Politics
ON THE BOOKSHELVES….BLUE JEANS IN HIGH PLACES – The Coming Makeover of American Politics
The best book to read this post-election is BLUE JEANS IN HIGH PLACES, The Coming Makeover of American Politics by Mike McCabe.
In this book, McCabe offers a plan to re-invent our political system to represent the people. For the past 15 years, Mike, Director and founder of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, has been following the money in American politics. He writes from experience and with sound evidence. His writing (like his speeches) is refreshing and encouraging.
We the people are not as hopelessly divided as we think. However, we are numb when it comes to the ...
Twelve Wisconsin Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436 / geo_penn@charter.net
Twelve Wisconsin Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution
Madison, WI (November 5, 2014) – On Tuesday, November 4th, twelve communities voted in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to make clear that money is not speech and that only real people should have inalienable Constitutional rights. This would reverse the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates to big money in elections.
Eleven referenda passed with solid majorities: Milwaukee ...
Vote “No” On the Constitutional Amendment to Isolate Transportation Funds – It Is a Bad Idea!
Vote “No” On the Constitutional Amendment
to Isolate Transportation Funds
It is a Bad Idea!
It is poor public policy to use constitutional amendments to isolate tax revenues for special interests’ benefit. Changing the state's constitution is no small thing. States, municipalities, school districts, etc., create budgets to cover our local and state community needs. Our needs change all the time. Sometimes, disasters strike - homes and businesses are damaged and need immediate repair, people are injured and need extensive medical services, water mains break and ...
Updated Voting Instructions for November 4, 2014 Elections – No Photo ID Required for Voting!
U.S. Supreme Court Decision Blocks Wisconsin Voter Photo ID Law
(http://gab.wi.gov/node/3412)
Late Thursday, October 9, 2014, the United States Supreme Court issued an order blocking implementation of Wisconsin's voter photo ID law for the November 4, 2014 General Election.
More information about the impact of this decision will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Information stating that voter photo ID is in effect for the November 4, 2014 General Election should be disregarded.
Questions about Voting?
Contact your municipal clerk’s Office(https:...
“Ask the Candidate” – Issue Specific Questions
The Middle Wisconsin Editorial Board is excited to share with its readers a compilation of issue specific candidate questions. We are hopeful that these questions can be utilized as a guide during a dialogue between citizens and candidates on some of the issues which face communities throughout the state of Wisconsin. We encourage anyone using these questions to relay back to us some of the answers given by candidates so we may publish them on our website.
The importance of an active citizenry is more important today than at any other period in our history. A ...
Reducing Money in Politics
Do you think there is too much money in politics? Do you think politicians are bought by big money contributions? We need to do something about the extreme amount of money being raised and spent on elections. But it is unlikely that the politicians, or the industries that profit from the current mess, will allow change. What can we do? We can reduce the influence of money in politics if more of us participated in elections.
First we should recognize that politics is the way we make decisions in a democratic society. It is how we decide priorities, spending, and public ...
Let’s Pay the Bills First – Senator Kathleen Vinehout
The following article is a reprint of a recent news release by Senator Kathleen Vinehout to the people of Wisconsin. Middle Wisconsin feels strongly that the citizens need to be aware of the harm being done to our public schools and our children by the transfer of tax dollars to private institutions.
Let's Pay the Bills First
by
Senator Kathleen Vinehout
“I don’t want another cent from the state until you guys pay the bills,” the business-owner from Durand told me. “I am tired of hearing about tax cuts and deficits.”
“I want all the bills ...
Unions: The Real Homeland Security
Americans are obsessed with national security. Over half of the national budget is spent on defense. The Department of Homeland Security has brought us the biggest bureaucracy in the history of human kind. But for most of us real security is a job with a future, a family supporting wage, affordable healthcare, affordable housing, and a secure retirement.
Family supporting jobs are on the decline. Average workers are being paid less when adjusted for inflation. Homelessness is on the rise. Workers in their 20's are especially insecure with high costs of schooling, ...
Political Candidates and Middle Wisconsin Members Supporting the Fast Food Workers Strike
From left to right: Paul DeMain - State Senate Candidate 29th District, Joyce Luedke - MW Member, Randy Radtke - President of Marathon County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, Nancy Stencil - State Candidate 86th Assembly, Dave Svetlik - MW Member, Dorothy Miller - Chairwoman Marathon County Democratic Party, Rita Pachal - MW Member and Head of Wausau area Move to Amend, Kelly Westlund - US Assembly candidate Wisconsin 7th Congressional District.
A Wealthy Capitalist on Why Money Doesn’t Trickle Down
Nick Hanauer, venture capitalist and self-described "plutocrat," says a healthy economy and an effective democracy depend on a thriving middle class of workers.
The fundamental law of capitalism is: When workers have more money, businesses have more customers. Which makes middle-class consumers—not rich businesspeople—the true job creators. A thriving middle class isn’t a consequence of growth—which is what the trickle-down advocates would tell you. A thriving middle class is the source of growth and prosperity in capitalist economies.
Our economy has ...
