Family & Community
Divide and Conquer Works in Wisconsin
This week Wisconsin became a right to work state. This was a “given” when reactionary Republicans took control of state government.
Legislation to eliminate prevailing wages is next. These laws require public contractors to compete by having better management or efficiency, not just lower wages. This is another attack on unions and the public good.
Ironically, this week the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a campaign finance reform advocacy group, released figures on union contributions to Governor Walker. Unions representing engineers, police, firefighters, ...
MIDDLE WISCONSIN FROM BEND, OREGON
Middle Wisconsin has always been a state of mind, not a location. The values of fairness, respect, and community are universal. They live in the heart of caring, concerned citizens throughout America, throughout the world. The following letter from Baruch Zeichner of Bend, Oregon, verbalizes what many of us fear, what many of us know, but have hesitated to say.
Follow Baruch on his Podcast at http://paradigms.bz/ on http://wbkm.org/ radio, and visit his Blog at http://baruchzedblog.blogspot.com/
“We are now literally dismantling the state government, and people ...
Public Schools Serve the Whole Society
A 21st Century public education system is the foundation of democracy and provides equal opportunity. The doors of public schools are wide open for all students and are essential to the well-being of our communities, state and country.
Do you know the difference between taxpayer subsidized private schools and our community Public Schools?
Responsibilities and Standards
Taxpayer subsidized private schools do not need to hire highly qualified teachers and were not required to take state assessments until last year. Public schools are rated by the state every year, ...
BUDGET PROPOSAL ELIMINATES LOCAL ASSESSMENT AND INCREASES COST WISCONSIN TOWNS ASSOCIATION “LOSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND YOU WILL LOSE AMERICA”
The following talking points regarding proposals in Governor Scott Walker’s budget to remove local control of property assessment are reprinted from Wisconsin Towns Association Executive Director Mike Koles. Please visit the Wisconsin Towns Association website to learn more about how this proposal will not only be harmful and expensive for towns and counties, but also undermines local government and control.
Despite overwhelming opposition in 2009 under Governor Doyle, the Department of Revenue (DOR) is once again proposing an upheaval of the generally very ...
Economic Development $$$ Grow – Public Oversight Shrinks – By Senator Kathleen Vinehout
Senator Kathleen Vinehout
“I’ve heard about the cuts,” the Buffalo County man said. “But this budget spends more. Who’s getting more money?”
Folks are concerned about big cuts to the UW; cuts to local schools; scaling back of health programs for the disabled; public radio and TV losing state support.
But the new budget spends $3 billion more than the last. Where is that money going?
One place to look is the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). Despite its name, WEDC is a part of state government; in fiscal year 2012-13 it receive...
THE WISCONSIN IDEA DEFINES US
For more than a century, the Wisconsin Idea has defined who we are as citizens of this state. It is an Inspired Idea. It is an idea based on the principles that learning must be available to all and that the search for truth is paramount.
In his 2015-2017 Budget Bill, Governor Walker struck the Wisconsin Idea from our laws.
Section 36.01 of the Wisconsin Statutes embodies the Wisconsin Idea in its definitions of the purpose and mission of the State University system. The purpose holds it is "in the public interest to provide a system of higher education." The mission ...
Normal Relations With Cuba Long Overdue
This is the second in a two part series on Cuba by Philip Anderson. The first article in this series can be found archived under the author’s name. Mr. Anderson is a twenty year veteran of the U.S. military.
Establishing normal diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba is long overdue. For over 50 years we have bullied and threatened this small, poor nation for no good reason. Not only has our animosity toward Cuba been irrational and unnecessary, it has been a complete failure. President Obama should be praised and supported for finally considering improved ...
WHAT IS BEST FOR CHILDREN IN RURAL WISCONSIN?
The times, they are a-changin’. Rural Wisconsin is seeing big changes. Rural Wisconsin is home to almost 44 percent of the state’s 860,000 public school students.
One big change is the decrease in school enrollment. Rural school districts have a 7% decline while non-rural districts have 3%.
With a decline in student population comes a drop in funding. Every district works hard to make the most of each dollar.
But at the same time, rural school districts are increasing in poverty. More than half the students are eligible for free-and-reduced lunch.
Along ...
HOW DO WE FORGET?
How do we forget over two hundred years of the Wisconsin dream? How do we look at what our fathers and mothers bequeathed us, and throw it all away for the promise of more jobs, or less taxes? Are we so much less than previous generations that we can throw out any measure of the ideal we expect for our children and our children's children? I am asking these questions of my neighbors and fellow statesmen, because that is exactly what Scott Walker is asking us to do with his current budget proposal.
In one fiscal proposal the governor is asking us to dump the Wisconsin ...
WALKER’S SHALLOWNESS
A letter to the editor
Oh what a difference a week can make in the lives of people in the news. If you doubt me, check with newscaster Brian William, former Olympian athlete Chris Jenner, Or, closer to home, Gov. Scott Walker. At least Jenner wasn’t caught lying, but rather being honest.
The last week of January was good to Walker. His speech to conservative and reactionary Iowans went over well though, of course, he was preaching to the choir. But then came his February 1 interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz, who quizzed him on foreign affairs matters, and his ...
