DEAR LEGISLATORS

“Unchecked militarism is the fatal disease of empires.” - Historian Arnold Toynbee “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town ...

BALLOONS AND CIRCUS CLOWNS

Grab your cell phone. Go to google maps. Click on satellite view. Search for Beijing, China. Zoom in. Want to sit on the roof of the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong? Zero in – you’re there. How about the Beijing Marriott Hotel? Not a problem. Wander around Tianamen Square? Go for it. Check out the curving roof ridges on the buildings in the Forbidden City? It’s all yours. Hungry? Head for Hongrongyuan Dumpling or Wankelai Beefsteak Hotpot. Heard they’re great! Ah, but let’s head back to America. Do a search for the White House, Pennsylvania Ave. Wander around the ...

Democracy and Political Violence

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his book “Strength to Love.” Driving to Green Bay recently I noticed a number of billboards that said “Thank a cop.” That part of Wisconsin being staunchly right wing, one would assume this message was a reaction to Black Lives Matter protests and efforts to make police more accountable for excessive use of force against minorities. We were driving through a snow storm and it occurred to me that ...

TECTONIC SHIFTS

History matters. As World War II came to an end in 1944, Europe and Japan were in ruins while the U.S. had become the world’s economic powerhouse. At a historic meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, forty-four countries agreed to fix their currencies to the U.S. dollar and the dollar was made convertible to gold at $35 per ounce. Thereafter countries would settle their international trade in dollars, and the dollar became the world’s reserve currency. As one might expect, having the dollar as the world’s reserve currency proved enormously beneficial to America. ...

Crime and Too Little Punishment

“Some men rob you with a six-gun – others rob you with a fountain pen.” Woody Guthrie “Do the math. Far from a deterrent, multi-million dollar fines are a minuscule cost of doing business...million dollar fines on billion dollar profiteering won't deter it...” Jim Hightower on fines for illegal behavior in the meat packing industry. Last week I wrote about corporate crime and how it is more prevalent, more costly, and more harmful to society than ordinary street crime (like murder, assault, robbery or rape). This week we look at ...

BIGGER THAN ROE WAUSAU

BIGGER THAN ROE WAUSAU SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, NOON-2 PM 400 BLOCK, WAUSAU BRING YOUR SIGNS We will have information available on how to register to vote, how to obtain an absentee ballot, and how to become involved in the Supreme Court primary on February 21. Do you know which candidates hold your values? We can help. We will have half sheets on the Progressive candidates. Women's March members know that when we come together we can achieve change. And, the more people that come along to these kind of events, the more our movement will grow. All of us are BORN ...

Corporate Crime

“The irony is that the nation I live in, once a beacon of democracy for my parents, is now dominated by corporations that value profit over people, safety and well-being,” Marta Tellado, CEO of Consumer Reports. Her parents fled Cuba in 1961. Crime was a major issue in the recent election. According to the Republicans “crime is skyrocketing” and honest citizens are living in fear of widespread violent crime. “Criminals are “wreaking havoc on American cities” said Rep. Tom Tiffany despite his mostly rural northern Wisconsin congressional district having ...

April Supreme Court Election Urgent for Fair Maps

On April 4, 2023, we citizens of Wisconsin have a chance to fix the problem of unfair maps. Unfair maps are gerrymandered voting districts that give one Party a structural advantage over the other Party. This is simply wrong, by either Democrats or Republicans. Currently and for the past decade in Wisconsin, unfair voting districts have given Republicans unchallenged majorities in both houses of the Legislature. Wisconsin now has the most gerrymandered voting districts in the nation. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/12/09/wisconsin-assembly-maps-mo...

Women for Women

Women for Women Thursday, January 5, 2023 6PM Our January Women for Women program is one you don’t want to miss! Our guests for this program will be Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates Janet Protasiewic and Everett Mitchell. We will be starting promptly at 6 PM to give each the opportunity to express their views and allow for questions. Hope you can join us. The Link: https://zoom.us/j/92010859880 The invitation with the dial up number. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/92010859880 ...