Smlr_net March 2011

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eugene has shared a Huffington Post article with you
by mcelroy＠work.rutgers.edu 15 Mar '11

15 Mar '11

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PBS Video recommendation
by do-not-reply＠pbs.org 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

mcelroy(a)work.rutgers.edu has recommended the following PBS video to you: http://video.pbs.org/video/1838199835 Note from sender: Now you can watch PBS programs online! Hundreds of hours of award-winning feature films, documentaries, and television shows are available at http://video.pbs.org.

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Check out this link from PBS.org
by mcelroy＠work.rutgers.edu 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

A friend thought that you would enjoy this link. Check out http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/wisconsin_03-10.html Either click on or cut and paste the link above into your browser to view

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[From: eugene mcelroy] Scott Walker, Reagan's self-appointed heir
by guardian.co.uk 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

eugene mcelroy spotted this on the guardian.co.uk site and thought you should see it. To see this story with its related links on the guardian.co.uk site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/mar/10/wisconsin-us… Scott Walker, Reagan's self-appointed heir The real story of Wisconsin is the Republican right's long war to refashion American society without unions Mark Weisbrot Thursday March 10 2011 guardian.co.uk http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/mar/10/wisconsin-us… With the latest turn of events in Wisconsin [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/10/us-wisconsin-idUSTRE7290942011031…], Republican state senators have circumvented the need for a quorum vote on Scott Walker's budget bill by leaving out the fiscal clauses and passing the new laws curbing collective bargaining rights for state and public employees. This dubious tactical manoeuvre strips away the pretence that Walker and his GOP allies have hitherto maintained that the legislative package was necessary to close the state's budget deficit: Walker's objective is, as protesters in Madison have argued all along, to break the last vestige of organised labour strength in the US ? the power of public sector workers to organise and negotiate collectively. Stated or not, Walker's ambition is to complete what Ronald Reagan began 30 years ago. But the legislative chicanery in Madison's Capitol smacks of desperation. It may yet prove that the right in the US has overreached in its attack on public sector unions, provoking the left/liberal base of the Democratic party, a popular uprising in Wisconsin [http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/2/as_demonstrators_remain_locked_out_wis…] and elsewhere [http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/2/thousands_protest_anti_union_bill_in], and a backlash among the public. The latest Rasmussen poll shows Wisconsin voters disapproving [http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_state_surve…] of Governor Scott Walker by a margin of 57% to 43%, with 48% saying they "strongly disapprove". But there are also some positive lessons that American progressives and liberals could learn from the right's political strategy. It is not just that these rightwing governors like Scott Walker and John Kasich (Ohio), and other Republican leaders, are willing to take risks and fight for what they want. It is also that they fight for structural reforms ? reforms that change the political terrain so that it will be more favourable for the next battle and for the "long war" to which they are committed. Undermining and destroying collective bargaining rights is one of the most important structural reforms that any rightwing government in a developed country can win. And it is not just because, as has been widely noted, that unions contribute money to the campaigns of Democratic candidates. It is much deeper than that. Organised labour is relatively weak now, but for more than a century, it has been the most important force for positive economic reforms in the United States, from the eight-hour work day, to health insurance and Medicare [http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/14/4/62.full.pdf], social security, pensions and minimum wages. The labour slogan, "Unions: the folks who brought you the weekend", is a true but vastly understated historical reality in America. Ronald Reagan understood this very clearly when he fired 12,000 air traffic controllers soon after taking office in 1981 to break their strike and begin a new era of labour suppression, in which private sector workers all but lost their rights to organise unions [http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/dropping-the-ax-update-2009-03.p…]. His agenda was so radical that it scared many conservatives ? which was one reason he lost the 1976 Republican nomination. Even after he won the presidency in 1980, much of the business class was not convinced that it was possible to revert to 19th-century labour relations ? until Reagan did it. Unions were 20% of the private sector labour force when Reagan was elected; they are 6.9% today. Crushing organised labour was essential to a number of Reagan's other historic achievements, including launching the most massive upward redistribution of income and wealth in US history. During the 25 years after he took office, the after-tax real (inflation-adjusted) income of the richest 1% would more than triple [http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2789]789], while the average American's income would barely grow at all. But there was so much more that he accomplished in the world of rightwing ideas ? on foreign policy, tax reform and more. Without much of a mandate from voters, Reagan was nonetheless a president who transformed the world, perhaps more than any single person in the second half of the 20th century. Unfortunately for the world, the changes that he led made most people worse-off ? and in places like Central America, tens of thousands were killed [http://prernalal.com/scholar/Noam%20Chomsky%20-%20Turning%20the%20Tide%20%2…] by the dictators, death squad governments and "freedom fighters" that he championed. Contrast the leadership of Reagan and even today's far less skilled Republicans to their counterparts on the Democratic side. Bill Clinton also fought for structural reforms. His top legislative priority during his first year in office was fighting for Nafta, which helped to further undermine labour in the United States. By creating the World Trade Organisation [http://secure.citizen.org/t/10694/shop/item.jsp?storefront_KEY=789&t=&a…] and implementing welfare reform and financial deregulation, Clinton continued the rightwing structural changes of the Reagan era ? so much so that there wasn't much left for George W Bush to do when he took office. Bush tried to go after social security, but was defeated. (Clinton had a very similar plan for partial privatisation and cuts to social security, but had also backed off under political pressure.) Now we come to President Obama, who really did have a mandate for change, as the majority of the electorate finally rebelled against nearly four decades of rightwing reforms [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-weisbrot/after-four-decades-finall_b_142…] and the pain and anxiety caused by the Great Recession. One structural reform that Obama had promised in his campaign to support was the Employee Free Choice Act, which would have gone a long way towards restoring the collective bargaining rights [http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2009/03/efca101.html] that Reagan had destroyed. President Obama quickly backtracked on this promise. On healthcare, Obama also retreated from his pledge to support a public option ? which was not so much a structural reform in itself as merely an opening to the structural healthcare reform that this country needs. Real healthcare reform would be a vital progressive structural change, not least because it would eliminate the long-term deficit problem [http://www.cepr.net/calculators/hc/hc-calculator.html] in the United States and thereby remove the main pillar of the rightwing budget cuts agenda. The list could go on, but my point is not to attack Obama. He is simply representative of Democratic political leadership after nearly four decades of rightward drift, which has been helped along by conservative structural reforms. This is something that the pundits get wrong every day: it is not because this is an inherently conservative country that liberal leadership is so weak. Although polling results fluctuate widely with media coverage and the framing of the polling questions, for decades there have been polls showing majorities in favour of real healthcare reform (Medicare for all), deep cuts in military spending, an end to US military intervention abroad, increased taxes for the rich, government spending to increase employment (as needed now) and most of the progressive agenda. The problem lies not in the people but in the corridors of power, in the media and the Congress and the many institutions ? including liberal ones ? that have been shifted rightwards by strategic efforts over the last 40 years. That is why progressives find themselves fighting defensive battles, as in Wisconsin ? while the right, which has neither the presidency nor the Senate ? plays offence. It will take some time to get to the point where progressive structural reforms are on the agenda. But that time will come, and the mass uprisings in support of collective bargaining are a great and inspiring start where new leadership and organising will emerge. Inshallah (God willing), as they say in Egypt. If you have any questions about this email, please contact the guardian.co.uk user help desk: userhelp(a)guardian.co.uk. guardian.co.uk Copyright (c) Guardian News and Media Limited. 2011 Registered in England and Wales No. 908396 Registered office: PO Box 68164, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1P 2AP Please consider the environment before printing this email. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Visit guardian.co.uk - newspaper website of the year www.guardian.co.uk www.observer.co.uk On your mobile, visit http://m.guardian.co.uk or download the new Guardian iPhone app http://www.guardian.co.uk/iphone To save up to 30% when you subscribe to the Guardian and the Observer visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/subscriber --------------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail and all attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the named recipient, please notify the sender and delete the e-mail and all attachments immediately. Do not disclose the contents to another person. You may not use the information for any purpose, or store, or copy, it in any way. Guardian News & Media Limited is not liable for any computer viruses or other material transmitted with or as part of this e-mail. You should employ virus checking software. Guardian News & Media Limited A member of Guardian Media Group plc Registered Office PO Box 68164 Kings Place 90 York Way London N1P 2AP Registered in England Number 908396

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Keefe: Desperate techniques used to preserve the myth of the overcompensated public employee
by Eugene McElroy 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

"Efforts to roll back public sector wages and benefits and collective bargaining are under way in many states, with proponents claiming that overpaid public sector workers are a drag on state budgets. Our widely disseminated research refuting that claim has been targeted by critics. But as this paper shows, the criticisms leveled against our analyses of public employee compensation1 are themselves unsound. {Keefe's} paper responds to the criticisms that suggest our results are biased because......" Summary of Keefe's paper on the EPI web site. Link to full paper also included. * http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/desperate_techniques_used_to_preserve… * -- Eugene McElroy Library Associate School of Management and Labor Relations SMLR Library Rutgers University 50 Labor Center Way New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (732) 932-9513

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Wisconsin Professors Plan to Forge Ahead With Union Elections and Tough Negotiations
by mcelroy＠email.rutgers.edu 14 Mar '11

14 Mar '11

An article from The Chronicle of Higher Education was forwarded to you by: mcelroy(a)email.rutgers.edu Message from the sender: Wisconsin Professors Plan to Forge Ahead With Union Elections and Tough Negotiations http://chronicle.com/article/Wisconsin-Professors-Plan-to/126717/ The unions are proceeding with plans despite the state's adoption of a law denying collective-bargaining rights to the university system's faculty and academic staffs. Most E-Mailed Capitalism's Dismal Future http://chronicle.com/article/Capitalisms-Dismal-Future/126659/ Flagships Just Want to Be Alone http://chronicle.com/article/Flagships-Just-Want-to-Be/126696/ Nearly a Third of College Students Have Had Mental-Health Counseling, Study Finds http://chronicle.com/article/Nearly-a-Third-of-College/126726/ Sortable Table: State Appropriations for Major Public Universities: Which Ones Get the Most and the Least http://chronicle.com/article/Sortable-Table-State/126716/ Tea, Shortbread, and 3 Things Worth Knowing http://chronicle.com/article/Tea-Shortbread3-Things/126683/ Finding it hard to keep up with all that's happening in academe? The Chronicle keeps you up to date with award-winning reporting and analysis of current events in higher education. We offer daily and weekly e-mail newsletters that will keep you current. Go to http://chronicle.com/myaccount/newsletters http://chronicle.com/myaccount/newsletters to sign up. (c) The Chronicle of Higher Education 1255 23rd Street NW Washington, DC 20037

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NYTimes.com: The Conversation: Raise the Retirement Age or Find Jobs for Youths?
by ciudadviejo＠yahoo.com 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

This page was sent to you by: ciudadviejo(a)yahoo.com. OPINION | March 09, 2011 The Conversation: Raise the Retirement Age or Find Jobs for Youths? By DAVID BROOKS AND GAIL COLLINS Should the government cut benefits for the elderly affluent or should it get the wealthy before they become old and increase the cap on the payroll tax? http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/raise-the-retirement-age-or… ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company

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NYTimes.com: Wisconsin's Labor Bill
by ciudadviejo＠yahoo.com 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

This page was sent to you by: ciudadviejo(a)yahoo.com. OPINION | March 11, 2011 Letter: Wisconsin's Labor Bill A response to an article about the decision to limit bargaining by the public sector. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/opinion/l11wisconsin.html?emc=eta1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company

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NYTimes.com: The Burden of Pensions on States
by ciudadviejo＠yahoo.com 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

This page was sent to you by: ciudadviejo(a)yahoo.com. BUSINESS DAY | March 11, 2011 The Burden of Pensions on States By MARY WILLIAMS WALSH In Wisconsin, new pension cost estimates are expected to show that contribution levels are too meager and more money will be needed from public workers. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/business/11pension.html?emc=eta1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2011 The New York Times Company

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NPR.org - Putting Wisconsins Union Battle In Historical Context
by mcelroy＠work.rutgers.edu 10 Mar '11

10 Mar '11

eugene thought you would be interested in this story: Putting Wisconsins Union Battle In Historical Context http://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134337221/putting-wisconsins-union-battle-in-… *Listen/Watch on NPR.org* Many stories at NPR.org have audio or visual content. When you visit the link above, look for a "Listen" or "Watch" button. For technical support, please visit NPR's Audio/Visual Help page: http://help.npr.org/npr/consumer/kbdetail.asp?kbid=152

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Smlr_net March 2011