Wisconsin is Greece

[jimpeel]

SOURCE

Time to Recall AWOL Lawmakers

By Peter Ferrara

Published February 22, 2011 | FoxNews.com

Newly elected Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has moved expeditiously to propose legislation to close the state’s $3.6 billion budget deficit. But that legislation languishes in the state legislature because the Democrat minority in the state Senate has fled Wisconsin, depriving the Senate of a quorum to conduct business.

Wisconsin held an election in November, and the voters granted the Republicans a 19-14 Senate majority. But under the state Senate rules, a quorum of 20 is needed to conduct business. By refusing to even participate in Senate proceedings, the 14 AWOL Senate Democrats are imperiously rejecting the democratically expressed will of the people.

Anti-democracy demonstrators who have mobbed the state capitol to impair the state legislature’s proceedings chant, also imperiously, “This is what democracy looks like.” The chant is imperious because it implies that the state and local government workers comprising the demonstrators embody superior democratic legitimacy over the vote of the people of the state.

What those state and local government workers are doing in the state capitol in Wisconsin is not what democracy looks like. It is what mob rule looks like.

What democracy looks like is what the Wisconsin Tea Party should now do to the 14 AWOL Democrat state legislators. The Wisconsin Constitution explicitly grants voters the power to recall and remove from office those anti-democracy Democratic state senators. The state Constitution provides,

“The qualified electors of the state, of any congressional, judicial, or legislative district, or of any county may petition for the recall of any incumbent elective officer after the first year of the term for which the incumbent was elected, by filing a petition with the filing officer with whom the nomination petition to the office in the primary is filed, demanding the recall of the incumbent."

Of the 14 missing Democrat state senators, at least half would be subject to immediate recall this year, maybe more. While efforts to recall U.S. senators under such state law provisions have been subject to legal controversy, there is no controversy about the authority of voters to recall state senators under such provisions.

State and local government workers are mobbing the capitol in Wisconsin because Scott’s budget deficit fix would require them to pay 5.8% of their pension costs, and 12.6% of their health insurance costs. In both cases, that’s still only about two-thirds of what private-sector workers pay, for those who even have employer provided health insurance. It is these private-sector workers who must pay the taxes to keep the wages and benefits of public-sector government workers in the style to which they have become accustomed.

Nationwide, state and local government workers are paid on average 45% more than private-sector workers, with an average hourly wage of $26.25, and $13.56 in hourly costs for benefits, for total hourly costs of $39.81, or $80,000 per year on average. This is true in Wisconsin as well. Indeed, the Manhattan Institute’s E.J. McMahon reports that for public school teachers in Milwaukee, the cost of family health coverage is $26,844, for which the teachers currently pay nothing.

Clearly, that Scott is asking to balance the state’s budget is quite reasonable. Indeed, it is long overdue. For those anti-democracy Democrat state senators who refuse to even allow a vote on the measure by failing to show up and do their duty, the Wisconsin Tea Party should begin the process of recall for the senators who are eligible for it under state law now. Voters, whether liberal or conservative, should not abide anti-democratic state senators who shut down the legislature altogether by refusing even to show up to work to do their duty.

Peter Ferrara is general counsel of the American Civil Rights Union, and a senior fellow at the Heartland Institute. He served in the White House Office of Policy Development under President Ronald Reagan, and as Associate Deputy Attorney General of the United States under the first President Bush.

 

[jimpeel]

SOURCE

An Ethics Lesson for Wisconsin Doctors Writing Fake Sick Notes

By Marc Siegel

Published February 22, 2011 | FoxNews.com

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine is investigating the disturbing and disgraceful writing of fake sick notes by some of its doctors to excuse state lawmakers who decided to bail from the capital. It is the right call. But an investigation is not enough. The state Medical Examining Board of the Department of Regulation and Licensing needs to reprimand these doctors and, in some cases, consider handing down suspensions.

I take my professional license seriously. I am bound by ethics as well as HIPAA to conduct a secret exchange with my patient. This exchange takes place in my office or in the hospital behind closed doors. It does not take place on the street with a stranger. When I interact with a patient, I am not allowed to provide the information I learn to anyone without permission. The HIPAA law is there for a good reason: it elevates the exchange between a patient and her doctor. This week's fake doctor notes in Wisconsin make a mockery of this process and undermines the sanctity of the entire profession.

A doctor's signature on a sick form is in the same category as his signature to a prescription. In the case of the fake note, he is prescribing rest or several days off to someone he doesn't know as a form of political protest. Using our medical powers in this way is a distortion that dilutes the essential meaning of these powers.

In order to maintain my professionalism, I need to know where to draw the line. Patients ask doctors for notes all the time, but doctors can only comply if they know the patient. I am often asked for a letter to excuse a patient from a jury or a plane flight, but I will only provide this letter if the medical complaint is legitimate. I would never consider supplying a note for a patient I've never met.

There is certainly a role for altruism in medicine. Many of the young doctors involved are idealistic residents in training. I understand their instinct to throw their voice and weight into the political process. Unfortunately, those who have been standing outside the Wisconsin Capitol building in Madison and offering their notes are violating the basic Hippocratic oath of "do no harm."

These young doctors might be better advised to volunteer their time to Medicaid clinics, especially at a time when Obamacare is in the process of adding hundreds of thousands more Medicaid patients to the state coffers.

We doctors are prevented by federal anti-trust legislation from collective bargaining, work stoppages or strikes. This law is in the best interest of our patients, since many of our sickest patients cannot do without our help for even a day. Maybe the doctors who risked their licenses by writing fake notes in Wisconsin should have considered this; the teachers they are helping to stay home with fake illnesses are leaving their students without necessary guidance. Should this greedy act really gain a physician's sympathy?

Unfortunately, in service professions like medicine or teaching, once you cross the uncrossable line and use fraud for self promotion, you send a message to the public of no confidence. I wouldn't trust one of these striking teachers with a real student any more than I would trust one of these doctors with a real patient.

And it's not just a question of licensure; it's also a question of basic ethics and integrity.

Marc Siegel MD is an associate professor of medicine and Medical Director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News Medical Contributor.

 

[jimpeel]

SOURCE

Wisconsin Medical Examining Board Reviewing Sick Note Allegations

by Fox News | February 22, 2011

The Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing is reviewing complaints that doctors wrote fake sick notes to people missing work while protesting Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget. The department oversees the state's Medical Examining Board.

Dave Ross, the department's secretary says "over the weekend the agency received numerous contacts concerning physicians involved in writing medical excuses for those attending rallies at the State Capitol."

"Any charge against a physician is taken seriously and this is no exception," Ross continued in a statement. "Rest assured, the agency is processing these complaints as quickly as possible. DRL will be working with the independent Medical Examining Board to appropriately review these complaints."

The statement goes on to say that part of both the Department of Regulation and Licensing and the Medical Examining Board's responsibility is to "discipline individuals who act improperly in the practice of their profession."

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is already investigating reports that some of its doctors were involved in writing fake sick notes at the protest.

 

[jimpeel]

SOURCE

University of Wisconsin Medical School Investigating Doctors' Notes at Protest

by Fox News | February 21, 2011

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health is investigating whether some of its doctors wrote fake sick notes to people protesting the governor's plan to strip public union employees of the right to collectively bargain.Over the weekend, FOX News reported that doctors from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine were manning a doctor station to write medical notes excusing those protesting at the Wisconsin State Capitol from work. Physicians were seen standing on a street corner wearing lab coats and giving out medical notes."This involves a few individuals out of the nearly 1,300 physicians at UW Health," Lisa Brunette, Director of Media Relations for the school said in an email."These UW Health physicians were acting on their own and without the knowledge or approval of UW Health, she continued. "These charges are very serious and in response the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, two of the entities that comprise UW Health, will immediately launch an investigation of the reported behavior. The investigation will identify which UW Health physicians were involved and whether their behavior constituted violations of medical ethics or University of Wisconsin and UW Health policies and work rules."

Many protesters could be in violation of their work contracts if they call out sick without a medical excuse. But a fraudulent doctor's notes could protect them from punishment by their employers even though they weren't sick and were out protesting.

FOX News Chicago Bureau Chief Todd Ciganek contributed to this story.

 

[2minkey]

if doctors were writing fake notes that worked against liberal causes, you'd giggle and carry on about how clever and resourceful it was.

 

[MrBishop]

On May 2nd, 1933, the day after Labor day, Nazi groups occupied union halls and labor leaders were arrested. Trade Unions were outlawed by Adolf Hitler, while collective bargaining and the right to strike was abolished. This was the beginning of a consolidation of power by the fascist regime which systematically wiped out all opposition groups, starting with unions, liberals, socialists, and communists using Himmler’s state police.
Fast forward to America today, particularly Wisconsin. Governor Walker and the Republican/Tea Party members of the state legislature are attempting to pass a bill that would not only severely punish public unions (with exception for the police, fire, and state trooper unions that supported his campaign), but it would effectively end 50 years to the right of these workers to collectively bargain.

Probably not something you'd hear out of the mouth of Glenn Beck...even though comparing everything with Nazi Germany is his thing, ain't it. They should rename Godwin's Law - Beck's Law

 

[catocom]

MR' B, that's typical liberal talking points to say it ends collective bargaining,
or that it's a Right.

It ends "FORCED" collective bargaining.
It GIVES the right to opt out, for a Choice.

They know it would hurt the unions, because FORCING people to join is a Racket.

 

[Winky]

Chug it

 

[2minkey]

bathe in that shit

 

[Gonz]

Probably not something you'd hear out of the mouth of Glenn Beck...even though comparing everything with Nazi Germany is his thing, ain't it. They should rename Godwin's Law - Beck's Law

You might try listening to him, not MSNBC's analysis of him. Actually, he spoke of this very thing on the day you posted this. He also went on to remind people that before Hitler outlawed unions, he used them (remember the brownshirts?) to further his cause.

 

[2minkey]

i'll listen to beck for sure.

right after i start taking legal advice from peel.

 

[catocom]

So, where is Nancy, and the rest of the people that were calling BS-AstroTurf,
violent rhetoric, and racism on the tea party?

Oh, that's right, they can't tell the truth, because there is no truth in them.

These protesters now are everything they were calling out last time.
People calling for everybody to sacrifice for the country, while they themselves
only care about themselves.

We need teachers that are going to lead by example to show kids how to act like adults,
but these teachers are followers. Being let by the students to act like kids.

 

[Gonz]

Unions are there for the little guy & to protect jobs.

Well, in reality, when the option is a 5% paycut, across the board & everybody keeps their job, or no paycut & a 35% layoff, can anyone find an example of idealism & job protection for the bottom workers?

Not likely.

 

[2minkey]

where i work there have been instances of voluntary across the board paycuts so as not to have to lay anyone off. apparently this was a couple years before i showed up, and before the company really started making money.

 

[Winky]

So what yer sayin' is

They didn't show a profit till you arrived

 

[Gonz]

where i work there have been instances of voluntary across the board paycuts so as not to have to lay anyone off.

Same here. Never in a job protecting union shop, that I know of.

Of course, Winkster. He is the mighty mighty 2minkey

 

[2minkey]

and you are gritty filth sucked from a festering goathole.

but seriously, maybe you should learn some respect for you superiors. maybe you'd get a little further in life if you did.

 

[Gonz]

Find me some superiors & I will.

I walked away from white collar jobs because I was (and still am) unwilling to play the game. You keep sucking your
bosses & someday, you'll get to shine their shoes.

 

[2minkey]

well you must be from a very different world than i am.

because in my world, you are cultivated, and the only time you do something menial is when you voluntarily hold the elevator door for your co-worker.

but isn't this all fairly obvious?

 

[Gonz]

well you must be from a very different world than i am.

No shit sherlock