What is the perfect way to get the eyes of the American people off of the real economic problems that this country is facing? Get them fighting with each other of course. And what is one issue that is sure to get the left and the right screaming at each other like cats and dogs? Unions. The battle over collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin has been making headlines around the world for weeks and there are no signs that it is going to end any time soon. In fact, Mordecai Lee, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, says that it is "a battle to the death".
The Democrats that have gone AWOL appear to be absolutely determined to stay away. The protesters seem equally determined to keep on fighting. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker does not look like he plans to back down either.
Meanwhile, both sides are calling each other the most horrible names. "Hitler", "Stalin", "Nazi" and "fascist" are just a few of the terms that are being thrown around by both sides. What has been going on in Wisconsin has captured the imagination of the entire nation and it is creating even more hate between the left and the right in this country. Unfortunately, as the economic pie in this nation continues to shrink, economic battles such as the one in Wisconsin are going to become quite common.
In fact, the war over public unions seems to be spreading. The Ohio Senate has just passed a law that bans public employees from ever going on strike and that forbids them from negotiating on issues such as health care, sick time and pension benefits with the state government.
Needless to say, public employees and union workers in Ohio are not amused.
Several other states are now looking at legislation that would restrict the collective bargaining rights of public employees. Battle lines are being drawn all over the nation.
