Problems in Cheeseland

[Jim]

Walker may squeak out a victory in WI, due in no small part to the $30M+ provided by the flood of support from outside conservative groups. He out-spent the oppositon 7 to 1. Shows what money can buy and the continued ramifications of the Citizens United case.

[shaoleung]

Land of freedom, home of modern democracy! You show doubt in our infallible system! Give yourself a dose of Fox news and self-flagellate for an hour or so, then see how you feel in the morning.

[ivan]

IF ONLY WE HAD A GOVERNMENT AS GOOD AS OUR PEOPLE!!!

[Jim]

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

[AlpineK]

It says something about pre-election polls. If we say 50.0001% to 49.9999% we'll boost ratings and make more money from advertisers.

[JayB]

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

 

Where did this crazy challenge to the notion that government should be organized as a guaranteed pay, benefit, and pension dispensing mechanism with a sideline in providing essential services come from?

 

While we're at it - where did these people get the idea that their primary function in life is something other than providing for the financial needs of unionized government employees?

[ivan]

wisconsin's always been way ahead of us. joe mccarthy in particular was a true visionary.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

 

Where did this crazy challenge to the notion that government should be organized as a guaranteed pay, benefit, and pension dispensing mechanism with a sideline in providing essential services come from?

 

While we're at it - where did these people get the idea that their primary function in life is something other than providing for the financial needs of unionized government employees?

 

Estonia is OK with austerity

[rob]

Hey, it's OK to squeeze the middle and lower classes during hard economic times, as long as we keep the bailouts to rich bankers going.

[Jim]

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

 

Where did this crazy challenge to the notion that government should be organized as a guaranteed pay, benefit, and pension dispensing mechanism with a sideline in providing essential services come from?

 

While we're at it - where did these people get the idea that their primary function in life is something other than providing for the financial needs of unionized government employees?

 

I'm ok with some re-tooling. It's juxtaposition to the 1% getting more tax breaks and no consequences for the financial sector (except greater profits) that is disturbing. If we were hacking away at both ends of the problem we could make some progress. But as usual, the least powerful groups are taking the hit.

[jon]

World

12 Spain 1.4 Trillion GDP

103 Estonia 19 Billion GDP

 

US States

14 Washington 351 Billion GDP

20 Wisconsin 251 Billion GDP

 

So we should be taking lessons from a country who's GDP is roughly 10 to 20x smaller then our state, and are still suffering from a 10% decrease in GDP? Spain's GDP is roughly 100x bigger and it's clear how austerity has worked out there. They had a budget surplus before Lehman.

 

BTW Seattle's GDP grew from 220 Billion in 2007 to 231 in 2010.

[glassgowkiss]

Walker survived the recall, now I bet will be claiming the victory to his agenda. The fact that he had to go through the recall pretty much denies this claim.

[glassgowkiss]

World

12 Spain 1.4 Trillion GDP

103 Estonia 19 Billion GDP

 

US States

14 Washington 351 Billion GDP

20 Wisconsin 251 Billion GDP

 

So we should be taking lessons from a country who's GDP is roughly 10 to 20x smaller then our state, and are still suffering from a 10% decrease in GDP? Spain's GDP is roughly 100x bigger and it's clear how austerity has worked out there. They had a budget surplus before Lehman.

 

BTW Seattle's GDP grew from 220 Billion in 2007 to 231 in 2010.

This has nothing to do with austerity, but it has everything to do with cash base economy. The reality on the ground is that the economy and politics in former soviet block are even more fucked then here. On outside everything looks great, but the reality on the ground is that people are barely squeaking by. Very few wester journalist comprehend details in that part of the world, so I call bullshit on the article quoted by KKK. He might claim understanding politics and economy there. The sad truth is that he is completely clueless fuck in that arena, on the same page as 99.9% of the folks here.

[j_b]

Estonia's economy is closely intertwined with that of the Nordic shoshalists just 10's of miles away. ~20% of its workforce is employed in Finland. There is ~13% unemployment, and 20% below the poverty line. Huge numbers want to immigrate due to gross inequality and no prospect for advancement. Not really a model that anyone wants to emulate despite neoliberal propaganda to that effect.

[j_b]

Well that was quick. 55 - 45% Walker. Not even as close as predicted. Guess voters are ok with trimming state work pay/pensions.

 

Divide and conquer works with low information voters, especially when you outspend the opposition 8:1 for a 6 point spread.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

 

Yeah, it was the $ - that did it. That's why 'we' lost. Somebody call the waaaaaahmbulance. Quick!

 

[JayB]

World

12 Spain 1.4 Trillion GDP

103 Estonia 19 Billion GDP

 

US States

14 Washington 351 Billion GDP

20 Wisconsin 251 Billion GDP

 

So we should be taking lessons from a country who's GDP is roughly 10 to 20x smaller then our state, and are still suffering from a 10% decrease in GDP? Spain's GDP is roughly 100x bigger and it's clear how austerity has worked out there. They had a budget surplus before Lehman.

 

BTW Seattle's GDP grew from 220 Billion in 2007 to 231 in 2010.

 

Spain, Greece, etc haven’t *chosen* austerity any more than the compulsive gambler who’s just pawned off the last of his gold fillings for a final bet at the craps table has *chosen* to put the dice down and walk away from the table. They’ve been cut off.

[rob]

I'm officially dipping my balls in this thread.

[j_b]

Yeah, it was the $ - that did it. That's why 'we' lost. Somebody call the waaaaaahmbulance. Quick!

 

It's not like we waited a single day to discuss the consequences of one $, one vote enabled by Citizens United. You laughed it off then and you laugh it off now. No credibility whatsoever.

[j_b]

Spain, Greece, etc haven’t *chosen* austerity any more than the compulsive gambler who’s just pawned off the last of his gold fillings for a final bet at the craps table has *chosen* to put the dice down and walk away from the table. They’ve been cut off.

 

Make believe reality in which the Greek and spanish wouldn't have agreed to severe austerity for liquidity.

[Jim]

Walker survived the recall, now I bet will be claiming the victory to his agenda. The fact that he had to go through the recall pretty much denies this claim.

 

Not a Walker fan, but given that the recall failed and he won by 10%, they are back to where they were before. If the majority of folks don't agree with his policies they sure didn't cast their ballot that way. So I'd say yes, in fact it is a vote for his agenda. How can you interpret it any way else?

[j_b]

53.1 to 46.3 is ~7% and Walker may well have lost his majority in the state Senate.

[Crux]

j_b, trolled by Jim again.

[KaskadskyjKozak]

j_b, trolled by Jim again.

 

the behavior of a bot is always deterministic

[j_b]

don't kick the dog when you get home ..