PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO WHO….OR WHAT?
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO WHO….OR WHAT?
By Kathie Marsh and Pat Murphy
Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly passed legislation which will all but eliminate democratic government in Wisconsin. Those politicians represent a new breed who make their legislative priorities clear: secure and lock down every single lever of power in the state.
Today, Republicans must pledge allegiance to the Party, not the People. They represent only voters who agree with them, especially those who contribute big bucks to their campaigns.
You would think citizens would be outraged, but ...
UNIONS BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS
UNIONS BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS
By John Spiegelhoff
The 1950’s and 1960’s are considered a time of prosperity for our country. Workers were paid a good wage and our economy was booming. Corporate CEO’s earned just a little more than the workers. Our country manufactured goods right here in America and manufacturing jobs were plentiful. Companies took pride in their workforce. They knew a well-paid workforce with benefits and a pension benefitted the entire country. Most people considered themselves middle class.
Now people are wondering: what happened to our ...
TEACHERS DESERVE RESPECT
TEACHERS DESERVE RESPECT
By Phil Anderson
The general public thinks teachers have easy jobs with high pay, good benefits, overly generous retirements, and all summer off from work. But the truth is quite different. Those who think teaching is an easy “part time” job should walk a few steps (a mile is not necessary) in their shoes.
If you talk with teachers you get a different picture. Teachers have a difficult, demanding job, both physically and emotionally. Most teachers work long hours for modest pay. They do not have summers “off;” rather they are unemplo...
MARATHON COUNTY HISTORIC WOMEN WHO STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY
MARATHON COUNTY HISTORIC WOMEN WHO STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY
By Jean Kapinsky and Rita Pachal
Gary Gisselman was the featured speaker at “Women for Women,” a Democratic Caucus Kickoff on October 1 in Wausau. Here are highlights of his talk.
White pine trees brought people here to Marathon County.
William and Mary Schofield built the first sawmill. After William’s death, Mary ran the saw mill, then sold it to her brother. She brought culture to Wausau and started the Women’s Club.
Mary Poor was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Wausau. She also ...
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 ...
