As I’m sure most of you have heard by now, there is a bit of an uproar in Wisconsin regarding Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget package, which includes a provision that would strip many state workers of their collective bargaining rights.

Putting aside my biases as a son of a high school teacher, a native-born Wisconsinite and, perhaps most importantly, a democrat, I would like to explain my concerns with Gov. Walker’s plans.

First, it is far too drastic. Putting aside the specific differences that Scott Walker and I would almost definitely have when it comes to our opinions on what needs to be done with Wisconsin’s budget, his proposal would strip the collective bargaining rights from state workers in the state that was actually the first to enact a major collective bargaining law in 1959.

Labor unions are an important part of Wisconsin history. To try and take so much away at once shows little respect for that history.

Second, the drastic changes that Scott Walker is proposing have led to equally outrageous reactions from his opponents. Fourteen Democratic Senators from Wisconsin are currently hiding in Illinois in order to avoid voting and thereby stalling the legislation.

Not only is this an embarrassing display of political posturing, but it sets a precedent for how Wisconsin is going to deliberate on future legislations. We would be kidding ourselves if we thought that, even when all of this is resolved, both sides will eventually agree to leave it in the past and move forward together.

Politicians are far too petty for that. I think the effects of this stalemate are going to be felt for years and will eventually degenerate in reactionary politics, resulting in both parties making power plays whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Sure, you could try blaming part of this on both sides for being unable to come to an agreement. However, Scott Walker has repeatedly come out and said that he is unwilling to negotiate.

So what are Democrats supposed to do, really? If they give in, they will be accepting a sort of tyrannical majority and demonstrate the fact that they are ultimately incapable of fighting for those who they were elected to represent.

If they continue to play hide-and-seek with state police, they look like they are at best, stubborn and childish and, at worst, powerless and scared.

The corner that Scott Walker has forced Democrats, state workers and the state of Wisconsin as whole into is good for nobody. Eventually a compromise will have to be made, but the way in which this has all played out almost guarantees that we will see it again soon.