Wisconsin in perspective

It used to be when you were an employee in the public sector, you had a job for life with less wages, but benefits better than those in the private sector.

The scales have tipped — and Wisconsin is the litmus test for where we go from here. It is another comedy of errors by the government. Spending more than it has. Democrats nowhere to be found for votes. And, the workers — calling in sick and getting paid to protest.

Here is a key example of why reform is needed: 74.2 cents. That is the amount the public pays Milwaukee teachers and other employees for retirement and health benefits for every $1 those employees receive in salary.

The other number is 24.3 cents. That is the amount private firms pay for employee retirement and health benefits for every $1 employees receive in salary.

That’s a nearly 3-to-1 ratio — and reason enough for many to call in sick and protest.

As they say, if it is too good to be true, it probably is.