80 results for author: Joyce Luedke

CONGRESSMEN DAVE OBEY AND TOM PETRI

Retired Congressmen Dave Obey and Tom Petri have been friends for over 30 years. In the past, friendships were formed with representatives across the aisle.  This civility and bipartisanship led to needed compromises to legislate on behalf of us, the citizens of the United States. Congressmen Obey and Petri want to renew the spirit of bipartisanship and civility through a series of lectures held at Wisconsin campuses. Through this lecture series, Obey and Petri hope to encourage college students and all citizens to renew their commitment to actively engage in the political process through bipartisanship and civility. Dave Obey said, "Politics is a ...

THE LEGACY OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

The "legacy" of families and communities working together is the inheritance my grandparents, parents, and the Finnish immigrants who settled in Maple, WI gave to me. My grandparents, Konsta and Mary, farmed 160 acres of red clay and tended to a herd of 15 to 20 dairy cows.  Konsta's brother, Charlie, lived and worked with them.  One of Mary's brothers, Willard, who was born with disabilities also lived with them and contributed to the well-being of a family working together.  They needed each other. My grandparents needed help with the rigorous work of farming.   Charlie and Willard needed work and a home.  This deep sense of responsibi...

EDUCATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Inclusive education for the common good is guaranteed under Wisconsin's Constitution. "The legislature shall provide by law for the establishment of district schools, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; and such schools shall be free and without charge for tuition to all children between the ages of 4 and 20 years; and no sectarian instruction shall be allowed therein." (Wisconsin Constitution Article X Section 3) Nowhere in Wisconsin's Constitution does it grant legislators authority to: Label our children as failures because they cannot pass a rigorous, timed, standardized test and then threaten to close their public school. ...

THANK YOU

By Joyce Luedke Thank you.  Simple words that must be said.  Thank you: Mandy Wright and the founders of Middle Wisconsin.  Middle Wisconsin is hailed across the state as a reliable, refreshing, Progressive News source.  Middle Wisconsin provides writers a “voice”—a voice we did not have before. Mandy Wright, as Representative of the citizens of the 85th, who spoke the truth when others tried to silence your voice.  You were and will be an advocate for families, public education, and the progressive policies we know have a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families. Nancy Stencil for emphasizing fairness, respect, ...

Supporting Public and Private Sector Workers

Wisconsin communities benefit from the crucial work done by Wisconsin's public employees and private sector employees. Our neighbors, families, and friends work together to build thriving, caring communities. One of my grandsons lists public school personnel as his friends: the ladies in the lunch room, the playground supervisors, and the school secretary. He knows these people care about him. Public school teachers work more than 50 hours a week teaching and preparing lessons to meet the diverse needs of our children while maintaining high quality public schools. One of my grandsons cites his history teacher as his favorite teacher. Bus ...

An Open Letter To Dr. Susan Hedman – EPA Region 5 Administrator

Dr. Susan Hedman EPA Region 5 Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, IL 60604-3507 Dear Dr. Hedman: In support of the formal request to you on May 27, 2014 from the Six Bands of the Anishinaabeg Territory Watersheds and Waters of Lake Superior:  Bad River Band of Lake Superior, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior, Lac du Flambeau Band, Lac Courtes Oreilles Band, St. Croix Band, Sokoagon Band I request that the Environmental Protection Agency initiate a public process under Section 404c of the Clean Water Act to protect treaty rights, aquatic resources, fisheries, wildlife, subsistence and public uses in ...

Imagine Your Community Without a Public School

I grew up in a small Finnish community in northern Wisconsin.  My mom finished eighth grade and went to work to help support her family.  Her immigrant parents were farmers on cut-over land.  My dad, the story teller, said he was kicked out of school after the first grade.  He probably quit after third grade because he too had to go to work to help his immigrant parents who were also subsistence farmers. Like the Norwegians who believe in  “Books Before Bread,” my grandparents and parents were readers.  We couldn’t afford many books, but we always had plenty of newspapers to read--Finnish and English. I remember looking at the ...

The Soul of Wisconsin is a Sacred Thing

“The Soul of Wisconsin is a sacred thing” are the words of poet, Marijane Curry. The “Soul of Wisconsin” has had a proud heritage of working together for the good of all citizens, but it has been bruised and battered by a governor who planned a “divide and conquer” strategy with billionaire, Diane Hendricks, who donated $500,000 to Walker in 2011. The strategy was to pit good, hardworking families, friends, and neighbors against each other.   Walker bragged about “dropping the bomb.” Let’s look at the results for 2014. Jobs lost as estimated:  200 (January) 9,500 (February); (Only NC reported more job losses.) 500 (May); ...

The Soul of Wisconsin

  “The Soul of Wisconsin is a sacred thing” is the way Marijane Curry begins her poem, Soul of Wisconsin. Over the past three and a half years the “Soul of Wisconsin” has been trampled and broken by forces one can hardly comprehend.  The “Soul of Wisconsin” has been “divided and conquered” by a governor and his billionaire friends. Two of the governor’s “friends,” David and Charles Koch, are worth over $80 billion and have spent millions of dollars in Wisconsin to crush the “Soul of Wisconsin” by manipulating our governor to do their bidding. David Koch ran as a vice-presidential candidate for the Libertarian ...

Flag Day – June 14

“The Ragged Old Flag,” by Johnny Cash, speaks of the flag and all she’s been through as a symbol of our nation. The lyrics remind us of our history. “You see, we got a little hole in the flag there, When Washington took it across the Delaware. and it got powder burned the night Francis Scott Key sat watching it, writing “Say Can You See” It got a rip in New Orleans, with Packingham and Jackson tugging at its seams. and It almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas flag, But she waved on through. She got cut by a sword at Chancellorsville, And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill. There was Robert E. Lee and Beauregard and Bragg,...