Wisconsin vote gives rise to anger, satisfaction in social media sphere
The vote drew howls of outrage from outside the chamber, where pro-union demonstrators chanted "Shame" and "You lied to Wisconsin" as the bill passed.
March 9th, 2011
10:59 PM ET

Wisconsin vote gives rise to anger, satisfaction in social media sphere

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"This is a date that will live in infamy."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's oft-quoted assessment of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 surfaced on Twitter Wednesday night, as reaction to the Wisconsin Senate's vote to pass proposed restrictions on collective bargaining for public employees began to flood the social media site.

Accompanied by the hashtag, #AshWednesdayMassacre, the sentiment captured the anger and disbelief of many around the Wisconsin capitol - and in the Twitterverse - who feel that the Republicans manipulated the vote by stripping the budget bill of all things budget-related to get around the need for a quorum in the absence of 14 Democratic senators. The move, some believe, lays bare their true motive from the start: to gut the unions, pure and simple.

"Either #Wisconsin GOPers just violated the constitution, or Scott Walker lied," the pro-labor publication Mother Jones said in another oft-retweeted sentiment.

Not everyone's upset with the vote, which would bar public workers other than police and firefighters from bargaining collectively for anything other than wages, in what Walker and GOP lawmakers say will help close a $137 million budget shortfall.

"wisconsin gop reminds unions that collective bargaining is a privilege, not a right," brooksbayne tweeted.

Here's some more reaction to Wednesday's vote:

"Nothing says democracy like voting with no notice, preventing the public from observing, and locking the doors of the capitol" - mirerony.

"Still waiting for @BarackObama to stand the picket line as promised. This is class warfare of the worst kind." - ericming5

"Tonight #WI GOP showed their true aim: undermining workers' rights. I continue to stand in solidarity with #wiunion." - NancyPelosi

"Hey, Governor KOCH! Some of your shareholders, err, constituents aren't too happy right now. That's bad business." - mariannesp

"This is EXACTLY why we need collective bargaining. Would you trust these legislators to determine your working conditions?" - shankerblog

"Repubs freaked out abt czars, but claim rt 2 dissolve towns. wht planet did I wake up on? Planet Plutocrat?" - XicanaMama

"Furious beyond belief. What happens now? This can not be abided & will not be forgotten. It has only just begun." - HarryWaisbren

"Has anyone else noticed that the state of #Wisconsin looks like a clenched fist?" - Red_Ben89

"Apparently Gov. Walker is giving up democracy for Lent." - blissfulfun

"Since there don't appear to be any rules/laws in WI government now, let's skip the 1 year rule and recall Walker's ass right now." - AnnieRauh

"Hey, things happen. RT @TeresaKopec: I guess the Kochs got their money's worth. And the middle class just got kicked in the teeth." - umarsattar

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Filed under: Labor • Protest • Wisconsin
soundoff (55 Responses)
  1. Tomtom Chantchant

    Boss man came up to me at private-sector work today and said now that the Republicans slit union crybaby throat in Wisconsin I have to dig coal with my bare hands, for sixteen hours a day, no breaks, and still complete my normal duties, all for $10 less an hour. I said Boss, we're not even in the coal business. Boss man said doesn't matter, go find some coal and start digging. Boss man also took off all the machine guards and told me I had to buy my steel toes from the new company store, at double the price. And he won't spring for safety glasses any more. Just a safety monocle. And he made all the overhead cranes coin operated. And said I could only use quarters from the company store, which cost 30 cents per.

    Libs had a good run, boo hoo.

    March 11, 2011 at 7:38 am | Report abuse |
  2. Amercaneedsrealists

    You are absolutely right, jobs paid for with tax payer funds should not have collective bargaining rights, actually they should only get to negotiate with the taxpayers who are not public sector employees to determine salaries and benefits.

    March 14, 2011 at 11:03 am | Report abuse |
  3. John

    Speaking about realism....realistically which service provides more direct benefits to American citizens and taxpayers, legislators or teachers? Which requires the most training? which is more important to the future success of the USA?....which one gets 3 times more pay than the other?.......this is the true abomination and it needs to change............

    March 14, 2011 at 5:43 pm | Report abuse |
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