#186 November 2, 2014- VOTE!!!!!

November 4th. . .

Elections matter.  That is a reality that Wisconsinites have learned all too well over the past 4 years.  While Americans frequently try their best to ignore politics and political action, the need to be involved and active politically has been made crystal clear to us as we have seen the climate around a host of issues change drastically under the Walker administration.  The Wisconsin of clean, cordial, cooperative government has changed and we are now one of the most politically polarized states in the nation.

Over the past four years we have heard significant talk about how unpleasant the political climate is here in Wisconsin.  Our public discourse has been anything but open minded and the current election has been among the nastiest in our history.  Those who bemoan the decline and fall of our civilization have a chance to reclaim the dialog in this election.  The best way to do this is to turn out and vote.  Governor Walker was elected twice, and in both elections turnout was dismally low.  Even in the recall election that generated so much political action turnout hovered around 50%.  If we are to gain any traction in our efforts to have a real discussion about political, social and economic issues we need to see more involvement from all citizens.  Otherwise, we will truly get the government that we, as a people, deserve. 

It is vital that we remember that this upcoming election isn't about any specific individual.  While Governor Walker has become either a hero or a villain depending on one's political ideology, the fact remains that Walker as a person should not be the focal point of the election.  Instead, we need to keep the focus on what our government, and the leaders we elect, will do to make Wisconsin a better place for all citizens to live in.  We aren't voting for prom king or queen, we are voting to elect individuals to represent our interests in decision making processes that impact all of us.

So, this election truly becomes a measuring stick of where we are as a state in terms of our ability to function as a democracy and to live up to the ideals that we claim to espouse.  We are a society that prides itself of free thinking, opportunity and the rights of the individual, yet we also must recognize that any functioning society must also restrict some individual rights in order to promote the greater good.  This is where the debate about the role of government enters in, and it is one that has been ongoing for our entire history.  Those who want to restrict or eliminate the role of government claim that the "free market" will provide what members of society need.  Yet, history and common sense tell us that an unrestricted, unregulated market will provide what the most powerful need, and the remaining members of society are relegated to second (or worse) class status. 

The Walker legacy is one of division, corruption and policies that cater to a small segment of the population.  If we are to move forward as a state we need to change the leadership at the top of our government.  There are many reasons why Mary Burke is the better candidate for Wisconsin's future.  They center around the need to restore a vision of government that serves as a protective shield for the citizens who live under it.  Government exists to serve the people and to maintain conditions that promote equity and opportunity for all citizens.  This election's importance is magnified given what has happened in Wisconsin over the past 4 years.    

Editorial: Our view of governor's race

Mary Burke scores better than Scott Walker on overall issues.

www.postcrescent.com

This time around Scott Walker less dominant in rural Wisconsin

Gov. Scott Walker owed much of his victory in the 2012 recall fight to the big margins he piled up in the small cities, towns and countryside of northern and western Wisconsin.

jsonline.com|By Craig Gilbert

Here are a few reasons to cast a ballot for Burke. . .

Restricting voting privileges for citizens is anti-democratic and the efforts to implement voter ID are based on flawed logic and are unsupported by data.  If one case of voter ID is unacceptable, then how can we claim that one person disenfranchised by voter ID makes things better.  The voter ID push was clearly an effort to win elections, not protect the integrity of our electoral system.  Walker's support of voter ID shows that his focus isn't on all the people of the state, but rather on maintaining political power.  We can't allow the politics of fear, divide and conquer us.

GAO Study: Voter ID Laws Cut Turnout by Blacks, Young

WASHINGTON (AP) — States that toughened their voter identification laws saw steeper drops in election turnout than those that did not, with disproportionate...

talkingpointsmemo.com

Messing with election system betrays public trust

Changing the rules seven weeks before an election creates disorder...

sheboyganpress.com

Rejecting Federal money and resources that support citizens in need makes no sense.  Claiming that this is fiscally responsible, or that it somehow helps taxpayers is illogical.  The money that is available from our national government comes from taxes that have been paid by people in Wisconsin and rejecting the funds means that our money will go to other places, and the people of our state suffer the consequences. 

Wisconsin Opts Out Of Federal Program That Boosts Food Assistance Funding

Wisconsin is one of three states ending a program that provided increased food assistance benefits to low-income households.

wpr.org

Transparency and honesty matter.  The allegations of fraud and incompetence surrounding this administration are extremely troubling.  Walker supporters will claim that the attacks are politically motivated, but the data supporting serious concerns about the integrity of this administration is there. 

Audit discovers massive mismanagement problems and millions of lost dollars at Scott Walker's...

Gov. Scott Walker’s semi-private job creation...

wisconsingazette.com

Courage is standing up for what is right in the face of challenges.  Courage is not standing up for false promises and "reforms" that don't promote the general welfare of the citizenry for one's own gain.  Act 10 is economically and ethically unsound.  The manner in which Act 10 was passed and the impact it has had alone are enough to make a case that Walker isn't governing for Wisconsinites, but for well financed special interests.  

Solid proof Wisconsin's Act 10 union busting harmed its economy

Yesterday's release of the Bureau of Economic Analysis' survey of personal consumption expenditures by state would generally be a mundane bit of data....

dailykos.com

It is easy to discount personal narratives about a candidate, especially when they appear in political advertisements.  This one appears to be unsolicited by the Burke campaign, and tells a powerful story about a candidate who has the potential to turn our state around in a positive direction. 

Monologues of Dissent: Mary Burke sold home to help struggling families: the difference is clear

http://monologuesofdissent.blogspot.com/2014/10/mary-burke-sold-home-to-help-struggling.html?m=1

monologuesofdissent.blogspot.com|By Heather DuBois Bourenane

Who will look out for the real hard working taxpayers of Wisconsin.  The Conservative rhetoric about their interest in the "common folk" is just that, rhetoric. 

Governor Walker doesn't support increasing or repealing minimum wage; Mary Burke wants it raised

MADISON (AP) — Governor Scott Walker says that while he doesn't support increasing the minimum wage, he also doesn't support repealing it altogether....

fox6now.com

Scott Walker says tax cuts amount to $322 for average family

Engaged in a tight re-election duel with Democrat Mary Burke, Gov. Scott Walker is returning to a theme that’s been a constant in his career. Tax cuts. In a new TV ad, the first-term Republican governor...

politifact.com

Even Walker's record regarding business is questionable at best. 

Leading biz survey ranks Walker, WI 46th - JSOnline

A respected business ranking out this week put Scott Walker and Chris Christie, and their states, near the bottom of states. Here's a link to the ranking and a link to the full report.

jsonline.com|By James Rowen

Of course I believe that public education is a key issue in this election.  While I wish that Burke's stance on vouchers and other education issues was even stronger, she is a much better choice for governor based on her ideas around public schools in Wisconsin.  Whether it's her position on voucher schools. . .

Mary Burke: vouchers make for good 'soundbite' at expense of public schools : Ct

Burke said Monday the state Department of Public Instruction projects the cost of the voucher expansion at $1.2 billion per year, or about $2.8 million per district.

host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises

Students lose at expense of taxpayer-funded vouchers

Families that already send their children to private schools are the ones benefiting, and taxpayers are paying the price.

jsonline.com|By Lily Eskelsen García And Betsy Kippers

Vote to save our public school system

Vouchers ignore plight of state's public schools

htrnews.com

Or the fact that our public schools have been financially decimated by cuts in state which has resulted in local tax increases and cuts to services schools can provide, Burke will do more to protect our public school systems than Walker will.    

Eau Claire schools tax levy hike attributed to state aid reduction

As the state’s share of public education costs spirals downward, Eau Claire school district residents will contribute more money out of pocket.

leadertelegram.com

MMSD school board votes to approve budget, tax increase

Madison residents will pay more in taxes after the school board approved a new school district budget Monday night.

channel3000.com|By Channel 3000

The difference between the candidates around environmental issues is clear as well. 

In governor's race, some quiet differences between Walker, Burke on environment, outdoors

MADISON, Wisconsin - With the November election six weeks away, neither Republican Gov. Scott...

greenfieldreporter.com

There are many more reasons to vote Burke on Tuesday (as well as to vote Progressive in many key local races that shouldn't be ignored), but the key is that every eligible voter gets to the polls.  Take a friend, a neighbor, a colleague, family member or anyone you can find, but get everyone to vote.  Our society is relying on us to raise our collective voices and give a clear message to those we elect.  We want Wisconsin to be a positive leader in the dialog about important issues.    

Issue #174 August 3, 2014- Act 10 Debunked

Act 10- Fact and Fiction. . .

Thursday was a dark day for Wisconsin, all of Wisconsin.  On Thursday the Wisconsin Supreme Court finally handed down its decision regarding Act 10’s Constitutionality along with a ruling on Voter ID and other decisions.  There are those who will cheer their decision and continue to trumpet their praise for Governor Walker and his supposed courage in the face of opposition from “Big Unions” and the “Radical Left.”  They will point to the savings for taxpayers and the restoration of “balance” between employees and employers in the public sector and claim that Wisconsin is now on the right path towards success. 

Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds 2011 union law

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the 2011 law that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers, sparked massive protests and led to Republican...

politico.com|By Associated Press

Yet, there is a different, and much more sinister aspect to Act 10 and the debate that it has spawned in Wisconsin, and around the nation.  It is important that we begin to look at what Act 10 really was designed to do and what it means to our state as we move forward into a “Post Act 10 World.”  Over the next few months, as we prepare for what will be a heated and hotly contested November election, there will be a lot of rhetoric about standing with or for someone/something.  Those who stand with our current governor should take a close look at what his signature act is and isn’t.

It is incredibly divisive.  Read the message boards after any article involving public employees, Act 10 or unions and cringe at the hateful comments coming from all sides.  They are filled with anger and bitterness.  Act 10 and the official dialog around it have opened the floodgates and made it acceptable to vilify public educators and public employees.  While some will try and disguise their distrust and disgust of the employees themselves by aiming comments at the unions, the underlying message is clear, public employees are lesser citizens and certainly not of much value to our society. 

This negative dialog does several harmful things.  It creates a climate where political and economic payback become the norm.  Instead of governing for the improvement and benefit of all citizens we become engaged in a cycle of never ending retribution and conflict.  This leads to radical swings in politics, elimination of compromise and dialog and gridlock that causes harm to all of us.  It also divides our society and creates opposing camps that can no longer work together.  Any society that is successful and sustainable will have conflict, but that conflict will be directed towards improving conditions for all.  Act 10 is simply a direct attack on a single group of people.  No community can enjoy long term success when it is acceptable to tear down one group and seek to eliminate their ability to influence their social, political and economic situation.  A hateful society will not prosper, and Act 10 is all about seeing public employees “get theirs.”

It isn’t really about money or long term financial security for our state.  Remember in 2011 when the public sector unions agreed to the financial terms imposed by Act 10?  That willingness to compromise was ignored by the Republicans in power and Act 10 was forced into law in its entirety.  Governor Walker may claim that his legislation has saved money, but it is difficult to ignore his statements to Congress that contradict this assertion.  With any large system there is some waste and some inefficiency.  The claim that eliminating unions and collective bargaining will somehow resolve this is either incredibly naïve, or disingenuous.

It isn’t about freedom or Conservative values.  The claim is often made that Act 10, and any potential Right to Work legislation, is about freedom in the marketplace for employees.  Just ask any employee in an industry like retail or food service how much freedom they enjoy.  Eliminating the power of workers to organize creates an imbalance of power, especially in a time when many are struggling to make ends meet and find quality, family supporting jobs.  Employees, especially larger ones, hold significant advantages in the market, and Act 10 is another step towards cementing these advantages in place.

The Conservative message of smaller, less invasive government, is contradicted by Act 10.  A less invasive government doesn’t mandate the types of groups and interactions that citizens can have.  We don’t need much more evidence that the Walker administration isn’t really about limited government than the quotes from Attorney General Van Hollen during the debate about Act 10 in front of the Supreme Court.  When Justice Ann Walsh Bradley asked if the parties’ differing views about the right to free association was like two ships passing, Van Hollen’s response was, “I don’t believe we are two ships passing. We are two ships that collided. The state has a bigger ship and we will win.”

Act 10 sets the stage for even more extensive anti-labor legislation.  Public employees were one of the last strongholds for organized labor in Wisconsin, and eliminating the power of public employees to organize weakens the ability of labor to defend itself.  This reality shows us that Act 10 was more about a political takeover and paying off large corporate donors than about the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s economy.   

Could Act 10 extend to police and fire department?

MADISON--Now that the legal challenges to Act 10 have run their course, many are wondering if the other shoe about to drop be for police and firefighters.<br />"Wherever I travel throughout the state and interact...

cbs58.com

Supporters of Act 10 will claim that it restores balance to our public education system and gives the power to the families and students.  In some ways this aspect of the debate has little to do with Act 10 itself, and more to do with the ongoing efforts to discredit public educators and our public education system.  Many people have difficulty separating the financial aspects of collective bargaining from the other things that unions negotiate for their members.  Once again, the financial aspects of our public sector that Act 10 supposedly addresses are only a small piece of the puzzle, and one that is relatively easily dealt with.  The real difficulties that we face in our educational systems are the ongoing struggles in addressing inequities and Achievement Gaps.  Silencing educators and eliminating their ability to speak out on important issues doesn’t close any Gaps or help any students.  Disagreement and debate is healthy, especially when answers are not easy and/or obvious.  If the positions taken by education “reformers” were as strong as they claim, why won’t they engage in real debate and instead hide behind political power and strong-arm tactics.   

The Aftermath

milwaukeemag.com

You may agree, or disagree with these arguments, but the reality is that Act 10 is now the law of the land.  This means that public employees and supporters of public education must now turn their attention and hopes to other venues.  The most obvious is the political arena.  This is a difficult one for many of us because the simple fact of the matter is that the Democrats haven’t done much to support public schools or organized labor in recent days.  However, it is obvious that the current Republican platform is so anti-education and anti-labor that there is no real alternative.  What must happen is that Progressive voices must begin to control the discussion and move our society in a more socially just direction.

Teachers Unions Turn Against Democrats

The end of an uneasy truce.

nymag.com

Teachers take active role in governor's race

The state teachers union has endorsed Democrat Mary Burke

greenbaypressgazette.com

This movement away from divisive rhetoric, bumper sticker politics and knee-jerk responses doesn’t happen at a large scale level.  Our current state of affairs doesn’t have much room for rational and reasoned debate in large, public forums.  Instead, we must focus on the individual and small group level.  Talking to our neighbors, friends and family about these important issues, organizing like- minded people and empowering them to act and speak about their values and beliefs, and other similar actions can build a true grass-roots movement that will restore balance to our society. 

History is filled with examples of everyday citizens rising up to make a positive difference in the world.  These past few years have provided Wisconsinites with the opportunity to be beacons of hope for current a future generations.  Thursday’s ruling was a setback and a defeat, but it doesn't have to be a decisive one.  The choice about what happens next is up to each one of us. 

The Good, The Bad and

The Ugly. . .

The Good . . . Corporations that work hard to avoid paying taxes should not get tax breaks.

Obama Urges End to Loophole Letting Firms Shield Profits Abroad

The president asked Congress to remove the tax advantages of inversion, in...

nytimes.com|By Michael D. Shear

The Bad . . . Detaching from MMSD is one issue, but a middle class neighborhood seeking to detach while leaving a neighborhood of poverty out of the process doesn't seem equitable or reasonable. 

Madison neighbors seek school district switch

www.channel3000.com

A group of her neighbors is going door-to-door with information about the district detachment process.

The Ugly . . . Just in time to try and confuse voters for the August primary and November election.

Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds Voter ID law

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld a requirement that voters show photo identification at the polls

wisn.com|By WISN

Van Hollen pushing for Voter ID in November

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said he is looking at all options to get a federal court ruling put on hold, so Wisconsin’s photo ID requirement can be in place for the November election.

kenoshanews.com

#173 July 28, 2014- Education Crisis or Opportunity

Real Education Reform

Uniting the "We". . .

Something truly awful is happening in America today.  I know that the prevailing message from the media and our political leaders is always one of crisis and doom.  We always seem to be on the edge of destruction and despair.  As a nation we move from one crisis to the next operating under clouds of fear and anger that cause us to look for solutions in some unlikely (and often unhelpful) places.  Once that "crisis" is averted, usually through actions that profit some specific individual or group, our attention is directed to a new one.  There is some irony in the fact that no matter the severity of the "crisis" most people continue their daily lives in relative stability and calm.  Many of our pressing crises end up fading away without really seeming to impact our lives.  This reality desensitizes us and causes us to miss many of the real problems that exist.  As a nation we are constantly "tilting at windmills" while ignoring truly disastrous pitfalls.       

What makes this even worse is that it happens right under our noses, gets talked about by many people, and yet the majority of the citizenry doesn't really comprehend the true problems and the severity of the underlying issues.  They hear leaders and public officials talk about resolving problems, and trust that someone is going to take care of things for the better.  They accept the prevailing "wisdom" that certain groups are to blame for our challenges and feel vindicated when someone confronts them and stands up for the "everyday citizen."

This real, persuasive and awful problem that we are facing is the dismantling of our public education system and the weakening of education in general here in America.  This process has followed the "script" that has been used to attack unions, take away voter rights and undermine civil liberties.  Along the way, those who seek to undermine our public schools have manufactured multiple crises, identified many scapegoats and in general done their best to camouflage there real intentions while confusing the general public.  They half self-identified as the defenders of truth, justice and the 'American Way of Life.' 

They have diverted our attention away from the two key elements that really matter about our public education system.  The first of these is that in order to have a truly functioning democracy that works for all citizens, we need to educated all of our citizens equitably.  Instead, we have seen significant efforts made to create a tiered educational system.  One where those with the social, political and economic capital are given the best while the rest of the population scrambles and fights for the leftover crumbs.        

To Fight for Public Schools Is to Fight for Democracy

We believe that an informed public will not give away its public schools to amateurs, hedge fund managers, rock stars, for-profit corporations, athletes, fly-by-night entrepreneurs, and religious groups....

huffingtonpost.com

The other key element that is distorted by educational "reform" efforts is the concept of just what exactly is meant by education and what a well educated person is.  We have tried to identify and quantify something that really can't be limited to test scores and graphs.  We have taken the joy of learning and the inspiration of discovery and put it in prepackaged, easy to follow, easy to sell products.  We have tried to force educators, families and students to accept that success is measured by assessments and standards, when the reality is that true success often isn't quantifiable.

The sad truth is that the we that I've referred to isn't really a universal we.  It isn't a we made up of a majority of educators, families, students and community members.  Instead it is a we made up of education profiteers, those seeking political advantage, and others who are looking for personal gain whether it is social, political or economic.  The real we of education is finding that their voices are silenced in the debate and that the bureaucracy of education and the systems we've created are more responsive to a limited number of people.  This leads to frustration and anger that is directed at the wrong people in the wrong places.  The confusion and divisions are perfect misdirection that allow the process to continue and more harm to be done.

There are some things that can be done to begin to take control of our educational systems and the discussion about education in our society. 

We must really understand what we are talking about and communicate more effectively.  We use a lot of "big words", complicated phrases and other jargon that really doesn't mean a lot to most people.  In fact, even among professional educators terms like "best practices", "rigor" and "accountability" can have multiple meanings.  In fact, some of the terms that are used are so confusing as to be nonsensical to anyone outside of a select few.  At a meeting earlier this summer I coined my own new favorite educational term that I would add to the following list of 10, Uniform Differentiation.    

10 School Reform Phrases That Should Trigger Your BS Detector

Education is filled with jargon, buzzwords, and BS. I've had a lot of fun over...

mobile.edweek.org   

Until we understand that education is complex and highly personal, we will continue to see these types of words and phrases wielded as weapons, not tools.  Without common ideas and language we can't have a meaningful conversation about education.  We need to have higher level policy discussions, but the real value in any education system isn't in the big picture, it lies in each individual student.  It is at the individual level that success or failure is determined.

We need to move past the need to blame others and look for solutions that build on our strengths.  One of the real problems in education is the fact that educators themselves feel attacked and devalued.  We are grappling with difficult problems and are engaged in a very difficult and challenging occupation and process.  Education is also a process/activity/profession that is highly emotional in nature.  Working with students and families is done best when morale and confidence is high.  Those who work in other, similar professions like social work and psychology understand this, but there are other professions that don't require the same level of emotional steadiness.  We need to stop blaming and start working together or we will fail to meet the needs of many of our students and lose too many educators. 

The Hardest Part of Teaching

They never tell you in teacher school, and it's rarely discussed elsewhere. It is never, ever portrayed in movies and tv shows about teaching. Teachers rarely bring it up around non-teachers for fear it will make us look weak or inadequate....

huffingtonpost.com

The Teacher Dropout Crisis

Teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate and at a cost of billions of dollars per year.

npr.org

We need to realize that a significant amount of the pressure to standardize curriculums and outcomes, and to increase measurable accountability comes from sources outside of education.  There is no doubt that students need to learn, we need to measure what they learn and that everyone in the process has significant accountability for each and every student.  That is why the "back to basics" thinking and move to increase assessments gains traction.  However, if we carefully look at the outcomes of these efforts it is clear that they are missing the point and failing to accomplish the supposed goals.  In the end, we want all children to have access to opportunities and to enjoy success.  Measuring them against artificial, national or international standards doesn't allow for this to happen in any real, meaningful way.   

Mom: My kindergartner was ‘work-sheeted to death’

A kindergarten homework load you won't believe.

washingtonpost.com

Next phase of Common Core worries revolves around test

Next year, new Common Core exams will be given for the first time, but questions remain about whether schools and kids are ready.

jsonline.com|By Edgar Mendez

We also need to really identify and talk about the problems that do exist in our educational systems and society as a whole.  Instead of relying on political jargon, or slogans to generate support we need to begin to have meaningful discussions about the challenges we face. 

Poverty Is America's #1 Education Problem

Teachers' unions are not the reason America's schools are in trouble.

alternet.org

This is truly a time of crisis in American education and therefore in our society as a whole.  Yet, times of crisis are also times of opportunity.  We have an educational system that has grown over the years in ways that have rarely been planned or carefully thought out.  It is a system that is antiquated in many ways and that does fail to meet the needs of all students.  The current state of crisis can, and will, be used to make changes in our systems.  It is up to us to decide who is going to make the changes.  Will we allow a small number of politically connected individuals to decide for all of us?  Or, will we rise up as a collective whole and begin the slow, messy and painful process of creating a system that will include the voices of all and truly be equitable in nature?

In many ways this isn't about reclaiming, restoring or defending the existing system.  It is about looking at where we've failed, where we've succeeded and where our future challenges will lie and building from what we have.  It can be a time of hope, or a time of fear.  It is up to us to shape the mindset that we approach these efforts with.  Hope will always build a better future than fear.

One key factor that will shape the debate for the next 4 years is the race for governor.  We know that Scott Walker's mode of operation is to divide and conquer.  His approach will continue the assault on education and the fear of what our public schools can, and should be.  Under his administration educators have been vilified, voices have been silenced and the power of the few has expanded.  He has proven that he will not listen to dissenting views.  Mary Burke may not be the perfect answer to our challenges, but she will provide a new outlook and increased accessibility to decision making for those who are working in the field of education.  We must work to elect her and then hold her administration accountable as we look to make positive, substantive changes in our public school systems.   

Education issues sharply divide governor's race : Wsj

The differences come down to how Mary Burke and Scott Walker would handle public schools.

host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises

Mary Burke and Gov. Scott Walker on voucher schools - JSOnline

Mary Burke: "I will also seek to repeal the new entitlement program...

jsonline.com|By Jason Stein

The Good, The Bad and

The Ugly. . .

The Good . . . There is so much misinformation that is floating around in the media, online and on the airwaves, and it is distorting many people's views of what is happening in our society.  Efforts to improve opportunities and increase equality for all are often maligned by those seeking to maintain power and/or profit from the existing systems.  Every effort must be made to combat this rhetoric and get alternative viewpoints into the public eye. 

Judge throws out Ron Johnson’s Obamacare lawsuit

A federal judge Monday threw out Ron Johnson’s lawsuit on Obamacare, saying the senator and his aide had no legal standing.

jsonline.com|By Patrick Marley

States That Raised Minimum Wage See Faster Job Growth, Report Says

The 13 states that lifted their minimum wage levels on January 1...

npr.org|By Scott Neuman

You thought Wisconsin losing high-speed rail was bad? - Isthmus

It's hard to get your head around the rapid turn of events that has taken...

isthmus.com

Wis. Singers Give Walker an Earful | The Progressive

Thursday afternoon, a group of 75 Wisconsin protesters gathered in the capitol to give Gov. Scott Walker an earful and to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his crackdown on free speech.

progressive.org

How does this misinformation and propaganda get spread so widely?  One simple answer is money.  Money gives individuals and groups access to media outlets and allows for a specific viewpoint to become viewed as "truth" by citizens who trust what their leaders say and what the media reports.  Scott Walker's administration and campaign (frequently very difficult to separate) are masters at raising money and spending it freely. 

Walker spent $320,000 from campaign on Doe defense attorneys

With new figures from campaign finance reports, Gov. Scott Walker has...

jsonline.com|By Patrick Marley

Gov. Walker's Cross Country Cash Grab Rolls On

Latest Campaign Finance Filings Show Gov. Walker Remains Popular With Wealthy, Out-of-State Donors MADISON, WI — In his campaign finance report filed today, Wisconsin...

onewisconsinnow.org

Scott Walker gets very little money from the little people

Although the governor's campaign boasts about getting money from regular folks, wealthy donors appear to be responsible for a majority of his finances.

host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises

How negative ads could sway the Governor's race

MADISON (WKOW) -- The race for Governor has taken a negative turn in recent weeks. Republican Governor Scott Walker's campaign released an ad July 16 criticizing democratic challenger Mary Burke for benefiting from...

wkow.com|By Pete Zervakis

There is hope for the future.

Walker's favorability drops in new poll

After weeks of negative attack ads against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke, a new poll shows that roughly the same percentage of voters have a favorable view of her as those who don't.

m.channel3000.com

The Bad . . . Very troubling and disturbing.  Students need more access to a wide variety of literature, not less.

Thousands Of Books Removed From Racine Unified Schools - Racine County Eye

Members of the Racine Education Association are calling on the Racine...

racinecountyeye.com

The Ugly . . . As a nation we have struggled to deal with the racism and inequities in our society.  While there has been some progress made over time, the current trends are negative in nature.  The process of social evolution isn't one of linear, positive progress that leads to the best possible outcomes.  Instead, it is a process that challenges individuals and groups to stay focused on the long term goals of social justice and equality for all.  Just as evolution of species can result in either well adapted organisms or extinction, so too, social evolution can raise us as a society, or pull us down. It is up to us to combat injustice and inequity wherever it occurs.     

Peniel E. Joseph: Civil rights glass is half-empty, losing water fast : Ct

Big success stories — Obama, Oprah — are outliers in a landscape that points to the decline of the very ideal of racial and economic justice in our lifetime.

host.madison.com|By Lee Enterprises

Teens Brutally Murder Two Navajo Men "for Fun"

Navajo President Ben Shelly is calling for answers in the gruesome murders of two homeless Navajo men last weekend in Albuquerque.

indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

GOP convention features 'Obama library' outhouse with painted-on bullet holes

helenair.com

A New York Newspaper Just Called Obama "The N*gger in the White House". Seriously.

How on Earth did this happen? A New York newspaper is facing a major...

addictinginfo.org