Politics
The Struggle between Freedom and Safety
The recent tragedy near Santa Barbara, California, where a lone gunman killed six innocent individuals, has ignited yet another firestorm of commentary regarding the growing divide between those who value our unalienable rights and those who place a value on public safety. This constant struggle between both sides can often times leave more questions than answers. Whose viewpoints are right? Which takes precedence over the other?
The answer to that question lies at the very bedrock of who we are as a society, and ultimately, who we want to be. A middle-gro...
Lewis, Anthony. (2007). Freedom for the Thought that We Hate, A Biography of the First Amendment . . . a Book Review
The viability of any democracy depends upon a system of laws which serve to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens. One of those fundamental rights, found here in the United States and championed in many other parts of the world, can be found in the First Amendment. The storied history of the First Amendment lends not only to its continued relevance in our democracy, but also to the numerous challenges it has faced throughout our history. Understanding the importance of the First Amendment within the framework of its evolution within our society can not only ...
Why Women Should Support Women (written by a MAN!)
It's amazing that in 2014 we're still fighting over equality for WOMEN.
Equal pay for women is an example. This seems like a simple issue of fairness and family values. Women do make less than men for the same work. Women are the primary breadwinners in many families. Yet Gov. Walker ended the state equal pay law. This week the Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked DEBATE on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would have helped women fight unequal pay.
But it doesn't stop with pay. Opposition to health care reform impacts women more than men. So do attacks on voting ...
National Security: Less is More
The Pentagon, and all the other national “security” spending, is a major reason we have taxes, deficits, and budget problems.
The Center for Defense Information, a think tank run by former military officers say:
“Pentagon costs, taken together with other known national security expenses for 2015, will exceed $1 trillion.”
“There is much more than $495.6 billion in the budget for the Pentagon, and there are piles of national security spending outside the Pentagon...”
They list total national security spending outside the Department of Defense ...
“New Math” in America Today… 8 Billionaires = 1,401,069 Teachers
There were 1,401,069 public school teachers west of the Mississippi River* in 2013, including Hawaii, Alaska, and the two largest school systems in America – Texas and California. At a national average of $56,383 (a livable wage), their combined income was $78.9 billion.
The top 8 incomes in America in 2013 were:
In other words, eight people made as much as all of the teachers west of the Mississippi and had $4.3 billion to spare. (* Average teacher salary used because it represents a fair and just wage – a wage level at which a person can support ...
WORKERS OF THE WORLD…MARCH!
May 1 is known as May Day and also as International Workers’ Day. Workers march in parades all over the world. It is a day we celebrate the workers of our country and express our gratitude to them for building our nation and keeping it running.
On May Day, 2012, thousands of workers marched in New York City to protest the state of the economy and the widening gap of the rich and the poor. In 2014, we remember our workers and continue to push for an increased minimum wage…up to $10.10. There are now 25 states that have increased their minimum wage.
Here are other ...
The Thomas Street Plan: Four-Lane Road Into Two-Lane Bridge Based On Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Funding, Not Necessary Road or Traffic Improvement
Lost federal funding from breaking federal guidelines drives a costly Thomas Street plan that will impact the Wausau School District, Northcentral Technical College, and Marathon County
A careful review of information on the Thomas Street project, including local news coverage, reveals the answer to a question that has been frequently brought up by Wausau residents: why would the city build a four-lane road on Thomas Street into a two-lane bridge? The City’s own research indicates a four-lane stretch of road on Thomas Street is both unnecessary and costly.
The ...
Our Wisconsin Retirement System is #1 in the nation
The Wisconsin Coalition for Retirement Security (WCRS), a non-partisan coalition of labor and community groups, is standing up for our Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and the retirement security for all Wisconsin workers.
Our WRS “defined benefit” system. The benefit for retirees is known and defined in advance. Both employers and employees pay into the pension fund. The funds are well-managed by public employees, who work for public salaries. They do not receive commissions for managing our retirement funds. There is no gender discrimination in the WRS. Women ...
Let Us Have a Blueprint for Posterity
On Monday, 3/24/13, the Governor signed a tax relief bill dubbed the "Blueprint for Prosperity."
According to our State government at prosperity.wi.gov, the legislation will reduce property, income and state income withholding taxes. The typical homeowner will see a reduction of $101 on her next property tax bill. The typical family of four, earning $40,000, will save about $58 in income taxes. Because of the change to income withholding taxes, that family will see about $58 more in their paychecks each month.
By the end of 2014, that typical family of four could ...
Suppressing the Vote
Voting matters to the citizens of Wisconsin. Here are two examples from my experience as a poll observer in a small community on election day, November 6, 2012.
A young man came to city hall to vote. Unfortunately, he could not vote that day because he did not have the documents to prove his residency. I spoke to him outside. He was crying. This young man worked at a community workshop. His check was sent directly to the bank showing no address. He did not have a checking account or any other documents proving his residency because he lived with someone ...
