Mixed Wisconsin Feelings...

I either do not have the insight to take a definitive position or perhaps the Wisconsin political situation is complex.  ;-)

Here are three conflicting impressions I've had:

1. The collective bargaining power of unions is a mixed blessing.  On the one hand, it arose in a context where business was running over the individual little man.  I also think that in a different period, unions have made it difficult for some businesses to be competitive by unreasonable demands.  I don't know what the solution is.

2. Who would want to be a public school teacher in America today?  The kids are atrocious because the parents are atrocious.  Local teachers and administrators waste half their time filling out paperwork for the government.  They aren't empowered to do what needs to be done locally.  They're not even allowed to physically remove disruptive students from the classroom.  The drop out rate for teachers in the first 5 years is enormous.  They are the play thing of political debate and subject to ever changing expectations.

And now they're getting a massive pay cut in Wisconsin by cutting pension and health care from their existing salary.  I heard a commentator on Fox News this morning repeat the governor's rhetoric in his own words--they're being paid too much and given too much vacation.  Right.  Actually, let's just put some unemployed janitors in as teachers.  How hard can it be to teach someone to read, right?

3. The entire amount of the current Wisconsin budget shortfall would be covered four times over with tax cuts that have been made in the state over the last 10 years.  This is a debate America needs to have.  What is the "sweet spot" on taxes?  Taxes fund the government.  The government provides services to provide for a common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.  But taxes reduce individual spending, which diminishes profitability in the free market, which gives individuals less money to spend--which yields less taxes.

Both sides need to get their head straight, I believe.  For the one side, high taxes presumably do not lead to a thriving economy or society.  The impulse to keep as much money in the hands of the people that spend it (which is not necessarily the wealthy) seems to be a good impulse.

For the other side, there is no divine right against taxes.  Paul said to pay taxes.  Jesus said to pay taxes.  I cannot even imagine how to make an informed biblical, Christian, or moral argument against taxes along the lines of the current debates.

My main hope is more local.  I have a mixture of people who read this blog from time to time, people on both sides of these issues.  Perhaps we can carve out just a small island of mutual understanding and of Christian clarity.  As I've said before, we should be able to agree on our broad Christian values, even if working out the details is complicated.