June 16, 2011
So, did we win? Or did we lose?
After the Supreme Court decision on the open meetings suit was announced, lots of questions poured out from the protesters. The basic question is, "Does this mean we lost?" Answer: Short-run yes, long run to be determined.
Let's face it, when the WMC folks won the Prosser-Kloppenburg race our side had no realistic hope that the Supreme Court would do the right thing. So I was disappointed but not surprised. It was a cinch that the four conservatives wold vote for their political pals.
Channel 3 in Madison went to Speaker Fitzgerald's office and reported that the Fitzgerald boys were dancing. Really? That would have been nice to see. If the victory had the weight of public support this could be a long-term defeat but it doesn't have that feel. Thousands of good people jumped into this battle and the short answer is that if the recall elections break for the Democrats the Legislature will be neutered. What will Walker do next if that happens?
As the pain is felt throughout the state, good teachers will retire or seek other professions; the disability community will suffer severe cuts in staff and funding, environmentalists will be suppressed and frozen out of all decisions. My prescription: keep raising hell!
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You lost. And you will continue to lose until all those protestors actually organize around some technique that is a real threat. These guys don't care about all the Kumbaya stuff. They expect it to happen and actually laugh at it. You have to be a threat and so far you are not. Hit them where it hurts the most and is the least violent. Hit them in the pocketbook. Strike. Boycott ALL contributors to Walker and his GOP thugs. Call them out locally. And let them know you are doing it. Let them figure out what kind of revenue the state is losing because you aren't buying. Shouldn't be too hard to do if these policies are really hurting folks in the wallet as is claimed.
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | (Glad) I Escaped, WI. | June 16, 2011
You never fail to make laugh Ed. Teachers will leave their jobs. Really? You mean they will work in the private sector without being in a union? How will they survive without a voice in their work place?
My wife has no intentions of leaving her teaching job just the useless union. State Super Intendent Tony Evers said her class was the most impressive class room he has ever seen. He found it so impressive that she will be going to national seminars to talk about what she does. We the taxpayer pay her exactly the same as the teacher next to her whos kids are taking naps and making macaroni pictures. We wouldn't want to reward her with more pay now would we Ed? That would be just unfair
-SW | Waukesha WI | June 16, 2011
The state remains split almost evenly. There are no winners and we are all losers as the Walker agenda plods ahead and becomes law. Our only hope now is success at the recalls, but even the recalls are up in the air. There's much talk and vibrancy within the Madison community. Outlying areas seem to paint a different picture. So many are frustrated with politicians and Madison. Too many are still getting their news from Fox and emails. The message I hear through my travels is "Wisconsin is broke." This Walkerism sounds like it should mean something but it does not. Folks earning bare bones wages are sore about state workers and teachers making all the money and getting all the benefits. Instead of fighting to raise their own work standards and wages, they prefer to trash those who have more thus lowering work standards for everyone. These believe that not taxing the wealthy and corporations will create jobs. We know it will not.
There's so much ignorance throughout the state. Many are happy they can now carry concealed firearms to protect themselves from each other.
Republican'ts continue to divide and conquer, to slash and burn, to instill fear. They have turned us against one another, a perfect distraction from how Republican'ts govern.
-Franz Fripplfrappl | Madison | June 16, 2011
Do you think surpreme court justices keep phone and visitor logs? If yes, I'm surprised no one has bothered to acquire these and emails through the open records law. Might provide some interesting revelations as to who has been contacted by whom prior to decisions. What happened yesterday makes many wonder about the speed of the decision. Were the justices lobbied by legislators or backers? I can't believe the 4 obstructionists didn't make or take a single call, visitor or email during the past week.
-Maria C | Middleton, WI | June 16, 2011
SW,
You're such a courageous guy/gal that you can't even use a damn pseudonym, rather, you can only manage a pair of consonants as a signature to your woefully predictable comments.
Bravo, my brave and worthy friend. Carry on!
-Steve Carlson | Trego, WI | June 16, 2011
What is so wrong about balanceing the budget?You do it,aaaaall your readers do it. The only people who don't do it are Jim Doyle and the people on perpetual assistance. What is so wrong about local control of teachers salaries and contracts? How else can you develope a budget that makes sense. I am sorry if your gravy train has left town and your feelings are hurt, but everybody is going to feel it and have to make concessions. How else are we going to get out of this? Have you or any Dems. even put forth an alternative? No, why? Because you are the feel good party and there is no feel good way out . Thanks Stan Ferrell.
-Stan Ferrell | Blanchardville Wi. | June 16, 2011
SW: As long as your wife was noticed for real reasons by the education chief, and as long as notice was not politically fostered, all is well.... Of course, there is nothing keeping the districts from adding "merit pay," for people like your wife. Oh, except tax dollars! Cheers. Keep voting Republican...Your grandfather's Republican Party of small business and ethics is dead...it was killed by Huge-Corporate-Prostituted Republicans...who have now totally invaded Wisconsin, who outsource manufacturing and have promoted three wars, but hypocrites that they are, pretend that they do not.
-hmj | Madison | June 17, 2011
Stan: Try balancing the budget by raising taxes on the top corps who are sitting on their past 12 years of tax breaks... They are at an extremely low rate of taxes compared to historic rates from the beginning of this country. Try balancing the budget by bring the abused military home from unending wars that prep for Wall Street. Try balancing the budget by taxing and tariffs on the garbage that US outsoucred manufacturers try to to bring back to sell at 100 percent markup after stealing jobs with their economic treason. The Republican Party is no longer the party of small business. They sold out...as did Blue Dogs. There are, fortunately, people who are not cement heads who are looking at the facts. Go to Forbes Magazine and listen to the 135 second video of what has caused the economic downturn for the past 12 years.
-hmj | madison | June 17, 2011
SW and other naysayers...
Why do you continually wish to downgrade salaries and benefits for those who are lucky enough to have them? Would it not be better to work TOGETHER to make sure ALL workers have good salaries AND great benefits? You folks are consistently trying to trash workers, to keep substandard and to play right into the hand of the corporate and wealthy elites who for now are calling the shots.
This is NOT the country of the rich and famous, it is ours.
[Too bad there is no way to get some stats on contrarians who post here and elsewhere. Are they well paid? Do they have benefits? Do they know all the facts? Or are they simply people with an Internet connection and out to cause trouble?]
-Pietr Haikuu | Hurley | June 17, 2011
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