Cops and Teachers? THEY Don't Pay Taxes!

[paft.livejournal.com]

Wisconsin State Assemblyman Robin Vos lets us all know what he thinks of those taxpaying Wisconsin citizens who work in the public sector:

The reality is they haven’t had to pay for these things, they’re upset about doing it now, and the taxpayers are the ones who definitely understand this because they get it, they’ve been doing this in the private sector for years, it’s time we had the same thing happen in the public sector…The fact that my Democratic colleagues want to go back to the taxpayer and have them pay higher taxes because someone shouldn’t pay 12% towards their healthcare….We are standing with the taxpayers all across Wisconsin. It’s amazing the outpouring of support that we’ve been getting from the people outside the Capitol Square, the people who are in the reality of the world, not the place that we’re sitting.

Howard Dean does a very good job of refuting Kudlow and Vos’ fiction that the demonstrations are all about the cuts in benefits and not about the elimination of collective bargaining. The capper to this exchange, however, comes near the end of the segment, when a sign appears just over Vos’ shoulder on the right. Not the kind of thing Kudlow could choreograph.

It beautifully highlights the idiocy of Vos' fiction that the demonstrators are, in some fundamental way, less American than other Americans. Does he really think cops and teachers don't pay taxes, or “live in the reality of the world?”

Crossposted from Thoughtcrimes
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Comments

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

They don't live in the reality the rest of us do, yes.

[paft.livejournal.com]

Who's "us?"

Those are mighty big crowds, Jeff.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

No, they're small crowds. And I suppose we should be impressed that they illegally called out of work to show up?

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Dedicated public servants illegally called in sick??? Say it ain't so.

[farchivist.livejournal.com]

It isn't illegal if it was within the rules. Unless, of course, you're going to implement laws requiring that said teachers require ultimate proof they were sick. (Which is why I have a stack of pre-signed, undated doctor's notes for my employer in case I ever run out of vacation time.)

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Hmm, no offense, but that strains your credibility a tad, unless of course you work in the public sector, then that is sop.

[nevermind6794.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I waited tables one summer and the managers required a doctor's note to call in sick. You know, because when you wake up sick the first thing you do is go to the doctor two hours before work.

The best part is that this policy provides disincentives for people who handle food to stay away when sick. It doesn't make any sense, but hey, free market. I guess customers can choose another restaurant based on the easily-accessible sick policy.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I'm not disagreeing with you. and a lot of employers in the private sector have rediculous standards for being sick :D

On the other hand, with the sick leave in the public sector, it can be very easy to abuse the system.

[paft.livejournal.com]

55,000 does not qualify as a "small crowd."

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

They were small crowds when I posted it. No, 55-70k is not a small crowd. No, it doesn't change the merits of their case.