So, if you haven't been watching, the Wisconsin State Congress is working hard to strip the Public Unions in Wisconsin of any power. They want to remove their ability to do collective bargaining, change their contributions into health care and other things ( from MSNBC: Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.) This would effect teachers, police officers, and firefighters among others..
What this is doing is pitting people in Wisconsin against public employees - people accused of getting a free ride. Republicans have successfully framed the Unions as bastions of lazy workers, free riding on the public dime. Yes, those damn teachers and policeman are lazy asses. Funny, but the Wisconsin Congress isn't lowering their own salaries. They aren't attacking corporations that are located off-shore to avoid taxes. They are piting the middle classes against each other.
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The loudly point at the Unions and say "Look what they have that you don't!" When, I believe, they should be trying to get a living decent wage for everyone. Perhaps a system that doesn't balance the budget by breaking contracts.
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It is an efficient and effective tactic. People across the world see unions as obsolete and greedy. CEOs and top level executives of the Forbes Top 500 Companies make an average of 260 times the average salary of a worker in the company - but they are ok. No, it is Unions that are the problem.
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Unions brought in 40 hour work weeks (now routinely ignored for white collar workers), stopped child labor, and worked to introduce minimum wage (argued as a "job killer" by Republicans). They also helped to introduce unemployment insurance. All of these are "drags" on wealth creation.