The consequences of the battle playing out in Wisconsin and other states between government-employee unions and taxpayers hoping to rein in spending will be huge and international, warned CEO Arthur Thompson of The John Birch Society (headquartered in Wisconsin) in his weekly video address.

Unions — in both the public and private sectors — have been thrust back into the national spotlight following weeks of unrest over proposed reforms, particularly in Wisconsin, but in other states as well. Countless commentators and analysts of all persuasions have offered their opinions on the matter. And the outcome of ongoing battles, all of them agree, will have far-reaching repercussions.

Communist propaganda organs reported with glee that at least some Wisconsin police were refusing to enforce lawful orders to evict anti-reform protestors from the Capitol building in Madison. Instead, the law-enforcement officers, egged on by their union, chose to side with the coalition of government-employee labor groups, socialists, and other leftist organizations that have staged protests over the last two weeks against Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts to rein in a massive budget deficit.

A broad coalition of socialists, communists, government-employee unions and leftist special-interest groups held “Save the American Dream” rallies in all 50 state capitals and other cities across the nation over this past weekend in support of anti-reform Wisconsin protestors, who simultaneously held what according to police was the biggest demonstration in two weeks of intense protests in Madison. And organizers say it’s just the beginning.

As protests in Madison, Wisconsin dragged into their second week, both sides held support rallies for their cause across the country as the chaos spread to states such as Ohio and Indiana. Dozens of gatherings referred to as “solidarity events” were hosted across the United States to back the anti-reform Wisconsin demonstrators the week after protests started.

As the intense protests in Wisconsin move into their second week, The New American took a look at Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed reforms, critics’ claims, as well as the fiscal situation of the state. It turns out state and local governments are facing massive deficits, and the unfunded government-employee pension liabilities are enormous. The so-called “budget repair bill” would aim to start solving some of the problems.

After several days of enormous demonstrations organized by socialists, government-worker unions, and Democrats, a coalition of conservative and Tea Party groups rallied on Saturday, February 19, in Madison, Wisconsin, to support newly elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his proposals to rein in a massive budget deficit while reducing the power of state- and municipal-employee unions.

A coalition of socialists, government-union members, and other protestors — some of whom were reportedly bussed in from out of state — wreaked havoc in Madison, Wisconsin, in recent days while demonstrating against proposed budget cuts and a bill that would prevent most government employees from collectively demanding ever-increasing salaries and benefits.

Questions about President Obama’s ever-changing narrative on Osama bin Laden’s reported assassination and rampant speculation that at least some Pakistani officials may have been involved in hiding the terrorist leader have been swirling around the internet in recent days. But there’s another important angle that has received less attention: Assuming bin Laden really was killed over the weekend — his death has been reported on numerous occasions by credible sources since 2001 — how could it take so long for the most powerful governments in the world to find one man?

The popular narrative surrounding the life of Osama bin Laden is filled with questions, intrigue, and misinformation. Though he ultimately became one of the most loathed figures in the American psyche, it’s important to remember that bin Laden was once a good friend of the U.S. government. In many ways, he can even be considered a creation of American officials and their allies. His Mujahedeen, or Islamic warriors, were even armed, trained, supplied and financed by America and some of its allies.