Because that's what brought us to where we are, that's why.

Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin is doing a good job of presenting the issues between the taxpayers of Wisconsin and the government union workers ... a good job in all areas except one. Maybe I just haven't heard it, but he hasn't really explained why collective bargaining for benefits needs to end in Wisconsin. Maybe I should take a stab at it ... not that my opinion is worth any more than anyone else's.

1. Collective bargaining needs to end for Wisconsin's government union workers simply because it is collective bargaining that created the problems Governor Scott is trying to solve right now. The state didn't walk up to these workers and say "Hey! Here's an idea! We'll pay you more than you could make in the private sector! We're also going to give you incredible job security through the state civil service system. Then we're going to make sure that you don't have to contribute anything to your pensions and a pittance to your health insurance premiums? Sound good? Nope ... didn't happen that way. The unions negotiated the freebie retirement plan and "pay for your aspirin and nothing else" health care plan. So if we leave collective bargaining in place for benefits you will simply try to regain these out-of-line benefits with union action a year or two down the road.
    
2. We will leave collective bargaining in place for pay because your pay - not a free retirement or free health care - is the essence of what you're working for.

There is also the question of why Governor Scott isn't including the police and firemen in his union reform plan. Perhaps it is because of the special place these men and women have in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Wisconsin. It is police and fire fighters who put their lives on the line in the performance of their duties, not teachers (except in Detroit) and clerks in the professional licensing division. Be willing to stand between a citizen and a man with a gun, or be ready to run into a burning building to save a small child ... and you occupy a completely different place in our hearts.