So then Heather, would classify the parent company of Patch, AOL, part of the rich corporate cronie world? They did pay $315M for Huffington Post and gave out some big bonuses recently? http://www.glassdoor.com/Bonuses/AOL-Bonuses-E2151_P3.htm

Gearhead,
It is WEA Trust, and it pays 93 cents on the dollar back in services. It operates just like a credit union, NOT FOR PROFIT. What does the average corporate insurance company pay back per dollar? The only way to decrease premiums at these pay out rates is to reduce coverage. Any school that is switching from WEA Trust is most likely reducing coverage, which is the savings. They can reduce their coverage with WEA Trust and see savings as well, and with a 93% return, I can't imagine too many Corporations coming in cheaper.

RUSD hasn't been part of WEAC Trust since 1993.

Say What?

WEA Trust has reduced their prices when school districts were considering dropping them in favor of other health insurance providers. Funny how they get a lot more flexible with their pricing when they are actually facing competition...

I want healthcare for all. I want high quality free public education for all. I fight for that which I do not need for myself. And I am willing to pay higher taxes for that which will help others. But yea, I am so selfish. LOL. Sometimes I feel like we are living in Bizarro World.

You want high quality, free public education for all? Then why would you want to recall Walker? His reforms are the best thing that has happened to public education in decades...

@Heather. Neither your "free" healthcare, as well as "high quality 'free' public education for all" happen until it first gets ripped out of someone else's pocket! WE ARE TAPPED OUT!!!!!. The public education we've been served up is neither free, nor high quality. And you want the same model for health care? I pay my own way, thank you, and appreciate that CHOICE. You ARE living in Bizarro World if you think anything provided by government is free. It's always the most expensive choice, but not if you aren't the one directly writing the check. Get a grip!

How much over and above do you send the IRS and WDR every tax season Heather?

Steve, the question for Heather is does she pay any taxes at all. She is probably in the group that does not pay any income taxes therefore she is okay with all of us paying more as long as she does not have to.

I have worked and paid taxes beginning age 14. I have NEVER been on any kind of state aid or badgercare. We live very modestly on basically one income so I can be home for the kids. My writing for Patch merely goes towards spending money. We budget tightly and like most Americans, are in debt. But I receive no aid and I hope to God I never have to. Again, I do not fight for these causes because I have a dog in the fight. I do not. I simply care about other people. What a friggin' concept, eh??

If you care so much start writing checks. It's always a noble idea when it involves other peoples money, that they too worked hard for.

HRG:

You actually get paid for your Patch articles?

I agree with Steve. Why must you take my money to give to your causes? Maybe you can take half of your Patch money and donate that to your causes? Why is it fair for you to get paid to write articles? I don't get paid to do that. I want fairness for all so I should I some of your Patch money. The question for you Heather is, where do YOU draw the line between what is fair and what is not?

"Why must you take my money to give to your causes?" I didn't want my money to pay for wars - but it did.

"Maybe you can take half of your Patch money and donate that to your causes?" Actually, I probably do in one way or another.

"Why is it fair for you to get paid to write articles?" Because I applied for the job just like you get paid to do your job. What kind of question is that?

"I don't get paid to do that." Then find a writing job and apply.

"I want fairness for all so I should I some of your Patch money." You get it in the form of taxes which pay for your roads, police, fire, etc.

"The question for you Heather is, where do YOU draw the line between what is fair and what is not?" Taking from poor to give to the rich is unfair. Its not all that hard to reconcile. Its about right and wrong.

Heather, what dollar amount constitutes poor and what dollar amount constitutes rich? You missed my point. I don't want your Patch money because I know if I wanted money for the writing articles, I just need to apply for a job with Patch. (Though I highly doubt their left leaning editors would like my viewpoints on things.) My point is who is the arbitor of what is fair and what is not fair. You and I cannot agree on that, I am sure we don't agree on the definition of poor and rich and therefore we cannot agree on whether or not Scott Walker is doing a good job. But recalls should not be based on whether or not you agree with his point of view. That is what we go to the ballot box for every four years. Recalls should be reserved for malfeasence in office. Supporting and passing unfavorable legislation (not illegal legislation) is not grounds for a recall. Also remember, if you wish to pay higher taxes, I believe there is a form that you could submitt with your taxes to pay more than you owe.

Our Government at any level should provide protection,uphold
laws to encourage civility and appoint a government to watch over and manage all of this activity.
From the time we ventured away from keeping it simple and entered into every Social Issue imaginable..The system has now become distorted, UN-manageable and wasteful. There are countless examples of fraud,and unfortunately almost ZERO accountability when something goes haywire..
Our so called Representatives spent more time on their Political Games then actually doing the job they were hired by the people to do..
Our Government can't handle it.Throwing more money at everything has NEVER worked..If you like the Socialized Society then move to Europe were they are currently reaping the negative rewards for the very things you are demanding we do here..
America was built on Hard Working Individuals who appreciate the Freedom they are given to at least have A CHANCE to Fail or Succeed..
Just because someone has been more successful than you doesn't mean they have to give their $ to you..Whenever we have a natural disaster Americans are always generous to help,but should not be forced..When you run down so called rich corporations..be prepared to watch your retirement $ go down..then you'll have something new to complain about..You can't have it both ways..
OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET BACK TO BASICS AND STOP TELLING ME WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH MY HARD EARNED $.
THANK YOU SCOTT WALKER FOR MAKING THE TOUCH DECISIONS..

@Kay -- you mean every social issue possible like putting an end to chattel slavery, giving the right to vote to women and men of color, and seeing to it that employers couldn't lock the fire exits? How about making sure that unscrupulous folk don't lace their patent medicines with morphine (ensuring a continued demand) or sell filthy diseased meat?

And those troublesome free schools for everyone . . .

Randy, Every society has issues arise that need to be addressed.If necessary you put laws on the books to protect Civility. No One is against that..
It would be helpful if we could all stay in the here and now to deal with what is in front of us and not go back to the early/mid 1900's for examples..PLEASE

you can't speak for hoffa, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT HOFFA! are you too ashamed to use your own name?

This sounds interesting but it is misattributed to Jefferson. It's actually Gerald Ford (1974), a pretty ineffectual president that pardoned Nixon.

There WERE also the children of working parents whose 'job-creating' small business employers didn't see fit to provide health coverage or the wages to pay for a private plan. Don't worry, though. The eligibility for Badgercare (which serves the low income poor) is being tightened, while MSAs (which serve the more affluent private insurance customer) are being made tax deductible. It's all about priorities.

@ JL. Every other car???? I see about one in maybe twenty or twenty-five. That makes less than 5% of the bumper stickers. I don't think that is enough to get the job done.
And by the way, bumper stickers and yard signs are the worst predicters of the outcomes of elections.

@JL -

Great reason! So, I suppose if everyone else started drinking cyanide-laced Kool-Aid, you'd do it to just because everyone else was doing it, right? Thanks for demonstrating to us the mentality of the Recall Walker crowd.

May your wish be granted soon.

Heather, I don't work at a school or have a union but I am treated fairly by my employer. Your assumption that only a union can get you fair treatment is incorrect. Unions prop up the lower performing in the workplace at the expense of those who wish to get ahead. Why do you want to be lumped in with the deadbeat employee who only does 50% of his/her work, unless you fall into this category.

Ineffective management props up ineffective workers. This happens no matter whether it is public or private sector. Maybe you should look at what is actually happening at your local school.

Why do you need to use a derogatory term to make your point? You can't communicate any other way? State your opinion, but do so in a dignified manner. After reading some of the comments here it is obvious the Walker backers like name calling. So it that what you produce....sure hasn't been jobs has it? I plan to produce my name on a recall petition, so there! So now go produce some more name calling.

don't flatter yourself, your really not all that.

so mamma, how many vacations have you written off on your taxes as buisiness trips?
i have no problem contributing to my future, i just wish you would foot the bill for your own!

Thank you for the advice, Mamma1 I'll eat my cake too. You do realize that it's much easier to put away money for the future when you're earning $200K or more per year, as opposed to earning $20K?

Since Doyle cut state aid to schools by much larger amounts than Walker, how is it that Walker gets the 'anti-education' label from you, while his immediate predecessor does not?

@Nick -

Yes, Nick - please explain your apparent hypocrisy on the point highlighted by CowDung. I am also curious as to your true motivations!

@Nick Poulos... ruin and deny education??? You must be joking. Take Kaukauna for ONE example. They were facing a huge deficit and looking to lay-off teachers and increase class sizes. They took advantage of the tools Scott Walker provided and now, not only did they NOT lay anyone off; but they hired more teachers, reduced class sizes and will have a surplus. How in the world can you justify your silly position that Governor Walker is anti-education? Are you just so blinded by media biases that you can't see the facts? Or are you against Walker no matter what he does or doesn't do?

JRH, I'd suggest you look at Nick's profile (if you haven't). His motivations might become a bit more clear to you.

http://bdgrdemocracy.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/kaukauna-school-board-and-scott-walker-have-something-in-common-budgeting-is-not-about-the-money-its-about-union-busting/

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/04/991248/-Wisconsin:-Kaukauna-School-District (some of the comments are very interesting)

http://www.nonsportsman.com/2011/06/inside-kaukauna-school-districts.html

http://bdgrdemocracy.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/kaukauna-school-board-and-scott-walker-have-something-in-common-budgeting-is-not-about-the-money-its-about-union-busting/

Yes, these are all partisan sources. But sometimes those are the only way to get certain information. Contrary to what most of you believe - there IS no liberal biased news anymore. And no, I am not counting commentary programming.

If partisan sources are the only place to get the information you are looking for, you might ask yourself why that is...

@HRG - Are you serious? What about MS-NBC - even their 'hard' news appears to be very biased in terms of what they choose to cover or not cover.

And what about Politico? They have tons of stories about the Herman Cain campaign controversies, and yet only a handful of articles about the 'Operation Fast and Furious' and Solyndra scandals. How can you say that's not biased media?

Also, none of the links you provide show why Walker is labeled ‘anti-education,’ while Doyle escaped this label despite actually cutting state aid to education by far more than Walker has. How is this very clear and FACTUALLY real double standard / hypocrisy not indicative of a biased media or public sentiment fueled on raw emotion rather than hard factual evidence?

Come on, even you have to admit that something’s not right with this one!

@Heather... If the kids achieve at the same level, going forward, while we spend less money on education, how are we(taxpayer/parent/kid) coming out behind? While I remain skeptical that everything will work out as designed, so far only scare tactics;no measurable data. The teachers have seen a net 4% decline in compensation. Hardly a devastating pay cut in the present economy. And, if/when we see a problem, we can make a mid-course correction, after a full year of the reforms giver us some actual data to analyze..

I don't understand the links. Was it that hard for liberals to figure out how Kaukauna went for a deficit to a surplus? Maybe that is why Doyle put us in the boat we were in and they all followed like rock band groupies.

Free ride is over with. Putting contributions into your pension is not a pay cut, you do receive it later in life, with interest. Just like the rest of us in the real world.

Well hop in the family truckster and head out to Wauwatosa, Randy. They're signing them by candlelight tonight.

No thank you, Bob. I see there's an office in downtown Waukesha where I can do it nicely and politely without charges of thuggery or tying up traffic. Untwist your knickers.

Hey I was just thinking it might make for a nice, romantic night for you and the wife. You know...a little vino, some candlelight...well maybe not the vino because I've been advised it's a beautiful and sobering experience...plus, I don't want to encourage that with the drive you've got.

Actually, I doubt you really need to leave the comfort of your home for this one. Someone should come a'knockin' any day now. Apparently they're about to come down on us like a plague of locusts, if I'm to believe all I'm reading here.

You can always print one from the United Wisconsin website. Here is the link - http://grassroots.wisdems.org/page/s/united-wisconsin-petition-download

Just like the old Woodstock days, eh? I'm glad to hear you're not actually advocating drinking and driving.

I was just discovering the fun of popping zits in the mirror in the Woodstock days, Randy, so I'll take your word for it.