Budget Woes....around the Nation

It is hard to stay positive at times what with the events happening  just here in our Nation.
When I read & hear some of the comments made since Wisconsin; it makes me:
...angry;
...worried;
...disbelieving;
...aghast;
...concerned.

Sometimes all the above or some combination thereof happens at the same time.

The final moment,for me, was when one person at a protest  / rally -not sure which], stated to the effect:  "This is our Egypt"

That is basically wrong on so many levels:  political, economic, historical, &  rational.
It is fine to believe so strongly in principles or policies that you are willing to be out front--up close & personal. 
It is quite another to be there only to cloud the issue with class differences, class warfare, &  / or racial divides.
Where is it written, or WHY would it be written, that the only way to achieve your 'goals' is to tear down others.

Are we as a country not able to rise above the facts that "you win, & you lose".
That our ideas are good for some, but disruptive to others. 
That only one set of ideas is correct & that would be the ones 'we aspire to'.

In our past history [before the Civil Rights Bill], we saw, experienced in person, or viewed the aftermath of the ugliness of one belief over another.
...I taught in a Illinois school, where some of the students were -willingly-bussed to our school.
...I saw the ugly faces of some residents of that area ;
...AND I also saw the willingness of others who believed then that the 'students' [diverse --racially, economically
    & many areas of Chicago--were not the problem.]
...I saw the fear in some of the students as their parents decided to march;
...I was asked if I was going to march [ I said No, my job was to stay & teach; meant that then--still do]

I have read about the Detroit & Pontiac in the 40s.  About the serious messes that brought about the Reuther Brothers, Sit-Ins, & eventually the union. 
My Father was caught up in this but we were too young to understand;
AND we were taught that the beliefs, rights, & freedoms of others were to be respected, not necessarily to follow;
We were not  union.

I personally was out of state during the Detroit riots in the 60s;
Sal however was in the Military and had to stand guard along the water-ways along the Detroit river. [He was single and gladly volunteered]

We have lived through many serious & sometimes ugly events right here in our State.
The Metro Detroit Area has had many serious situations over the years;
situations where some promoters, persuaders, & provokers tried their hardest to divide us by 8 Mile Road; Woodward; & Wayne County.
It worked for awhile & there are still deep feelings among many.

Now, I wonder why we see a rally over: water Rights?????  Water rights with signs that state "Hands off our Water".
How in the world is this promoting the "I Believe" program to bring all areas together to support Detroit.

This is not Our Egypt.
This is about Departments & the Services they provide; for which others are billed.  The problem lies when the billing is indiscriminate & without representation. 
So silly....over water, Who owns, who decides, WHO, Who,...Who ???

We have received calls from various political groups, both  DNC & GOP, as well  as locals hoping to run in 2012, asking for 'our support--always with Check included.
I received a union-related 'call to action' based on my teaching past;
We have heard from the publishers of some of the Magazines to which we subscribe.

Our answer is:  "NO, take our name[s] off your lists"...Delete...'sender to blocked lists' 

We also have heard about 'planned protests' against Governor Snyder's Budget;
The governors are finding that cutting costs are accepted   'only as long as no-one is inconvenienced'.

What has happened ?
Why are organized-job-holders not to be impacted by cuts;
When will cooler heads prevail;
As private sector, retired seniors, we can only stand and watch cuts come.
We realize that there is little we can do at this time.
We can  prepare for them.
We can see the condition that MI is in & the knowledge lets us also see that --like it or not--Cuts need to be made.
Bad decisions of the past must be rectified.
Decisions or even Bills passed in the 60s need to be updated / changed.

It will NOT be easy; 
It may be hard for many;
It can only be made worse if we are subjected to divides of union / non-union, race / race, age / youth. & political positions.

Wisconsin is Not any one's Egypt; 
Detroit water problems have  little to do with the trials found in the Middle East;
Michigan budget cuts have more to do with viability than attempts to shut down or close out one sector over the other.

To distort problems that states, cities & municipalities face by comparing them to the situation seen in so many other countries is to forget very important difference:
That:
We are FREE to gather, protest, write our signs, bus in non-residents, fill state houses, shout, stomp, march & in some cases "Run away" to secret places.

Americans ARE FREE to do so.
Using our Freedoms wisely may be the challenge.