WEALTH AND MONEY PART XXVI: WHO IS BANKRUPTING AMERICA?
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said: “Because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke.” But the Medicare trustees themselves, along with a host of experts, say the Affordable Care Act’s changes to Medicare – including holding the line on spending and raising taxes [a surtax on high income earners] – actually puts Medicare in better shape than before the law was adopted. That’s a long way from making Medicare go broke. We rate Ryan’s statement Pants on Fire. - - Tom Kertscher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Pants on Fire” has become standard operating proced...
Looking Forward to 2017
The turn of the calendar to 2017 brings us hope for better prospects in our public affairs. I am particularly inspired this season for the many who wrote with solutions to problems facing our state.
The many letters from readers gives me optimism for a coming bloom of civic mindedness. Certainly your notes and letters bring a fresh approach to lingering problems.
I do see signs on the horizon that our state may be stumbling.
Deep budget cuts have affected the forward progress of our University of Wisconsin System. Faculty have left UW and taken their research ...
NORTH CENTRAL ORGANIZING COOPERATIVE
We would like to invite you to learn more about what our early adopters are calling the "North Central Organizing Cooperative". Late last week about 60 progressives came together to launch a member-owned organization that will fight for you, but ONLY if we identify over 250 people in roughly 60 days!
Two weeks ago supporters joined together in Wausau and shared big ideas about how we can make our region a better place to live and work! Check out this 2-minute video on Middle Wisconsin’s page.
These Organizing Cooperatives already exist in Milwaukee, Western ...
JANUARY EVENTS
Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Drinking Liberally
I look forward to seeing you there. Also, it is time to talk about getting involved with Citizens Action --- they are in their 60 day organizing drive.
Say goodbye to 2016 and welcome 2017 with your Wausau Drinking Liberally friends this Tuesday, January 3rd. There has been a lot to mourn in 2016 but hopefully we can reclaim some hope with the launching of a new year. If nothing else, we can support each other and lift our spirits with some spirits at DL. See you at 5:30 pm at Malarkey's THIS Tuesday, January 3rd.
Satu...
(Video) Citizen Action Event in Wausau on December 15
https://vimeo.com/196224439
Citizen Action of Wisconsin event at the UU Church in Wausau, WI on December 15, 2016. Citizen Action highlighted its cooperative model, in which members' contributions afford them the opportunity to select the civic, governmental, or political issues on which the regional chapter focuses. The event was well attended by Central Wisconsin residents with a variety of motivations and goals. Middle Wisconsin was on the scene, including MW writer Dave Svetlik, seen in the video.
More information about the Citizen Action North Central Organizing ...
ENEMY OF THE ELDERLY (AND ALL OTHERS WHO PLAN ON AGING)
“The Center for Media and Democracy has learned that AARP has recently [2014] joined ALEC, and that it is a named sponsor of the ALEC annual meeting taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana from July 27-29, 2016.” - - The Center for Media and Democracy, July 28, 2016
“It was very recently revealed that AARP is a supporting member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Koch brothers’ organization dedicated to, among many other things, destroying Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.” - - Politicususa, August 5, ...
80 FEET IS ENOUGH SAY NO TO ENBRIDGE PIPELINE
Thanks to all who gave, there will be two billboards to show Wisconsinites that a foreign pipeline company changed the law… to take our land for their private gain.
But we must reach millions of Wisconsin citizens, which means three more billboards are needed in major metropolitan markets.
$4,000 matching gift available for one week, starting Friday, December 16 and
Ending Friday, December 23.
Generous donors will match up to $4,000 in new donations, a great opportunity, but for only one week.
What does this mean?
When you give $20, $40 will be donated ...
Logging the Brule Part 2: The Economics
“Politics: a strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.” Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce was a late 19th - early 20th century journalist and short story writer. He is best remembered for “The Devil's Dictionary,” a collection of satirical definitions of American society. Last week I discussed the changes to the Brule River State Forest to increase the acreage available for logging. The state has mandated that 75% of state forests be managed for logging. This mandate certainly fits Bierce's ...
WEALTH AND MONEY Part XXV: COMEDY WERE IT NOT TRAGEDY
“Paul Ryan was born into a well-to-do Janesville, Wisc. family, part of the so-called “Irish mafia” that’s run the city’s construction industry since the 19th century. When his lawyer father died young, sadly, the high-school aged Ryan received Social Security survivor benefits. But they didn’t go directly to supporting his family; by his own account, he banked them for college. He went to Miami University of Ohio, paying twice as much tuition as an Ohio resident would have. “After his government-subsidized out-of-state education, the pride of Janesville left ...
ON THE BOOKSHELF
ROUGHNECK GRACE (Farmer Yoga, Creeping Codgerism, Apple Golf, and other Brief Essays from on and Off the Back Forty) was written by Michael Perry.
Michael Perry is a New York Timex Bestselling Author. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and daughters. He is a first responder with the local fire department. He can be found online at www.sneezingcow.com
ROUGHNECK GRACE is a collection of brief essays from his Sunday Wisconsin State Journal column, “Roughneck Grace.” He writes about everything in his life from his chickens to his book tours, from his neighbors ...
