As I have watched the drama unfold in Wisconsin I am struck by something that while actually very simple has become complicated.  When private enterprise negotiates with employee groups or unions it is with the understanding that the organization will have to provide the funding for any negotiated increases.  However, when a government – state, local or federal – is negotiating with employee groups or unions they bear no responsibility for funding any negotiated increases be it in salary or benefits.  Any negotiated increases will be funded by someone else – us taxpayers!   It is actually worse than that – they typically are either rewarding support groups or currying the favor with those groups so the better the deal the more likely the support.  And then when a leveling becomes necessary we see action that if done in other settings would be unthinkable.  Choreographed “sick outs” and phoney sick notes distributed by health care professionals caught on video should result in immediate termination, but that is unlikely.  Think about it – if you work in the private sector and tried that what do you think would happen?  Beyond that, what message are the teachers sending to those they are charged with teaching?  Added to this tragic display we have elected officials “hiding out” (analogous to a 2 year old throwing a temper tantrum) and not reporting for work to avoid a vote on the issue.  Another sterling  example for the young people in our country.  So we go on knowing that in the end it will more than likely work out but why does it have to take this track?