Right now
The Wisconsin Assembly Should Be Ashamed
This is a submission from Protect Our Wisconsin Retirement Security (POWRS). We are a volunteer, statewide group of retired teachers and public employees working (since Gov. Walker) to protect the state public retirement system, Social Security, Medicare, and advocate for better retirement options for all Wisconsin workers.
We are not a partisan group and this topic is outside our normal mission, but this attack on the integrity of our elections demands action.
Subject: Impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz
To: The Republican members of ...
Forcing Religious Beliefs in the Classroom is not Condoned
America is changing and becoming something new. That is the purpose of teaching history. It is important to know what we have been, and, as importantly, what we have not been. With current politicians basing some of their electoral appeal on interpretations of U.S. history, it is more important than ever to teach as accurate and fact-based narrative as possible. That goes for the history of our religious past. as well.
Our founding fathers realized that no group is more dangerous to the social fabric of a country than religious extremists who believe they only ...
Commonwealth Spirituality
Here in northern Wisconsin, on Tuesday night, August 15, 2023, the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors defeated, by a vote of 13-9, a resolution calling for a county-wide referendum on the funding of the county-owned nursing home, Pine Crest. Over one hundred people—many of them elderly, some in wheelchairs—were in attendance in the big room where supervisors meet. Over half-a-dozen citizens spoke, all in favor of the resolution, including one man who pointed out that a ten-year $8 per month price tag (the property tax increase) offered an astonishingly inexpensive ...
BOOK BANNING AND OTHER CENSORSHIP
No one should be dictating what you can and cannot read. It appears this is becoming a trend in our nation. We need you to help stop it in its tracks. We do not need a rating system either. If you are old enough to go to the library yourself, you’re old enough to pick out books. In the world we live in, the library is the one safe place where children can get solid factual materials. Take a moment to watch the video at the bottom of this article by Donna Jo Napoli, “What Children (and Everyone else) Need to Read.” Please come to the Wausau library on Monday, August ...
A Sad Update on the Porcupines
As you know we have ran a story or two about potential mining in the Porkies. Things unfortunately seem to be moving along.
For more information, visit www.ProtectThePorkies.com
Please consider signing the petition on their website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBnPyeUpnK0
Profiles in Patriotism
In my writing I have frequently questioned the false narratives and harmful beliefs fostered by politicians and the media on our patriotic holidays. Why is patriotism considered the highest virtue? Why is military service always portrayed as the ultimate in patriotism? Why are other public servants who sacrifice for others not honored as patriots? Why is constructive criticism of our country branded as unpatriotic? Why isn't patriotic fervor used to mobilize people for good change instead of wars?
Historian Howard Zinn taught us that “dissent is the highest form of ...
Anaem Omot
Congratulations to the Menominee Tribe! Anaem Omot is a sacred and historically important area that deserves national recognition and protection from threats like the Back Forty Mine. In the photograph within a ceremonial dance ring L-R are Dr David Overstreet, David "Nahwahquaw" Grignon, Tony Brown, Kahkamahut Waupekenay, Glen Miller, Lupi Corn, Lois Turney, Aaliyah Webster, and Dawn Wilber.
The Anaem Omot or Sixty Islands area of the Menominee River is located about 16 miles east of Stephenson, Michigan. The settlement remains date back roughly 10,000 ...
A Star in the Night Sky
James Albert Lewis, 94, of Merrill passed away on June 5. He was surrounded by loved ones at home near Merrill. Among those loved ones were Joel and Melissa Lewis.
Jim was born on Feb. 28th, 1929. This was the year you recall the stock market crashed. There was the great depression, the St. Valentine’s massacre, and Al Capone. There was World War Two, Korea, and Vietnam. Later countess other wars. He lived in a time when television was first invented. He saw man landing on the moon. Imagine all this man has seen and done!
James graduated from the University of ...
JUST MONEY THREE
One of the most pernicious myths regarding US Federal Government monetary operations, is that our Federal government budget is like a household budget – it must get money before it can spend money. This leads to another deeply ingrained, and equally false belief – that our taxes pay for Federal Government spending.
Let these two myths, these two falsehoods, sink in - - - our Federal government has no money of its own and, like our households, it must get money before it can spend money - - - and the way our Federal government gets money is to collect taxes from us, ...
On Tolerance
Tolerance is essential to our society. But intolerance is increasing in our country. People are increasing divided over religion, politics, ethnicity, race, sexuality and, it seems, just about everything. With the celebration of Juneteenth it seems appropriate to revisit this important topic. This article was originally written in 2017 but is, unfortunately, still relevant.
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” President John F. Kennedy
“Tolerance is giving to every other ...