Health

Timeline of Scott Walker's Attacks on Wisconsin Teachers

September 29, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Despite Scott Walker's absurd lie on national TV recently that he has "never even once had anything but great things to say about teachers," the truth is that Walker has been leading a smear campaign against Wisconsin's teachers from his first day as governor.

Here is a timeline:  

2010-2011 Campaign Website -- Repeatedly smeared Wisconsin teachers and said, "Wisconsin's education system is failing our children" and "underperforming teachers must not be allowed to continue to fail our children."  Education seciton that contained these comments were recently removed.

January 3, 2011 -- In his inaugural address, Walker attacks teachers and other public workers's salaries and tries to pit low-wage workers against public workers, saying, “We can no longer live in a society where the public employees are the haves and taxpayers who foot the bills are the have-nots."

Is Paul Ryan's 'class war' lighting the fuse for social explosion?

September 29, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Roger Bybee, longtime editor of Racine Labor newspaper, now a freelancer, has been covering labor issues in Paul Ryan's district for decades. Writing for In These Times, uncorks a devastating  analysis of what Paul Ryan sees as class warfare.  Highlights:

In his severely distorted view of the “class war” currently splitting America apart, House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who represents southeastern Wisconsin’s crumbling factory towns, reflects a juvenile embrace of the view of his heroine Ayn Rand (required reading for his entire staff).
Like Rand, Ryan interprets any move toward easing America’s crushing inequality as showing ingratitude toward those he worships as the “job creators.” 

Ryan repackages his plan to end Medicare; tries to resuscitate his dying idea

September 28, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

David Dayen at Firedog Lake:

 Paul Ryan is desperately trying to resuscitate his failed plan to end Medicare by offering it as the replacement element in the long-sought “repeal and replace” strategy for the Affordable Care Act. [The one the GOP calls Obamacare - Xoff.]

“Giving patients and consumers control over healthcare resources would make all Americans less dependent on big business and big government for our health security; give us more control over the care we get; and force health care providers to compete for our business,” Ryan said.

Ryan argued that a tax credit in lieu of Medicare, Medicaid and government-credited employer-sponsored healthcare would commoditize healthcare costs, enabling individuals to choose their coverage and allowing the free market to drive down prices and make care more affordable — and generous — for all.