21 results for tag: Politics

New regulations carry the promise of under-enforcement

This lack of enforcement is nothing new. The big difference in the circumstance of the mask mandate is that the decision not to enforce was politically motivated.

Nuclear weapons are now illegal

Most of the world agrees with these two former national leaders on opposite sides of the Cold War. On January 22, 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons became international law. Nuclear weapons are now illegal. Nations who possess, threaten to use, or use these weapons of mass destruction will be outlaws. This is a big step toward abolishing them altogether.

Wisconsin Legislature strikes mask order; Governor reinstates four hours later

Talk to your friends and neighbors; this is not a partisan political issue. It's an issue of what is right vs. what is wrong, and what is good vs. what is bad for the people in our communities and state.

Happiness, simplicity, and other worthy pursuits

The other morning, while watching snow gently falling, outlining the lampposts and trees, I felt peace. More than that, I felt happy. Soon after, I found myself asking, “why can’t others find happiness in these simple things?” Of course other people do, but maybe not enough. Will, my significant other, has said to me, “sometimes I feel like asking people, ‘have you ever turned around to watch the sunrise?’” It is a question that should be asked of people who resort to violence. Surely there must be some deep unhappiness that leads people to act as they had during the January 6th Capitol riots. We know that the rioters were believ...

A Citizen Remembers

A Citizen Remembers….by Randy Radtke I remember a few things growing up. I remember my dad being able to raise our family on one income. Most people could raise their family on one income.  Some of their spouses chose to work but it wasn't necessary. When people did not agree totally with the government, they still knew government was needed for our country to function properly. We respected all teachers, both public and private. There was respect for each other no matter what occupation or point of view. We seemed more united. People seemed to know we were all in this together Many employees never paid a dime for their health ...

CONGRESSMEN DAVE OBEY AND TOM PETRI

Retired Congressmen Dave Obey and Tom Petri have been friends for over 30 years. In the past, friendships were formed with representatives across the aisle.  This civility and bipartisanship led to needed compromises to legislate on behalf of us, the citizens of the United States. Congressmen Obey and Petri want to renew the spirit of bipartisanship and civility through a series of lectures held at Wisconsin campuses. Through this lecture series, Obey and Petri hope to encourage college students and all citizens to renew their commitment to actively engage in the political process through bipartisanship and civility. Dave Obey said, "Politics is a ...

What Happened To the Notion of Us? A Declaration of Action

What is to become of us as a nation? Do we talk about each other in those terms or do we talk about how we function as a nation as “us and them.” I am not blameless. My worldview has been shaped by my experiences. I am human and I am guilty of viewing those on the other side of the political fence as having little empathy for others. But deep in my heart, I do not want to believe it to be this way. We are all being played - played by the Koch Brothers, the 1% ers and their ilk. We are constantly bombarded that “others” are to blame - the poor, the Unions, the teachers or insert your identified villain of the day here _________. We are ...

NOT A DEMOCRAT . . . . A HUMBLE OPINION

As the dust settles on the November elections and the Democrats assess the damage, one thing seems increasingly clear. . . it is no longer clear at all just who or what is a Democrat. Given the apparent identity crisis, a process of elimination may be in order. . . If you are not willing to openly fight the historic wealth inequality that has replaced democracy in America, you are not a Democrat. If you are not publicly advocating the breakup of “too big to fail” Wall Street banks, you are not a Democrat. If you do not rigorously support criminal prosecution of the fraud perpetrated on the people of America by the heads of Wall Street ...

Serving Wisconsin: Retiring Senators Offer Wisdom

“There is a yearning outside the Capitol for common sense, cooperation and compromise,” Senator Tim Cullen told his fellow Senators. “You all know how to do this if you’ve been married for more than 15 days.” As 2014 comes to a close, so do the public careers of several extraordinary Senators. I listened carefully as these public servants delivered farewell speeches on the Senate floor. The wisdom shared by three great men comes from a cumulative 80 years of experience that spanned four decades.  “We came because we care,” Republican Senator Dale Schulz told his colleagues. “I ran for public office because I felt called.”  ...

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 County (70%), Dunn County (72%), Green Bay (77%), Appleton (74%), Fond du Lac ...