Even though their salaries cost each of us just few dollars a year, many of my friends will soon be forced to refund (essentially) in one lump sum, wages they thought they earned over years of work, because it turns out the State of Wisconsin was (essentially) floating checks.  But this misfortune is not enough punishment for having foolishly sought and held a good, steady job with excellent benefits.  They must also surrender their natural human instinct to seek their own best interests, through collective bargaining, because giving up your self-interest is, after all, what The American Dream is all about.