Politics


ANOTHER LOOK

American Gonzalo Lira died this past January 11th after being held in a Ukrainian prison for 8 months. Lira was a political commentator on social media who was critical of the U.S. and its proxy war in Ukraine. Abducted by Ukrainian authorities, he died for exercising the right of free speech. Lira received almost no coverage in western media. Despite pleas from Lira’s father, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine refused to lift a finger in behalf of an American citizen. President Joe Biden made no speeches about the death of Lira from illegal imprisonment in Ukraine, and surely ...

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Who has better policy ideas?

Wisconsin Assembly majority leader Robin Vos claims that Republicans have “better policy ideas for the State of Wisconsin.” He claims this will allow Republicans to continue winning elections for the legislature. But he was only putting a positive spin on being forced to accept Gov. Evers more democratic redistricting maps. Republicans may continue to win elections despite no longer having as many gerrymandered “safe” districts. But they will not win because they have “better policy ideas.” If they win it will be because they are better at manipulating the ...

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Wisconsin Happenings

The big story in Wisconsin is the new Assembly and Senate district maps. For a decade Wisconsin has had the most gerrymandered electoral districts in the country. The Republican legislature, fearing the Wisconsin Supreme Court creating a map, reluctantly passed Gov. Evers' redistricting plan – the least democratic option of those before the Court. Gov. Evers signed the bill and Wisconsin now has a much more competitive and democratic political landscape. This didn't happen because Republicans were willing to compromise to resolve the redistricting controversy. Nor ...

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Honest Debate vs Political Spin

As I have pointed out in prior articles, Rep. Tom Tiffany's positions on most issues are misguided and not in the best interests of most of his constituents. Tiffany's positions on the environment are especially harmful. His thinking is founded in partisan talking points and not good science, knowledge, and the history or what is actually happening to the environment. I am not being partisan in making these statements. When one examines Tiffany's own words, and compares them with the facts from reliable sources, it becomes very clear he is either misinformed, ignorant or ...

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THE NATURE OF HISTORY

Beyond human awareness or control, history is the synergetic outcome of thousands upon thousands of seemingly unrelated decisions and developments coming together to form the evolution of societies and nations. It is nature and planet charting the course. We live through an extraordinary moment in that endless history – precarious beyond all past, yet filled with unprecedented hope. Empires have come and gone through the ages. They tend to evolve westwardly around the globe and each has a shorter lifespan than the empire that preceded it. All were to be the power to ...

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Everybody wants to use God…

“You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” Anne Lamott, American contemporary author. “The will of God (or Allah) is the passing off of the responsibility of mankind.” Unknown source “Religious freedom exists to safeguard the right to practice religion free from persecution... Practicing religion is about what you do or don’t do, not about controlling what others do.” Dale Richter, writing in the blog host website Medium.com Recent national and world events demonstrate the ...

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Alexei Navalny


NORTHWOODS PROGRESSIVES~Bigger than Roe Minocqua 2024

The Northwoods Progressives met on a bitterly cold Saturday on January 20 to show support for Women's RIGHTS!   Bigger than Roe Minocqua 2024 Our resolve is unyieldingSaturday, January 20 at 1:00 pm We will gather at Veterans Park in Minocqua then march to the railing across from Save More where we will wave signs and show that Our Resolve is Unyielding Everyone with an interest in Women's rights is welcome to attend.  Bring a friend and bring a sign with your message. Hosts: Northwoods Progressives, Democratic Party of Vilas County, ...

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WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN CONCERNS IN 2024

Recently, I asked family members and friends: What are your main concerns in 2024? The responses centered around: climate change and the environment; unions; supporting public schools with additional funds to counter the taxpayer money going to unaccountable private schools; gerrymandering and redistricting; the slaughter of children by high-powered rifles; Social Security and Medicare; raising the minimum wage; increase the number of charging stations for vehicles; use money from the military budget for people programs—education, healthcare, childcare; as our local ...

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We Share the Blame…

“Is it for freedom or our comfort and convenience? Is it to profit for big business we pledge our allegiance? Are we prisoners in the land of the brave and the bold? Held by indifference, our hearts grown hard and cold?   From Sara Thomsen's song “Is It For Freedom.”   As a nation, our hearts have become hard and cold to the killing of innocent people all over the world. We are so accustomed to our government constantly bombing someone, somewhere that we can not see the humanity of the victims. Claiming to be defending freedom, democracy or ...

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