Cheesed Off

I’ve been a bit off the last few days (personal/Day Job stuff running me into the ground), but I have been watching the Wisconsin union mess unfold. And it has me seriously aggravated. Aggravated enough to come up with a few ideas that might speed things to a resolution.

The first observation I had was that the liberals have made it abundantly clear that they are not interested in a political settlement, in working within the system, to resolve matters. This was made clear when the Democrats in the state Senate bolted the state and the rallies commenced.

Winston Churchill once said “jaw, jaw is better than war, war.” Well, the Wisconsin jaws fled and sent in the warriors. Politicians out, thugs in.

My answer: answer thuggery with thuggery. But the left’s idea of thuggery is huge masses of people making threats. My idea of “thuggery” is to use the system against the other side. No physical threats, no violence, but no “mercy” or “compassion” or “understanding.” Just brutal rule of law — and the occasional mild and carefully-chosen circumvention of same, with the intent of restoring the rule of law.
]]>< ![CDATA[First up, the teachers who walked out did so in violation of their contract and state law. They're fired. Period. End of discussion. They can re-apply, but their previous conduct can and should be held against them. Second, the doctors handing out phony absentee notes? Report them to the state medical boards for fraud. If they filed for insurance compensation, toss in insurance fraud. If their political beliefs trump their professional standards and duties and integrity, then so be it. Far be it from me to deny the logical consequences of their choice. That’s for starters. That’s for the brute squads. Now, for the state Senators who have run for the border. It seems the governor is saying he’s suspending pay for the absent Senators’ staffs. His reasoning? If their bosses aren’t around, then they aren’t really necessary. Good first move. But take it further. I don’t think the governor can suspend the pay and benefits of the Senators themselves, but one idea I heard seems to have some merit. Cancel their direct deposit. Print their actual paychecks and have them held in the Senate clerk’s office, only to be turned over to the Senator himself or herself. They want their money? They can come and get it. As for the Senate’s inability to proceed, I have an idea there, too. It’s been a bit over 20 years since I was my student government’s Parliamentarian, and haven’t read up on Roberts’ Rules Of Order in about that long, but here’s a thought: The presiding officer calls the Senate to session, and then moves for unanimous consent to dispense with the roll call of members. Once that’s disposed of, he or she declares that by voice vote a quorum is present. Next, he moves for unanimous consent that all votes be held by voice, and not roll call. Once that’s done, start in on the plan to strip the public sector unions of their right to collective bargain. Yes, it’s illegal. Yes, it would never survive a court challenge.

But that doesn’t matter. The purpose of passing these bills isn’t to get them implemented, it’s to get them challenged.

As far as I know, the only people who would have standing to challenge the move would be a member of the state Senate. And if the Republicans are all in agreement, none of them will object. It would take a Democrat to challenge the move and the measures passed under it — and to do so, they would have to return to Wisconsin.

At that point, they can be taken to the Capitol and compelled to attend. And those same measures that were passed by unanimous vote before can be re-passed 19-1.

One final point, and this is, to me, the most important. President Obama has not only come out in favor of the unions and the Democrats in this case, but he’s taken it a bit further. One of the bigger out-of-state backers of the thugs is Organizing For America, the former campaign arm of President Obama’s that still operates under his name. As I’ve said many times, their every action is literally taken in his name, and he owns each and every thing they do.

He has yet to be held fully accountable for the actions they take in his name, and it is long, long overdue.

I recall someone said a few years ago that “elections have consequences.” Last November, the Democrats were soundly rejected in Wisconsin. As a consequence, their power has been greatly diminished in the state government. Their reaction — to flee the state to deny the Senate a quorum — is a gross abrogation of their duties to their constituents, and should have severe consequences.

The above measures would be a good start.