Why do Wisconsinites strongly prefer both Scott Walker and Barack Obama?

I'm also irritated by the behavior. In our area, several teachers spoke to the media stating their excuse for protesting was because "they have to take care of your brats in the classroom." Brats?!?

How professional and loving of a teacher to refer to students like that (note: sarcasm). My question is, where do they think these kids get their attitudes from? Our local media busted several teachers for calling in sick when they were really in Madison - also, teachers admitted that they spent class time to "vent" to the students and asked them to walk-out in protest.

The principal at one school got on the speaker system and invited all of the students in his school to walk-out. Even the head of the teachers' union in Wisconsin went on record asking its 98,000 members to skip work to go to Madison. My question is this: who pays for this?

When a school closes, there are non-refundable operational costs for each day. This includes support staff, meals, busing, heating, etc. And, the days need to be made up which adds to the cost. Then we have parents scrambling to find daycare for their kids, and those that can't find daycare have to take of work to stay home.

This all adds up. Our local school district is posing a 56 million dollar referendum in two months. After this, I don't see how even a one-dollar referendum would pass!

And, once again, the kids are on the losing end. As far as I'm concerned, any employee (union or not) that walks off the job without a valid excuse has chosen to forfeit their employment and should not only be replaced but also held accountable for costs incurred as a result of their behavior. Enough is enough.

Addition: Nanhy - With all due respect, no, it is not a "right" to fraudulently use a sick day for personal use. That is a misconception that has even been decided at the supreme court level. There is a specific protocol to follow for teachers in the state of Wisconsin regarding getting approval - employees, of any profession, must first follow policy in regard to giving appropriate notice and receiving approval before walking off the job.

Many of these teachers violated the policies and procedures presented to them at time of hire and there are consequences for that. If I, as a therapist, did this I would not only get fired, but would get nailed for violating the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics. I would then be hauled into court and stripped of my credentials.

Also, my patients would have the option to turn around and sue me for my actions. Sounds harsh? So is the impact that an individual has on a patient/student when ditching them.

I do have to say that while I agree with Governor Walker's proposal, I do think it's too much at once - I have a feeling that much of the frustration among those protesting gets to the root of that which is understandable. But walking off the job? That doesn't solve anything and only hurts additional people by pulling students, parents, and taxpayers in those districts into the cross hairs which is unprofessional, unethical, and outright wrong.

I find the media "fanning the flames of ignorance" AGREEING with them and accusing Gov Walker of being a "Mubarak-style of dictator" and comparing it TO the Egyptian protests.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.