Why Negotiate When You Can Strongarm?

When I was in school, taking those Civics classes that I thought were so boring at the time, the one thing you always learned was that politicking was about negotiation. It's the fundamental core of that cornerstone test question on “checks and balances.” Checks and balances is what made the American government so unique. No one had all the power. Of course this refers to the three branches of government, but at it's heart is figuring out how to compromise.

Apparently Governor Walker did not pay attention during Civics when he was in high school. That's probably why he wants to dismantle public education with the fervor of an Al-Qaeada militant. Walker could easily find a compromise for the current budget stalemate in Wisconsin if he really cared about the state and people of Wisconsin, but he doesn't. He's a republican and republicans can't be bothered by the needs of the common taxpayer. Sure, they mask all their generous tax breaks for the wealthy and businesses as helping the middle class, but do they ever help the middle class? Looks like we need one of those “overpaid” Wisconsin public school teachers to pull Walker aside and give him another lesson on voodoo economics. It's clear that it doesn't work for the middle class as the only thing trickling down on us is wet and stinks of ammonia and processed Dom Pérignon.

So with the worker of Wisconsin sending a message that they will not be trampled on at any cost and their Democratic Senators unrelenting in their support for these workers, isn't it time Walker got the message that what he is doing is just not the right way to go? Wouldn't a reasonable governor say, “Hey, lets negotiate and work this out so everyone is happy,” or "Maybe giving tax breaks to those who don't need them and make the people who do, pay for them, isn't such a hot idea." Of course not. Instead of negotiating, Walker is trying to strong arm the Senate by cutting off direct deposit payments thus forcing them to claim their paychecks in person, passing late-night resolutions to now fine lawmakers who wont show up to vote for his budget and restricting taxpayer access to the state Capitol. Civics: Fail, Gov. Walker.

Just because the Koch brothers and their wealthy campaign donors-in-arms managed to get Walker elected, doesn't mean that this is what the people wanted. People want sensible cuts without being stomped into the ground. The worker is drowning and it's tough to get air when people like Governor Walker have their boot on their head holding them under.

Be a politician, Governor Walker, and negotiate. Take the concessions offered by the unions and let the teachers and other public employees retain their dignity and power to negotiate with their employers so the checks and balances between employer and employee remains intact.