As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation
Often times while writing on this blog I mention the fact that I feel as if it is already too late to stave of the impending total collapse of America’s economy, and I base this on my belief that the growing costs of the increasing entitlement programs and overall government spending are unsustainable coupled with my belief that there is no politician out there on either side of the aisle who will have the political courage to make the necessary tough decisions to fend off the coming collapse for fear of ending his or her political career.
As much as I like to blame the politicians for this, the fact is this issue goes much deeper because much like clay is molded into art by the artist, the politicians are molded by the will of the people. The politicians are afraid to do what is needed because the people will not accept the tough decisions which need to be made.
I site as proof Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
When Scott Walker was running for governor of the state of Wisconsin as a fiscal conservative his state faced a $3.6 billion deficit. He promised to balance the budget by making the tough decisions and he promised not to raise taxes. This was a winning combination and he rode this message to victory. Once he was sworn in he promptly began to follow through on his promises and started to make the tough decisions his state needed–he curbed collective bargaining rights for public sector unions and asked employees to start contributing to their own retirement accounts among other things.
Within one year Scott Walker not only balanced his state’s budget without raising taxes, his state is now running a surplus and the job climate in the state has improved to the point where Wisconsin has gone from 41st to 24th in the Best/Worst business ranking list.
Scott Walker’s reforms have worked probably even better than he could have imagined, but what does he face because of his success?
Recall, and that is where the voters come into this equation. As I alluded to above, the politicians are afraid to act because the people are unwilling to accept the fact that the government cannot provide them with everything they need. And we need to look no further than Scott Walker and those who want to oust him so that the same policies which led to the budget problem can be reinstituted. Have we learned nothing from this example?
A certain sect of the Wisconsin population are upset because their entitlements have been cut and they are ignoring the results of these cuts for selfish reasons; they are unwilling to accept the fact that they are better off under an upwardly moving economic situation because of the moves Scott Walker made, and would rather see the economy struggle in order for them to keep what they feel is rightfully theirs.
This is a perfect example to me of why the America as we know it is doomed to fail. Too many people feel it is the role of government to provide them with their necessities and when in the rare instance a person comes along with the political courage to do what is right he is quickly turned upon.
As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation:
If Scott Walker is recalled for making the changes which pulled his state out of the economic doldrums it was in it doesn’t bode well for the future of America in general because it will show us the people are still not yet willing to accept the dire situation America faces and are more interested in protecting themselves. If Scott Walker is recalled for his success I feel this will be the first domino to fall as we head into the presidential election in November, because if he is punished for doing the right thing how many politicians moving forward are going to be willing to chance suffering the same fate as Scott Walker, even if it is for the good of the Union?
Sure, the politicians talk a good game but when faced with the backlash of the voters they will wilt, and if the voters aren’t ready to accept the needed changes the politicians aren’t going to introduce these changes. And I think we need look no further than the OWS movement to see proof that there are many Americans out there who do not understand that our economic woes cannot be solved by simply taxing the bourgeoisie to provide for the proletariat.
I fear that a majority of Americans do not fully understand how dangerously close we are to the precipice and will only learn after we have fallen off. It just might take the total collapse of our system before people decide it is time to make these necessary changes, but the question is this; what type of America is going to rise from the ashes? Will it be the industrious and motivated people of America hellbent on restoring America to her former glory, or will it be the beginning of a great communist revolution in this country? Or will it be something else? We know what a certain sect of the voters of Wisconsin want, and we know what the OWS people want, but what do we want and are we willing to fight for it? And where there be a leader standing with us?
June 6th is the anniversary of D-Day, but June 5th could be D-Day for America. June 5th could be the most important day for America in ages, and it could be the day we decide which path will be taken in November. Will we begin to right the ship while we still have time–if we still have time–or will we continue down this path to self destruction?
As goes Wisconsin, so goes the nation.
America's Watchtower 
I always enjoy what you write, but this has to be one of the most thought-provoking posts I have ever read. From anyone! The truth behind your statements about the direction of Wisconsin, and American, politics is profound.
That’s why France kicked out a President who was trying to do the right thing by his country and elected a socialist who promised them the moon. Scott Walker has just been trying to do right by his state, yet we see where that is getting him.
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WOW Larry, that is the highest compliment that anyone has ever given me on anything that I have written and it means a great deal to me. Thank you!
This notion is something that I have been kicking around in the back of my mind for a couple of weeks ago and when I read your post about how the election in France could effect what happens here in November it got me motivated to finally write this post.
Both the Walker ordeal and the election in France are very telling signs aout the future in my opinion because they could show us that the people are not yet willing to do what needs to be done because they have been bought off by the governments for far too long and they really know no other way.
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It seems that doing the right thing anymore is a thing of the past, isn’t it? People have been programmed to want free stuff, haven’t they? Buy one, get one free? Sign up for something and get another one to send to someone else free? 2 for 1 meals? What do we expect? Of course it is nice to get that free stuff, isn’t it? Problem is, SOMEONE is paying for it. Same goes for healthcare. Weren’t we told as a nation that it would be free healthcare and Obama got the votes to push it thru? Well, now do we think it is still free? Except for the Medicaid and welfare groups, we will be paying for an inferior medical coverage and we will LIKE it. I happen to like the insurance I have, now I will most likely have to change it so I can start paying for someone elses care, as well. No, the people that are trying to do the right thing for the states to bring them under control are being taken down by unions and this administration as quick as they can. People might actually start opening their eyes and see what a balanced budget looks like and it might not be all that hard to do. If that happens how will government control the people then? We, in general, have become our own worst enemies and we are letting this happen to us, because it is the easy way out.
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That is the gist of the problem Lou, so many people have become used to getting something from nothing from the government without ever thinking about where it actually comes from. SO they don’t seem to understand that everything cannot be free. Then they turn around and fault people who are trying to do the right thing; this does not bode well for our future. It is amazing how expensive things become when they are free, isn’t it?
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I live in Wisconsin and could not agree with you more. As a working man, who has never been a member of a union,I pray that we can keep this good man in there and help point the way for the rest of the country.
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George, I lived in Madison and Middleton in the early 70’s for 3 years (my dad was born and raised in Mazomanie) and found out what a liberal area it was. I am not sure how Wisconsin stacks up to Illinois ( where we landed), but it is probably pretty close in the liberal category. Mad City with the university there is a breeding ground for liberals, isn’t it? I will keep you in my thoughts, as well, something has to change.
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Here’s hoping that the people look at the results of Walker’s efforts and put their ideology aside.
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We are counting on you George (no pressure!) because Wisconsin has shown us that it can be done when one man is willing to step up to the plate and that is what is needed across the country right now. I am routing for Walker with all my heart.
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Scott Walker was, is, and always will be a hero of mine and a real American.
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AMEN!
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This is simply a case of the Socialists fighting back. Being responsible does not fit into their agenda, people who are not dependent on government will not keep them in power.
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They are making a last ditch effort to hold on to the freebies, hopefully it will fail.
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Wisconsin has a long history of liberalism. So, the flip side of your coin is that if Scott Walker survives this recall election, that will be a good omen for America. I’m going to keep my fingers crossed.
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I’m keeping my fingers crossed as well, but I am not hopeful.
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Here’s what’s interesting, while unions were at one time good for health and safety, they are now in my opinion obsolete. I think obama is covertly trying to break the unions, and it will happen if he is re-elected. He can’t win without them, but he can’t topple our economy with them still in existence. That being said, I support Walker 100%.
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That is an interesting thought and one I hadn’t considered before.
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