Masters and was teaching for 20+ years was maybe making $45k/year due to merit raises, length of service increases, and a premium due to special training (masters). All that was washed away, and that same teacher will top out at $36k/year. On top of newly crappified healthcare, a 20% paycut is a hard thing to handle. Just an example from one of my many friends who are teachers.meatracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13209925498853670925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-85662839873879872662012-06-20T09:49:19.913-07:002012-06-20T09:49:19.913-07:00Dear Mr. Baker,
I have great regard for the incre...Dear Mr. Baker,<br /><br />I have great regard for the incredible work you've done in your career and am now in a position to contact you regarding a freelance writing opportunity. I have been unable to find any way to contact you other than leaving a comment here (I have had bad experiences with LinkIn and do not use it).<br /><br />Please email me at michaeljwinegar (at symbol) gmail.com for further details.<br /><br />Very Truly Yours,<br />Michael J WinegarMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06171307414073384447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-9336561843879300212012-06-20T09:47:17.161-07:002012-06-20T09:47:17.161-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06171307414073384447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-91754335945557659102012-06-15T00:23:44.153-07:002012-06-15T00:23:44.153-07:00Did you sleep through 2010 through the present ena...Did you sleep through 2010 through the present enabrantain? Tea Party Republicans (which I believe is how you define "the good guys"?) seem to be cleaning up right now (a prospect I find disturbing for our nation's future, but that's another story...)<br /><br />On a happier note, we have a little bit of land here in the Seattle area, and I also enjoy watching the changing flowers and foliage over the seasons and years. I must admit our plot was a bit more than we were ready to care for, and got away from us in the early years. But we are slowly reclaiming it, and it's been interesting to see the waves of different plants colonize the land, have their day, and then die back. Those scotch brooms you were everywhere for a while (the snapping of their seed pods on a hot midsummer day was like popcorn), and then blackberries, and now it's tall grass and red alders. It's surprising sometimes how the whole landscape can seem to change from year to year.<br /><br />--fredmiracleUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302448262957195169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-47418985069618107382012-06-14T19:16:51.019-07:002012-06-14T19:16:51.019-07:00Did I remember to say how glad I am that the corru...Did I remember to say how glad I am that the corrupt mob unions lost that recall election scam in Wisconsin? It's seems so rare these days when the good guys win I've decided it's okay for me to make a bigger deal out of it. (Big Smile)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-80711058377490525822012-06-12T14:34:17.046-07:002012-06-12T14:34:17.046-07:00I do tend to agree with the idea that people shoul...I do tend to agree with the idea that people should not be required to participate in a union and contribute dues in order to be employed. However, it doesn't make sense to me that any employee, public or private, should not be allowed to work with other employees to advance their interests.<br /><br />I think the issue you are really getting at is the now-unlimited influence of big money in all aspects of politics. After all, I might ask, who protects the interests of lower and middle class individuals when a rich billionare with a gigantic PAC sits down at the table with the Republican politican he just got elected to outline his legislative agenda? Remember, the unions got out-spent 3-1 or so in the recall election...<br /><br />--fredmiracleUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302448262957195169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-16210063872557699082012-06-11T20:41:35.720-07:002012-06-11T20:41:35.720-07:00Very true about grudge gaming, lol. I tended to cu...Very true about grudge gaming, lol. I tended to cull alot of those in many games, these were mostly CCGs, but I had a nasty habbit of winning, alot. It got to the point where in a few multiplayer games I found myself facing all the other players before they would really attack eachother. The worst it got was the LotR CCG, I played the Hobbit deck, one of my last games. By the time poor Sam, Frodo, Pippin and Merry were finished, only Sam was left alive, now carrying the One Ring and he was one token from being corrupted... ah, good times... cause I won anyways. The only reason I remember it even. Heheh<br /><br />Wisconsin... I can't agree more. And I'll leave it at that. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-70469920633441610162012-06-11T05:10:35.084-07:002012-06-11T05:10:35.084-07:00Rich,
Excellent Blog....As a life long Wisconsoni...Rich,<br /><br />Excellent Blog....As a life long Wisconsonite you nailed it. Very well put.afilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354781748263526042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-79311155399089683222012-06-11T05:01:53.113-07:002012-06-11T05:01:53.113-07:00No kidding in regards to multiplayer and risk I ha...No kidding in regards to multiplayer and risk I had people who would hold on to the grudge and wait to the next game (if I eliminated them) so they could attack me full out right off the bat , its hard to smooth over the resentment people have.Azraelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17545428866700377779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4139498400908952220.post-27003234088528329152012-06-10T23:09:11.365-07:002012-06-10T23:09:11.365-07:00Great post, Rich. Especially the stuff about Wisco...Great post, Rich. Especially the stuff about Wisconsin. It's nice to get different points of view on political issues.J. Grenemyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16695789688190775652noreply@blogger.com