A Year Round Christmas Story
Each and every day newspapers and news broadcasts run articles and stories about the results of high school sporting events and which teams won and who were the stars. This is well and good. Athletics provide a wonderful avenue for growth and expression for many students. But there are other things going on in our public schools that perhaps could use more attention.
A few days before Christmas my wife and I attended our granddaughter’s D.C. Everest Junior High Christmas concert. Of course, we have been attending her concerts since she was a first grader and as ...
A New Day in Wisconsin?
“What’s best for our kids, is what’s best for our state and our democracy.”
Governor elect Tony Evers, 2018
"Well, we're going to start in a couple weeks with our budget adjustment bill. The first step is we're going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions, because you use divide and conquer." Governor Scott Walker talking to billionaire campaign contributor Diane Hendricks about getting rid of unions and making Wisconsin a “completely red state,” January 18, 2011 (emphasis added)
“It is a new day in Wisconsin.” Tony ...
Hate in America
Driving around the Northland you can see the confederate flag displayed on vehicles. Do you ever wonder what motivates a person to display this symbol of racism and hate? This isn't the Deep South. Wisconsin and Minnesota men fought proudly for the Union, and we have a very small minority community. Why would anyone want, or feel the need, to publicly display this hateful southern symbol?
The confederate battle flag IS a symbol of hate. It is not merely an expression of pride in their “southern heritage,” as the apologists claim. Magnolia blossoms, mint juleps, and ...
Saying Goodbye
Good Bye,” I said to my friend. “I remember the first time I met you,” she said in reply. “It was at the ‘New Legislator Training’ …I was going through my spiel. You kept asking questions about auditing and program evaluation. I was impressed way back then.”
Twelve years – to that day – my Senate career is history. My, how time flies.
Cleaning out my desk, I found notes I took on my orientation day. I set my goals as part of the training. Here’s what rookie Senator Vinehout promised herself: vote my conscience; match my votes to my district; be ...
UNDERSTANDING THE TRAUMA OF RACIAL BIAS
Sunday, January 20, 2019
You are invited to this event. It is free and open to the public.
YWCA
613 5th Street
Wausau, Wisconsin 54403
3 – 5 p.m.
Our dynamic guest speakers will share their insights about how the legacy of racial injustice has affected our community and how we can build a new legacy of racial equality.
Our speakers, Dr. Fran Kaplan and Mr. Reggie Jackson, are consultants with Nurturing Diversity Partners of Milwaukee.
They are affiliated with America’s Black Holocaust Museum.
They are nationally-known speakers on issues of ...
Gifts For Our Future
What will make things better? Here are some ideas.
SOCIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS: ADDRESS THE ROOT
When a person applies for food stamps, unemployment, Medicaid, or other tax-supported programs, they face a stack of requirements to prove they’re worthy of help. Each application and benefit comes with its own separate process. Part of the problem for such applicants might be a lack of understanding about how to fill out the forms.
What’s needed is an advocate to guide the applicant through the process but also, more importantly, to assess the person’s situation, ...
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN
Learn more about the myths and truths of human trafficking in Central Wisconsin.
Officer Sarah D’Acquisto from the Wausau Police Department and Brenda Bayer from the Women’s Community will present information on human trafficking.
Sarah and Brenda will cover:
What human trafficking looks like in Wisconsin
Myths and truths about trafficking
How social media plays a role in recruitment
Red flags
A discussion will follow the presentation.
Please note: The content of this presentation is mature and is intended for teens and adults.
This event ...
SPEED AND SECRECY…THE LAST ACT
If you were a legislative leader in Wisconsin, and had an opportunity to pass new laws before your party’s governor left office, what would you do? What would you fix as your last act in power?
As I face my last Senate votes, I am working hard to understand what laws my Republican colleagues choose to pass before the new Democratic Governor takes office.
Late last Friday night, after Senate staff went home for the weekend, Republican leaders released their last act. Five bills detailing changes to over 400 sections of state law.
I learned late Friday, there ...
Don’t Celebrate – Organize
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Frederick Douglass
“Don't mourn – organize.” Joe Hill, labor activist
We, thankfully, don't have to mourn the last election. But the job is not done. Now is not the time to kick back and wait for the next election. This would be tempting and we all need a rest from politics. But, progressives must continue to oppose the destructive policies of Republicans and to push Democrats to do what is needed for people. Don't celebrate – organize.
Democrats made some gains in the last election. Wisconsin elected a ...
SODDY, FULLER AND MODERN MONETARY THEORY
Portions of this article have been previously published in Middle Wisconsin but the concepts are hopefully useful in understanding current economic issues confronting America and the world.
Born in the late 1800’s, Frederick Soddy and R. Buckminster Fuller led extraordinary lives. Soddy won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1921 and Fuller became known for his work in architecture, the geodesic dome and visionary thinking. Soddy was a British citizen, Fuller an American. Both were deeply rooted in science and the laws of physics, and both spent the latter half of their ...