Politics
A LAUNDRY LIST OF BAD IDEAS
A LAUNDRY LIST OF BAD IDEAS
By Phil Anderson
In the last several weeks there has been an avalanche of policy changes floated by the Republican leadership in Wisconsin. All of them seem to be solutions looking for a problem.
Three prior attempted policy changes were the “Wisconsin Idea,” voter ID, and “reforming” the open meeting laws. None were the result of thoughtful, well researched examinations of problems facing Wisconsin residents. Nor were their “solutions” likely to do any good.
Given the Republican propensity to shove legislation through ...
IS DEMOCRACY ON THE ROPES?
IS DEMOCRACY ON THE ROPES?
By Pat Slutske
(Reprinted with permission from Grassroots North Shore)
Lately we've been calling your attention to specific challenges progressives are facing right now — issues like the attempts to gut our open records law, or attacks on the Legislative Audit Bureau and the Government Accountability Board. The attack on the venerable civil service, created more than 100 years ago to stymie corruption and cronyism in government, is simply the latest of these outrages.
These are matters calling for intense and immediate action. But to ...
INSANITY: WE LOVE IT…IF I SEE ONE MORE TEDDY BEAR SHRINE, I THINK I WILL SCREAM
INSANITY: WE LOVE IT…IF I SEE ONE MORE TEDDY BEAR SHRINE, I THINK I WILL SCREAM
By Mark L. Taylor from The Daily Call, October 2, 2015
We’re at the beginning of the tenth month of the year and we have — as of yesterday — witnessed 45 school shootings in the United States this year. Forty-five. The year is not yet done and you can bet before this bloody year is out, more students will be gunned down at their desks, in the hallways of their schools or while eating lunch in the cafeteria, studying for a math test, or biology quiz or … whatever.
Prepare for ...
FARMS NOT FACTORIES
FARMS NOT FACTORIES
By Joyce Luedke
(This letter was written to Mr. Bill Clark, Environmental Review Supervisor, DNR Service Center, 810 W. Maple Street, Spooner, WI 54801)
Re: Proposed Badgerwood LLC Swine CAFO in Bayfield County—Comments on EIS Scoping
Dear Mr. Clark:
“We offer these comments on the scope of the Badgerwood swine CAFO Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to ensure that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) independently, thoroughly credibly evaluates the Badgerwood proposal. As you know, we had requested the DNR to undertake ...
SHOESTRING POLITICS
SHOESTRING POLITICS
By Blue Jean Nation and Mike McCabe
Blue Jean Nation will be conducting a workshop called "Shoestring Politics: How to Win Without Being Rich or Mortgaging Your Soul" on Saturday, November 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. in Madison at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups headquarters at 2850 World Dairy Drive ( map ).
If you are active in a cause, advocating for an issue, engaged in grassroots activism, thinking of running for office or looking to help someone run for office, this workshop is for you.
It is geared to building understanding of the Citizens ...
BOBFEST 2015
BOBFEST 2015
By Virginia Kirsch
Bobfest 2015 occurred September 19 in Madison’s historic Breese Stevens Field. It is the fourteenth year for this unique event. Hundreds of people came for a fun day oF progressive politics and music.
Bobfest is named after Robert M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette, who presented many speeches in many parks and fairgrounds throughout Wisconsin 100 years ago. He fought to put government back in the hands of the people.
Once again, Wisconsin is in the hands of moneyed forces that obey special interests and buy politicians for themse...
PRESERVE WISCONSIN’S GAB
PRESERVE WISCONSIN’S GAB
By Rita Pachal
As of this writing the governor and legislature are looking to overhaul the GAB or Government Accountability Board.
This board governs our elections and the use of money in campaigns. It also investigates violations of the state ethics code.
This board consists of six former judges and staff. It was formed in 2007 when both Republicans and Democrats were mired in scandals. The formation of the board was supported by both parties and was passed almost unanimously.
The GAB forum held on September 14 at UWMC had panelists ...
ACTIVE CITIZENS MAKE DEMOCRACY WORK
Democracy requires citizens to be involved. It isn't a spectator sport. Too often people think electing a new president or a better legislator will solve our problems. Then they are disappointed when they find out he or she is a just another politician. Little or nothing changes. We want a savior when what really works is citizen involvement.
None of the progress we now enjoy came about by accident. None of it happened because the political leadership had vision. It all took decades of work by many people. It took citizens demanding change. Abolition of slavery, ...
IN WAY OVER THEIR HEADS
IN WAY OVER THEIR HEADS
By Mark L. Taylor in The Daily Call (9/24/15)
You can read many more articles, quotes and cartoons on Mark L. Taylor’s website:
www.thedailycall.org
Pope Francis gave an often inspiring speech before the gang of spendthrift grifters, hypocrites, fakes, racist bullies, big business pimps, flim-flam artists, and well-paid corporate sycophants making up the vast majority of the United States Congress. While far from the kind of well-deserved paint-blistering attacks on rapacious capitalism he has given in the past — and one would have ...
