Don't accept the premise

The first tool of the propaganda machine is to slip in a falsehood and then argue over how to fix the non-existent problem. As in Wisconsin, the first falsehood to get the ball rolling is: "there is a budget crisis". And then, the argument is over how to solve the crisis.

Progressives must recognize that REJECTING THE PREMISE is the best way to keep the middle from migrating to the right. There is no budget crisis in Wisconsin, so there is no need to make working people fix a non-existent problem. REJECT THE PREMISE. The problem correctly stated is: "Radical Republicans in Wisconsin recently passed $117 million in unfunded and un-affordable tax breaks causing a shortfall." So the way to fix that is to reverse the new tax breaks, not "rob Peter to pay Paul" by making the middle class foot the bill for un-affordable tax breaks. The Wisconsin governor said so---"the budget is short". But the reason is generous tax breaks to those that don't deserve it in a time of tight budgets, not the middle class working person.

The mis-calculation of the governor is that there are not enough "Pauls" in Wisconsin, as in, "when robbing Peter to pay Paul you can expect the support of Paul."

http://m.host.madison.com/mobile/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html


short read