It's time for the grownups to take control before someone gets hurt.
For the last two weeks, authorities have largely looked the other way while an increasingly angry mob of public employees have protested Governor Walker's efforts to nudge them into the real world. That's all well and good but enough is enough.
You can't sleep overnight in the Milwaukee Public Library. You can't set up a hot plate in Milwaukee City Hall. You can't stay in the Federal Building after the end of business hours. Why then do we allow hundreds of angry drum pounding protesters and their camp followers to treat the State Capitol as a flop house?
Sunday night, authorities ordered that protesters end their occupation of the Capitol. Some left but several hundred remained. In a truly embarrassing momement, authorities chose to let the trespassers stay.
A Dane County Circuit Judge has now ordered that the Capitol Building be opened to the public during business hours. Actually, I have no problem with that. As a corollary though, people should be required to leave when the building closes at 6:00 p.m.
Additionally if protesters engage in disorderly conduct while in the Capitol during business hours, they should be tossed out! After all, you can't stand in the Milwaukee County Courthouse and scream at the top of your lungs without some consequences.
As the budget debate proceeds, Walker opponents show signs of becoming more completely unhinged. This "Lord of the Flies" mentality took a really ugly turn Monday when State Senator Glenn Grothman was cornered by an out of control mob outside the Capitol. Authorities need look no further than the video of this incident to realize that it's time to turn the page.
I like a good protest as well as the next guy. There's a difference though between peaceful protest and mob rule. We're quickly crossing that line in Madison - and it's time for authorities to step in and reassert the rule of law.
In other words, "Hey Ho, The Mob Must Go!"
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