Wisconsin’s new governor has the right idea

Mark D. Traeger, Las Vegas

Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.

The new governor of Wisconsin, facing a $3.6 billion budget deficit and not wanting to raise taxes, has called upon the unionized state workers and teachers to pay for more of their own pension and health care benefits. (Does any of this sound familiar?) But, in addition to this, its governor is also calling for an end to collective bargaining rights for most state workers.

I agree with this. Here is why. Bargaining rights for public workers are a very corrupt cycle.

Public workers are paid with taxpayer dollars. Even though this includes the workers’ own taxes that have been paid, the vast majority of their pay and benefits comes from private-sector workers’ taxes.

These public workers pay union dues. Their unions use said dues to elect politicians who are sympathetic to their members’ cause regarding pay and benefits. These politicians vote for ever sweeter pay and benefits for the unionized workers. More union dues are collected and around we go.

I know some will say the private sector uses its money to elect politicians sympathetic to its cause, too. True. But the key words here are “private sector.” These moneys don’t include my taxes and yours.

When I was a kid, my older brother was at times fond of teasing me by grabbing my wrist and making me slap myself. All the while he would be saying, “Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself.” Collective bargaining rights for public workers sure bring back some crazy memories.