Wisconsin cops and firemen make businesses an offer they can’t refuse [Reader Post]

In the The Godfather Don Corleone asked Hollywood producer Jack Woltz to cast Johnny Fontane in a movie. Woltz refuses and Corleone tells Johnny this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeldwfOwuL8[/youtube]

In Wisconsin the cops and firemen have sent a not-so-subtle message to the businesses of Wisconsin. In part it reads:

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

Then they ominously add this:

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the goods and services provided by your company.

It is “signed” by a number of police and firefighter unions.

In the WSJ James Taranto writes:

In the letter to Wisconsin businessmen, however, we see why so-called collective bargaining is particularly corrupting to the police. Although the letter explicitly threatens only an economic boycott, when it is written on behalf of the police–of those on whom all citizens depend to protect their safety–it invariably raises the prospect of another kind of boycott. Can a businessman who declines this heavy-handed “request” be confident that the police will do their job if he is the victim of a crime–particularly if the crime itself is in retaliation for his refusal to support “the dedicated public employees who serve our communities”?

Radio host Charlie Sykes in Milwaukee quipped

“That’s a nice business you got there. Pity if anything were to happen to it if, say, you didn’t toe the line and denounce Governor Walker like we’re asking nice-like.”

Apparently, it’s on.

Death threats are flying all around Wisconsin but neither the press nor the police seem to have any interest in them.

Try to set aside whatever biases or preconceptions you might have for a moment and ask yourself why death threats against politicians aren’t considered national news, especially in the wake of the all too fresh shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and other bystanders. And there hasn’t just been one death threat, but a number of them.

Doug Ross has a collection of pictures representing the finest of the left and their death threats.

The media is completely derelict in regards to these threats.

Would they have reported these threats if they were made against Democrats? Seems a metaphysical certitude, correct?

While Ezra Klein has done his best to rally the left wing stormtroopers in an effort to recall Wisconsin Republicans, Wisconsin lefties are far less tolerant of Republicans’ rights to do the same to the AWOL Democrats. In fact, left wing protesters destroyed the petitions completed by the right.

Upon arrival, members of the recall committee were encircled by union protesters carrying signs and a leader with a mega phone who began chanting and ranting loudly. They packed in tightly around the petition collection table so as to prevent those attempting to sign from doing so. At one point, a pro union protester, pretending to be interested in signing the petition, wrote profanity across a partially collected petition form, than began ripping up the completed petitions that were in close proximity.

And the cops?

The policemen who were there, and who were standing in close proximity to these events as they unfolded, did nothing to assist those collecting the petitions as they were being destroyed, despite such an action being a Felony under Wisconsin law. Police also did nothing to clear the walk way for citizens that wanted to sign the petitions. Recall Committee members received many phone calls the following day from Merill area citizens who stated that they showed up to sign the petition, but were too afraid to get out of their vehicles and approach the recall table.

Videos of the events can be seen at Professor Bill Jacobson’s blog.

FDR had this to say about public sector unions and collective bargaining:

“All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress.”

Destroying petitions? Oops, didn’t see it! Your business burned down? Sorry we were late getting there!

This is outright extortion. It is obscene. It is the best reason yet to abolish all public sector unions. Cops and firefighters are not hired to be the “finest” and the “bravest” at times of their own choosing. It would be their right to individually boycott any business they choose but to do so as a union eating from the public wallet?

It’s outrageous.

DrJohn

DrJohn has been a health care professional for more than 30 years. In addition to clinical practice he has done extensive research and has published widely with over 70 original articles and abstracts in the peer-reviewed literature. DrJohn is well known in his field and has lectured on every continent except for Antarctica. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for over 30 years and has three kids- two sons, both of whom are attorneys and one daughter on her way into the field of education.

DrJohn was brought up with the concept that one can do well if one is prepared to work hard but nothing in life is guaranteed.

Except for liberals being foolish.