As for democracy, taking away rights people have fought for doesn’t sound democratic to me. What would a Republican say to someone if they wanted to take away their Glock? What also doesn’t sound democratic is refusing to negotiate (that’s why the Wisconsin Democratic legislators are in hiding). The teachers are willing to give, but not Governor Walker. Even the teacher who teaches Walker’s son is protesting! I have family members who are and were teachers. It saddens me that teachers are so disrespected. They work tremendously hard, are required to get an advanced degree, but are not paid very much. The one thing they had were good benefits. There is a tremendous need to attract the best and brightest to the teaching profession, because it is crucial for the economic well-being of the country. We also want firemen to save us. They are our heroes, but obviously not to Governor Walker.

Anna points out that the UW-Madison teaching assistants union considers the bill under consideration an affront to democracy because it eliminates a human right and the process is undemocratic. Is the situation an affront to democracy or is the situation more about the perceived fairness of what is taking place? From a political process viewpoint, a governor, senate and legislature were elected democratically and appear to be following legal practices in attempting to make these changes. The governor asserts that the changes he is pursuing are consistent with his campaign.

Opponents of the bill believe that it is fundamentally unfair to the workers involved, and the process has not been adequate considering the serious of the changes. They point to a long history of being able to negotiate for its members. The Governor contends that the state is broke and he doesn’t have anything to offer in a negotiation. The Governor contends that the only alternative he has to meet a balanced budget state requirement is to proceed with these changes; fire state employees; or raise taxes which he feels will chase more businesses away and worsen the problem.

State employees believe that it is unfair to take away their rights to negotiate on pension and health benefits; and what they have is the result of concessions made in prior negotiations. The Governor contends that the world has changed, and small contributions on pension and healthcare benefits are needed to help keep the state solvent. The contention made by the Governor is that even with these contributions, state employees will have to contribute substantially less to their pensions and healthcare benefits than workers in the private sector. The Governor asks, is this fair?

These are complex issues that may have less to do with democratic process than with perceptions of fairness. The bigger issue may be as to whether or not public sector unions across the United States will be weakened if the bill is passed.

It is clear that people on all sides of this issue have the right to demonstrate against and for this bill on their own time. Questions have been raised if state employees have the right to call in sick in order to demonstrate. It is clear that demonstration signs are helpful to bring attention to issues, but it also appears that many signs used are not consistent with the current call for civility.

The democratic process situation is made more complex by Democratic Senators (and one Independent) fleeing the Capitol to prevent a vote on the bill. Is withdrawing from deliberations on a bill consistent with democratic processes?

A fundamental question by many supporters of private sector unions is whether or not public sector unions are a good idea. Opponents of public sector unions point to a letter written by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Luther C. Steward (President of the National Federation of federal Employees) dated August 16, 1937 in which he expressed significant concerns about public sector unions and militant tactics.