Wisconsin will call out National Guard against striking state workers

Categories: Weird Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wants the National Guard for political muscle.
​ The Kent State shootings happened 40 years ago, but one state failed to learn the lesson not to call in the National Guard on unarmed protesters. That state is Wisconsin.

There, Gov. Scott Walker has declared that he'll call out the Wisconsin National Guard on members of public employee unions if they go on strike.

Walker, a Republican, is calling for eliminating their collective bargaining rights and threatening to fire workers who go on strike, in the name of cutting the state's red ink.

His comments have caused an uproar. There have been massive demonstrations in Madison. and the war veterans group VoteVet is appalled.

Wikipedia
Here's what can go wrong when the National Guard acts as political muscle.
​"Maybe the new governor doesn't understand yet - but the National Guard is not his own personal intimidation force to be mobilized to quash political dissent," said Robin Eckstein, a former Wisconsin National Guard member and Iraq War veteran from Appleton. "The Guard is to be used in case of true emergencies and disasters, to help the people of Wisconsin, not to bully political opponents."

You have to wonder whether the Guard would actually respond when called to act as political muscle. After all, it worked out so well at Kent State in Ohio, back in the day.

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