Government


Ron Johnson’s Stance on Social Security is Wrong

I worked for 45 years to earn a living for myself and my family. For decades, I paid into Social Security, setting money aside so that when I retired, I could keep a roof over my head and food on the table. Like so many people across our state, I knew that Social Security and Medicare would support me in the next phase of my life. This past weekend marked the 87th anniversary of Social Security. Over the last 87 years, this program and Medicare have become overwhelmingly popular programs that millions of working people rely on. Yet, while this anniversary should ...

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Fear Mongering

The Republican Party wants us to fear Mandela Barnes, but what frightens me is the prospect of another 6 years of Ron Johnson in the US Senate. Despite looming global catastrophe, Johnson remains a climate change denier of the first order, calling it “ bullsh*t ,” doubling down on fossil fuel production, confirming judges who gut the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases, and consistently voting against climate action legislation, most recently the transformational Inflation Reduction Act. In Mandela Barnes, I see a talented leader who, as chairman of the ...

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Right Wing Think Tanks Are Who Is Really Behind Bias Reporting On College Campuses

Free speech on college campuses is being stifled, however the push to limit free speech was not started by some woke left wing mob. Oh no. It was started by a right wing organization that calls itself Students For Academic Freedom, which is a bit of a misnomer because their key goal is to strip academic freedom from faculty they disagree with. This stifling of free speech did not start all that recently; it can be traced back to the early aughts. I was attending graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2005 when I first became aware of this ...

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MARATHON COUNTY COMMITTEES’ MINING MEETING

I attended the joint meeting of Marathon County’s Environmental Resources and Metallic Mining Committees’ meeting at the Marathon County Courthouse, as a landowner and taxpayer in Marathon County.  I was there to witness citizen’s concerns regarding the Canadian company, GreenLight Metals, Inc. and the mining company’s presentation who has applied for a permit for a metallic mining exploration at the Easton Reef Deposit. It was shocking to witness the lack of respect and treatment of our fellow citizens as they spoke to the committee of their concerns.  Only 2 ...

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Look Up and Act Collectively

“...humanity needs stories that highlight the many absurdities that arise from collectively knowing what’s coming while collectively failing to act...We also need stories that show humanity responding rationally to the crisis...” Peter Kalmus, climate scientist and author   Mr. Kalmus was writing in the Guardian magazine about the movie “Don't Look Up.” He says the movie (about a comet strike) is really a story about climate change and our ignoring  the warnings and danger to humanity. The same could be said for many critical problems we face.   ...

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Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson

On the afternoon of July 20, 2022, a celebration of the legacy of Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson was held in the gardens of the Marathon County Historical Society. After two years, the work has been completed. The Reading Room of the Wisconsin Historical Society has been dedicated to her with a portrait of her on display. A traveling exhibit is now on display as well after a month in Madison. In September it will move to UWM and City Hall in Milwaukee and then onto other cities throughout Wisconsin. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley spoke and a scholarship in Justice ...

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BULL FALLS RADIO

Hi Folks, Today is an exciting day because I am finally able to announce the Minocqua Brewing Company’s partnership with two new progressive talk radio stations opening up in Central Wisconsin, and potentially even more around Northern Wisconsin very soon. On August 1st, WXCO 1230 AM/98.9 FM, which will be called “Bull Falls Radio,” will be launched in Wausau.  Also, the Stevens Point/Wisconsin Rapids station, WFRH 1320 AM/97.5 FM, otherwise known as “Locally Grown Radio,” will also be under the same new ownership.  These stations are an ...

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WISCONSIN: PETRI DISH FOR THE NATION

For generations Wisconsin has been the home of my ancestors and relatives.  They were among the first to “pioneer” the state coming from Pennsylvania where generations before had befriended Indigenous peoples and lived in harmony with them after fleeing autocracies in other countries.  Their humble message has always passed down through generations:  ALWAYS KEEP SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE .  It is my earliest recollection of what I heard over and over at family reunions. Other ancestors came from Norway. Those Wisconsinites always emphasized working ...

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Northcentral Chapter of WI Poor People’s Campaign

After attending the Poor People's Campaign led Poor and low-wage workers' assembly and Moral march on Washington and to the polls on June 18th, I have had cause to reflect on where I stand at this moment in history. I have come to believe humanity ebbs and flows as a tide, and on that day, I saw the beginnings of righteousness flowing down as a river, and justice like a mighty stream. I have never once shied away from speaking my mind. I have also never once been afraid to dive headlong into uneasy and controversial discussions even to the unintentional ruffling of ...

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The Election Integrity Scam

“The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected.” Will Rogers, a 1930-40s comedian. Unqualified candidates for public office are nothing new and too often they get elected. This year in Wisconsin we have an abundance of candidates running for office with few, if any, qualifications. It may be unkind to call them “jokes.” People should be encouraged to volunteer for public office, but they should have some basic qualifications. Just because everyone has a right to run doesn't mean they should. Some candidates for the Wisconsin ...

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