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10/18/2007
"Freedom of speech is their own punishment"**
Ok. So the taxpayers have a rally on the capitol steps. Folks from all over the state took the day off of work to share their message that Wisconsin’s taxes are too high. And they were surrounded by “public employees led by AFSCME union members wearing green T-shirts…”
Countless articles quote union members as shouting “Loser” and “Bullsh _ _.” Wow. Richard Parins, president of the Brown County Taxpayers Association said he felt ashamed at the employees – an “ugly group, screaming profanities.” He said “It was a blatant, rude attempt to squash public opinion.” Parins said the union group, with air horns and noisemakers, tried hard, though unsuccessfully, to drown out the taxpayers rally. “It was obvious,” said Parins, “that the [union] group was highly organized – and not just an ad hoc group of employees on their lunch hour.”
Per Parins, these folks were crude and course, cursing at little old gray-haired ladies and retired couples. Unbelievable.
Lots of folks from the blogger community were represented. (Not I because I was in Green Bay subbing for Jerry Bader on WTAQ. Nuts - missed a real event.) Christian Schneider put together a brilliant piece of writing describing the event – the guy is special. “I had read there was going to be a union counter-rally at the same time, so I figured I’d go check it out in case someone got beaten to death with a Hayek book or something.”
**I stole today’s title from Christian, who quoted P.J. O’Rourke in his piece - “freedom of speech is their own punishment.” All great stuff.
Owen Robinson does a good job as well, summarizing the goings-on - and at the end of his piece, helpfully adds the links of other Rally stories on the web. More good stuff. Thanks Owen.
And lastly, from Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford) comes not necessarily brilliant discourse – but straightforward commentary:
“For the last few months I have quietly tolerated the Wisconsin State Employees Union and their offensive rhetoric as I’ve walked though the rotunda of our state capitol on the way to my office. I have tolerated this because whether I like their message or not they have a right to have their voices heard. Today, one day the taxpayers of Wisconsin were coming to have their voices heard, the unions couldn’t tolerate the very thought of it.
“It is absolutely clear that this budget debate is all about the taxpayers versus the people who live off their tax dollars. The very fact that the unions would feel it necessary to shout down the voice of our taxpayers is very telling. It tells me that the taxpayers have the right message and the union leadership knows it. Today I find myself motivated more than ever to hold the line on taxes and say NO to any budget that raises taxes.”
COMMENTS
I do believe that a major contributor to our woes of our tax sitution was not mentioned. Where was WEAC?
mory (Thu Oct 18 19:44:56 2007)
What an original idea !
Tax PAYERS actually voicing opinions in Madison.
Too bad the Governor did not go out and greet his constituants, or, was he afraid ?
The anti-rally crowd made the event even more spectacular by showing their obvious dislike for those that pay their wages.
Their intellectual prowess and honesty are challenged by their total disregard for the old adage "Never bite the hand that feeds you"!
Taxpayers are finally getting a fire in their belly after years of living on political rhetoric without calorie content.
May we see more of this in the future, and may we rejuvenate Abraham Lincoln's'famous words.
"A governnment of the people, by the people and FOR the people" (my emphasis)
Richard Carlstedt (Thu Oct 18 10:20:26 2007)
HI Jo,
I am a new reader to your Blog. Thanks for bringing us up to speed on yesterdays fiasco at the capitol. It feels to me that the fight between the people who make their living off of tax dollars and the rest is just beginning. People that I talk to that do not make their living off tax dollars are frustrated and irritated at all the new tax proposals that are being thrown about. Whether the proposal impacts them or not. This is going to be a battle.
Mike (Thu Oct 18 10:47:54 2007)
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