Jul 10, 2015

GOP Candidates Look Out-of-touch on Paying Workers Less

Workers make too much money, says Scott Walker
as he readies to sign a budget targeting wages
Folks of myriad political stripe subscribe to a fair day's pay for a fair day's work ethic.

This is why Republican appeals for more work, less pay seem less than compelling.

Jeb Bush's call for longer hours from the workers' engine of America went over nationally like a brick in a lake (Rappeport, New York Times).

In Wisconsin, Scott Walker has since before Day One in office in 2011, been pushing for lower wages and longer hours, with allies calling for the end of the weekend, that remnant of American unions in the 20th century.

Of course Walker has to do most of his politicking depressing working families behind closed doors, and hidden in his budget that has destroyed Wisconsin's fiscal future. Hence, more cuts to non-GOP sectors of Wisconsin are in the offing.

Steve Hanson at Uppity Wisconsin captures the depths and persistence of Walker's perverse efforts to drive down wages, as the radical, Evangelist Walker has apparently forgotten that God likes people and society providing for families.

Living wage, prevailing wage, upping the minimum wage, forget it say Scott Walker and Republicans in their latest budget. (Ollstein, ThinkProgress)

Scott Walker hopes not many voters will notice. Untested in presidential election-level voter turn-outs, Walker has yet to be proven wrong (Kilgore, Washington Monthly).

Republicans are not so certain about voters however; enacting voter obstruction laws wherever they hold a majority, secure in the knowledge that federal Republican judges will reside in the Republican legislatures' "fact-free cocoon in which to lodge the federal judiciary." (Posner, Frank v. Walker; p. 26) (Mal Contends)

So why not attack workers' wages?

Who is going to vote Republicans out in gerrymandered districts and off-year elections?

Republican officeholders are well-paid for their efforts, knowing well that obstructing voting will "discourage voting by persons likely to vote against the party responsible for imposing ... [voting] burdens," (Posner, Frank v. Walker; p. 28).

Such persons are typically working-class, college students, disaffected veterans, disabled or non-white.

As Walker's former chief of staff joked in emails circulated around Walker's office when he served as Milwaukee County Executive (2002-2010): "... Just what I needed!!! I am a homosexual, and on top of that, with a Mexican boyfriend. Oh, my God .... Black, Jewish, disabled, gay with a Mexican boyfriend, drug addict, and HIV-positive!!! ... ." (The Progressive) Scott Walker didn't object, and refused to comment even on Fox News.

The lifelong politician Scott Walker with a warrant from God will announce for the presidency next Monday, from Waukesha County (Gilbert, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)—Republican, 93-percent white and proud of it.

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