Sunday, March 27, 2011
WHEN GOP$TER$ ATTACK - ACADEMIC FREEDOM!
MUST READ: Now the GOP$ers are going after distinguished professor William Cronon is the Frederick Jackson Turner and Vilas research professor of history, geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin and recently elected president of the American Historical Association because they don't want The People to Know that: a group called ALEC writes their LAWS FOR THEM! http://scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net/ Cronon on his private blog http://scholarcitizen.williamcronon.net/ "One conclusion seems clear: what we’ve witnessed in Wisconsin during the opening months of 2011 did not originate in this state, even though we’ve been at the center of the political storm in terms of how it’s being implemented. This is a well-planned and well-coordinated national campaign, and it would be helpful to know a lot more about" In other words, the Republicon ideal of "Local Control" is a LIE! You cannot have local control (or democracy) when your hidden agenda is adopted from NATIONAL THINK TANKS! The republicon party IS A LIE! You can read the NYT article comparing A$$hole Snott Wanker to UltraMericanScum Joseph McCarthey http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/opinion/22cronon.htm Very good! That and the blog piece linked above leads to this: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/118654904.html The GOP$ters are making the HUGE stretch that by bringing this information to the public, he is violating UW policy: The university has an e-mail policy that states, "University employees may not use these resources to support the nomination of any person for political office or to influence a vote in any election or referendum.” To which charge the professor CORRECTLY responded: "It never occurred to me that my suggestion that more study needed to be done about the group might be interpreted as electioneering," Cronon added. "The GOP drew a line that had not occurred to me. That my posting might damage people involved in the recall elections. That surprised me. But that's clearly what they were concluding." SERIOUSLY, if citizens can't bring forth information about politicians and political groups because someone thinks it might influence votes then DEMOCRACY IS DONE! If information shouldn't influence vote then what the F%$& should! I guess I shouldn't need to ask this question of the would be junta that brought us FUX SNOOZE! The NYT calls this a shabby Crusade: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/opinion/28mon3.html?_r=1&ref=opinion "This is a clear attempt to punish a critic and make other academics think twice before using the freedom of the American university to conduct legitimate research." Professors are not just ordinary state employees. As J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a conservative federal judge on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, noted in a similar case, state university faculty members are “employed professionally to test ideas and propose solutions, to deepen knowledge and refresh perspectives.” A political fishing expedition through a professor’s files would make it substantially harder to conduct research and communicate openly with colleagues. And it makes the Republican Party appear both vengeful and ridiculous. This is an attack on academic FREEDOM and further proof that Republicons are A$$HOLE$!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Don't Forget GOP$ter Protest Today - Racine Marriott
Racine County GOP$ters are having their annual Lincoln Denegration Dinner today at the Racine Marriott to shill for their corporatist sponsors. Gather in the Case HS parking lot. Bring a sign or a noise maker. I'm bringing my cowbell. I've gotta fever for more cowbell and less Snott Wanker!
Invited guests include Scott Walker (word is he'll be there), Ron Johnson & JB Van Hollen. Cocktales @ 5:30, piggies to the trough @ 6:30.
Invited guests include Scott Walker (word is he'll be there), Ron Johnson & JB Van Hollen. Cocktales @ 5:30, piggies to the trough @ 6:30.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
GOP$ter Protest this Friday - Racine Marriott
Friday evening (3/25/11) the Racine County GOPsters will host their annual Lincoln Dinner Fundraiser at the Racine Marriott. As if Honest Abe would have anything to do with these liars, crooks and corporate sell-outs! The keynote speaker is Georgia radio talk-show host and Presidential hopeful Herman Cain http://www.hermancain.com/ Go figure, a wingnut talk show host as President. I think that'd be about the last straw for America.
Invited guests include Scott Walker, Ron Johnson & JB Van Hollen. Cocktales @ 5:30, piggies to the trough @ 6:30.
The Friday visibility protest at Hwys 20 & 31 is moving west to make sure all GOP members get a good view of the energy they have inspired. Please be at the Case High School parking lot around 4pm. Think of a clever sign or bring a noise maker! And of course, dress for the weather. Bring every person you know - because the press will be there, and a good showing is key!
Also, "like" Racine Solidarity on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Racine-Solidarity/110477482366322 The place to find out about anti-Wanker Events in the Racine, Kenosha and Walworth CO. areas. And please pass the word on to others you know in the area.
Invited guests include Scott Walker, Ron Johnson & JB Van Hollen. Cocktales @ 5:30, piggies to the trough @ 6:30.
The Friday visibility protest at Hwys 20 & 31 is moving west to make sure all GOP members get a good view of the energy they have inspired. Please be at the Case High School parking lot around 4pm. Think of a clever sign or bring a noise maker! And of course, dress for the weather. Bring every person you know - because the press will be there, and a good showing is key!
Also, "like" Racine Solidarity on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Racine-Solidarity/110477482366322 The place to find out about anti-Wanker Events in the Racine, Kenosha and Walworth CO. areas. And please pass the word on to others you know in the area.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Scott Walker in Pleasant Prairie TODAY 9:30!
Top o the Marnin! SCOTT WALKER will be at 7809 100th St. in Pleasant Priairie TODAY (3/17) at 9:30AM for a "jobs" press conference. I called and 12 news gave me the address which was being with held on the news and web (we've gottem on the run). Thank you channel 12! This is an empty mfg building in the industrial park about two block due south from the power plant off 80th Ave, just west of Green Bay Rd., east of Cty H and north of Hwy 165. 95th St or 165 will get you to 80th Ave which will get you to 100th St. on the east. There are no sidewalk and not much public right-of-way to be on. One possible solution is to drive by beeping show me what democracy looks like (dit dit dit dit-dit dit-dit dit dah!)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Aircraft Carrier USS Ronald Reagan
To the Japanese victims of the earth quake/tsunami/nuclear disaster - "I'm from the (US) government and I'm here to help".
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Cult of Con vs the Founders, Freedom, Education & Democracy
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Northwest Ordinance of 1785, also known as the Freedom Ordinance providing the means by which the territories to the northwest of the orginal 13 states (south of the great lakes, north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, later OH, MI, IN, IL & WISCONSIN) would enter the union.
The ordinance declared the area to be free of slavery and provided for a layout of townships of 36 square miles, 6 miles on a side with a north and south orientation, divided into one-square-mile lots of 640 acres, to be sold at $1 per acre.
One section was set aside to be sold for income supporting public schools (the first national education law written anywhere), which reflected Jefferson’s commitment to public education as essential to democracy.
Thomas Jefferson drafted the Northwest Ordinance of 1785, also known as the Freedom Ordinance providing the means by which the territories to the northwest of the orginal 13 states (south of the great lakes, north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, later OH, MI, IN, IL & WISCONSIN) would enter the union.
The ordinance declared the area to be free of slavery and provided for a layout of townships of 36 square miles, 6 miles on a side with a north and south orientation, divided into one-square-mile lots of 640 acres, to be sold at $1 per acre.
One section was set aside to be sold for income supporting public schools (the first national education law written anywhere), which reflected Jefferson’s commitment to public education as essential to democracy.
Solidarity Racine Facebook Page
Finally, a useful purpose for Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Racine-Solidarity/110477482366322
Kleefisch @ UW-P Tomorrow
The Kenosha Chamber of Commerce has invited local business owners and leaders to a round-table discussion with Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, 9:00 AM-10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at UW Parkside Student Center Walnut Room, 900 Wood Road, Kenosha Wisconsin. They will discuss ways in which small businesses can move our economy forward and create jobs for Wisconsin workers as the Walker Administration works to reform government, provide safety in our communities and no tax increases.
Following the roundtable the Lt. Governor will tour Jockey International, 2300 60th Street, Kenosha.
Following the roundtable the Lt. Governor will tour Jockey International, 2300 60th Street, Kenosha.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Welcome to Wiscossippi Walmart Elementary School #213
Stop SB 22, the privatization of our public Schools. Public education should be in the interest of the public good, not for private profit, it should benefit children and communities, not corporations!
More Republicon Power Grabbing for the Plutocrats. If you thought the budget dispair bill which stripped $1B from K-12 education (While increasing the transfer to the road builder lobby by $5B) was bad, IT ONLY GETS WORSE! In summary, SB 22:
More Republicon Power Grabbing for the Plutocrats. If you thought the budget dispair bill which stripped $1B from K-12 education (While increasing the transfer to the road builder lobby by $5B) was bad, IT ONLY GETS WORSE! In summary, SB 22:
- Creates a 9-person authorizing board for charter schools: 4 appointed by the Gubner, 3 by the senate majority leader and 3 by the speaker of the assembly (who know, Wanker and the Fitzfuckheads). This limits legislative oversight and hands decision making power over to Wanker's cronies.
- Changes the law limiting organizations to opening only one charter school, allowing for profit Charter Management Organizations (CMOs) to enter Wisconsin, leading franchized schools.
- Removes the requirement for teachers at charter schools to have achieved certification.
- Lifts cap on and promotes virtual (online) schools.
By the way, there is NO EVIDENCE that charter schools do a better job at educating young people. So what are the ramifications if this bill is passed?
- Public tax dollars will be siphoned to the clutches of private hands and away from local communities.
- Traditional public schools become further strapped for funds.
- The power of locally elected school boards will be decreased.
- Segregation of the school age population will increase.
- "Difficult" students will be pushed out of charter schools and into under-resourced public schools.
- Increased reliance on teaching to the test.
- Low educator compensation and moral.
- High educator turnover.
- Destruction of the one institution that pulls many communities together.
The Gipper vs the GOPsters
"Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." - Ronald Reagan
IN YOUR FACE REPUBLICONS!
IN YOUR FACE REPUBLICONS!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
ReCall - Because Wisconsin Will Never Forget!
This poll was taken yesterday, BEFORE last night's egregious events: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2011/03/poll_majorities_support_recall.html
Sen. GOPHopper or someone else? 54% - someone else, 43% GOPHopper.
How does Sen. Kapanke ranke? 57% someone else 41% Kapanke.
I like those odds!
Sen. GOPHopper or someone else? 54% - someone else, 43% GOPHopper.
How does Sen. Kapanke ranke? 57% someone else 41% Kapanke.
I like those odds!
Question: Collective Bargaining – Right or Privilege?
After the blatant abuse of power illegal vote yesterday in the Wisconsin legislature, I keep seeing my fellow middle class workers’ right to collectively bargain called a privilege.
Click to read more: Question: Collective Bargaining – Right or Privilege?
Protest 9AM Today - Monument Square
A message to all members of Community for Change. In light of tonight's illegal assault to strip Wisconsin unions of collective bargaining rights and the insane and arrogant manner in which it passed the State Senate there will be a protest in Racine at Monument Square at 9am ~ Thursday March 10th. This will be a vocal and peaceful protest. Please come and stand with your friends and neighbors to say "NO" to this abuse of Wisconsin workers!
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Town Hall Meeting At Case HS Thurs & Buses to Madtown Sat
A message to all members of Community for Change
There will be a Budget Town Hall on Thursday (March 10) at 7pm at Case High School. Sponsored by the Institute for Wisconsin's Future.
Be there and spread the word....at least it won't be cold!
Buses! We got buses going to Madison on Saturday:
From Racine/AFL-CIO
Racine 1 bus (Kobussen School Bus)
12:00 pm Park & Ride Racine/Sturtevant
(First come first serve)
From Racine/Voces de la Frontera
Buses depart 10 am from Pick ‘n Save, 2210 Rapids Dr. Return at 6:30 pm
(To reserve your seat for Racine buses call: 262-619-4180
There will be a Budget Town Hall on Thursday (March 10) at 7pm at Case High School. Sponsored by the Institute for Wisconsin's Future.
Be there and spread the word....at least it won't be cold!
Buses! We got buses going to Madison on Saturday:
From Racine/AFL-CIO
Racine 1 bus (Kobussen School Bus)
12:00 pm Park & Ride Racine/Sturtevant
(First come first serve)
From Racine/Voces de la Frontera
Buses depart 10 am from Pick ‘n Save, 2210 Rapids Dr. Return at 6:30 pm
(To reserve your seat for Racine buses call: 262-619-4180
Unbalanced - Why America is Falling Over
Most Americans don't realize how unbalanced we are (see above). Balance is a healthy thing for Democracy. We once had a healthy Democracy.
We once had balance, but 30 years of rigging the rules to advantage the elites who disproportionately fund (bribe) politicians has led to the Plutocracy we have today, where bankster crooks on Wall St. get bail outs and working people get attacked and are told to give up more of what little they have left and are propagandized to envy those workers that still have something left of what it once meant to be middle class in America.
It's a divide and conquer strategy by the Plutocracts like the Koch Bros and their puppets like Scott Walker and the other Radical Republicons who would have wealth rule like a banana republic.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Support Rally at the School for the Deaf in Delavan Friday 4-6
Here is an opportunity for what we are hoping will be just as big as the event in Elkhorn (500-700):
DELAVAN CELEBRATING HOMETOWN HEROES—
SUPPORTING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
FRIDAY MARCH 11th 4-6 PM
MEET AT THE DELAVAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
This event will be similar to the Elkhorn event held on 2/22 and will focus on the positive contributions made by public sector workers. Keep it positive, professional, and proud. Please meet at the Delavan School for the Deaf, intersection of Hwys. 11 and X.; parking available on side streets
It is our job to help keep the heat on in terms of showing up for rallies and demonstrations. The Wisconsin 14 are keeping up their bargain by staying in IL. As Michael Moore said on Saturday in Madison, It is unusual to find Democrats in agreement on anything for so long. Keep up the hard work!! Bring your friends, neighbors, families and your children. Help them learn about democracy in action!!
See the Michael Moore video at http://prwatch.org/2011/03/99441/live-reporting-wisconsins-protests.
DELAVAN CELEBRATING HOMETOWN HEROES—
SUPPORTING PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
FRIDAY MARCH 11th 4-6 PM
MEET AT THE DELAVAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
This event will be similar to the Elkhorn event held on 2/22 and will focus on the positive contributions made by public sector workers. Keep it positive, professional, and proud. Please meet at the Delavan School for the Deaf, intersection of Hwys. 11 and X.; parking available on side streets
It is our job to help keep the heat on in terms of showing up for rallies and demonstrations. The Wisconsin 14 are keeping up their bargain by staying in IL. As Michael Moore said on Saturday in Madison, It is unusual to find Democrats in agreement on anything for so long. Keep up the hard work!! Bring your friends, neighbors, families and your children. Help them learn about democracy in action!!
See the Michael Moore video at http://prwatch.org/2011/03/99441/live-reporting-wisconsins-protests.
March for the Middle Class!
Please join Kenosha Labor for a March to Save the Middle Class on Wednesday, March 9th. The March will convene at 4pm at Kenosha City Hall (625 52nd Street) and move to Civic Center Park (900 57th Street) for a rally at 5pm.
Join your brothers and sisters in Kenosha with a strong showing of support for workers rights and for Senator Bob Wirch! See you there, dress warm and get ready to shout loud!
Join your brothers and sisters in Kenosha with a strong showing of support for workers rights and for Senator Bob Wirch! See you there, dress warm and get ready to shout loud!
Monday, March 07, 2011
Q: Why Tax the Rich to Fill the Deficit?
A: Because they've got all the money now and they are the ones benefiting disproportionately from system, so they should support it disproportionately.
And remember, the next time you hear some GOPundit say that the average incomes of Americans are rising that it is only half the truth, designed to deceive and therefore, a lie. Ask them if the incomes of average Americans are rising. The answer is NO!
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
Local Kill the Bill & Worker Rights Event
Saturday Rally and Canvass - Burlington
Saturday March, 5th - 10am-12pm
Southern Lakes United Educators office
616 Droster Ave. Burlington, WI. 53105
If you have questions about these events, please contact:
Justin Geiger
WI AFL-CIO
SE WI Service Area Organizer
office: (262)456-1151
Cell: (414)745-4177
Saturday March, 5th - 10am-12pm
Southern Lakes United Educators office
616 Droster Ave. Burlington, WI. 53105
If you have questions about these events, please contact:
Justin Geiger
WI AFL-CIO
SE WI Service Area Organizer
office: (262)456-1151
Cell: (414)745-4177
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Vigil Tonight in Burlington
TONIGHT! Thursday Candle light vigil - Burlington
Thursday, March 3rd – 5 p.m.
Burlington at the Wehmhoff square downtown- 355 N. Pine St. burlington,WI. 53105
You know, two blocks south of Fred's!
Thursday, March 3rd – 5 p.m.
Burlington at the Wehmhoff square downtown- 355 N. Pine St. burlington,WI. 53105
You know, two blocks south of Fred's!
Fox News Lies About "Violent Wisconsin Protests"
The palm trees, the mounted policeman and the violence proves that this is NOT Madison and tha FuxSnooze LIES!
ASStroturf
WALKER'S PUBLIC RELATIONS BUS TOUR STARTS MARCH 3rd! The Koch Brothers funded front group, American's for Prosperity for Millionaires, are trying to shore up Walkers sagging support.
First Stop for Walker - Kenosha - Brat Stop 9 a.m. Be there today and tell puppet governor sell out Walker to hit the bricks! Here's the schedule link for other cities around the state.
First Stop for Walker - Kenosha - Brat Stop 9 a.m. Be there today and tell puppet governor sell out Walker to hit the bricks! Here's the schedule link for other cities around the state.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Q: Why Tax the Rich to Fill the Deficit?
A: Because they've got all the money now!
Snott Wanker's Answer instead?
- Tax cuts for the rich
- Sacrifice from the middle class
- Death panels for the poor
- Roads instead of schools
Local Kill the Bill & Worker Rights Events
Wednesday AFSCME Meeting and March - Union Grove
TODAY Wednesday March, 2nd- 3:30pm
American legion hall
1027 New Street
Union Grove, WI 53182
Thursday Candle light vigil - Burlington
Thursday, March 3rd – 5 p.m.
Burlington at the Wehmhoff square downtown- 355 N. Pine St. burlington,WI. 53105
Friday Visibility on Hwy 20 - Racine
Friday, March 4th - 4pm-6pm
Hwy 31 and Hwy 20 Racine, WI.
Faith Forum: Budget Impact on Racine County
Friday, March 4th - 6pm
Location to be determined
Saturday Rally and Canvass - Burlington
Saturday March, 5th - 10am-12pm
Southern Lakes United Educators office
616 Droster Ave. Burlington, WI. 53105
If you have questions about these events, please contact:
Justin Geiger
WI AFL-CIO
SE WI Service Area Organizer
office: (262)456-1151
Cell: (414)745-4177
TODAY Wednesday March, 2nd- 3:30pm
American legion hall
1027 New Street
Union Grove, WI 53182
Thursday Candle light vigil - Burlington
Thursday, March 3rd – 5 p.m.
Burlington at the Wehmhoff square downtown- 355 N. Pine St. burlington,WI. 53105
Friday Visibility on Hwy 20 - Racine
Friday, March 4th - 4pm-6pm
Hwy 31 and Hwy 20 Racine, WI.
Faith Forum: Budget Impact on Racine County
Friday, March 4th - 6pm
Location to be determined
Saturday Rally and Canvass - Burlington
Saturday March, 5th - 10am-12pm
Southern Lakes United Educators office
616 Droster Ave. Burlington, WI. 53105
If you have questions about these events, please contact:
Justin Geiger
WI AFL-CIO
SE WI Service Area Organizer
office: (262)456-1151
Cell: (414)745-4177
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Joke's On Us Peasants
"A unionized public employee, a teabagger, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table there is a plate with a dozen cookies on it. The CEO reaches across and takes 11 cookies, looks at the teabagger and says, "Look out for that union guy -- he wants a piece ...of your cookie."
WI Taxpayers Contribute Nothing to Employee Pensions
Forbes: Wisconsin Lie Exposed - Taxpayers Actually contribute Nothing to Employee Pensions
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/02/25/the-wisconsin-lie-exposed-taxpayers-actually-contribute-nothing-to-public-employee-pensions/
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/02/25/the-wisconsin-lie-exposed-taxpayers-actually-contribute-nothing-to-public-employee-pensions/
Friday, February 25, 2011
It's the Disparity Stupid / Plutocracy Now
Look at these graphs: It's the Disparity, Stupid.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
Do not however, read this article: Plutocracy Now: What Wisconsin is Really About.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-labor-union-decline?page=1
It's just too damn depressing for our democracy. I'll go to Madison Saturday, because if I'm going down, I might as well be swinging against plutocracy. But if Madison isn't a water shed, then I fear democracy is dead.
You'd think actual proof of the sell out of your democracy by the Koch Whores to the big money guys would wake most people up. But the FuxSnooze.
The Repubicons say they're so concerned about the debt, though they caused it and their continued actions speak otherwise.What's maddening is that the middle class people are supposed to sacrifice (if ya want blood don't look to turnips) but we dare not even think about asking the mega rich people to kick in more to solve the debt problems, because both parties serve them alone. They alone possess the money that is key to the TV ads, which are most sacred to all who would "serve the public".
What the GOPsters have succeeded in doing again is what they are SO good at; pitting different sectors (public/private) of the poor, working and middle classes against one another to fight over the remnant crumbs while the top 1% who possess more wealth than the bottom 90% combined, laugh all the way to their bailed out banksters and tell the politicians they sponsor that they need even more! It's a disgusting, vile situation in America today! Democracy my ass.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
Do not however, read this article: Plutocracy Now: What Wisconsin is Really About.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-labor-union-decline?page=1
It's just too damn depressing for our democracy. I'll go to Madison Saturday, because if I'm going down, I might as well be swinging against plutocracy. But if Madison isn't a water shed, then I fear democracy is dead.
You'd think actual proof of the sell out of your democracy by the Koch Whores to the big money guys would wake most people up. But the FuxSnooze.
The Repubicons say they're so concerned about the debt, though they caused it and their continued actions speak otherwise.What's maddening is that the middle class people are supposed to sacrifice (if ya want blood don't look to turnips) but we dare not even think about asking the mega rich people to kick in more to solve the debt problems, because both parties serve them alone. They alone possess the money that is key to the TV ads, which are most sacred to all who would "serve the public".
What the GOPsters have succeeded in doing again is what they are SO good at; pitting different sectors (public/private) of the poor, working and middle classes against one another to fight over the remnant crumbs while the top 1% who possess more wealth than the bottom 90% combined, laugh all the way to their bailed out banksters and tell the politicians they sponsor that they need even more! It's a disgusting, vile situation in America today! Democracy my ass.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Madam, I Must Stick my Nose in There
From Yesterday's Democracy Now! headlines: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/23/headlines
A Republican state legislator in Georgia has introduced a measure that would make abortion the legal equivalent of murder and force the criminal investigation of women who suffer miscarriages. The bill, HB 1, from House Republican Bobby Franklin, would classify the removal of a fetus under any circumstance other than during a live birth or to remove a dead fetus as "prenatal murder." Doctors and hospitals would be forced to report miscarriages to authorities, who would then have to investigate if the miscarriage occurs without medical attention.
A Republican state legislator in Georgia has introduced a measure that would make abortion the legal equivalent of murder and force the criminal investigation of women who suffer miscarriages. The bill, HB 1, from House Republican Bobby Franklin, would classify the removal of a fetus under any circumstance other than during a live birth or to remove a dead fetus as "prenatal murder." Doctors and hospitals would be forced to report miscarriages to authorities, who would then have to investigate if the miscarriage occurs without medical attention.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Walker is a Koch Whore
This is proof that Walker doesn’t work for the people of Wisconsin. He’s nothing but a shill for his plutocrat corporate sponsors, raiders of the public trough, enemies of democracy! Think government is too expensive? ANY price is too expensive when the government isn’t yours! You are being SOLD OUT!
A prank caller posing billionaire con-man David Koch was able to speak with Gov. Scott Walker for 20 minutes yesterday afternoon as Walker laid out in detail his strategy and confirmed that it was intent to cripple public employee unions. The governor's office has confirmed that the call did take place.
The Audio of the conversation was posted on the Buffalo Beast and you can listen to it here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/scott-walker-buffalo-beast-phone-prank_n_827058.html?ir=Chicago
The man pretending to be Koch said, “You’re the first domino.” To which Walker replied, “Yep, this is our moment”. Walker laughed about bringing a baseball bat to a potential meeting with Dems (Gee, ya think there’ll be a few cardboard bat in Madison after today?!).
In closing the prankster says: "I'll tell you what Scott, once you crush these bastards, I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time." Walker replied. "Alright, that would be outstanding. Thanks for all the support and helping us move the cause forward. We appreciate it and we're doing the just and right thing for the right reasons and it's all about getting our freedoms back". Then the caller said, "Absolutely. And you know, we have a little bit of vested interest as well" and laughed. "That's just it. The bottom line is, we're going to get the world movement here because it's the right thing to do," replied Walker. Walker ended the call saying, thanks a million." Walker ends the call by saying, "thanks a million."
It should be more like THANK MILLION$! The brothers own Koch Industries, Inc., which is the largest privately-owned company in America and has significant operations in Wisconsin. Its political action committee gave $43,000 to Walker's campaign, and donated heavily to the Republican Governors' Association, which funded ads attacking Walker's opponent in last year's election. The Kochs also give millions to support Americans For Prosperity, which launched a $320,000 television ad campaign in favor of Walker's legislation. The Koch have also opened a lobbying office on Wisconsin’s capitol square and may be positioning themselves to buy publicly owned power plants at whatever price their boy Scotty sets as stipulated deep in the 144 pages of Walker’s Budget Despair Bill.
Part of the irony is that Walker suggests that if the unions are helping with costs for the 14 Dem senators to stay in the land of Lincoln (another Quorum foiler) that is might be an ethics or legal violation. But apparently he thinks there’s no ethical or legal violation to his shilling for his corporate sponsor! He also complains that unions give money to Dems and expect something in return while he’s talking at length to his faux corporate sponsor about doing his bidding!
A prank caller posing billionaire con-man David Koch was able to speak with Gov. Scott Walker for 20 minutes yesterday afternoon as Walker laid out in detail his strategy and confirmed that it was intent to cripple public employee unions. The governor's office has confirmed that the call did take place.
The Audio of the conversation was posted on the Buffalo Beast and you can listen to it here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/scott-walker-buffalo-beast-phone-prank_n_827058.html?ir=Chicago
The man pretending to be Koch said, “You’re the first domino.” To which Walker replied, “Yep, this is our moment”. Walker laughed about bringing a baseball bat to a potential meeting with Dems (Gee, ya think there’ll be a few cardboard bat in Madison after today?!).
In closing the prankster says: "I'll tell you what Scott, once you crush these bastards, I'll fly you out to Cali and really show you a good time." Walker replied. "Alright, that would be outstanding. Thanks for all the support and helping us move the cause forward. We appreciate it and we're doing the just and right thing for the right reasons and it's all about getting our freedoms back". Then the caller said, "Absolutely. And you know, we have a little bit of vested interest as well" and laughed. "That's just it. The bottom line is, we're going to get the world movement here because it's the right thing to do," replied Walker. Walker ended the call saying, thanks a million." Walker ends the call by saying, "thanks a million."
It should be more like THANK MILLION$! The brothers own Koch Industries, Inc., which is the largest privately-owned company in America and has significant operations in Wisconsin. Its political action committee gave $43,000 to Walker's campaign, and donated heavily to the Republican Governors' Association, which funded ads attacking Walker's opponent in last year's election. The Kochs also give millions to support Americans For Prosperity, which launched a $320,000 television ad campaign in favor of Walker's legislation. The Koch have also opened a lobbying office on Wisconsin’s capitol square and may be positioning themselves to buy publicly owned power plants at whatever price their boy Scotty sets as stipulated deep in the 144 pages of Walker’s Budget Despair Bill.
Part of the irony is that Walker suggests that if the unions are helping with costs for the 14 Dem senators to stay in the land of Lincoln (another Quorum foiler) that is might be an ethics or legal violation. But apparently he thinks there’s no ethical or legal violation to his shilling for his corporate sponsor! He also complains that unions give money to Dems and expect something in return while he’s talking at length to his faux corporate sponsor about doing his bidding!
Elkhorn
400-500 demonstrated against Plan Plutocracy with peaceful high spirits on the square in Elkhorn last night, countered by 50-75 teabaggers.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Oh Mr. Lincoln, the Irony!
Indiana Dems Flee to Illinois as former Party of Lincoln cries foul! On December 5, 1840 State Legislator Abraham Lincoln jumped from a 2nd story window to deny the Illinois House a . . . QUORUM!
http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=9803297
http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=9803297
Panderer to Payoff Plutocrats
The Budget Dispair Bill contains provision for Walker to sell off or lease publicly owned heating and cooling power utilities with no bidding at whatever price they determine is "fair". And who will Pay the Plutocratic Privatizing Profiteers (Koch Bros) "return on investment" in little scotty walker? The citizens of Wisconsin of course!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/21/947947/-The-Koch-Brothers-End-Game-in-Wisconsin
In short:
1) Koch Brothers get their puppet Governor Walker in power
2) Governor Walker gins up a crisis
3) Democrats and Progressives take the bait and counter-protest on collective bargaining
4) Governor Walker will compromise on collective bargaining if the rest of the budget is passed as is
5) Bill passes, with Trojan horse give-a-way to the Koch Brothers nested in
6) Koch Brothers will buy Wisconsin state-owned power plants for pennies on the dollar in closed unsolicited bids for which there will be no oversight
7) Koch Brothers get the best vertical monopoly in a
Evidence: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/02/wisconsin-scott-walker-koch-brothers
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Funded by the Koch Bros.
Protesters surrounded Wisconsin's capitol building in Madison this week to register their opposition to GOP Gov. Scott Walker's plans to strip collective bargaining rights from public employees. Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker, whose bill to kill collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions has caused an uproar among state employees, might not be where he is today without the Koch brothers. Charles and David Koch are conservative titans of industry who have infamously used their vast wealth to undermine President Obama and fight legislation they detest, such as the cap-and-trade climate bill, the health care reform act, and the economic stimulus package. For years, the billionaires have made extensive political donations to Republican candidates across the country and have provided millions of dollars to astroturf right-wing organizations. Koch Industries' political action committee has doled out more than $2.6 million to candidates. And one prominent beneficiary of the Koch brothers' largess is Scott Walker.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/21/947947/-The-Koch-Brothers-End-Game-in-Wisconsin
In short:
1) Koch Brothers get their puppet Governor Walker in power
2) Governor Walker gins up a crisis
3) Democrats and Progressives take the bait and counter-protest on collective bargaining
4) Governor Walker will compromise on collective bargaining if the rest of the budget is passed as is
5) Bill passes, with Trojan horse give-a-way to the Koch Brothers nested in
6) Koch Brothers will buy Wisconsin state-owned power plants for pennies on the dollar in closed unsolicited bids for which there will be no oversight
7) Koch Brothers get the best vertical monopoly in a
Evidence: http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/02/wisconsin-scott-walker-koch-brothers
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker: Funded by the Koch Bros.
Protesters surrounded Wisconsin's capitol building in Madison this week to register their opposition to GOP Gov. Scott Walker's plans to strip collective bargaining rights from public employees. Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker, whose bill to kill collective bargaining rights for public-sector unions has caused an uproar among state employees, might not be where he is today without the Koch brothers. Charles and David Koch are conservative titans of industry who have infamously used their vast wealth to undermine President Obama and fight legislation they detest, such as the cap-and-trade climate bill, the health care reform act, and the economic stimulus package. For years, the billionaires have made extensive political donations to Republican candidates across the country and have provided millions of dollars to astroturf right-wing organizations. Koch Industries' political action committee has doled out more than $2.6 million to candidates. And one prominent beneficiary of the Koch brothers' largess is Scott Walker.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Video from Madison Saturday and Vigil for Workers in Elkhorn on Tuesday
Great! video shot by a local man in Madison on Saturday the 19th with lots of excellent comments from demonstrators regarding what Walker's push to plutocracy is really all about, cheap labor, insecure workers and one party rule: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMu2NcCWDo
ALSO: A Candlelight Vigil will be held in downtown Elkhorn on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We are asking people to bring candles and signs that do not attack individuals, but rather point out the contributions that public service workers make to the community such as:
"Local Unions Support Local Jobs"
"We love our health professional/teacher/nurse/maintenance worker/child care professional" etc.
"Labor rights are human rights"
You get the picture...
**A sign making party will be held at the Walworth County Dems office at 13 E. Walworth St. on Monday at 6:30 p.m. - bring posterbaord and markers.
Please forward this and duplicate and distribute lavishly. We are expecting a good turnout - we have buy-in from WEAC, two local units of AFSMCE, IBEW, Walworth County Dems and the Construction and General Laborers Union Local 464 as well as numerous community members who "get it". Many thanks to all!
ALSO: A Candlelight Vigil will be held in downtown Elkhorn on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We are asking people to bring candles and signs that do not attack individuals, but rather point out the contributions that public service workers make to the community such as:
"Local Unions Support Local Jobs"
"We love our health professional/teacher/nurse/maintenance worker/child care professional" etc.
"Labor rights are human rights"
You get the picture...
**A sign making party will be held at the Walworth County Dems office at 13 E. Walworth St. on Monday at 6:30 p.m. - bring posterbaord and markers.
Please forward this and duplicate and distribute lavishly. We are expecting a good turnout - we have buy-in from WEAC, two local units of AFSMCE, IBEW, Walworth County Dems and the Construction and General Laborers Union Local 464 as well as numerous community members who "get it". Many thanks to all!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Conservatism: America's Leading Cause of Stupidity!
Five states in the U.S. specifically prohibit collective bargaining for teachers. Their rankings in combined ACT/SAT scores:
44. Virginia
47. Texas
48. Georgia
49. North Carolina
50. South Carolina
Wisconsin is tied for second. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/states/USCHARTsat.html
44. Virginia
47. Texas
48. Georgia
49. North Carolina
50. South Carolina
Wisconsin is tied for second. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/states/USCHARTsat.html
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Walker's One Man Death Panel!
The Budget Dispair Bill that Scott Walker attempted to ram through to prevent public scrutiny contains a change to the way Medical Assistance is determined that is every bit the egregious dictatorial power grab that his attack on labor and the middle class is. In fact, this is probably WORSE, because people's health and their very lives are at stake. These are the pro-life, family values folks, right? But hey, don't take my word for it. Below is a dire warning and analysis from a person whose famiily will be directly impacted by Walker's one man death panel and his would be power to change the rules with NO PUBLIC NOTICE and NO PUBLIC HEARINGS!
SPREAD THIS WORD!
Thanks,
Sean
For years, advocates in Wisconsin have been working to make life better -- in some cases, make life possible -- for people with disabilities.
The process has been slow. It has taken years to create the programs and put the funding in place to allow people with disabilities to live a meaningful life in their communities, in their homes, with the healthcare support they need. Bit by bit, but with much further to go, the argument has moved forward: if you don't want to go back to the bad old days of warehousing people in very expensive institutions where lives were unbelievably difficult and generally much shorter, the public needs to step up and provide support.
This successful argument has won us the MA waiver that provides intensive therapy for children with autism.
We've won funding for health care.
For respite care.
For the home modifications that keep people safe and mobile.
For the supports that allow adults with disabilities to live in the community.
On Friday February 11, Governor Scott Walker proposed a so-called "budget repair" bill that will allow him and his appointees to restructure and slash Medical Assistance programs in Wisconsin. If this bill passes, the future slashing will take place...
Without public notice. Without public input.
The budget bill was released on Friday. A public hearing was announced Monday noon to take place on Tuesday at 10am, less than 24 hours notice.
They want the legislature to rubber-stamp this bill with a vote THIS WEEK. (And they claim they have the votes to do it -- though the protests are beginning to make some Republican state senators squirm.)
Very few people even know about the provisions of the bill impacting Medical Assistance.
Some links to news articles backing this up...
Walker budget proposal would impact how health care works in state: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_a28507fa-38a7-11e0-a87e-001cc4c002e0.html
Budget repair bill gives Walker free hand to revamp, cut Medicaid programs: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_979fd798-385c-11e0-b233-001cc4c03286.html
State attorney said Walker's Medicaid plan raised "potential constitutional issues": http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_cee543c2-3939-11e0-8619-001cc4c03286.html
The bill also eliminates outright the agency that coordinates my daughter's respite care services, the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Commission. (The cuts in the respite funding itself will surely come later. Without public input or notice.)
Why don't people know about this?
Two major reasons:
1) The bill is loaded with outrages. The one that has been in the headlines, that people know most about, is the proposal to strip most collective-bargaining power from public employees, so that (for starters) the governor can implement a massive cut in take-home pay via drastically-increased employee benefit contributions. [For JoyDad and myself, the loss of income amounts to half our mortgage payment every month, the equivalent of a 150% income-tax hike.] The union-busting, an outrage in and of itself, also sets the stage for immense cuts in public education...
2) The timeline is appallingly, undemocratically short. The advocacy groups have not had time even to properly analyze the Medical
Assistance provisions in the bill, let alone inform the public to get to the hearing and tell their stories. People slept over in the Capitol rotunda in Madison last night. I submitted my written testimony Tuesday morning, but could not stay the whole day awaiting my turn to speak.
As I said in a letter to the editor that was published Tuesday, nobody is arguing that the state has no budget challenges. Some pain will have to be shared. Tax increases will have to be a part of this puzzle.
Governor Walker's approach so far, however, has been to hand over millions of dollars in corporate tax giveaways during a special-session in January this year. In other words, making the hole bigger, creating an "emergency" wher none truly exists.
And the mechanism that allows unfettered cuts to Medical Assistance, without so much as public notice let alone public input, is moving through practically un-noticed.
Scarier still -- the Walker-appointee in charge of the Department of Health Services, which will be responsible for the Medical Assistance revisions, is one Dennis Smith, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, who has argued that states would be better off dropping Medicaid altogether: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2009/11/Medicaid-Meltdown-Dropping-Medicaid-Could-Save-States-1-Trillion
Spread the word. Call the state legislators, or e-mail them if their phone mailboxes are still jammed full like they were yesterday! Write to your local paper. Hit the streets if you're anywhere near a rally. The Capitol was alive with protest today, what with the Madison schools closed as the teachers go out to advocate for Wisconsin public education -- JoyDad and I support them wholeheartedly.
But if the MA issue continues to fly under the radar, the protests won't get that part of the bill so much as tweaked.
Please help!
====
P.S. A little bit of wonky sausage-making detail for those who are interested in such things! According to the balance of powers in the State of Wisconsin, Medical Assistance changes have had to go through a legislative process, either through direct legislation or through administrative rule-making. Both approaches require public hearings.
The budget proposal changes the requirements for the process. Changes would be able to be made via "emergency rule," regulations which could be created by the Department of Health Services under the aforementioned Dennis Smith. Ordinarily, hearings must be held on emergency rules, and then after a specified period of time, the emergency rules must be converted into final rules, with another round of public hearing. However, according to the budget proposal, the new "emergency rules" slashing MA could be passed without hearing by the Joint Finance Committee, simply by the committee declining to take them up.
The JFC is currently 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats. The committee WILL DECLINE to take up any proposed emergency rules that result in MA cuts. So the emergency rules will simply pass into effect in 14 days. No public notice, no public input. The bill also waives the requirement for the emergency rules to be revisited and converted into final rules. No chance for public input and changes there either.
Re-posted with slight updates from the blog, Elvis Sightings by way of the Daily Kos: http://elvis-sightings.blogspot.com/2011/02/wisconsin-attack-on-medical-assistance.html
SPREAD THIS WORD!
Thanks,
Sean
For years, advocates in Wisconsin have been working to make life better -- in some cases, make life possible -- for people with disabilities.
The process has been slow. It has taken years to create the programs and put the funding in place to allow people with disabilities to live a meaningful life in their communities, in their homes, with the healthcare support they need. Bit by bit, but with much further to go, the argument has moved forward: if you don't want to go back to the bad old days of warehousing people in very expensive institutions where lives were unbelievably difficult and generally much shorter, the public needs to step up and provide support.
This successful argument has won us the MA waiver that provides intensive therapy for children with autism.
We've won funding for health care.
For respite care.
For the home modifications that keep people safe and mobile.
For the supports that allow adults with disabilities to live in the community.
On Friday February 11, Governor Scott Walker proposed a so-called "budget repair" bill that will allow him and his appointees to restructure and slash Medical Assistance programs in Wisconsin. If this bill passes, the future slashing will take place...
Without public notice. Without public input.
The budget bill was released on Friday. A public hearing was announced Monday noon to take place on Tuesday at 10am, less than 24 hours notice.
They want the legislature to rubber-stamp this bill with a vote THIS WEEK. (And they claim they have the votes to do it -- though the protests are beginning to make some Republican state senators squirm.)
Very few people even know about the provisions of the bill impacting Medical Assistance.
Some links to news articles backing this up...
Walker budget proposal would impact how health care works in state: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_a28507fa-38a7-11e0-a87e-001cc4c002e0.html
Budget repair bill gives Walker free hand to revamp, cut Medicaid programs: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_979fd798-385c-11e0-b233-001cc4c03286.html
State attorney said Walker's Medicaid plan raised "potential constitutional issues": http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_cee543c2-3939-11e0-8619-001cc4c03286.html
The bill also eliminates outright the agency that coordinates my daughter's respite care services, the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Commission. (The cuts in the respite funding itself will surely come later. Without public input or notice.)
Why don't people know about this?
Two major reasons:
1) The bill is loaded with outrages. The one that has been in the headlines, that people know most about, is the proposal to strip most collective-bargaining power from public employees, so that (for starters) the governor can implement a massive cut in take-home pay via drastically-increased employee benefit contributions. [For JoyDad and myself, the loss of income amounts to half our mortgage payment every month, the equivalent of a 150% income-tax hike.] The union-busting, an outrage in and of itself, also sets the stage for immense cuts in public education...
2) The timeline is appallingly, undemocratically short. The advocacy groups have not had time even to properly analyze the Medical
Assistance provisions in the bill, let alone inform the public to get to the hearing and tell their stories. People slept over in the Capitol rotunda in Madison last night. I submitted my written testimony Tuesday morning, but could not stay the whole day awaiting my turn to speak.
As I said in a letter to the editor that was published Tuesday, nobody is arguing that the state has no budget challenges. Some pain will have to be shared. Tax increases will have to be a part of this puzzle.
Governor Walker's approach so far, however, has been to hand over millions of dollars in corporate tax giveaways during a special-session in January this year. In other words, making the hole bigger, creating an "emergency" wher none truly exists.
And the mechanism that allows unfettered cuts to Medical Assistance, without so much as public notice let alone public input, is moving through practically un-noticed.
Scarier still -- the Walker-appointee in charge of the Department of Health Services, which will be responsible for the Medical Assistance revisions, is one Dennis Smith, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, who has argued that states would be better off dropping Medicaid altogether: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2009/11/Medicaid-Meltdown-Dropping-Medicaid-Could-Save-States-1-Trillion
Spread the word. Call the state legislators, or e-mail them if their phone mailboxes are still jammed full like they were yesterday! Write to your local paper. Hit the streets if you're anywhere near a rally. The Capitol was alive with protest today, what with the Madison schools closed as the teachers go out to advocate for Wisconsin public education -- JoyDad and I support them wholeheartedly.
But if the MA issue continues to fly under the radar, the protests won't get that part of the bill so much as tweaked.
Please help!
====
P.S. A little bit of wonky sausage-making detail for those who are interested in such things! According to the balance of powers in the State of Wisconsin, Medical Assistance changes have had to go through a legislative process, either through direct legislation or through administrative rule-making. Both approaches require public hearings.
The budget proposal changes the requirements for the process. Changes would be able to be made via "emergency rule," regulations which could be created by the Department of Health Services under the aforementioned Dennis Smith. Ordinarily, hearings must be held on emergency rules, and then after a specified period of time, the emergency rules must be converted into final rules, with another round of public hearing. However, according to the budget proposal, the new "emergency rules" slashing MA could be passed without hearing by the Joint Finance Committee, simply by the committee declining to take them up.
The JFC is currently 8 Republicans, 4 Democrats. The committee WILL DECLINE to take up any proposed emergency rules that result in MA cuts. So the emergency rules will simply pass into effect in 14 days. No public notice, no public input. The bill also waives the requirement for the emergency rules to be revisited and converted into final rules. No chance for public input and changes there either.
Re-posted with slight updates from the blog, Elvis Sightings by way of the Daily Kos: http://elvis-sightings.blogspot.com/2011/02/wisconsin-attack-on-medical-assistance.html
Friday, February 18, 2011
Walker Gins Up "Crisis" to Reward Cronies
I thought this piece from the Cap Times might help everyone fight the good fight.
Say "NO!" to Walker's despicable plan. In fact, say "HELL, NO!" and help turn out anyone who backs him on it.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html?sourcetrack=moreArticle
Contact your legislators and make them do what's right!
Or, if they're on this list, you could start recalling them right now.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/18/946601/-Wisconsin:-8-GOP-state-senators-can-be-recalled-Right-Now,-Walker-next-January
Keep the faith! Keep up the pressure!
Say "NO!" to Walker's despicable plan. In fact, say "HELL, NO!" and help turn out anyone who backs him on it.
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html?sourcetrack=moreArticle
Contact your legislators and make them do what's right!
Or, if they're on this list, you could start recalling them right now.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/18/946601/-Wisconsin:-8-GOP-state-senators-can-be-recalled-Right-Now,-Walker-next-January
Keep the faith! Keep up the pressure!
REPEAT - Rally for Rights in Racine Today! (Friday) Monument Square 4PM
Progressivism or plutocracy! Play it again Sam!
Democrats with real gumption?! Salute the Senate Dems, may there be more where that came from!
Walker's blitz on working people goes way beyond public employees. This NOT about temporary concessions to get through a crisis, it is about plutocracy vs democracy. It'll be the police and firefighters next and then the private sector unions, etc., etc, Waging a War on Working People.
A coordinated attack was launched last Friday with Walker's pronouncement that he would end a 70 year tradition of collective bargaining for Wisconsin's public servants. On the very same day the Club for Growths began airing TV ads attacking public employees and urging support for Walker's power grab. That is NO ACCIDENT!
This is about money taking power. The Koch Bros have come to town, OUR government in the bathtub to drown!
There is another rally TODAY at Monument Square in Racine today (Fri 2/18) at 4:00 PM. Be There at the Square! Despite the balmy weather there's a corporate shill in the air!
I am not, nor is anyone in my family a public employee or even a union member. But this is just another, albeit more egregious example, in a long line of assaults on the middle-class by our would be plutocratic overlords and their Republicon thugs. This, like the equally unnecessary voter ID bill is completely politically motivated and designed to weaken democracy and move toward one party rule. If it works it will go WAY beyond public employees and WAY beyond Wisconsin.
Walker has invented this crisis at pretext for his blitz on workers. On Jan 31 the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that Wisconsin would end the budget year with a $121.4 million positive balance. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf
Two weeks later, after Walker pushed through $140 million in new spending and tax cuts for his cronies he's claiming we have a $138 million deficit. Walker is liar. And he won't stop there. He and his radical allies will not be happy until they can proudly say:
Tax cuts for the rich!
Sacrifices for the middle class!
Death panels for the poor!
Stand up today so that tomorrow we needn't say "Welcome to Walker's Wiscossippi!
Democrats with real gumption?! Salute the Senate Dems, may there be more where that came from!
Walker's blitz on working people goes way beyond public employees. This NOT about temporary concessions to get through a crisis, it is about plutocracy vs democracy. It'll be the police and firefighters next and then the private sector unions, etc., etc, Waging a War on Working People.
A coordinated attack was launched last Friday with Walker's pronouncement that he would end a 70 year tradition of collective bargaining for Wisconsin's public servants. On the very same day the Club for Growths began airing TV ads attacking public employees and urging support for Walker's power grab. That is NO ACCIDENT!
This is about money taking power. The Koch Bros have come to town, OUR government in the bathtub to drown!
There is another rally TODAY at Monument Square in Racine today (Fri 2/18) at 4:00 PM. Be There at the Square! Despite the balmy weather there's a corporate shill in the air!
I am not, nor is anyone in my family a public employee or even a union member. But this is just another, albeit more egregious example, in a long line of assaults on the middle-class by our would be plutocratic overlords and their Republicon thugs. This, like the equally unnecessary voter ID bill is completely politically motivated and designed to weaken democracy and move toward one party rule. If it works it will go WAY beyond public employees and WAY beyond Wisconsin.
Walker has invented this crisis at pretext for his blitz on workers. On Jan 31 the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that Wisconsin would end the budget year with a $121.4 million positive balance. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf
Two weeks later, after Walker pushed through $140 million in new spending and tax cuts for his cronies he's claiming we have a $138 million deficit. Walker is liar. And he won't stop there. He and his radical allies will not be happy until they can proudly say:
Tax cuts for the rich!
Sacrifices for the middle class!
Death panels for the poor!
Stand up today so that tomorrow we needn't say "Welcome to Walker's Wiscossippi!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Rally for Rights in Racine Today! Monument Square 4PM
Progressivism or plutocracy!
Walker's blitz on working people goes way beyond public employees. This is about plutocracy vs democracy. A coordinated attack was launched last Friday with Walker's pronouncement that he would end a 70 year tradition of collective bargaining for Wisconsin's public servants. On the very same day the Club for Growths began airing TV ads attacking public employees and urging support for Walker's power grab. That is NO ACCIDENT!
This is about money taking power. The Koch Bros have come to town, OUR government in the bathtub to drown!
There is a rally at Monument Square in Racine today (Thurs 2/17) at 4:00 PM. Be There at the Square! Despite the balmy weather there's a corporate shill in the air!
I am not, nor is anyone in my family a public employee or even a union member. But this is just another, albeit more egregious example, in a long line of assaults on the middle-class by our would be plutocratic overlords and their Republicon thugs. This, like the equally unnecessary voter ID bill is completely politically motivated and designed to weaken democracy and move toward one party rule. If it works it will go WAY beyond public employees and WAY beyond Wisconsin.
Walker has invented this crisis at pretext for his blitz on workers. On Jan 31 the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that Wisconsin would end the budget year with a $121.4 million positive balance. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf
Two weeks later, after Walker pushed through $140 million in new spending and tax cuts for his cronies he's claiming we have a $138 million deficit. Walker is liar. And he won't stop there. He and his radical allies will not be happy until they can proudly say:
Tax cuts for the rich!
Sacrifices for the middle class!
Death panels for the poor!
Stand up today so that tomorrow we needn't say "Welcome to Walker's Wiscossippi!
Walker's blitz on working people goes way beyond public employees. This is about plutocracy vs democracy. A coordinated attack was launched last Friday with Walker's pronouncement that he would end a 70 year tradition of collective bargaining for Wisconsin's public servants. On the very same day the Club for Growths began airing TV ads attacking public employees and urging support for Walker's power grab. That is NO ACCIDENT!
This is about money taking power. The Koch Bros have come to town, OUR government in the bathtub to drown!
There is a rally at Monument Square in Racine today (Thurs 2/17) at 4:00 PM. Be There at the Square! Despite the balmy weather there's a corporate shill in the air!
I am not, nor is anyone in my family a public employee or even a union member. But this is just another, albeit more egregious example, in a long line of assaults on the middle-class by our would be plutocratic overlords and their Republicon thugs. This, like the equally unnecessary voter ID bill is completely politically motivated and designed to weaken democracy and move toward one party rule. If it works it will go WAY beyond public employees and WAY beyond Wisconsin.
Walker has invented this crisis at pretext for his blitz on workers. On Jan 31 the Legislative Fiscal Bureau reported that Wisconsin would end the budget year with a $121.4 million positive balance. http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf
Two weeks later, after Walker pushed through $140 million in new spending and tax cuts for his cronies he's claiming we have a $138 million deficit. Walker is liar. And he won't stop there. He and his radical allies will not be happy until they can proudly say:
Tax cuts for the rich!
Sacrifices for the middle class!
Death panels for the poor!
Stand up today so that tomorrow we needn't say "Welcome to Walker's Wiscossippi!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
America: The Richest Nation in the World – Really?
America: The Richest Nation in the World – Really?
I got fired up and posted a pretty detailed rant after watching Thom Hartmann's Big Picture show from last night on RT. Frankly, we should all rise up and continue to fight until this is resolved. This suffering needs to end and this nation needs a wakeup call.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
An Open Letter to My Legislators
Dear Senator Wanggaard and Representative Vos --
I am deeply distressed by Governor Walker’s threat to strip the collective bargaining rights of our public employees.
These people -- our teachers, ER nurses, 911 operators, snow plow drivers, and others -- have given our state their best for many, many years. To take their right to bargain collectively away from them is not just a slap in the face for all their hard work, it is just plain wrong.
Governor Walker has made a series of terrible blunders since taking office, mistakes that cost our state the good, high-paying jobs of the future -- turning down the money for high-speed rail (and the jobs and cleaner environment that would bring), turning away funding for rural broadband access, and making it more difficult to site new, efficient windmill generators among them -- and all this within 2 months of being sworn in!
This threat to our public employees is just his latest bad move, and it’s a tactic I urge you to oppose.
Certainly, during these tough times, all of us must tighten our belts and pitch in where we can for the common good. The public employees union, as the employees themselves, agree with this. It smacks of dictatorship to exclude these people from the talks that will affect their lives, their salaries, their benefits, and, thus, their futures.
Mr. Walker must not seek to balance Wisconsin’s budget on the backs of middle-class workers and the poor! The benefits these people have now are ones they bargained for in good faith -- and sacrificed for -- in the past. It is wrong, just plain wrong, to take away those benefits, and the right to bargain for them, now or at any time in the future.
By acting unilaterally as he has threatened, Governor Walker is robbing Peter to pay Paul. There is, in fact, no need to rob anyone. Reasonable people can sit together across a table and come to reasonable agreements.
So, I urge you to stand up for the right of every Wisconsinite to organize and bargain collectively -- the right of all of us to seek our future together.
Because I have volunteered to teach 100+ students tomorrow in Kenosha, I will not be marching on the capital tomorrow. But I will be with those protesters in spirit.
Since I cannot be there, I count on you to represent my interests.
Yours Sincerely,
Steve Sullivan
I am deeply distressed by Governor Walker’s threat to strip the collective bargaining rights of our public employees.
These people -- our teachers, ER nurses, 911 operators, snow plow drivers, and others -- have given our state their best for many, many years. To take their right to bargain collectively away from them is not just a slap in the face for all their hard work, it is just plain wrong.
Governor Walker has made a series of terrible blunders since taking office, mistakes that cost our state the good, high-paying jobs of the future -- turning down the money for high-speed rail (and the jobs and cleaner environment that would bring), turning away funding for rural broadband access, and making it more difficult to site new, efficient windmill generators among them -- and all this within 2 months of being sworn in!
This threat to our public employees is just his latest bad move, and it’s a tactic I urge you to oppose.
Certainly, during these tough times, all of us must tighten our belts and pitch in where we can for the common good. The public employees union, as the employees themselves, agree with this. It smacks of dictatorship to exclude these people from the talks that will affect their lives, their salaries, their benefits, and, thus, their futures.
Mr. Walker must not seek to balance Wisconsin’s budget on the backs of middle-class workers and the poor! The benefits these people have now are ones they bargained for in good faith -- and sacrificed for -- in the past. It is wrong, just plain wrong, to take away those benefits, and the right to bargain for them, now or at any time in the future.
By acting unilaterally as he has threatened, Governor Walker is robbing Peter to pay Paul. There is, in fact, no need to rob anyone. Reasonable people can sit together across a table and come to reasonable agreements.
So, I urge you to stand up for the right of every Wisconsinite to organize and bargain collectively -- the right of all of us to seek our future together.
Because I have volunteered to teach 100+ students tomorrow in Kenosha, I will not be marching on the capital tomorrow. But I will be with those protesters in spirit.
Since I cannot be there, I count on you to represent my interests.
Yours Sincerely,
Steve Sullivan
Monday, February 14, 2011
Then they came for the Trade Unionists....
This statement is often misquoted -- especially by the right wing, who like to insert themselves into it -- but here's the real thing.
And I want you to pay special attention to the 2nd stanza, and think about the Governor's threat to collective bargaining in Wisconsin:
First They came... - Pastor Martin Niemoller
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
*
I guess the Governor felt he could just skip that first step in this day and age.
Stand up against the Governor of Wisconsin and for our teachers & public workers, before it's too late.
Contact your state reps.
And I want you to pay special attention to the 2nd stanza, and think about the Governor's threat to collective bargaining in Wisconsin:
First They came... - Pastor Martin Niemoller
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
*
I guess the Governor felt he could just skip that first step in this day and age.
Stand up against the Governor of Wisconsin and for our teachers & public workers, before it's too late.
Contact your state reps.
WI Public Employees Over Compensated? NO!
Rutgers Prof Jeffrey Keefe just completed a study which shows that when controlling for education level Wisconsin Public Employees are undercompensated by 4.8% compared to similar private sector employees, and that INCLUDES their pension and health insurance benefit packages: http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/6759/
59% of full-time Wisconsin public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree, compared with 30% of full-time private sector workers. Wisconsin state and local governments pay college-educated employees 25% less in annual compensation, on average, than private employers.
59% of full-time Wisconsin public sector workers hold at least a four-year college degree, compared with 30% of full-time private sector workers. Wisconsin state and local governments pay college-educated employees 25% less in annual compensation, on average, than private employers.
Action Alert Worker's Rights & the Budget Repair Bill
Many of you are already aware that Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has planned legislation that will strip state workers of their right to collective bargaining.
Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold released the following statement:
"Governor Walker’s request to the State Legislature to eliminate nearly all of the collective-bargaining rights for thousands of Wisconsin workers is big government at its worst. No private employer can do what the governor proposes, nor should it. For decades, Wisconsin has protected the rights of workers to collectively bargain with their employer on wages, benefits, workplace rules, and many other aspects of their employment. The governor is wrong to suggest that public workers are responsible for the state’s budget woes, and he is wrong to use that bogus excuse to strip them of rights that millions of other American workers have."
There are a number of things you can do:
There are buses going to Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday.
These buses are headed to rallies at the Capital. The buses will be leaving the park and ride at Highway 11 and I-94 at 7am. The rallies are planned for noon. The buses WILL be returning each day. If you want to be part of this and want to be on the bus please RSVP to Meg at megwi@aol.com
There will be marching and rallying in Racine on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm at the Racine Unified Central Office. That's at 2200 Northwestern Ave. Just show up and be supportive.
Call, email, or fax State Senator Van Wanggaard and tell him to vote against this proposal.
~His office phone number is 608 266 1832, or 866 615 7510. His mailbox is full now, but try again on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and
Thursday.
~His email address is sen.wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov
Send him an email right now and tell him that you do not want Wisconsin union
workers to have their rights taken away.
~His fax number is 608 282 3561. Send a fax telling him how you feel about what
Gov Walker is trying to do to your friends, relatives and neighbors.
Call the legislative hotline and tell your State Senator that you oppose this bill. That number is 877 753 5578.
Help make phone calls telling other people to call, email, or fax. There will be phone banks set up at the Labor Hall in Racine at 1840 Sycamore (across from
Skatetown). Calling will start tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am. If you can join in, RSVP to Meg at megwi@aol.com...or just show up. (You WILL need to bring your own cell phone to use,as we do not have phone lines set up. Make sure you have free minutes on Sundays.)
One or all actions will make a difference. Please join your friends, family and neighbors in Wisconsin who will be affected by this legislation!
Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold released the following statement:
"Governor Walker’s request to the State Legislature to eliminate nearly all of the collective-bargaining rights for thousands of Wisconsin workers is big government at its worst. No private employer can do what the governor proposes, nor should it. For decades, Wisconsin has protected the rights of workers to collectively bargain with their employer on wages, benefits, workplace rules, and many other aspects of their employment. The governor is wrong to suggest that public workers are responsible for the state’s budget woes, and he is wrong to use that bogus excuse to strip them of rights that millions of other American workers have."
There are a number of things you can do:
There are buses going to Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday.
These buses are headed to rallies at the Capital. The buses will be leaving the park and ride at Highway 11 and I-94 at 7am. The rallies are planned for noon. The buses WILL be returning each day. If you want to be part of this and want to be on the bus please RSVP to Meg at megwi@aol.com
There will be marching and rallying in Racine on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm at the Racine Unified Central Office. That's at 2200 Northwestern Ave. Just show up and be supportive.
Call, email, or fax State Senator Van Wanggaard and tell him to vote against this proposal.
~His office phone number is 608 266 1832, or 866 615 7510. His mailbox is full now, but try again on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and
Thursday.
~His email address is sen.wanggaard@legis.wisconsin.gov
Send him an email right now and tell him that you do not want Wisconsin union
workers to have their rights taken away.
~His fax number is 608 282 3561. Send a fax telling him how you feel about what
Gov Walker is trying to do to your friends, relatives and neighbors.
Call the legislative hotline and tell your State Senator that you oppose this bill. That number is 877 753 5578.
Help make phone calls telling other people to call, email, or fax. There will be phone banks set up at the Labor Hall in Racine at 1840 Sycamore (across from
Skatetown). Calling will start tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am. If you can join in, RSVP to Meg at megwi@aol.com...or just show up. (You WILL need to bring your own cell phone to use,as we do not have phone lines set up. Make sure you have free minutes on Sundays.)
One or all actions will make a difference. Please join your friends, family and neighbors in Wisconsin who will be affected by this legislation!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Fruther Proof the Ryan is Lyin Sack of Shit
The following half truth (LIE!) courtesy Paully Ryan and the Weekneed Standard was posted by Nemo on Free Racine and is making all around the wingnut blogospere. The truth, which CONservatism cannot abide, follows below
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/cbo-director-says-obamacare-would-reduce-employment-800000-workers_547288.html
Chairman [Paul] Ryan: “[I]t’s been argued...that the new health care law will create jobs and increase labor force participation. But if I recall from your analysis, it was quite the opposite. Is that not the case?”
Director [Douglas] Elmendorf : “Yes.”...
[…]
Rep. [John] Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, we'll -- and Dr. Elmendorf -- and we'll continue this conversation right now. First on health care, before I get to -- before I get to broader issues, you just mentioned that you believe -- or that in your estimate, that the health care law would reduce the labor used in the economy by about 1/2 of 1 percent, given that, I believe you say, there's 160 million full-time people working in '20-'21. That means that, in your estimation, the health care law would reduce employment by 800,000 in '20-'21. Is that correct?
Director Elmendorf: Yes. The way I would put it is that we do estimate, as you said, that...employment will be about 160 million by the end of the decade. Half a percent of that is 800,000.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/143379-gop-jumps-on-old-cbo-job-numbers
EXCERPT: However, the CBO prediction is a little more nuanced. Last summer's CBO report said the projected labor reduction is "largely" the result of more people voluntarily staying out of the workforce because the healthcare reform law gives them better healthcare options through an expansion of Medicaid and new state-run health insurance exchanges.
From the report:
"The expansion of Medicaid and the availability of subsidies through the exchanges will effectively increase beneficiaries’ financial resources. Those additional resources will encourage some people to work fewer hours or to withdraw from the labor market."
Further, a ban on discriminating against preexisting conditions will likely "increase the appeal" of health insurance plans offered outside the workplace for older workers.
"As a result," CBO said, "some older workers will choose to retire earlier than they otherwise would." END EXCERPT
Hey, THAT means they'll leave job openings that younger workers can fill. BONUS!
Thank you Nemo for your continued service in allowing me to point out the lies required to advance the Con-servatisma. If you must lie to advance your thoughts, your thoughts are not advanced.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/cbo-director-says-obamacare-would-reduce-employment-800000-workers_547288.html
Chairman [Paul] Ryan: “[I]t’s been argued...that the new health care law will create jobs and increase labor force participation. But if I recall from your analysis, it was quite the opposite. Is that not the case?”
Director [Douglas] Elmendorf : “Yes.”...
[…]
Rep. [John] Campbell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, we'll -- and Dr. Elmendorf -- and we'll continue this conversation right now. First on health care, before I get to -- before I get to broader issues, you just mentioned that you believe -- or that in your estimate, that the health care law would reduce the labor used in the economy by about 1/2 of 1 percent, given that, I believe you say, there's 160 million full-time people working in '20-'21. That means that, in your estimation, the health care law would reduce employment by 800,000 in '20-'21. Is that correct?
Director Elmendorf: Yes. The way I would put it is that we do estimate, as you said, that...employment will be about 160 million by the end of the decade. Half a percent of that is 800,000.
http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/143379-gop-jumps-on-old-cbo-job-numbers
EXCERPT: However, the CBO prediction is a little more nuanced. Last summer's CBO report said the projected labor reduction is "largely" the result of more people voluntarily staying out of the workforce because the healthcare reform law gives them better healthcare options through an expansion of Medicaid and new state-run health insurance exchanges.
From the report:
"The expansion of Medicaid and the availability of subsidies through the exchanges will effectively increase beneficiaries’ financial resources. Those additional resources will encourage some people to work fewer hours or to withdraw from the labor market."
Further, a ban on discriminating against preexisting conditions will likely "increase the appeal" of health insurance plans offered outside the workplace for older workers.
"As a result," CBO said, "some older workers will choose to retire earlier than they otherwise would." END EXCERPT
Hey, THAT means they'll leave job openings that younger workers can fill. BONUS!
Thank you Nemo for your continued service in allowing me to point out the lies required to advance the Con-servatisma. If you must lie to advance your thoughts, your thoughts are not advanced.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Hooray For Eqypt!
I'm so happy for the people of Egypt and hopeful that it goes well from here to peaceful democracy there and elsewhere!
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Fux Snoozers Most Misinformed
The University of Maryland conducted a studt after the fall election that shows there is a disturbing amount of misinformation, you know propaganda in the Plutocratic States of America and that it is influencing the what citizens believe (wrongly) and how they vote (ignorantly): http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf
But Fux Snoozers are by far more likely to swallow the bullshit and then regurgitate it all over what remains of our republic. Fux viewers are by:
-14 points more likely to mistakenly believe that the stimulus legislation did not include tax cuts. -13 points more likely to erroneously believe that the auto bailout only occurred under Obama.
-12 points more likely to hold the incorrect belief that when TARP came up for a vote most Republicans opposed it.
-30 points more likely to mistakenly believe that most scientists do not agree that climate change is occurring.
-31 percent more likely to believe the that it is not clear that Obama was born in the United States.
Want more clear evidence of the lies the Teabgnorant are more likely to believe? Read it and weep:
-Most economists estimate the stimulus caused job losses (12 points more likely)
-Most economists have estimated the health care law will worsen the deficit (31 points)
-The economy is getting worse (26 points)
-Their own income taxes have gone up (14 points)
Plutarch's like Rupert the Murdoch and the Koch Bros don't like bedrock American values like self determination through the INFORMED consent of the citizenry. They're not your countrymen, they're would-be overlords.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Torturer-In-Chief Forced to Cancel Trip
On February 7, 2011, two torture victims were to have filed criminal complaints for torture against former president George W. Bush in Geneva, who was due to speak at an event there on February 12th. On the eve of the filing of the complaints, George Bush cancelled his trip. Swiss law requires the presence of the alleged torturer on Swiss soil before a preliminary investigation can be open. The complaints could not be filed after Bush cancelled, as the basis for jurisdiction no longer existed.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/02/08-2
On Monday, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) released the 'Preliminary Bush Torture Indictment', a document outlining the core aspects of the case against Bush for torture, and his violations of the Convention Against Torture to which the United States is a signatory.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/02/08-2
On Monday, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) released the 'Preliminary Bush Torture Indictment', a document outlining the core aspects of the case against Bush for torture, and his violations of the Convention Against Torture to which the United States is a signatory.
Friday, February 04, 2011
An Easy Understanding of the 2nd Amendment
An Easy Understanding of the 2nd Amendment
Seeing recent (today) Facebook gun owner posts, I figured this to be an appropriate rant.
The 2nd amendment to the US Constitution simply states: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
...
The founders were quite scared of a standing army in the US; they wanted the states to form local militias that would be activated when necessary. In order to maintain this idea of not having a standing army, we needed the right of the people to keep an bear arms.
Thursday, February 03, 2011
NFL a Triumph of Socialistic Capitalism
This Sunday millions of Americans will gather watch the spectacle of the NFL Superbowl, a triumph of socialistic capitalism. The NFL is by far the most successful professional sports enterprise in America today. And the reason for this great success? Revenue sharing among the individual franchises that make up the league, you know socialism. They share revenue on everything from tickets and TV to towels and t-shirts, with the individual franchise keeping a portion of the sales and the rest going for equal distribution among all the teams.
Make no mistake about it, the NFL and the individual franchises (except for the most-glorious Green Bay Packers, owned by The People of Green Bay) are capitalistic ventures intent on making a profit and a return on investment and that is as it should be. But the NFL, unlike it's now weaker cousin MLB (America's former passtime) long ago realized that the health and well being of the whole is directly related to, and dependent on, the health and well being of each individual member.
By socializing their success the NFL has been able to produce a superior product with most of the teams being competative at any given time and a fairly rapid turnover of championship teams. And this has been good for their customers, the fans who get competative teams to root for and close, entertaining games to watch, which in return is good for the NFL and all it's members. There are no Yankees in the NFL, using their big media market renvue advantage perenially to buy their way to success. There are no Cubs, perpetually refusing to re-invest revenue in a superior product, secure in the monopoly over their mindlessly loyal and long suffering fans. It's better to be successful on a wheat pile than king of a dung heap.
Purity is not always a good thing and often comes with severe drawbacks and shortcomings. It's true with dogs and horses. Constant inbreeding in the quest for purity ends up accentuating inherent weaknesses and in general, mutts tend to be healthier than purebreads. The same is true with economic systems. Pure capitalism and pure socialism soon show the cracks of their inherent weaknesses that inevitably lead to crisis and failure. But the balancing act of a healthy blend allows the strengths of both to come through while keeping expression of the weaknesses of each to a minimum.
So remember this Sunday when when your witnessing a prime display of sucessful socialistic capitalism that even the Packers from the smallest city in professional sports can reach the top and enjoy their day in the sun when there is a reasonable sharing of resources and a level playing field. Go PACK GO!
Make no mistake about it, the NFL and the individual franchises (except for the most-glorious Green Bay Packers, owned by The People of Green Bay) are capitalistic ventures intent on making a profit and a return on investment and that is as it should be. But the NFL, unlike it's now weaker cousin MLB (America's former passtime) long ago realized that the health and well being of the whole is directly related to, and dependent on, the health and well being of each individual member.
By socializing their success the NFL has been able to produce a superior product with most of the teams being competative at any given time and a fairly rapid turnover of championship teams. And this has been good for their customers, the fans who get competative teams to root for and close, entertaining games to watch, which in return is good for the NFL and all it's members. There are no Yankees in the NFL, using their big media market renvue advantage perenially to buy their way to success. There are no Cubs, perpetually refusing to re-invest revenue in a superior product, secure in the monopoly over their mindlessly loyal and long suffering fans. It's better to be successful on a wheat pile than king of a dung heap.
Purity is not always a good thing and often comes with severe drawbacks and shortcomings. It's true with dogs and horses. Constant inbreeding in the quest for purity ends up accentuating inherent weaknesses and in general, mutts tend to be healthier than purebreads. The same is true with economic systems. Pure capitalism and pure socialism soon show the cracks of their inherent weaknesses that inevitably lead to crisis and failure. But the balancing act of a healthy blend allows the strengths of both to come through while keeping expression of the weaknesses of each to a minimum.
So remember this Sunday when when your witnessing a prime display of sucessful socialistic capitalism that even the Packers from the smallest city in professional sports can reach the top and enjoy their day in the sun when there is a reasonable sharing of resources and a level playing field. Go PACK GO!
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Egypt
I'm watching the events in Egypt in particular and the region in general with great hope for the people of the middle-east and a peaceful transition to freedom and democracy.
Gas prices be damned if it works out it would be well worth almost any price over the near term.
Gas prices be damned if it works out it would be well worth almost any price over the near term.
State of the Union? Unbalanced & Sick
From last Thursday's On Point with Tom Ashbrook: http://www.onpointradio.org/2011/01/inequality-societies
American inequality is at towering heights not seen since before the Great Depression. Wealth is packed at the top of the ladder, and dwindling on the rungs below.
The picture naturally makes many uneasy. A new global research effort says we are quite right to worry about it.
In their new book Inequality: The Enemy Between Us, two British epidemiologists say inequality is a public health issue, a national health issue. From crime rates to drug use to teenage pregnancy to heart disease and more, they say, the evidence shows inequality makes countries sick, even the rich.
Inequality: the enemy between us?
By Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
Excerpt of the Excerpt: Like others, we had been working for some years trying to understand the tendency for health to be better in countries with smaller income differences between rich and poor. There are now around 200 studies of income inequality and health. Other researchers working on violent crime had shown that homicide rates were lower in more equal countries. We started to wonder whether this pattern applied to other health or social problems. To find out, we collected internationally comparable figures on levels of trust, mental illness, life expectancy, infant mortality, prevalence of drug use and levels of obesity, homicide rates and rates of imprisonment, teenage birth rates, children’s educational achievement, and measures of child wellbeing – for each of 21 rich developed market democracies.
To measure inequality we used the ratio of the incomes of the top 20 percent in each country compared to the incomes of the bottom 20 percent. In the more equal countries (Japan, Finland, Norway, Sweden) the top 20 percent have 3.4 to 4.0 times as much. In the more unequal societies (USA, Portugal, UK) they have between 7 and 8.5 times as much. By this measure they are twice as unequal as the more equal countries.
Although people have often regarded inequality as divisive and socially corrosive, that did not prepare us for what we found. The frequency of all these problems was systematically related to income inequality. The bigger the income differences between rich and poor in each society, the worse these health and social problems became. And rather than things being just a bit worse in more unequal countries, they were very much worse. More unequal countries tended to have three times the level of violence, of infant mortality and mental illness; teenage birth rates were six times as high, and rates of imprisonment increased eight-fold.
The sense that inequality is divisive was shown by the fact that in more unequal countries, only about 15 percent of the population feel they can trust others, compared to around two-thirds in the more equal ones. That evidence was supported by relationships with social capital and levels of violence – all showing that inequality damages the social fabric of society.
Although the statistics told us that these relationships could not be dismissed as chance, we thought we should check in a second, independent, test bed to see if the same relationships held true. We looked at data for the 50 states of the USA, asking exactly the same question: did the more equal states, like the more equal countries, also do better on all these health and social problems than the less equal ones?
The pattern was extraordinarily similar. What the evidence shows is a tendency for more unequal societies to be socially dysfunctional right across the board. It is not that one country or state has good health but high levels of violence, or high teenage birth rates but low levels of drug abuse. Instead, the pattern is for most problems to become better or worse together.
American inequality is at towering heights not seen since before the Great Depression. Wealth is packed at the top of the ladder, and dwindling on the rungs below.
The picture naturally makes many uneasy. A new global research effort says we are quite right to worry about it.
In their new book Inequality: The Enemy Between Us, two British epidemiologists say inequality is a public health issue, a national health issue. From crime rates to drug use to teenage pregnancy to heart disease and more, they say, the evidence shows inequality makes countries sick, even the rich.
Inequality: the enemy between us?
By Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett
Excerpt of the Excerpt: Like others, we had been working for some years trying to understand the tendency for health to be better in countries with smaller income differences between rich and poor. There are now around 200 studies of income inequality and health. Other researchers working on violent crime had shown that homicide rates were lower in more equal countries. We started to wonder whether this pattern applied to other health or social problems. To find out, we collected internationally comparable figures on levels of trust, mental illness, life expectancy, infant mortality, prevalence of drug use and levels of obesity, homicide rates and rates of imprisonment, teenage birth rates, children’s educational achievement, and measures of child wellbeing – for each of 21 rich developed market democracies.
To measure inequality we used the ratio of the incomes of the top 20 percent in each country compared to the incomes of the bottom 20 percent. In the more equal countries (Japan, Finland, Norway, Sweden) the top 20 percent have 3.4 to 4.0 times as much. In the more unequal societies (USA, Portugal, UK) they have between 7 and 8.5 times as much. By this measure they are twice as unequal as the more equal countries.
Although people have often regarded inequality as divisive and socially corrosive, that did not prepare us for what we found. The frequency of all these problems was systematically related to income inequality. The bigger the income differences between rich and poor in each society, the worse these health and social problems became. And rather than things being just a bit worse in more unequal countries, they were very much worse. More unequal countries tended to have three times the level of violence, of infant mortality and mental illness; teenage birth rates were six times as high, and rates of imprisonment increased eight-fold.
The sense that inequality is divisive was shown by the fact that in more unequal countries, only about 15 percent of the population feel they can trust others, compared to around two-thirds in the more equal ones. That evidence was supported by relationships with social capital and levels of violence – all showing that inequality damages the social fabric of society.
Although the statistics told us that these relationships could not be dismissed as chance, we thought we should check in a second, independent, test bed to see if the same relationships held true. We looked at data for the 50 states of the USA, asking exactly the same question: did the more equal states, like the more equal countries, also do better on all these health and social problems than the less equal ones?
The pattern was extraordinarily similar. What the evidence shows is a tendency for more unequal societies to be socially dysfunctional right across the board. It is not that one country or state has good health but high levels of violence, or high teenage birth rates but low levels of drug abuse. Instead, the pattern is for most problems to become better or worse together.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wisconsin Governor Walker – A Plagiarist and Shill With No Ideas (of his own)
Wisconsin Governor Walker – A Plagiarist and Shill With No Ideas (of his own)
As the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reports, Scott Walker, our new governor, is only pushing ideas from right-wing ideologues that funded his campaign.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
62% of Americans: Leave Obamacare as is or Make it do MORE!
A January 2011 AP Poll shows 62% of Americans like Obamcare as is, or want to see it changed so that it does more. See Table HC14a, above. http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com/pdf/AP-GfK%20Poll%20011411.pdf
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The GOPbuser Protection Act of 2011
Part of the GOPster corporate takeover involves an attack on the Constitutional Right of The People to seek redress for their grievances in order to protect Corprate ASSets. They call it "Tort Reform" and use the GOPmyth of many frivolous lawsuits and outrageous awards as cover for the schilling for their corporate sponsors.
That's bad enough, but their assualt on the rights of the most vulnerable among us to receive justice is nothing less than DISPICABLE!
Please take a moment to read the attached letter from Disability Rights Wisconsin et. al. to see what being done to the defenseless in your name, for one reason, the conservation of money for the Ownership of Greed Oligarch's Party. It's only 3 pages, but what it reveals . . .
http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Senate-letter-re-SB1-Aging-and-Disability-Groups.pdf
EXCERPT:For the large number of elderly residents of nursing homes or group homes who have any degree of memory loss, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and for many people with mental illness, asking the resident to testify about the abuse they experienced is not a realistic option (they may not clearly recall the events or their testimony may not be convincing to the court). The most accurate and compelling evidence of physical or mental abuse they have experienced in a facility would be a) an incident report created by staff of the facility contemporaneous with the incident, as required by federal and or state law; and b) investigative reports generated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). SB 1 explicitly prohibits prosecutors, residents, families, guardians, or advocates from using either of those types of reports in any criminal or civil legal proceeding. This prohibition applies to all state, county, and private long term care, psychiatric, or children’s facilities.
Republicons just make me SICK!
That's bad enough, but their assualt on the rights of the most vulnerable among us to receive justice is nothing less than DISPICABLE!
Please take a moment to read the attached letter from Disability Rights Wisconsin et. al. to see what being done to the defenseless in your name, for one reason, the conservation of money for the Ownership of Greed Oligarch's Party. It's only 3 pages, but what it reveals . . .
http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Senate-letter-re-SB1-Aging-and-Disability-Groups.pdf
EXCERPT:For the large number of elderly residents of nursing homes or group homes who have any degree of memory loss, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and for many people with mental illness, asking the resident to testify about the abuse they experienced is not a realistic option (they may not clearly recall the events or their testimony may not be convincing to the court). The most accurate and compelling evidence of physical or mental abuse they have experienced in a facility would be a) an incident report created by staff of the facility contemporaneous with the incident, as required by federal and or state law; and b) investigative reports generated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). SB 1 explicitly prohibits prosecutors, residents, families, guardians, or advocates from using either of those types of reports in any criminal or civil legal proceeding. This prohibition applies to all state, county, and private long term care, psychiatric, or children’s facilities.
Republicons just make me SICK!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Voter ID, Unconstitutional, GOPolitically Motivated, Uneeded, WRONG!
Dear Citizens:
Many of you have written to me in response to my email yesterday about the voter ID bill. Some of you were very enthusiastic in your support of our efforts to fight back against this assault on our voting rights. But others of you had questions about the bill, and wondered why we oppose requiring qualified voters to show an ID at the polls. "You have to show an ID to rent a video, why not to vote?" someone asked. "With all the voter fraud out there, I think voter ID is a good idea," another person wrote.
I want to address these questions and fully explain why this bill is wrong for Wisconsin.
First of all, the right to vote is guaranteed to citizens of Wisconsin in our state constitution. The right to rent a movie, open a checking account, go to the bar, get on an airplane or any other similar activity is not, and requiring an ID for these types of activities is not a barrier to exercising a constitutionally-protect right. Voter ID is fundamentally different.
There is absolutely no evidence of a widespread conspiracy to commit voter fraud. Wisconsin's Republican Attorney General JB Van Hollen has made prosecuting so-called voter fraud one of his top priorities. However, after a two year investigation into the 2008 election, Van Hollen has found a scant 11 potentially improper ballots out of nearly 3 million total votes cast. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/86917797.html
Of those, eight involved felons who voted while out in the community on probation or parole, a situation that voter ID would not remedy. That leaves 3 potentially bad votes out of 3,000,000 votes, or about 0.000001% of all votes cast. Voter ID is a solution in search of a problem.
The bill's authors, Republican Rep. Jeff Stone and Sen. Joe Leibham, have modeled their bill after Indiana's Voter ID law, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. According to the Supreme Court case upholding Indiana’s Voter ID bill, the lower court found “99 percent of Indiana’s voting age population already possesses the necessary photo identification to vote under the requirements.”
Wisconsin’s population is substantially less likely to have a state-issued identification. Those without state-issued photo identification and who would need to obtain one under the Wisconsin Voter ID bill include:
•23 percent of all elderly Wisconsinites over the age of 65
•17 percent of white men and women
•55 percent of all African American males and 49 percent of African American women
•46 percent of Hispanic men and 59% of Hispanic women
•78 percent of African American males age 18-24 and 66 percent of African American women age 18-24
[Driver License Status of the Voting Age Population in Wisconsin, 6/05] http://www.brennancenter.org/page/-/d/download_file_50902.pdf
Yes, the bill as written does have a provision to provide free identification for some Wisconsinites. Each and every one of these people would have to take the time off (in many cases unpaid) from work or family obligations to flock to Wisconsin DMVs. However, access to the DMV is a problem in Wisconsin; Indiana provides its residents exponentially more access to its Department of Motor Vehicles offices to obtain identification.
Wisconsin and Indiana have similar voting age populations (4.35 million vs. 4,8 million), but Wisconsin is 50 percent larger geographically than Indiana (54,314 sq. miles vs. 35,870 sq. miles). Indiana not only provides its residents 50 percent more DMV offices than Wisconsin (140 to 91), but also nearly three times the total hours these facilities are open.
Also consider:
•Twenty-six percent of Wisconsin’s 91 DMVs are open one day a month or less, while none of Indiana’s are open less than 100 days a year and nearly all are open over 250 days a year.
•Wisconsin has only one DMV with weekend hours, while Indiana has 124 offices with weekend hours.
•Three Wisconsin counties have no DMVs, no Indiana county is without a DMV.
•Over half of Wisconsin’s 91 DMVs are open on a part-time basis, while Indiana provides full-time DMVs in every county.
[Wisconsin DMV service centers and hours, by county; Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, locations and hours] http://dot.wi.gov/about/locate/dmv/scmap.htm
The need to expand the numbers and operational hours of Wisconsin DMVs to provide appropriate access could increase the $70 million biennial Wisconsin DMV budget by as much as 50 percent on top of the current $5 million price tag to provide free identifications.
Requiring eligible voters to produce ID at the polls is an unnecessary hurdle to exercising our right to vote which will prevent many people from voting. The "widespread voter fraud" that this bill is aimed at "fixing" does not exist, and the microscopic number of double votes will be FAR outpaced by the number of people who will be prevented from voting by the voter ID requirement. In a time when Wisconsin faces a $3 billion budget deficit, we simply cannot afford to double the DMV budget. Voter ID is a big-government, budget-busting solution in search of a problem; a solution that will make it more difficult to practice our most fundamental right.
That is why we oppose voter ID. I hope this email helps to answer your questions about this bill. If you're ready to join this fight, please sign up for our Voter Protection Task Force to push back against this assault on our democratic rights.
Sorry for the long email, but thank you, as always, for everything you do.
scot
One Wisconsin Now
One Wisconsin Now is a new-media online network of citizens from across Wisconsin committed to advancing progressive policy, leadership, values and ensuring equal economic opportunity for all.
Many of you have written to me in response to my email yesterday about the voter ID bill. Some of you were very enthusiastic in your support of our efforts to fight back against this assault on our voting rights. But others of you had questions about the bill, and wondered why we oppose requiring qualified voters to show an ID at the polls. "You have to show an ID to rent a video, why not to vote?" someone asked. "With all the voter fraud out there, I think voter ID is a good idea," another person wrote.
I want to address these questions and fully explain why this bill is wrong for Wisconsin.
First of all, the right to vote is guaranteed to citizens of Wisconsin in our state constitution. The right to rent a movie, open a checking account, go to the bar, get on an airplane or any other similar activity is not, and requiring an ID for these types of activities is not a barrier to exercising a constitutionally-protect right. Voter ID is fundamentally different.
There is absolutely no evidence of a widespread conspiracy to commit voter fraud. Wisconsin's Republican Attorney General JB Van Hollen has made prosecuting so-called voter fraud one of his top priorities. However, after a two year investigation into the 2008 election, Van Hollen has found a scant 11 potentially improper ballots out of nearly 3 million total votes cast. http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/86917797.html
Of those, eight involved felons who voted while out in the community on probation or parole, a situation that voter ID would not remedy. That leaves 3 potentially bad votes out of 3,000,000 votes, or about 0.000001% of all votes cast. Voter ID is a solution in search of a problem.
The bill's authors, Republican Rep. Jeff Stone and Sen. Joe Leibham, have modeled their bill after Indiana's Voter ID law, which was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. According to the Supreme Court case upholding Indiana’s Voter ID bill, the lower court found “99 percent of Indiana’s voting age population already possesses the necessary photo identification to vote under the requirements.”
Wisconsin’s population is substantially less likely to have a state-issued identification. Those without state-issued photo identification and who would need to obtain one under the Wisconsin Voter ID bill include:
•23 percent of all elderly Wisconsinites over the age of 65
•17 percent of white men and women
•55 percent of all African American males and 49 percent of African American women
•46 percent of Hispanic men and 59% of Hispanic women
•78 percent of African American males age 18-24 and 66 percent of African American women age 18-24
[Driver License Status of the Voting Age Population in Wisconsin, 6/05] http://www.brennancenter.org/page/-/d/download_file_50902.pdf
Yes, the bill as written does have a provision to provide free identification for some Wisconsinites. Each and every one of these people would have to take the time off (in many cases unpaid) from work or family obligations to flock to Wisconsin DMVs. However, access to the DMV is a problem in Wisconsin; Indiana provides its residents exponentially more access to its Department of Motor Vehicles offices to obtain identification.
Wisconsin and Indiana have similar voting age populations (4.35 million vs. 4,8 million), but Wisconsin is 50 percent larger geographically than Indiana (54,314 sq. miles vs. 35,870 sq. miles). Indiana not only provides its residents 50 percent more DMV offices than Wisconsin (140 to 91), but also nearly three times the total hours these facilities are open.
Also consider:
•Twenty-six percent of Wisconsin’s 91 DMVs are open one day a month or less, while none of Indiana’s are open less than 100 days a year and nearly all are open over 250 days a year.
•Wisconsin has only one DMV with weekend hours, while Indiana has 124 offices with weekend hours.
•Three Wisconsin counties have no DMVs, no Indiana county is without a DMV.
•Over half of Wisconsin’s 91 DMVs are open on a part-time basis, while Indiana provides full-time DMVs in every county.
[Wisconsin DMV service centers and hours, by county; Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, locations and hours] http://dot.wi.gov/about/locate/dmv/scmap.htm
The need to expand the numbers and operational hours of Wisconsin DMVs to provide appropriate access could increase the $70 million biennial Wisconsin DMV budget by as much as 50 percent on top of the current $5 million price tag to provide free identifications.
Requiring eligible voters to produce ID at the polls is an unnecessary hurdle to exercising our right to vote which will prevent many people from voting. The "widespread voter fraud" that this bill is aimed at "fixing" does not exist, and the microscopic number of double votes will be FAR outpaced by the number of people who will be prevented from voting by the voter ID requirement. In a time when Wisconsin faces a $3 billion budget deficit, we simply cannot afford to double the DMV budget. Voter ID is a big-government, budget-busting solution in search of a problem; a solution that will make it more difficult to practice our most fundamental right.
That is why we oppose voter ID. I hope this email helps to answer your questions about this bill. If you're ready to join this fight, please sign up for our Voter Protection Task Force to push back against this assault on our democratic rights.
Sorry for the long email, but thank you, as always, for everything you do.
scot
One Wisconsin Now
One Wisconsin Now is a new-media online network of citizens from across Wisconsin committed to advancing progressive policy, leadership, values and ensuring equal economic opportunity for all.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sarah Palin’s “blood libel” Sparks Reaction by Jewish Groups
Sarah Palin’s “blood libel” Sparks Reaction by Jewish Groups
The term “blood libel” is not a synonym for “false accusation.”
Monday, January 10, 2011
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Repeal the Republicons!
Further proof, courtesy of the non-partisan CBO, that Republicons really don't care about the deficit (as if extention of the Bu$h tax cuts for the rich weren't proof enough: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010604419.html
EXCERPT: In a letter to Boehner, budget office director Douglas Elmendorf estimated repeal would increase the deficit by $230 billion from 2012 to 2021, the 10-year estimating period for budget projections. Moreover, Elmendorf said about 32 million more people would be uninsured in 2019 as a consequence.
But Boehner told reporters: "I do not believe that repealing the job-killing health care law will increase the deficit."
EXCERPT: In a letter to Boehner, budget office director Douglas Elmendorf estimated repeal would increase the deficit by $230 billion from 2012 to 2021, the 10-year estimating period for budget projections. Moreover, Elmendorf said about 32 million more people would be uninsured in 2019 as a consequence.
But Boehner told reporters: "I do not believe that repealing the job-killing health care law will increase the deficit."
Boehner's bit is further proof that are complete liars and GOPocrits. You see the House GOPsters instituted a rule that all the cost of all measures must be offset by corresponding cuts elsewhere except for tax cuts (for the rich) and repeal of the Job Saving Obamacare Law. HELLO! They wouldn't need to exempt it from their rule if it wasn't going to SAVE OUR GOVERNMENT MONEY!
Oh and bonus of BONUSES! Their GOPish exemption of tax cuts (for the rich) from their new House rule is blatant admission that tax cuts (for the rich) DO NOT increase government revenue!
Cons Supporting Terrorists (AGAIN!)
Wanted for arrest and prosecution: Rudy Giuliani and Bushites Michael Mukasey, Tom Ridge, and Fran Townsend. For violating U.S. law and providing material support to a U.S. designated terrorist organization: http://www.readersupportednews.org/off-site-news-section/69-69/4501-leading-conservatives-openly-support-terrorists
EXCERPT: Imagine if a group of leading American liberals met on foreign soil with -- and expressed vocal support for -- supporters of a terrorist group that had (a) a long history of hateful anti-American rhetoric, (b) an active role in both the takeover of a U.S. embassy and Saddam Hussein's brutal 1991 repression of Iraqi Shiites, (c) extensive financial and military support from Saddam, (d) multiple acts of violence aimed at civilians, and (e) years of being designated a "Terrorist organization" by the U.S. under Presidents of both parties, a designation which is ongoing? The ensuing uproar and orgies of denunciation would be deafening. (This will never see the light of day in the "Liberal" Press)
But on December 23, a group of leading conservatives -- including Rudy Giuliani and former Bush officials Michael Mukasey, Tom Ridge, and Fran Townsend -- did exactly that.
GOPocrisy Knows No Bounds!
And remember that in June the SCROTUS Robed Reationary Political Hactivists ruled that the USA (un)PATRIOT ACT superceded the first amendment, criminalizing even speech in support of designated terrorist groups and even when it's done by humanitarian groups trying to get these organizations to use international law to resolve conflicts peacefully: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-affirms-material-support-law-free-speech/story?id=10970249 (Cuz you know the Warrantless-Wire-Tapping-Cons just loves them a bounch O Constitution, hell they're reading it on the floor of the house today!)
Once again we see with the GOPsters that it's not about issues or principals, but about power and control and whose got it and who they want to keep it. The Mujaheddin-e Khalq (MEK) aren't terrorists anymore, they're Fricken Freedom Fighters!
I just know the FBI is gonna perp walk these creeps any minute now, right? Cuz in America we believe in the rule of law and equal justice under it. Yeah right. Freedom, Justice and Democracy, my ass!
EXCERPT: Imagine if a group of leading American liberals met on foreign soil with -- and expressed vocal support for -- supporters of a terrorist group that had (a) a long history of hateful anti-American rhetoric, (b) an active role in both the takeover of a U.S. embassy and Saddam Hussein's brutal 1991 repression of Iraqi Shiites, (c) extensive financial and military support from Saddam, (d) multiple acts of violence aimed at civilians, and (e) years of being designated a "Terrorist organization" by the U.S. under Presidents of both parties, a designation which is ongoing? The ensuing uproar and orgies of denunciation would be deafening. (This will never see the light of day in the "Liberal" Press)
But on December 23, a group of leading conservatives -- including Rudy Giuliani and former Bush officials Michael Mukasey, Tom Ridge, and Fran Townsend -- did exactly that.
GOPocrisy Knows No Bounds!
And remember that in June the SCROTUS Robed Reationary Political Hactivists ruled that the USA (un)PATRIOT ACT superceded the first amendment, criminalizing even speech in support of designated terrorist groups and even when it's done by humanitarian groups trying to get these organizations to use international law to resolve conflicts peacefully: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-affirms-material-support-law-free-speech/story?id=10970249 (Cuz you know the Warrantless-Wire-Tapping-Cons just loves them a bounch O Constitution, hell they're reading it on the floor of the house today!)
Once again we see with the GOPsters that it's not about issues or principals, but about power and control and whose got it and who they want to keep it. The Mujaheddin-e Khalq (MEK) aren't terrorists anymore, they're Fricken Freedom Fighters!
I just know the FBI is gonna perp walk these creeps any minute now, right? Cuz in America we believe in the rule of law and equal justice under it. Yeah right. Freedom, Justice and Democracy, my ass!
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
5 Myths About Federal Workers
For those of you misguided enough to buy the GOPmyth that government workers are over paid, are the problem and that we can balance our budgets on their backs:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120303160.html
Just a little more of the plethora of evidence that the entire modern conservative agenda is fueled by lies. But we know that wingnuts need enemies, so here are your "enemies".
1. Federal employees are overpaid compared with private-sector workers.
Federal employees make on average 24 percent less than their private-sector counterparts. In addition, the average private-sector salary in 2010 for a recent college graduate was $48,661. Entry-level federal workers start at $34,075, or $42,209 for candidates with superior academic achievement.
2. The federal workforce is bigger than ever.
federal government employs 2.1 million people. The workforce is now slightly smaller than it was in 1967, at the height of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, and today there are 100 million more Americans to serve. Even during the Reagan administration, when small government was a political mantra, there were still between 2.1 and 2.2 million federal workers. In fact, there was an increase of about 95,000 federal employees between 1981 and 1989. Today, two out of three federal civilian employees work for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs or Justice. The vast majority of government hiring since 2003 has been in these four departments.
3. You can't fire a federal worker.
In the 2009 fiscal year, 11,275 federal employees were fired for poor performance or misconduct. In addition, a survey of federal managers by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board suggests that besides those who are formally terminated, there are a sizable number of employees who voluntarily leave after they are counseled that their performance is unacceptable.
4. Most federal workers are paper-pushing clerks.
The vast majority of federal workers hold white-collar professional, administrative and technical jobs. Approximately 20 percent of federal workers have a master's degree, professional degree or doctorate, vs. 13 percent in the private sector. Fifty-one percent of federal employees have at least a college degree, compared with 35 percent in the private sector. Remarkably, more than 50 current or former federal employees have received Nobel Prizes. In fact, about one in four American Nobel laureates have been federal workers. Their contributions have included the eradication of polio, the mapping of the human genome and the harnessing of atomic energy.
5. Pay or hiring freezes would help slash the federal budget.
History has taught us that arbitrary, broad hiring and pay freezes don't return significant cost savings. How much will the government save by cutting 10 percent of the federal workforce - about 200,000 employees - as recommended by the president's deficit commission? If the work of federal employees is simply contracted to the private sector, the savings could be minimal or the move could even cost us more. If government employees are not replaced and their salaries are returned to the Treasury, the government would save at most $20 billion annually, or roughly 0.5 percent of total budget outlays.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120303160.html
Just a little more of the plethora of evidence that the entire modern conservative agenda is fueled by lies. But we know that wingnuts need enemies, so here are your "enemies".
1. Federal employees are overpaid compared with private-sector workers.
Federal employees make on average 24 percent less than their private-sector counterparts. In addition, the average private-sector salary in 2010 for a recent college graduate was $48,661. Entry-level federal workers start at $34,075, or $42,209 for candidates with superior academic achievement.
2. The federal workforce is bigger than ever.
federal government employs 2.1 million people. The workforce is now slightly smaller than it was in 1967, at the height of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, and today there are 100 million more Americans to serve. Even during the Reagan administration, when small government was a political mantra, there were still between 2.1 and 2.2 million federal workers. In fact, there was an increase of about 95,000 federal employees between 1981 and 1989. Today, two out of three federal civilian employees work for the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs or Justice. The vast majority of government hiring since 2003 has been in these four departments.
3. You can't fire a federal worker.
In the 2009 fiscal year, 11,275 federal employees were fired for poor performance or misconduct. In addition, a survey of federal managers by the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board suggests that besides those who are formally terminated, there are a sizable number of employees who voluntarily leave after they are counseled that their performance is unacceptable.
4. Most federal workers are paper-pushing clerks.
The vast majority of federal workers hold white-collar professional, administrative and technical jobs. Approximately 20 percent of federal workers have a master's degree, professional degree or doctorate, vs. 13 percent in the private sector. Fifty-one percent of federal employees have at least a college degree, compared with 35 percent in the private sector. Remarkably, more than 50 current or former federal employees have received Nobel Prizes. In fact, about one in four American Nobel laureates have been federal workers. Their contributions have included the eradication of polio, the mapping of the human genome and the harnessing of atomic energy.
5. Pay or hiring freezes would help slash the federal budget.
History has taught us that arbitrary, broad hiring and pay freezes don't return significant cost savings. How much will the government save by cutting 10 percent of the federal workforce - about 200,000 employees - as recommended by the president's deficit commission? If the work of federal employees is simply contracted to the private sector, the savings could be minimal or the move could even cost us more. If government employees are not replaced and their salaries are returned to the Treasury, the government would save at most $20 billion annually, or roughly 0.5 percent of total budget outlays.
Monday, January 03, 2011
A comment (and personal history) on RNC chair front-runner Reince Priebus
A comment (and personal history) on RNC chair front-runner Reince Priebus
Hey fellow BAPers, do you remember his 2004 failed campaign as "fondly" as I do?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
GOPants On Fire
Since conservatism survives on a series of big lies swallowed by their gulligle minions, it's only fitting that politifact has chosen the adnnauseum repeated GOPsterism "Government take over of healthcare" as the 2010 Lie of the Year: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2010/dec/16/lie-year-government-takeover-health-care/
Crafted by GOPundit Frnak Luntz, it has no basis in truth, but Republicons don't care about truth they care about messaging, you know GOPropaganda. Under the reform of broken healthcare system:
- Employers still continue to provide health insurance to the majority of Americans.
- More people will get private haelthcare coverage.
- Exchanges are set up for private insurers to compete to provide coverage to those without insurance
- The government does not run the hospitals
- the government does not employ the doctors
- It's all private, there is not government run public option to compete with private insurers
- Tax credits are provided to assist those with difficulty getting insurance to buy it from a private provider.
So "Government take over" and socialism are just plain lies, period.
By the way, the runner up was fruitcake Michelle Bachman's claim that Obama would spend $200,000,000 per day on his trip to India. No basis in fact there either. But that won't stop millions of Fux Snooze morons from gobbling it down and regurgitating it projectile fashion.
Crafted by GOPundit Frnak Luntz, it has no basis in truth, but Republicons don't care about truth they care about messaging, you know GOPropaganda. Under the reform of broken healthcare system:
- Employers still continue to provide health insurance to the majority of Americans.
- More people will get private haelthcare coverage.
- Exchanges are set up for private insurers to compete to provide coverage to those without insurance
- The government does not run the hospitals
- the government does not employ the doctors
- It's all private, there is not government run public option to compete with private insurers
- Tax credits are provided to assist those with difficulty getting insurance to buy it from a private provider.
So "Government take over" and socialism are just plain lies, period.
By the way, the runner up was fruitcake Michelle Bachman's claim that Obama would spend $200,000,000 per day on his trip to India. No basis in fact there either. But that won't stop millions of Fux Snooze morons from gobbling it down and regurgitating it projectile fashion.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
U.S. Bonds May Lose AAA Rating
For those who think you can have your cake and eat it too (tax cuts & deficit reduction): http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101213/pl_afp/useconomypoliticstaxdeficit
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Amelica Vely Funny!
Thomas Friedman asks: "What if China had a WikiLeaker and we could see what its embassy in Washington was reporting about America?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/opinion/01friedman.html?_r=1&ref=thomaslfriedman
The answer is pathetically amusing if you're an American and hearteningly hilarious if you're Chinese.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/opinion/01friedman.html?_r=1&ref=thomaslfriedman
The answer is pathetically amusing if you're an American and hearteningly hilarious if you're Chinese.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Why Support High Speed Rail?
Because it create jobs, because it cuts energy use and supports domestic energy, and brings the infrastructure of the future to our state -- all of which will make Wisconsin a better place to live and build a business. Plus, if we don't do it, the federal money for it will leave and go elsewhere. Good for business, good for the environment, good for Wisconsin.
Smarten up Governor-Elect Walker!
Check the video.
Smarten up Governor-Elect Walker!
Check the video.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Bush Back in Rehab
And so the rehabilitation and revisionism of the Bush presidency began tonight with an interview by NBC's Matt Lauer full of cream puff questions and no followup. This will be followed by a media blitz carefully crafted by a high priced beltway PRopaganda firm to spin the aftermath of his decidership.
I see the War Criminal will be in Milwaukee on Wednesday to speak to a Christian group. Because of course, torture, warmongering, lying and concern for the healthy, the wealthy and the unoppressed are the essence of Christ's teachings. http://www.teenchallengeonline.com/
I see the War Criminal will be in Milwaukee on Wednesday to speak to a Christian group. Because of course, torture, warmongering, lying and concern for the healthy, the wealthy and the unoppressed are the essence of Christ's teachings. http://www.teenchallengeonline.com/
WTF Has Obama Done So Far?
http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/
Click on the light blue box under the Obama accomplishment and you get another f''ing accomplishment. Pretty impressive list!
Click on the light blue box under the Obama accomplishment and you get another f''ing accomplishment. Pretty impressive list!
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Why the Republicans Will FAIL to Improve the Edonomy
This article from the Washington Monthly hits the nail right on the head.
To summarize, they're plan isn't based on improving the economy, it's based on kowtowing to a political ideology that doesn't care about the economy.
And they're wedded to a series of "solutions" that have been proven not to work.
And they ignore solutions that were proven to work in the past (during FDR's days, among others), because those solutions don't fit in with their ideology.
So, even if they accomplish their spurious goals, it won't help the middle class.
(The upper class, though, will make off like bandits -- as they've been doing ever since the days of Ronald Reagan.)
But read the article and see for yourself. It's not very long.
To summarize, they're plan isn't based on improving the economy, it's based on kowtowing to a political ideology that doesn't care about the economy.
And they're wedded to a series of "solutions" that have been proven not to work.
And they ignore solutions that were proven to work in the past (during FDR's days, among others), because those solutions don't fit in with their ideology.
So, even if they accomplish their spurious goals, it won't help the middle class.
(The upper class, though, will make off like bandits -- as they've been doing ever since the days of Ronald Reagan.)
But read the article and see for yourself. It's not very long.
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Why the Democratic Party Sucks
If you want to know why the Democratic Party sucks give a listen to this week's This American Life episode: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/417/this-party-sucks
The first part of the show is about some Michigan Tea Partiers and how quickly they are co-opted by the Republicans and turned into GOPocrits. It's amusing and worth a listen.
The last twenty minutes is a discussion with Paul Begala, Clinton's political advisor about why the Democrats suck. In short, they're wusses and they always have an excuse to not press their advantage when they get the chance. It'll make you want to tear your hair out.
But like always say, I hate the Republicans for who they are. I hate the Democrats for who they refuse to be.
The first part of the show is about some Michigan Tea Partiers and how quickly they are co-opted by the Republicans and turned into GOPocrits. It's amusing and worth a listen.
The last twenty minutes is a discussion with Paul Begala, Clinton's political advisor about why the Democrats suck. In short, they're wusses and they always have an excuse to not press their advantage when they get the chance. It'll make you want to tear your hair out.
But like always say, I hate the Republicans for who they are. I hate the Democrats for who they refuse to be.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
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