"No illusions, please...

...this bill will not be repealed." Those were David Frum's famous words to his fellow Republicans last year in response to the passage of the Affordable Care Act. And he was right; the ACA is the law of the land and will no doubt stay that way. (My guess is it will only be strengthened over time.)

But the same thing could (and should) be said about the bill that Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is expected to sign into law soon -- No illusions, please: This bill will not be repealed.

Oh, sure, there will be legal challenges to the bill, and there's even a Wisconsin Supreme Court election next month. But my prediction is those challenges will fail. And the recall efforts we're hearing so much about? Apparently, it's very difficult to recall a legislator in Wisconsin. (I think I read somewhere it's only been done twice.)

What about Governor Walker? He isn't eligible for recall until next January. Do you think opponents of this bill will be this energized a year from now? I doubt it. No, I expect Walker to survive just fine, thank you. Because, chances are, the economy will improve between now and then. (And certainly between now and his re-election.) And, deserved or not, Walker -- like any office-holder -- will get credit and be re-elected.

From the Times this morning:

“If things go back to normal and Wisconsin continues to improve economically, balances its budgets, bring jobs, there probably won’t be a lot of pain for Republicans down the road,” said Bill McCoshen, a lobbyist who used to be a campaign manager for Republicans like Tommy Thompson, the former governor, and is a supporter of Governor Walker. “I think things will get back to normal for the average Wisconsin citizen, but it’s going to take some time, though, before government employees get over this,” he added.

(I agree, except for the part about jobs. Because, let's face it, from Scranton to Oshkosh, the jobs just ain't comin' back. But that's the subject of another post.)

So what now? This bill is just another in a series of actions the Republican Party has taken over the last thirty years which has squeezed the middle class in favor of the rich. (Remember, Walker cut taxes on corporations right before introducing this bill.)

Was your son or daughter planning on going into teaching? (After all, it is a noble profession.) If so, it will be harder for them to achieve a middle-class lifestyle like the one in which they grew up. You know, buy a house, send their kids to college and retire with dignity. So what, you might be thinking, join the club! It's tough all over. And you're right; the middle class has been under assault for a long time now. The average American has been working harder and harder while his income has remained flat (assuming, of course, he has a job). And the richest among us just keep getting richer and richer.

I know it's hyperbole, but I can't help repeating it: Republicans won't be satisfied until the U. S. looks like a Latin American country -- one or two percent rich and the rest of us left to rot.

So what's the moral of the story? As I said yesterday, vote Democratic. Elections have consequences. (I didn't realize that until George Bush was elected in 2000. Boy, was I wrong!)