Lessons From Wisconsin
Big Labor took a roundhouse to the chin despite the millions of dollars in member dues spent in an attempt to recall Governor Walker. Conservatives and practical-minded Americans, however, cannot become complacent with this victory. Big Labor showed how desperate it was in orchestrating the offensive recall. Big Labor thumbed its nose at the citizens of Wisconsin and America because it could not win the first election legitimately. In doing so, it resorted to its campaign of misinformation, coercion, propaganda and intimidation to bully its way to victory. Thankfully Americans are waking up and drawing a line in the sand with Big Labor and all who endorse or utilize these type tactics. Tactics which are uncalled for in modern America.
Interestingly, nearly a third of union members who cast votes in the recall election did so for Governor Walker as did 48% of voters who live with union members. Additionally, teachers in Wisconsin have been showing their disdain for union tactics as polls of active teachers show that Wisconsin’s teachers positive view of the teachers unions have declined from 58% to 43% and the percentage of teachers with negative views of the unions doubled from 16% to 32%. Furthermore, the fact Wisconsin Unions Saw Ranks Drop Ahead of Recall Vote is another indicator the rank and file members continue to question Big Labor policies and voted ahead of time with their feet. Wisconsin membership in AFSCME fell from 62,818 to 28,745 over the past year. Apparently they don’t like their union dues and their union credit card fees (see Big Labor: Credit Card Profiteers) and interest utilized for political purposes, especially an unnecessary recall election.
Ultimately, What Wisconsin Means is that there is clearly opportunity for further victory for reform politicians and reform initiatives in November. However, a few critical lessons must be remembered and implemented.
1.) It is the economy and we are not stupid! Fiscal Responsibility Trumped Union Power in Wisconsin. Fiscal responsibility must be trumpeted nationwide.
2.) Complacency will end in defeat. Desperate people do desperate things. Expect a down and dirty fight to the finish, which must be countered with professionalism, character and ethics.
3.) The Conservatives and Tea Party countered the union foot soldiers with an effective ground game. Now it must be done nationwide.
4.) Don’t be afraid to expose the misinformation, propaganda, and coercion for what it is, and counter with common sense and the truth. The majority of people will wake up and understand.
5.) Don’t buckle to the intimidation tactics. Look the bully in the eye and smile.
6.) Don’t be afraid to expose the opposition’s agenda, socialism through the catch phrase “Social Justice.”
7.) Don’t be afraid to expose the truth about the opponents past affiliations. A person or entity’s past affiliations speak volumes.
8.) Take the offensive. The best defense is a strong offense.
9.) Use the unions/democrats misuse of members’ dues against them.
10.) Don’t buy into the ruse that the “Citizens United” case created an unfair playing field for republicans. Expose the fact that it merely evened a playing field that Big Labor had been exploiting for years at the expense of membership dues.
These lessons must be learned and implemented if The Decline of American Exceptionalism is to be reversed this November.
David A. Bego is the President and CEO of EMS, an industry leader in the field of environmental workplace maintenance, employing nearly 5000 workers in thirty-three states. Bego is the author of “The Devil at My Doorstep,” as well as the just released sequel, “The Devil at Our Doorstep,” based on his experiences fighting back against one of the most powerful unions in existence today.