Freedomain Radio

Sources:

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/two-thirds-wisconsin-public-school-8th-g

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/sep/22/20040922-122847-5968r/

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/congressmen_love_private_school_for_their_kids_/

http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/library/pension-crisis/public-employee-pensions/research-analysis-reports/unfunded-liabilities-state-and-local-government-employ

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-the-Total-Unfunded-Liability-of-the-US-Government?&id=3531013

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2009/11/09/how-the-government-is-swallowing-the-economy

"It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power." (link)

I just wanted to say that I found this one exceptionally powerful as something I can point statists to.  The usual arguments which are mainly about ethics are great from a different point of view, but there is a tendency for a lot of people to simply reject them without much thought, as being "too radical for me."  This one, however, delivers an absolutely crushing sense of reality and inevitability with a sympathetic and almost understated delivery.  Its power is that it is simply impossible to ignore, and doesn't alienate the potential statist listeners.  Very impressive.

Totally agree, Metric; I just reposted this on Facebook. I've got several friends and relatives who are either teachers or sympathetic to and vocal about the plight of the union workers in Wisconsin; this provides a perspective different from the one on CNN without telling anyone that they're wrong.

Average household income in Wisconsin: $46K/year.

Teachers Average Pay Across 425 Districts (Salary + Benefits): $75K/year.

does average household income include benefits?

I don't know if they included benefits with that figure.

Stefan Molyneux:

does average household income include benefits?

Quickfacts for Wisconsin says median in 2008 is $52,103, and describes "household income" as such:

Household income is the sum of money income received in the calendar year by all household members 15 years old and over, including household members not related to the householder, people living alone, and other nonfamily household members. Included in the total are amounts reported separately for wage or salary income; net self-employment income; interest, dividends, or net rental or royalty income or income from estates and trusts; Social Security or Railroad Retirement income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); public assistance or welfare payments; retirement, survivor, or disability pensions; and all other income.

Since answers to income questions are frequently based on memory and not on records, many people tend to forget minor or sporadic sources of income and, therefore, underreport their income. Underreporting tends to be more pronounced for income sources that are not derived from earnings, such as public assistance, interest, dividends, and net rental income.

Average Orange County, CA teacher salary - $77,862

Teachers in Laguna Beach Unified in 2009-10 earned the highest average salary of $93,120. Laguna Beach's maximum teacher salary amount of $118,863 was also highest in the county.

Orange Unified teachers earned the lowest average salary, $70,998.

Thomas DiLorenzo offers an explanation for generous retirement benefits. Skip to 28:30.

This looks like one of those communist propaganda posters.

Then:

Now: