A Random Point

For several days now Wisconsin has been in the national spotlight due to the protests here in Madison against Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill. Facebook is full of Madisonians supporting the protestors and they have some legitimate gripes. But one thing that keeps getting put out there is that Walker is stripping workers of their "rights." The problemn I have with that, is they are referring to his desire to repeal Collective Bargining by public unions. That is not a right. A right is something that is inherent. You are born with it. You don't have to do anything to get them, and nothing in the way of action is required from anybody else in order for you to exercise your rights. The only duties imposed on others is to not interfere with the exercising of your rights. So, for instance, if you want to exercise your right to free speech, it is only incumbent upon me to not interfere with your speech. I do not have to give you a microphone or buy you TV time.

The ability of public unions to collectively bargin, was granted by the state legislature in 1959. They can bestowe it, and they can take it away. It is NOT a right, it's a privledge, just like driving a car. But be aware, that just pisses them off when you say that.