Wisconsin Recall

I'm glad that we don't have recall elections in Pennsylvania. We elect our officials for a fixed term and if we don't like what they have been up to we get a chance to vote them out after 4 years. As much as I oppose what Tom Corbett has done in the last 2 years another election is not the way to do it.  I'm willing to wait for Joe Sestack or someone else to take him on in 2014.

Local bloggers the Blogfather and RWF are crowing about Scott Walker's win in Wisconsin. The Citizen's United decision opened the spigot for outside and anonymous money that may have swung the election.

CBS:  According to the Center for Public Integrity, candidates and outside groups spent in excess of $63 million on the recall election - an enormous figure that easily breaks the previous record of $37.4 million (set in the 2010 gubernatorial contest) for spending in a Wisconsin election. According to the New York Times, Walker and his Republican allies spent $45.6 million on the race as of May 21, while Barrett and his allies have spent $17.9 million.

Mark and Aggie are celebrating a defeat for the unions involved. Maybe the people who ask why do those  people have protections and benefits that I don't have should ask why don't I?
 
This thing started as a fight about union rights.

 What Have Unions Done for America?

1. End child labor
2. 8 hour work day
3. 40 hour work week
4. Paid Overtime
5. Weekends (yes, they didn't exist as days off before unions)
6. Workers compensation for people injured on the job
7. Unemployment insurance
8. Paid sick leave, vacations, and holidays as standard benefits for most workers
9. Health Insurance for many workers
10. Pensions or 401Ks for many workers
11. Improve workplace safety and reduce on the job fatalities
12. Pushed for Civil Right Acts and Title VII which outlaws job discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin
13. Occupational Safety and Health Act
14. Family Medical Leave Act
15. Push for livable minimum wage

 While discussing what role unions have in America today, lets not forget what benefits most workers in America have today that's taken for granted.  Those of you saying "Thank God it's Friday!", also remember to thank unions or there's a good chance you'd be working on Saturday.