Charles Woodson and Wis. Protesters

Of course he does. It might not be a great public relations move is all, which is what I took the post you answered to mean.

If the Packers are all right with this sort of thing and have nothing in the players' contracts prohibiting them from making public statements like this (because people associate them with the franchise), then there's little anyone can say about it.

If I were working public relations in the Packer organization, though, I'd be cringing a little bit.

Here's video today yielded, from Madison. I'm glad this Democrat had the guts and decency to stand up for his friend who was cornered and intimidated by this mob...he should be commended for that, no doubt (some language NSFW, they were apparently chanting "F___ YOU!" at some point in this video, I read (couldn't hear it myself, as I watched it on my iPhone) - pretty scary stuff:

YouTube - Wisconsin GOP Senator Glenn Grothman chased, trapped by hecklers, saved by Dem. Rep. Brett Hulsey

So Gov. Walker will go ahead and waste tax payers money and resources by sending state troopers to empty houses of democrats who have left the state, but he won't provide escorts of troopers to those who show up to work through an angry mob? And he even keeps his own workers of the same party locked out? WTF!?
Our gov. clearly has his priorities Fd up BIG TIME.
He's a college drop out. That explains why he's such a moron.

It was only a month ago after the Arizona shooting, our President and other Democrats where criticizing the Tea Party movement for being uncivil, even though there was no connection between the two.

Now those same criticizers are encouraging folks to be uncivil and even to get bloody in the streets.

Amazing.

Here is how Senator Grothman described the union backed protesters:

"They're loud, they'll give you the finger, and they yell at you, but I really think deep down inside they're just mostly college kids having fun, just like they're having fun sleeping with their girlfriends on air mattresses. That's the guts of that crowd."

Mob ruled democracy inside our Republic.

I couldn't agree with you more, ForgetFavre. And, LombardiChick, those scenes are disturbing indeed. However, I'm sure there are equally as many videos attacking the other side.
Just like Charles Woodson, everyone in this great country is entitled to their opinion. Ain't that awesome? Unfortunately, expessing of said opinions is turning our little Packer Forum into a pissin' match. I'm so upset about what's going on in my own state that I come to the Packer Forum for sanctuary...nothing but talk about my beloved, World Champion, Green Bay Packers & re-living the Super Bowl victory. Isn't that what this forum is for? I for one am not going into this political thread again. CRIPES - you'd think we were Packer fans talking to Bears fans or something.
GO PACK!!! :victory:

It's hard to tell if you are being serious here - is this just hyperbole? You realize that just like people in every other human endeavor, a certain percentage of teachers are just plain incompetent and some just don't care, right? How about the tiny percentage that have sex with their students or are otherwise criminals? Isn't that "any reason"? And you really believe that $100,000 for 9 months work is not enough? That seems detached from reality, particularly when you consider the real unemployment and underemployment rate. What do you think the proper level of teacher compensation is?

And since you continue to be stuck on the drop out issue: Do you not realize many very successful and intelligent people don't have college degrees? Bill Gates dropped out of college, do you consider him a moron? Perhaps you could post your academic credentials so we will know how seriously to take your views? And BTW, some of us who disagree with you on this issue have college and post-graduate degrees.

First, since the cuts haven't yet taken place, what explains "…why we are behind other countries when it comes to education" now? Second, I think you are making a common mistake in thinking there is a direct correlation between spending per student and educational success. I know of at least one in-depth study that refutes that idea, do you have any that support it?

Only thing needed in this awesome post is for it to end in "BOOM!"

Please edit accordingly.

I disagree, and I'm not a drop out. Our educational system needs a complete overhaul, teachers included. And yes, teachers SHOULD be included in any and all cuts. There's no reason why everyone but them should have to make cuts and sacrifices.

Want to fix education and increase standards? Start by eliminating teacher tenure. There's no reason why having tenure should give you immunity from A) Having to do your job well, and B) From being fired if you don't meet expectations. I mean, everyone else is subject to performance reviews, why shouldn't teachers? Just ending teacher tenure and making it easier to fire bad teachers will raise the performance in the classroom.

Next, do a complete and full audit of the money being thrown at the education system and make sure it's getting to the actual classroom, rather than being wasted on things like $200 Million for teachers who shouldn't be on the payroll, $100 Million on a payroll system with more bugs than a hooker in Tijuana, and a $585 Million school:

LAUSD Paid $200M on Unnecessary Salaries: Audit | NBC Los Angeles

Waste Watch - LAUSD Now Failing Employees (and Students) - FlashReport - Presented by Jon Fleischman

A $585 Million Monument to Dysfunction – LA Opens its Newest School | The Transformation Times

While you're at it, look into the books of the school administration and figure out how many unnecessary assistants and secretary's and other administrators can be let go.

Finally, right now our school districts have too many luxuries they just don't need, so we need to figure out what the least amount of money is needed to ensure successful operation of the educational system. In CA, teachers get 55% of our budget, which is fine, but every time our state falls short on revenues and the teachers get less money this year than they did last year, they start screaming and picketing about being forced to make cuts. A way to avoid this would be to have a fixed budget needed to successfully run operations. Anything more is a surplus and should be put aside for a rainy day.

I could go into more detail, but the bottom line is it comes down to how grossly mismanaged our education system is. We constantly hear screaming about the lack of money in the class rooms, but we wouldn't have that problem if we just managed it properly.

Bill Gates. Michael Dell. Steve Jobs. James Cameron. Tom Hanks. Harrison Ford. Mark Zuckerberg. Larry Ellison. Sheldon Adelson. Paul Allen. David Geffen. Russell Simmons.

I'll let you take a wild guess at what all these guys have in common.

Hasn't it been shown that one's peer groups and immediate family have more of an impact on the educational success of the student than teachers in the classroom?

Mark Zuckerberg. lol He's so out of place cause of his age.

That they are college dropouts but smarter then Walker.

I don't find Walker too bright suggesting things that are angering hundreds of thousands of people.
As well as taking a phone call from someone pretending to be one of his contributors.
You can be a college drop out and be smart or dumb.
The above group is smart I suppose, but Walker is dumb or a few bricks short of a wall.
He's just a power hungry dictator with no regard to the consequences of his actions or democracy.

No government employee should be unionized. It's a conflict of intrest. Even FDR(one of the worst socialists in our history) wouldnt allow federal workers to be unionized. I put up with Charles being a Michigan Alum but being a hippie might be more than I can bare.

So, because he's making a change, which always pisses people off, and because he got punked by a prank most everyone else would have fallen for, he's an idiot?

Got it.

I dunno about being a dictator. He was elected by the people, and there's still a series of checks and balances that he needs to go through to enact his plan.

Unions where abolished for federal public employees back in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, BTW. It's time for them to go now, for state public employees.

He isnt a dictator. They tend to poll in the high 90s. Not in the mid 50s like Walker.

This is why it's so hard to have any dialog with some people.

You took a diverse group of people and labeled them as morons because of your hatred for Scott Walker. Nothing I can say, nor any facts I present will allow you to see past this hatred.

The fact that some people drop to this level of political fanaticism in this country scares me. It also shows me that we should not try to negotiate with them. They've gone past the realm of reason.

100%

He’s all about the consequences of his actions. I’ve been following Walker since he became Milwaukee County Exec and from everything I’ve heard and read I think he believes government has gotten too big, spends too much and is too intrusive in our lives. That goes for local and state governments and, unfortunately, the federal government as well. There are a lot of people in this country who agree with that view. I understand there is passionate opposition to what he is proposing, but IMO he is attempting to get the state back to fiscal sanity for the benefit of all Wisconsin residents and that takes dramatic change.

As to his having no regard for democracy, that’s a curious view for someone opposing Walker. Before the last election Wisconsin was the “bluest” of states. The Democrats had both legislative houses, the governorship, both US Senators, and 5 of 8 Congressional seats. As a result of the 2010 election, the Republicans now have both legislative houses, the governorship, 5 of 8 Congressional seats, and they unseated a 3-term popular Senator in Feingold. That is as dramatic a turnaround from “blue” to “red” as any state in the nation in 2010. The voters of Wisconsin could hardly have been clearer. In the health care “summit” with the Republicans, the President reminded us that elections have consequences, remember? They do indeed: The Wisconsin Democrats went from being in charge to being in the minority and rather than deal with the consequences of the democratic election, 14 state Democrat Senators fled the state. They are the ones acting with disregard for representative democracy, not Walker.

LOL fox shows protest footage with palm trees in the background.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOqBpsh94xQ]YouTube - FOX Uses Out-of-Town Footage To Depict Out-of-Control Union Violence[/ame]

All your posts on this thread have been excellent. Thank you.

i totally agree. i'm a public school teacher. that comment inspired me to go start my own school.

Excellent! Is your charter school in the city of Milwaukee? Most charter schools far exceed public schools in student grades and college placement. Hopefully you won't be required to provide free life time pensions and almost free health care to your teachers.

With the expansion of vouchers for charter students in the budget bill you chances of success are unlimited. I wish you great luck!

It's people like you who prove the American Dream is alive and kicking. This kind of spirit is what makes America great! You could have just ran to Illinois, instead you saw a problem and took action.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Is Your Refrigerator Running? Wisconsin Legislature Attempts to Make Prank Calls Illegal - TIME NewsFeed
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPzFPdJmrlc]YouTube - Bart's prank calls[/ame]