Government Union protests and rallies are expanding across the country in the attempt to stop a perceived threat to their livelihood.  State budgets are facing a $125 billion dollar shortfall and state pensions are underfunded between $500 billion and $3 trillion.  In the private sector when times were bad (and even when times were pretty good), this meant: lost benefits, lost pensions, lost retirement, and lost dreams - many in the private sector know: they have lived it, they still are.

The fact of the matter is that many in the private sector have seen their pay frozen or actually decrease for years now, the once steady private pension system all but disappear, earned pensions (by those approaching or already in retirement) lost in corporate bankruptcy, and 401Ks (and matching) go into the toilet - finally, private sector jobs have been outsourced for decades leaving a  huge number of unemployed or underemployed taxpaying private citizens (22% by some figures).  The reasons for this are many: corporate greed, corporate lobbying, bribed politicians, bad legislation, and so on...

It should come as no surprise therefore that many are not sympathetic to the Government Union Protestors.  Many private citizens would like the opportunity to fund their own retirement before handing away money to fund another's.

The Public vs. Private Sector Civil War
Guest view: No sympathy for Wisconsin’s teachers
Morning Bell: Government Unions vs American Taxpayers
Public employees must help rein in unaffordable pension and benefits costs
Revolution comes to the Midwest
Status Quo Defenders in Wisconsin Out of Touch With Reality