Harsdorf coping with threats, intimidation
March 16, 2011 at 9:13 am in Hudson Star-Observer
It’s not easy being a Republican senator in Wisconsin these days, and 10th District State Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, said forces from outside the state are leading the charge to “maintain the status quo.”
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There is so much wrong with this article I don’t know where to begin but I want people to know that over 100,000 folks showed up in Madison last weekend. I myself have been there numerous times. Many of my friends and neighbors were there as well. There were farmers on tractors FROM WISCONSIN. There are school districts here IN WISCONSIN losing 25% of their teaching force and your city will lose many as well. Those folks for sure will not be paying any union dues! (Scott Walker bragging in Hudson about a teacher saving $1000- that is if she has a job at all). Was Sheila Harsdorf with other Republican senators the day after the vote to take away bargaining rights from the unions when they flew to Washington DC to meet with lobbyists, and who paid for THEIR trip? When they turn back the clock fifty years and refuse to listen or represent the whole it is time for them to go. Visit Sheila Harsdorf’s website where she blames the democratic majority for harming the workers of this great state. (This is seriously outdated). Do your homework, find the truth, don’t give up and remember to vote. This is more than Wisconsin, this is nationwide.
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Maybe Sheila will finally get that these are forces from *inside* the state when she gets recalled. She is completely unwilling to listen to constituents who don’t hold the same views as she does, so we need to get her out of office and replace her with someone who realizes that elected representatives represent ALL of the citizens in the district.
I would also argue that demonizing teachers, firefighters, peace officers and other public employees rather than taking a comprehensive look at ways to deal with budget shortfalls is NOT the Wisconsin way.
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We, the taxpayers of this great state, don’t really care how many tractors showed up in Madison last Saturday for your little pep rally for the fleeing 14. We care how many people are in unemployment lines and foreclosure proceedings.
For us it is not about show, it is about substance. But I’m glad you all had fun at your heroes welcome. Where were all 100,000 of you when Doyle made a mockery of the budget process and in the midst of a recession raised taxes by $1 billion in our state? Or when he was raiding the transportation fund to give more money to his teacher union pals? Or when he used one time stimulus funds for ongoing budget costs? Where were all your drums and tractors then? Oh that’s right, you were on the receiving end of those goodies.
Here is a simple economics visual for you. There are two types of people in our economy. Trough fillers and trough feeders. The majority of us are tired of filling the trough so the minority can live ‘high on the hog’ with your wages and benefits and early retirements. Maybe those farmers and their tractors can help you out, but then, they probably won’t want to give up their farm subsidies either.
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First, as an evangelical pastor and opposition protester I condemn any threat to any of our elected officials. I sincerely hope the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice, regardless of whether it was from someone opposed to Governor Walker’s budget bill or from someone who supports the budget bill and is trying to undermine the credibility of those that oppose it, like myself.
Second, I have been to Madison three times to protest, and have attended numerous opposition rally’s here in Hudson and in River Falls. Let me assure you that while there are those from outside our state supporting our efforts, the vast, vast majority are your friends and neighbors from right here in Wisconsin.
If any thing is not the Wisconsin Way, it is the outright assault on worker’s rights that Senator Harsdorf and Governor Walker are perpetuating under the false pretense of a budget crisis, that was created when Governor Walker and Senator Harsdorf gave $117 million in tax credits to corporations.
John 8:32 says, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
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Scott, please stop using the word ‘right’. Collective bargaining is not a right, or else all of our federal employees and state workers in 64% of states are somehow working without ‘rights’. How do they survive????
It is a privilege, that unfortunately for too long was taxing all of us beyond what was reasonable. Now our state is facing a $3.6 billion deficit and it was time to do something about. We expected the tantrum, that’s why noone had the courage to do it before now.
You are also aware that Jesus didn’t come just to make peace with everyone. He stood up for what was just. Somehow, asking the rest of us to work until we are 85 to pay for teachers to retire at 55 isn’t just. Tax breaks to corporations aren’t just political favors-they are done to spur the economy and create jobs.
As a pastor, you should be talking to these people about greed and not being grateful for their job, which in today’s economy is a blessing.
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John, I would agree with you that collective bargaining is not a right. I also believe that we all need to pitch in to help the overall state budget and taxpayer. Plus, I don’t think it is wrong for our governor to ask our state employees to contribute more if necessary. The part that bothers me is the fact the union leaders of WEAC said they would pay more into retirement and health insurance to retain their collective bargaining. Mission accomplished for the governor except now he wants to eliminate the bargaining. I see no reason to eliminate the bargaining if the union is willing to contribute. Once the governor’s budget bill goes in effect the unions will not be able to bargain and will have to settle for the cost of living/inflation as the max for their salary. If you are familiar with insurance plans for government entities you will know the premium will go up every year. That means the teachers will make less than the inflation rate every year they remain in that job. I don’t know anyone in their right mind that would choose a career that pays them less every year. These men and women pay tens of thousands of dollars to obtain a Bachelor’s degree and once they get hired spend more money maintaining their licenses by obtaining Master’s Degrees. Most teachers are more educated than their private sector counterparts and deserve the pay that goes along with their training and education. My fear is this bill is enacted in 20 years the quality of our teachers will diminish significantly.
On another note. The teachers that I know that retired in their 50′s are rare. Most retire in their 60′s and still obtain another job to pay for health insurance. Their state retirement doesn’t pay 100% of their wage.
Our founding fathers of our contry gathered together and collectively decided what would be best for our new nation. Our nation was founded upon the ability for people to work together and have their voices heard. Governor Walker seeks to eliminate a voice for purely political gains aimed at destroying a financial base for the democratice party. It would be equally as bad if a democrat governor made a law preventing corporations from contributing to republican candidates.
Make no mistake. The underlying reasons for this bill is political. Public employees make up only 8% of the state budget.
Last of all. In my private sector job I have the ability to go to my employer and request a wage increase or improvement in my benefits. I may get it or I may not depending on a variety of factors. If I was a public sector employee I wouldn’t even be able to do that. I would be lucky to get the inflation rate and I would get an increase in health insurance premium. The budget repair bill is bigotry towards a certain class of employee, PUBLIC.
P.S.: For those of you who think we should just tax the rich that is just reverse discrimination. We need to all pay our fair share.
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Um, John, Sheila Harsdorf, as a 50% partner, received farm subsidies (a/k/a taxpayers’ $$$) while holding her elected senate seat. You know, the senate seats that are also paid extremely well at the taxpayers’ expense. Doesn’t that upset you, too? Here’s a link to see the numbers for yourself:
http://farm.ewg.org/persondetail.php?custnumber=A03871660
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If you have followed some of my previous comments, you would know that I am not in favor of farm subsidies either. We need to drastically cut the amount of money that the government is collecting and redistributing. Funny how you guys love all the goodies that come your way, but noone else better get any!
You guys like to dodge the real topic and say ‘look what’s going on over there!!!’. There has also been a huge effort by the unions to demonize the Koch brothers. Most people I know say ‘Who are they?’. It is simply an attempt to divert attention away from the hard cold facts of just how costly public employee wages and benefits, driven up by the unions, are to taxpayers. Let’s stay on topic, shall we?
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“Most people I know say ‘Who are they?’.” Statements like this make me want to hit my head against a wall. These people you speak of need to move out of their parents’ basement and stop playing “Call of Duty: Black Ops” on their X-Box all day.
The Koch Brothers own Scott Walker. Did you miss the prank call a few weeks ago. It was a thing of beauty.
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Koch brothers= liberal left’s boogie man. You guys need someone new cause you can’t blame Bush anymore, though you keep trying!! Before you lost all your ‘rights’ I doubt many of you teachers knew who they were either. You need to have a distraction so people don’t look at the reality of how unions have stuck it to the taxpayers of this state for the last 50 years.
Ask the average person on the street to expain collective bargaining to you beyond ‘they help teachers get raises’ and watch their eyes glaze over. Yes, this is a battle of ideas, not personalities. Get with the program!
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“…many of you teachers”. Hey John, I’m not a teacher. Sorry to disappoint you because I know how you love to vilify them.
“…this is a battle of ideas, not personalities.” Hmmmmm, that’s a thinker.
Now you are the one who needs to stay on topic.
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George Soros, unions, Bill Ayers, ACORN, Rev. Wright = conservative right’s boogie man.
Ask the average TEA Party person on the street to explain collective bargaining and you will get “it’s the process by which George Soros and his fellow radicalized vegans are using to force all private sector patriots into Satanic atheist Muslim reeducation bathouses so you will be defenseless when gay Marxist illegal immigrants come after you and force you to worship at a the Ground Zero mosque.”
Pay no attention to the snuz juice dribbling down their chins or their knuckles dragging on the pavement. This is battle where fact have not place and drowning the truth in ideological Kool Aid is all that matters. Don’t dare question the program.
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I agree with John that it is pointless to blame the Koch brothers. They are no different than any other citizen who contributes to a particular political party. There are plenty of wealthy democrats who contribute to the democratic party. The tax the rich mantra is old. They pay a progressive tax like the rest of us.
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Guess what Katie…her SALARY is paid with taxpayer money too!!!!! AAARGHHRAAHRRHAAAaaaa!!! STOP PAYING HER!!!!! SHE CANT GET ANY TAXPAYER MONEY!!!!!!!!!
(or we could not pay the no-show 14….)
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Scott, you clearly outlined with your letters why so many people have left the mainline Catholic, Methodist and ELCA churches. You should stick with preaching the Gospel, salvation and the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. You should know as pastors that you will be held to a higher standard come Judgement Day. I doubt that you will be asked how you shepherded the flock through the collective bargaining issues of the day!
Personally, I find your outspoken approach to this matter not particularly pastor-like. It is alienating to many Christians to see their pastor take such a strong position on one side of a very divisive issue that isn’t really addressed in the Bible. I don’t think that you should twist Scripture in order to try to prove ‘your side’ of the issue. Some might consider that blasphemy. First and foremost, you should strive for unity in the body of Christ. Clearly, this is not an issue that will bring much unity, so perhaps you should avoid it. That’s what we have done in our church. What you are doing in your church?
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Scott is entitled to his opinion.
“You should know as pastors that you will be held to a higher standard come Judgment Day.” Did someone put you in charge of Judgment Day John?
Typical arrogant Conservative response. You people care about no one and nothing except yourselves.
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Read the Book.
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John, if “the Book” is what you think gives you the right to tell everyone else what they can do and how they can think, I’ll pass. Good thing I’m not held to your “higher standard”.
Lord, protect me from your followers.
And John, Scott is the higher standard. Have some basic respect for others.
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We do want to stop paying her. We want her out of office.
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Harsdorf is sucking up government money too, just like Bachmann across the river? What a wealth of hypocrisy.
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Sure sounds like a form letter written by the governer. I remember way back when Ms. Harsdorf represented all the people of her district. Actually working both sides of the aisle….that ship has sailed!
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The onrush of unhindered corporate money and influence has already started to pour into St. Croix county in support of Senator Harsdorf, under the name “Wisconsin’s Club for Growth”. To find out the facts concerning this organization go to:
http://www.wawmea.org/current/clubforgrowthwisconsinfinal.pdf
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Big scoop there Scott …..next thing you will tell us is that the unions nationwide are supporting her recall. Shocking stuff, huh?
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Still trying to grasp why it is bad for elected official to take donations from privately funded sources. But it is ok for the union’s to pour publicly funded money into campaigns. Doesn’t sound very ethical on the part of the Union. Scott as I have constantly questioned the appropriate church for me you have definitely helped me to decide that any church you are at is a church I don’t want to attend. I have a funny feeling that you would have no problem if David Koch came into your church this Sunday and gave you a significant donation. You would take it and cash it in a heartbeat because that is what people do with donation. Maybe we should open up your books and see who has all donated to your church you may want to make a list of the good donors and the bad donors (bad being those big bad corporate folks) and start handing them a refund.
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Keep fighting the good fight, Scott. Cooler heads will prevail.
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With regard to these bills I keep hearing statements like “outright assault on worker’s rights “. So how is this so? Are the union tax payers not in the minority? It therefore follows that those making statements like this only regard union members to actually be workers in the state. This logic then dictates that the rest of us are not valued nor condidered workers therefore relieving us the responsibility of paying income taxes. Cool! Not sending in my payment.
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Oh Natasha I do believe that the democratic party is the party of ME ME ME! Not the other way around as you described John. Do you all not see a trend here in the Countries economy? We are going down fast because of entitlement programs. It is time to cut the spending and start to make some changes. Our children will be paying for your greed for many years to come.
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My children are already paying for the corporate greed in this country. Billions given to oil companies that make trillions and employ fewer workers every year.
Education is not a conservative value. But you can’t enslave thinkers. Wait until the next election.
Go ahead, respond. You know you can’t let me have the last word.
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Terry hasn’t realized that Republicans love their entitlements too. Tax dollars to big oil companies are somehow better than investment in education. Makes sense; if you keep people stupid, they won’t challenge the likes of Harsdorf taking in government handouts while claiming teachers make too much. Or Terry claiming that the Democrats are the greedy ones, you know, those that saw though the Walker/Koch shenanigans and realize how greed laden it is.
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they make trillions? wow….
so a oil company makes under 10% profit, and APPLE computer makes 25%…but Apple is ok because they cater to the left….
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End the pity party already. They arrested the nutbag that scared you, so now cowboy up and get back to work.
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What i dont get is why they want to recall harsdorf…she is not the one who ran away…
I would like to see what kind of “donations” managed their way into the Missing 14′s accounts while they were hiding.
Shows true colors to run away from your responsibilities.
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Wasn’t so much that they ran away, it was more like a filibuster, slowing down the runaway locomotive that can’t be stopped. Just a tactic.
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So republicans should have left the state when Obamacare was rammed through? I would NOT vote for any politician that didn’t stay and fight for their position. What a group of cowards the 14 run-aways are!
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I guess they could have left the state, but I’m not sure what good it would have done since the healthcare bill was federal…I just hope that the next time someone filibusters you treat them with the same disdain.
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Cleatus, the reason they want to recall Harsdorf is because the union members in her district finally paid enough attention to state politics to learn the name of their state senator. She’s always voted like a Republican. What’s the big recall deal now? Their ox is now getting gored. Perhaps they should have had their boots on the ground in last November’s election campaign?
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I don’t like all of the components to Walker’s budget repair bill but I do think it was poor taste to run away to another state.
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In regards to the threats against Harsdorf or any other politician, I hope the police are able to find the perpetrator and arrest them. That is b.s. to threaten someone’s life over political beliefs.
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There is something very fishy about this email. Supposedly an arrest was made on the 12th, yet still no name. No profanity in the email, making it available to print verbatim. Ridiculous misspellings/typos; don’t you think if you were posting a manifesto you’d get it right (Yet they did spell “capitol” correctly), unless you were attempting to make the email seeming sent by an idiot? Mentioning of God and hell. And the real kicker is “…making them unable to feed, clothe, and provide the necessities to their families and themselves…”; the issue of the protests was not financial.
Hmmm…
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