[quote=SK in CV][quote=CA renter]
The attack on govt workers/unions is NOT about saving taxpayers/consumers money, and private sector workers will NOT benefit in any way from the destruction of public sector unions. [/quote]
No, it’s not about saving taxpayers money. It’s about winning elections. The SEIU and public labor unions are among the most powerful political tools that the Democrats have. The origin of the anti-public labor movement has its roots in conservative organizations that have a primary goal of getting Republicans elected. Destruction of those public and private labor unions is a tool in reaching that goal. Fewer union members, fewer unions, fewer dollars and voters to the Dems. It isn’t any more complicated than that.[/quote]
SK: Excellent point and, if we use the Wisconsin recall elections as a guide, the GOP succeeded brilliantly. Wisconsin will be used as a model in other states and for exactly the reason you mentioned: To erode support for and hamstring the Democratic Party.
One of the over-used (and incorrect) memes in the Wisconsin recall was the notion that “big money won that election for the GOP.” Statistics cited a 7:1 or 8:1 margin in terms of cash raised/spent. The reality was that unions put over $20MM into Dem coffers and still lost. They also lost due to another key factor: The GOP Get-Out-the-Vote effort actually beat the union/Dem GOTV effort.
In terms of power and reach, the unions have always given the Dems not only significant monetary support, but their organizational skill and GOTV muscle has been huge as well. They picked this fight with Walker because they had to and they counted on their traditional strengths to send a message to other GOP governors who were closely watching this race and its outcome. Needless to say, the game has changed and it will be interesting to watch the next few years as this unfolds.
As CAR opined, it does come down to Labor (Dems) versus Capital (GOP).
