Politics & Current Affairs — February 28, 2011

Police Back Labor in Wisconsin

Although mainstream media have devoted few resources to covering the collective bargaining battle in Wisconsin, it is alive and well—police have recently taken the side of the protesters.

bigthinkeditor

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What is it about America and labor disputes? Workers’ struggles are continually downplayed or completely ignored by media outlets: “In the end Sunday night, Wisconsin state police officials told reporters that no one peacefully protesting would be removed from the capitol by force. About an hour later, the crowd cheered the news that Republican State Sen. Dale Schultz announced he would not back Walker’s bill. Democrats still need two more Republicans to block Walker’s move, but the momentum seems to be on the side of the unions right now. The mainstream media missed a great story Sunday. It reminds Paul Krugman of the way the media also ignored the massive protests before the 2003 Iraq war. It’s really depressing.”

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