My great hope is that the lesson learned in Wisconsin (and various other states), where unionized workers have basically been blamed for the budget deficits by the GOP, is that the people won't accept the blame.
I've seen it happening in businesses, especially lately, where a lack of foresight and an abundance of aggressive spending have left companies cash poor in a down economy. You rarely see the top executives take a pay cut. You do see companies shift manufacturing to China; essentially accepting risk in the place of higher pay for better control of the process, then blaming the high cost of American skilled labor. You see them cut large numbers of employees to reduce head count. It's the easiest path to a lower bottom line.
In the past few years, we've seen the Republican party lobby to repeal the affordable health care act which was meant to take some of the bargaining power away from the insurance companies and offer that leverage to Americans who needed the help (most of us would stay with our employer-provided coverage). That is the purpose of the government - by the people and FOR the people.
They've also vigorously lobbied to lower the minimum wage and cut unemployment benefits. If they don't make it easier for American manufacturers to ply their trade, lower minimum wage, and cut unemployment, surely they'll focus their attention on the school systems to make sure that everyone is educated enough to get and maintain a job, right? Wrong again.
I'm not sure what the answer is for folks who live in smaller towns with less opportunity for work.
Anyhow, I'm hoping this attack on the laboring class in America will be seen for what it is and voted back out of office. In the short term, we can enjoy Rep. Anthony Weiner's perspective:
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