Politics
Protect Wisconsin’s Civil Service System
By Phil Anderson and Joyce Luedke
Wisconsin’s merit Civil Service System is a model to the nation and the major safeguard against corruption in government. Several proposals in the 2015-2017 state budget threaten to weaken the Civil Service System in Wisconsin. The goal of these proposals is to consolidate power under the governor by increasing political control of the hiring process of all public employees.
Civil service laws provide for non-political hiring of public employees based on competitive examinations and objective experience ratings. The purpose is to ...
CELEBRATE FREEDOM ON JULY4TH WEEKEND…
CELEBRATE FREEDOM ON JULY4TH WEEKEND…
By Middle Wisconsin Editorial Staff
On this July4th weekend, celebrate freedom. There are different versions of “freedom” in our society, but here is our version:
“If you get cancer or break a leg and do not have health insurance, you are not free.
If you can’t get a decent education, you are not free.
If you are a woman and do not control your body, you are not free.
If you cannot marry someone you love, you are not free.
If your work largely benefits only the wealthiest of the wealthy and not you, you ...
ON THE BOOKSHELF – THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
ON THE BOOKSHELF
By Virginia Kirsch
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
(How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education) by Diane Ravitch
This book is a must-read for all of you concerned with public education. In Ravitch’s recent blog, she reiterated that the aim of legislators across the nation is to privatize public education. To prepare for the fight to protect our public schools, you will want to read this book.
Ravitch is the Research Professor of Education at New York University. From 1991 to 1993 she was Assistant Secretary of ...
Rep. Melissa Sargent: GOP leaves no room for bipartisan cooperation
Rep. Melissa Sargent: GOP leaves no room for bipartisan cooperation
June 23, 2015 4:30 am REP. MELISSA SARGENT | Democratic member, Wisconsin Assembly
Two weeks ago I happened to read an opinion column written by Rep. Scott Allen that was published in the Cap Times. While I don’t usually make a habit of responding to columns like his, I couldn’t help but note the irony of him accusing Democrats of “partisan posturing” and creating “an environment of extreme rhetoric,” only to paradoxically stress the importance of bipartisanship and cooperation mere ...
Honk For Public Education
HONK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
By Middle Wisconsin Editorial Staff
Motorists are honking their horn for public education for all, thanks to rallies by concerned people all over Wisconsin.
Throughout Wisconsin, many people are organizing and advocating for public education. Local groups are standing on sidewalks and holding signs to let people know what is going on in the state budget and the local schools. They are helping to educate the public on the needs of our public schools.
In Wauwatosa SOS (Save Our Schools) has requested open records of their elected officials to ...
Taxes are Good
This is a second article promoting website and book “Government is Good, An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution.”
Taxes are perhaps the most effective “wedge” issue used by conservatives to keep people voting against their own best interests. On his website Douglas J. Amy, Professor of Politics, Mount Holyoke College does a terrific job countering the conservative obsession with taxes and tax cuts with hard facts and good reasoning.
“Most conservative criticisms about the ill-effects of taxes are exaggerated or untrue. Taxes are in fact good – they ...
Government is Good
Government is good and has many successful programs to show! On the other hand, the conservative mantra is that government is too big and needs to be cut. Government is the problem and not the answer. We are better off with the smallest government possible.
They have been so successful at this agenda that many “liberal” politicians are afraid to defend successful government programs and the necessary taxes to support vital public infrastructure and services.
There is a great website (and book) which addresses this subject in wonderful detail. Government is Good, ...
KEEP THE INTERNET OPEN AND FREE
KEEP THE INTERNET OPEN AND FREE
By Jeanne Larsen
On February 26, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) followed Chairman Tom Wheeler's plan to base Net Neutrality rules on Title II of the Communications Act, giving internet users the strongest protections possible by making broadband networks open, accessible, reliable and affordable for everyone.
Big corporations like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon are spending huge amounts of money on public relations media blitzes, lobbyists and political campaign donations to convince the public and legislators that ...
A TEACHER’S SPEECH
A TEACHER’S SPEECH by Sheila Plotkin
The following speech was given by Sheila Plotkin at a Rally for Public Schools in Sun Prairie.
I taught in the Milwaukee Public Schools Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program for 28 years. I am here as a retired teacher, and as a proud American. I am here because I believe that today, we stand together on common ground, and I am moved to begin with the most common ground of all. We all know these words well, perhaps too well. I ask you to imagine that you are hearing these words for the first time. Please stand and join me in the ...
A Citizen Remembers
A Citizen Remembers….by Randy Radtke
I remember a few things growing up.
I remember my dad being able to raise our family on one income. Most people could raise their family on one income. Some of their spouses chose to work but it wasn't necessary.
When people did not agree totally with the government, they still knew government was needed for our country to function properly.
We respected all teachers, both public and private.
There was respect for each other no matter what occupation or point of view.
We seemed more united. People seemed to know we ...
