Two very significant items were not mentioned regarding the “rights” taken from the unions by the Republican bill. 1) Union dues would no longer be deducted by the government from workers paychecks – instead the unions would need to collect union membership dues themselves. And 2) Union members could decide whether or not they wanted a portion of their union dues used for political purposes. Union members would not be required to pay that portion of their dues to the union that was used to support political parties/candidates selected at the sole discretion of the labor union leaders.

This is very important when considering the “half story” presented here about the amount spent on the recall campaign. About $5 million was spent by the Republican candidates to defend against the recall and $25 million was spent by the Democrats – mostly union money.

Another very significant item that was not mentioned. Throughout the US the local school districts raise most of their funds though local property taxes with some amount of aid provided by the states. The local school board (elected by the district) hires/fires the local superintendent of schools, principals and teachers, sets school policies (within state limits) and negotiates employment contracts with the teachers unions. Until now the Wisconsin school districts were completely outgunned by the national teachers unions in the negotiations and consequently were falling deeper into the red every year due to the union mandated usage of union medical insurance and pension plans. This school year is the first in recent memory when most Wisconsin school districts were not required to raise local property taxes and in some case even reduced property taxes.

...Another brilliant article matching that written by Dr Scott Denton on the “Drum” website 17th June 2011 covering Pauline Hansons political trajectory. An easy, interesting and educational read.

"Obama won there in 2008 with 56 per cent of the vote"

And what percent was that of the population?