Expectations Set
Thousands of protestors took to the streets this past week—in Wisconsin. They were protesting legislation that would restrict the scope of collective bargaining power, while at the same time requiring public-sector workers to pay more for their pensions and health care. Last week, reportedly 40% of Madison, Wisconsin, schoolteachers called in sick (ostensibly they were in attendance at the state capital, and by appearances bringing some of the student body with them). The protestors (at least the ones on camera) drew comparisons to their actions with those taken recently by those in Egypt protesting for freedom and a democratic system of government. But to my eyes, it looked more like Greece. Don’t get me wrong. The Wisconsin protests were boisterous but appeared to be peaceful, and I’ve heard no reports of the kind of violence and arson that accompanied the protests in Greece a year ago (see Grecian Formula ). But in Wisconsin, as in Greece, a big issue is pensions and benefits 1 ...