I Don't Get It...

I don't get it...they chant "Shame" in Wisconsin when Gov. Walker moves forward with what he was elected to do, but they don't consider it shameful that the Dems in the state don't come in to do their jobs.  I just don't get it.

I don't get the mindset that public sector employees don't have to pay comparable amounts towards their pensions and insurance benefits like private sector employees when the public sector employees are making comparable salaries.  I just don't get it.

I don't get that the protests in Wisconsin are all about union busting when they do still have collective bargaining.  They just don't have it for raises that would go beyond the rate of inflation unless the voters approved it via referendum.  So if they have the support they are professing to have, what's the big issue?  When they want a higher raise next time, let the voters decide.  I just don't get it.

Because the "Fab 14" ran away from their jobs, and because the bills were changed since they weren't at their jobs, there are now concerns that there is no money freed up to go to Medicaid, which would have paid for some health care for their constituents.  I don't get it.  How can they be considered heroes for doing that? 

I don't get how someone can leave their job for nearly a month without requesting a leave from their boss, and get paid when they don't show up.  Can you do that in your job?  I just don't get it.

I've really tried to take in information from both sides on this issue.  I've been on plenty of sites, filtering out the information from the opinions, looking thru a lot of the Wisconsin legislation websites.  And I can honestly say I'm not getting the point that all the protestors are trying to make in Wisconsin.  I'll be the first to admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I pride myself in looking at both sides.  And I just don't get it!!

But I will tell you that I am very open to hearing about any points I have missed, anything that has truly not sunk in.  I would love to know what I'm not getting!!!  So if you see this differently, please, I would be honored if you would leave a comment and educate me.  Because I've always fancied myself a lifelong student and I'd love to be educated in this.

And for those who shy away from commenting on "political" issues, I promise you these type of posts won't happen often.  I'm just looking to understand!!  And if you get it, please share!!

Time for a Change That We Can Live With

This thought has been haunting me since Friday, during a discussion with the "Lunch Bunch", a group of women who just happen to have the same lunchtime and decide to share their thoughts or eat in silence, whatever works for them that day.

We got into a little discussion about the state of Illinois and the state of the nation.  For the most part, we decided that Illinois was high on the list of corrupt states, probably in the top three.  And one comment that was tossed out was, "Well, there's nothing you can do about it."  (Many of you know just how quickly I would jump on that statement). 

No, I said, that's not true.  As long as you have a vote, there's plenty you can do.  You can vote them out.  And vote IN only someone who supports term limits.  It really doesn't matter which party you support.  This nation and all its states need to instill term limits on their house and senate members.  Because by limiting their terms to two, with the senators and representative knowing that they actually need to go out and get a job like the rest of us, they are much more likely to do something that would benefit all of us.  Doesn't that make sense??

Again, I'm not talking about any particular political party here, folks.  This should be a non-partisan effort.  But EFFORT is the key word here.  Too many times people will say, "I'm just one vote" but just remember that shampoo commercial where you tell two friends, and they tell two friends and so on and so on.  We can ALL make a difference.  We just need to be UNITED. 

Here's one more thing to think about.   You know how when they pass bills they have a whole bunch of other stuff tacked onto it?  Also known as "pork".  Why not insist that each and every bill stand on its own?  No pork allowed.  Just some food for thought!

I know it's easy to choose sides in this.  But the bottom line is, we are all Americans.  And when we put someone in office, they should be there to do what would benefit ALL Americans.  Term limits and single purpose bills would be a step in the right direction.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!