Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Republicans Faux Outrage About Mining Jobs

Leading up to the end of the legislative session, the right wing was in an absolute frenzy about the mining bill.  Their corporate sponsors would not allow a meaningful compromise on the bill, which was written by Gogebic Taconite, thus effectively killing any chance the bill might have had.

In an effort to mislead the public into putting pressure on legislators like Senators Dale Schultz and Tim Carpenter to succumb to the corporate will, the various right wing front groups were absolutely hysterical in their argument that this bill would create "thousands" of jobs, not only in the north where they wanted to rape the land, but supposedly here in Southeastern Wisconsin, where all the mining equipment would be made.

First of all, the mining bill was bad news.  It would have caused severe ecological harm with the exemptions it would have given the mining company.  Furthermore, it would be the taxpayers that would have to pay for the clean up of their trashing of the state, both with their money and with their health.

And in exchange for giving all that up, they claim that the mine itself would be able to eventually create about 700 jobs, but as will other mining sites, there was no guarantee that those jobs would be for Wisconsinites.  They also claimed that the mining bill would create thousands of jobs in Milwaukee and other parts of Southeastern Wisconsin.  But again, that is doubtful, since Caterpillar, the big mining supply company that the right wing loved to mention as their "proof," recently announced how they were creating lots of jobs - in South Carolina.

When compared to the tens of thousands of jobs they already cost the state, the Republicans were all hyped up for a relative few jobs, none of which were guaranteed to go to Wisconsinites, but would have stuck Wisconsinites with a big environmental mess and a big tax bill.

Yet Walker and the Republicans pretended to be outraged and pointed fingers at the Democrats for "killing" all of those "family supporting jobs."

Who are they trying to kid?

Only three words are needed to show their hypocrisy: High speed rail.

Even before Walker was sworn into office, he had his first Pyrrhic Victory when he killed the high speed rail project in Wisconsin, which would have brought in hundreds of millions of federal dollars and created thousands of jobs, many of which were underway of being created already and not a year or two down the line as was the case with mining bill.

Not only did it kill off the thousands of jobs that were forming, it also helped to start the downward spiral he has put the state's economy in.  Adding insult to injury, the bill for not having the project has been costing the state taxpayers more and more money, much more than it would have if he allowed the boon to happen.

To further prove their hypocrisy, in one of their last acts, the Republicans chose not to honor a contract and killed the funding for a train maintenance site in Milwaukee.  Not only does this endanger 80 existing jobs, it opens up the state to a potential lawsuit which could prove to be rather costly.

In a double does of irony, the Republicans claim that they voted against the site because it was too expensive. While they claim that it's too expensive to honor this contract,  they ignore that the potential lawsuit could be just as, if not more, expensive.  They also elide over the fact that the cost would have been covered if they allowed the high speed rail to happen.

It's pretty damn obvious that the Republicans never did and still don't give a damn about creating jobs or saving the taxpayers money.  They are only interested in saving their own jobs and collecting more special interest money.  And then they wonder why they get recalled and voted out of office.

20 comments:

  1. Gogebic Taconite can still mine as far as I can see, were there not two other companies still going ahead with their work?

    It's like that Bad river train blockade years ago. Citizen action had to take place because the government was slow to act.

    Now, a similar event could happen, only now, Gogebic Taconite could employ our returning veterans for a tax break, and then these vets would be able to carry and conceal and act as a private army for the mining company.

    Walker has no problem using "troublemakers" in the crowd, there's video out there of the Teahadists provoking otherwise quiet sign holders.

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  2. Repubs say the the process wont "ruin" the environment, Dems say it will. As usual I am sure the truth lies in the middle. Truth is, they will mine, just 30 miles north in Michigan. I guess we can see why our neighboring states are adding more jobs than us. I've spent quite a bit of time in the U.P. too, with all the mining going on it didn't look to polluted. I even drank the water, and I didn't grow a tail.
    Your comparison to "medium" speed rail is flawed. You see, while the horrifically broke feds are willing to build it, it would be the state continuing to subsidize it forever. Not to mention the need to invest in more rail lines to make it useful. I have been watching the fiasco in CA, which was supposed to be the blueprint for new rail. Let me fill you in, its failing miserably.
    The difference in mining is that it adds revenue to the state instead of becoming revenue negative like a train would.
    Keep adding revenue like mines and maybe, we wont ALL feel the pain of balancing a state budget.

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    1. I've spent just as much time in the U.P., and there isn't that much mining going on. Hasn't been for decades.

      There are tailing piles still right where there were left over a hundred years ago. I've stood on the stuff. Nothing grows on it.

      Much of the mining was shaft mining, too. Visit Hancock, MI and tour the old steam hoist that sits atop the hill.

      White Pine got all the easy stuff, and like our friend oil, all that is left is the harder stuff over there.

      That is gonna cut into profits. The workers will still get paid, but their safety will be put at risk more and more to maximize profits.


      The high speed rail was a start point, and much like Republicans of yesteryear that wanted to stop the creation of the Interstate Freeway system, Republicans stopped the train.

      But, do you really think the easy oil will come back? Gingrich is probably just a pawn of the Koch's if he can seriously promise $2.50/gal. gas. Or maybe this is how the Kochs are growing their own global empire?


      Ha, and with no alternatives to energy or transportation being looked at, well, that puts all the power into those billionaires hands.


      Arguing that the train would "cost" more than it makes is simply negated to the point that a road "costs" more to build than it makes.

      Neither is a money maker. I guess it depends on whether or not you want a choice in the future. You're gonna have set-backs, too, when things are underfunded, and weakly managed and lead.

      To say nothing of national security. In fact, isn't the freeway system called the national defense highway somewhere?

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  3. Republicans voted for the mine, Democrats voted against the mine.

    Who's to blame for the loss of those jobs and the related manufacturing job loss in Milwaukee?

    The party that voted against the mine. Yea, that's the ticket...

    "Rape the land"? That's novel.

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    1. Republicans were making secret deals away from the public.

      Think the spring recalls, remember the "friends of...." full color mailers that indicated a major investor?

      At that time, no Republican would dare speak the name of "who," though.


      Turns out to be some douche billionaire who inherited his millions who simply keeps piling onto his investments.

      None of those jobs up north or the residual jobs that might be created would be that significant compared to the jobs already heading out the door over the last couple months.

      It's a wash on the numbers.

      The only people that would make bank are the owners.

      Hey, 07:01, you got stock in Caterpillar? I hear Texas has a nice TIF fund that is often used for pay-to-play schemes. Go make your money there.

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  4. Taxpayers would also be stuck with all the lawsuits sure to be filed if Walker's mining legislation were to be approved. We've been warned by the tribes, the Army Corps of Engineers, neighboring states and provinces that the proposed mining law changes were not okay with them.

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  5. We've got the commenter known as "I must be a white supremacist saying he wants high speed rail.

    The tracks were rated for high speed, just not the first generation of cars.

    Walker's failure on HSR set Wisconsin back decades. Big help to Illinois and Iowa.

    Since "I must be a white supremacist," is suddenly concerned about the environment and jobs, please explain what happened to the THOUSANDS of commercial fishing jobs in Lake Michigan.

    Google on this for a terrific graph: "The Decline of a Once Great Fishery"

    California has mountains and killer earthquakes zones. Wisconsin doesn't. Much less expensive to build rail here.

    At least you're not quoting French, like the last troll they sent.

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    1. Just providing my insight. You cant push every revenue boosting business out and promote every government financed socialist dream and expect not to have "cut education funding". Check Illinois new budget for proof of that.
      You'll get your chance to say I told you so, when the new trolley downtown becomes self dependent on its own revenue. Kind of like small experiment before we walk off your high speed rail cliff.

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    2. Our manufacturing base would be twice as profitable, boosting revenue like no tomorrow, if we started bringing Chinese migrant workers into the state and allow them to paid $1 for a 16-hour day, no benefits, of course.

      My buddy picks up scrap cars for $500 a piece and makes a nice chunk of change scrapping them out. That iron mine would cheapen the value of his metal, as well as the several hundred or more people doing the same thing across the state of Wisconsin.

      Funny, the few hundred jobs would hurt or kill a few hundred other livelihoods.


      That's Republican, the BIG money always talking. You'll get Big Money, you'll get BIG MONEY, if you change your laws.... (just sayin' ;) )

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    3. Maybe thats true, but nobody suggested that we import workers, in fact the company in question guaranteed union employment. So its your position to say no to union jobs in favor of non union jobs? Its a better argument that above.
      At least your thinking outside the box here.

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    4. I think the union employment was a black flag press move.

      Think about it, Mercury Marine, Marinette Crane, all union shops, each chopping the union out.

      One was willing to pick up and leave to go to some other state with the NON-union shop.

      The other just wants to cut wages deep.

      There is no way GTac would allow a union, GTac is SO far ahead in the game that I'll bet they already have people lined up that can start mining.

      GTac with do anything for positive press including (seemingly) pulling up stakes and leaving town.


      It's too bad the Republican party is so slutty when it comes to corporate dollars. They want to do some good, but they're willing to be held hostage by big money in exchange for a few hundred jobs to tout in their newspapers.


      But the Republicans keep throwing public money at these guys, too, so in essence, Government is paying for the labor that makes these billionaires even more money.

      Technically, YOUR employees, to an extent.

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  6. @Imustberacist Trying to equivocate an inner city trolly with a regional rail system is a fool's errand. Get real.

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    1. If I ever get some time, I hope to visit Milwaukee and I am very much looking forward to being able to use that light rail I heard about there.

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    2. And your point is?

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    3. I can spend more money since I'm not burning gas at local shops. Boosting the local economy.

      I might have more time, instead of circling blocks looking for parking, to check out other interesting things in Milwaukee.

      I might ride the rail out to a destination not planned. And I might spend some money at another local shop or two.

      I might meet people on the rails that have ideas for other interesting things to see and do.

      I might even make a business connection.

      Sitting in my car staring at the world pretty much keeps me spending my money at Kwik Trip. But, I suppose, that's why they oppose the rail.

      And that's all good.

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  7. for all you who believe the mining rhetoric coming from Republicans, you obviously have not been up north, nor have you studied the situation as we have up here. It sounds nice, doesn't it, until its your back yard being destroyed. Read the scientists' take on all those tailing piles leeching billions of gallons of acid into our ground water, killing it and the wild rice. And I know how fascists often times equal racists, but Wisconsin Indians Tribes should have had a place at the table, by Federal Law. Treaty Rights are still in full effect in the state of Wisconsin. But the reason they were not only left off the invitation list, but treated like crap at the hearings, is because, yes, they won't support a mine that kills the water, which in turn will kill their wild rice, fish and eventually their kids. If they move forward with ANY mining bill, unless Bad River is a major player, they will open themselves up to lawsuits from many many years. And please...Walker promised? Anything? The man is a liar, as are his tools in the Assembly. There would be no union jobs. Cline shut down on operation in West Virginia because they had organized. And why a mining company is allowed to write the bill, which gives them exemption from obeying air and water quality standards is criminal. Please stop with the jobs jobs jobs lies. The BIGGEST employer in our area is Bad River, employing both native and non-native. And guess what. They pay the state many taxes, unlike GTAC who claimed they needed the tax breaks to make a profit. My ass. greed drives this mine, and the lies they told from the state gave them away. "No pollution" we were told by Bill Williams himself. " We promise we won't change regulations" we were told. Really? Well they were writing the bill to exempt themselves from regulations. Lies and more lies. THAT is the truth and this state is much better off without GTAC and their destructive, lying mining cartel. Unless you are willing to kill Bad River for your jobs (which I realize some of you racists would be) please stop with the uneducated crap. Good riddance and no mines in the Penokees. Ever. End of story, stay out. But come up north and help us bring true sustainable economic development. We have plenty of viable ideas. Why would you not be for sustainable local economic development? One word: Fascists. You can get out toop.

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    1. It's that "backyard" angle that is winning me over.

      It's a sand mine in my backyard, literally.

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  8. ONE VERY SIMPLE QUESTION:
    If the mining bill supported by the Republicans was such a spectacular piece of legislation, why then did NO ONE have the political courage to claim authorship?

    -HH

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  9. Good question!

    http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2011/10/05/aubrey-mcclendon-chesapeake-billionaire-wildcatter-shale/

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