Voter beware: You’re in for more than you knew

Charles Krauthammer's Feb. 27 column about the standoff in Wisconsin is notable for omitting inconvenient facts. Here are a few:

l The opposition offered to meet all of Gov. Scott Walker's demands except the dismantling of public service unions and therefore collective bargaining. Walker claims that the electorate knew his stand about unions; however, the issue was never mentioned in his campaign.

l Walker's program would cost jobs, especially if he goes through with his threatened punitive layoffs.

l Walker has enabled corporate tax breaks of more than $100 million, approximately the amount of the claimed immediate deficit.

l Walker proposes to sell off some aging state-owned power plants and other assets at cents on the dollar, without bidding, to interests who funded his campaign.

l Walker wants to eliminate the “cap” on school vouchers, so rich kids can get private education at taxpayer expense.

l Unions are about the only major organized opposition to current Republican policy. Walker wants to remove this obstacle, under the cover of deficit reduction.

These and similar maneuvers represent a nationwide attempt by Republican governors to cement a stranglehold on public policy. There is a lesson for us here in Iowa as well as elsewhere: Be careful what you wish (vote) for; you might end up getting more than you ever wanted.

James B. Larkin

Cedar Rapids