We are moving into our 4th
year since the Wisconsin Uprising developed in response to the "bomb"
being dropped on Wisconsin's
public sector workers. During this time
we have seen Wisconsin
divided into separate camps and the divides between political ideologies has
widened into seemingly insurmountable gaps.
Over these past 4 years the attacks on ideals that are supposedly the
cornerstones of Wisconsin's
culture and history have come at a rapid pace.
Public education, labor rights, safety nets, environmentalism and social
justice issues have all been trampled under the wave of Conservatism that has
taken power in our state.
With a vote of 62 to 35, the Wisconsin
state Assembly approved right-to-work legislation after 24 hours of debate.
wuwm.com|By LaToya Dennis
Gov. Walker’s proposed budget would change the way thousands
of Wisconsin families get care for an elderly
loved one, or a member with disabilities.
wuwm.com|By Erin Toner
After his weekend appearance on Fox News, Wisconsin Gov.
Scott Walker is explaining his stance on immigration policy.
breitbart.com
Walker
throws out some education-related numbers to show his policies are working, but
they're not as impressive as he makes them sound.
washingtonpost.com
We have also become
victims of a "leader" who has put his political aspirations ahead of
the needs of many citizens in Wisconsin. Instead of uniting a state to address the
concerns that we face, he has taken advantage of the climate of fear and anger
to advance his own personal agenda.
While claiming to be looking out for the "everyday taxpayer" Walker has done a
remarkable job of building a political machine that has vaulted him into the
national spotlight.
As he entertains a bid for the Republican presidential
nomination, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is enjoying popularity among
conservatives as a fresh face with a compelling story about
"leadership."
chicagotribune.com|By Chicago Tribune
Opponents of this new
vision for Wisconsin
often refer to our state's history of clean government, our progressive ideals
and a legacy of labor activism that is embedded in our past. We find ourselves talking about the
"Wisconsin Idea" and defending a history that fills us with
pride. Walker, Fitzgerald and others are
portrayed as something foreign to Wisconsin. Yet, for all of our proud traditions of
worker's rights, public education and progressive values, Wisconsin is no stranger to a different
brand of politics.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s recent statements on the
campaign trail show that he is becoming as dangerous as former Sen. Joseph
McCarthy, who destroyed...
expressmilwaukee.com
In fact, as one talks to
people in Wisconsin
it becomes clear that this vision of a Progressive Wisconsin with a constant eye
on social justice and political activism is one that isn't universally
upheld. The question we need to answer
as a state is just where our true allegiances lie. We have all heard the justifications for the
wave of Conservative legislation from political leadership that talks about the
fact that voters have elected people who support this agenda. However, at the same time there seems to be a
mismatch between what the voters choose and what they are given as representation. Things like right to work don't often appear
during campaigns, but turn up later in legislative hallways. Dismantling public education isn't supported
by citizens, but is done effectively through legislation and policy making.
The poll results were unveiled in tandem with a new charter
school accountability initiative being spearheaded by the Center for Popular
Democracy and In the...
blogs.edweek.org
Supporters are stunned by proposed cuts by Gov. Scott Walker
to the Discovery Farms program, which helps farmers run cleaner and more
efficient operations.
m.host.madison.com|By George
Hesselberg | Wisconsin State Journal
While this is from Chicago, the machine that
drives political success is equivalent.
Those currently in power here in Wisconsin
have done a masterful job of placing blame on others, vilifying their opponents
and bending facts to serve their own ends.
Closing mental health clinics was the mayor's idea—but that
doesn't stop his supporters from blaming an independent alderman.
chicagoreader.com
Once elected, the voice of
the "taxpayer" frequently changes and becomes a voice of
self-interest and an advocate for the wealthy elite. Political success and access to power become
the priority over the needs of their constituents. Voters, and some elected officials, realize
too late that they have been "snookered" and have become pawns in a
bigger economic and political "game."
A game that has disastrous impacts on a large number of citizens.
That security cost $1.75 million from July 2013 to June
2014, but Walker’s
transportation secretary did not figures that take into account the governor’s
wave of recent national travel.
jsonline.com|By Patrick Marley
The retired Republican lawmaker dumps on his party and explains
how Walker
snookered him on Act 10.
urbanmilwaukee.com
Another aspect of this
struggle that makes "winning" difficult, and even in some ways
undesirable is the reality that cooperation and compromise aren't a part of the
plan for those currently in power. The
question becomes how do you stay true to an ideology that values dialogue and
discourse when your opponent is seeking your destruction. Act 10 and right to work are pieces of
legislation designed to decimate, not regulate labor rights. Walker and his allies have shown no
willingness to compromise, or even discuss alternative ways to address concerns
that exist in Wisconsin. So, to defeat them, do we have to play by the
same rules, or lack thereof? In winning
back our state do we end up weakening the fabric that has made Wisconsin a place worthy
of our loyalty?
We also have to consider
the reality that the message we are delivering isn't reaching the people that
we need to reach. We can surround
ourselves with those who think in similar ways and lament the loss of our state
to "outside interests." But,
at the same time we need to recognize that there are a substantial number of
citizens who find the rhetoric from our current administration to be something
that they can identify with. Whether
they are in complete agreement, can't bring themselves to vote for a Democrat,
or come to their position through any number of pathways, the result is the
same. Progressives are losing at the
ballot box in recent elections and are sometimes failing to deliver our vision
of Wisconsin
in a positive way. It is those voters
who are identifying only with a portion of the Conservative message, or who are
reacting to a perceived threat to the stability of our society who we need to
connect with and convince to change their allegiance.
This can only happen if we
continue the effort to communicate our ideals.
We need to present our vision of Wisconsin,
not in negative or reactive terms, but rather in a positive, proactive
manner. The union ideals of solidarity,
compassion and support for all members need to permeate our message. This isn't a struggle of one group for
recognition, but rather an effort to improve society for everyone. Truly an "Injury to one, is an injury to
all," and we are only as strong as our most disadvantaged, at-risk
citizen. To ignore this is to create an
unsustainable and inequitable society that eventually must pay the price for
the gaps that are created whether income, opportunity, achievement or any
other.
No thinking citizen wants
to live in such a place. We have to
share a vision that leads all to a more positive place in a truly socially just
society. The Conservative ideals of
prosperity, independence and freedom are ones that are not exclusive to one
ideology. How we get to the goal of a
productive, independent and prosperous society is important. A truly just society isn't built on the backs
of anyone, it doesn't discriminate or subjugate. Instead, it is built cooperatively and with
an eye to the future. Progressives truly
have a vision of a place where our grandchildren can thrive, now we need to
retake our place at the table and change the course of our state and
nation.
As Scott Walker’s support for ‘right-to-work’ bill is seen
as another blow to blue-collar workers, labor movement and activists ask ‘what
happens now?’
theguardian.com|By Zoe Sullivan
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