16 results for month: 08/2016
FIGHT RACISM WITH “WHITE PRIVILEGE”
“People with advantages are loath to believe that they just happen to be people with advantages.”
C. Wright Mills- Sociologist and author.
Racism is prevalent in our society. It has been a dominant theme in our history. It has shaped our public policy since colonial times. We all know the history of slavery, Jim Crow, the KKK, educational, employment, and housing discrimination. It was not just in the Deep
South. Even Duluth had a lynching. Northern cities have de facto segregated schools. Much of American history is a denial of justice and equality for minorities.
As a liberal, educated white person who has lived and worked with ...
FIGHTING BOB 2016
Please save the date: Saturday, September 17 for the 15th Annual Fighting Bob Fest.
The place is Breese Stevens Field, Madison, Wisconsin.
The date is Saturday, September 17.
Fighting Bob Fest is organized by The Progressive magazine, founded by Robert LaFollette.
He gave many speeches in large outdoor meetings throughout Wisconsin. He organized people to fight for the common good. You can continue this tradition by attending.
The day will be inspiring with: nationally recognized speakers, breakout sessions, networking, grassroots organizing, live music, good food, beer and lots of fun.
Featured speakers include Senator Tammy ...
WALK FOR WATER
You can walk for water on Saturday, September 17 with the first ever Central Wisconsin Water Walk organized by the Central Wisconsin Nature Foundation.
This ten-mile walk is to make us aware of our precious water supply and how we need to care for it.
The Central Wisconsin Nature Foundation is a group working with the town of Rome and the Wisconsin River Power Company to preserve Twin Lakes Nature Preserve. They have made a trail, built a little free library and plan to build a nature center on the property located off of Adams County Z.
The Central Wisconsin Nature Foundation is non-political. Preserving clean water is every one’s respon...
BUILDING LOCAL ECONOMIES AND COMMUNITY WEALTH
Henry George in his classic Progress and Poverty (published in 1879) said that all wealth resulted from the labor of the worker. The worker used his skill and creativity to transform natural resources into things to satisfy human needs and desires. This process was the basis of capital as well as all economic activity. Capital did not create jobs, workers did.
The current paradigm says economic growth, jobs, and prosperity are created from the top down. Give the super wealthy more and they will “invest” in the economy, jobs will be created, and everyone else will benefit. A rising tide lifts all boats. But it should be obvious that not all ...
WHAT UNIONS HAVE DONE FOR ALL WORKERS
WHAT UNIONS HAVE DONE FOR ALL WORKERS
By John Spiegelhoff
(Editor’s Note: John lost his life in a motorcycle accident in southwestern Minnesota. John was the Staff Representative for AFSCME Council 65. He also was the county chairman for Nobles County DFL. We re-print this article to remember John and to thank him for his dedicated work.)
Most of us who reside in Minnesota are pretty humble people. We do not like to brag or boast. When we take care of each other and do good things for one another, we do not make a big deal of it. It is just part of who we are.
The American Labor movement has been taking care of workers for over ...
STAND PROUD: A TRIBUTE TO JOHN SPIEGELHOFF
Many of us came to know John through his work representing employees. John was a fine person who cared about people being treated fairly and with respect. He lived his values. This showed in his commitment to both the union members he represented and the communities in which he worked and lived. All of us at MiddleWisconsin.org will miss John and want to thank his family for sharing him with us.
"Stand Proud" is union song, written by Paul Hambleton and performed by "The Great Schools Union Band" in 2005. The "GSUB" consists of Paul Hambleton, Mary Bell, Glenn Schmidt and Tom Ivey.
ABOLISH NOT MODERNIZE NUKES
The United States is the only country to ever use nuclear weapons. On August 6th and 9th we mark the 71st anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is not enough to just remember the tragic (and many believe unnecessary) loss of civilian lives from these events. We must work to abolish nuclear weapons.
The leadership of our country is still mired in the old Cold War mentality. They still believe nuclear weapons are necessary for national defense. They have not learned from the mistakes of 71 years of excessively militarized foreign policy.
Many countries still suffer from the legacy of this Cold War mentality. Current ...
WEALTH AND MONEY PART XVII: IT IS ALL SO UNNECESSARY
“The dark ages still reign over all humanity, and the depth and persistence of this domination are only now becoming clear. This Dark Ages prison has no steel bars, chains, or locks. Instead, it is locked by misorientation and built of misinformation. We are powerfully imprisoned in these Dark Ages simply by the terms in which we have been conditioned to think.” “Neither the great political or financial powers of the world nor the population in general realize that the engineering-chemical-electronic revolution now makes it possible to produce many more technical devices with ever less material. We can now take care of everybody at a higher ...
KEEP OUR GOVERNMENT OPEN
BY KATRINA SHANKLAND
Representative (D) Stevens Point
It’s been one year since Republican legislators brazenly attacked and diminished Wisconsin’s proud tradition of open and transparent government. While many Wisconsinites were making plans for cookouts and fireworks with friends and family to celebrate America’s independence, Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee were busy unanimously voting to gut our state’s open records law, restrict your freedom to access your government, and shield themselves from the very citizens who elect them.
Fortunately, the backlash to this proposal was swift and severe. Legislative Democrats, media ...
INSIDE LOOK AT DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
When asked to write an article about my recent experiences at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Philadelphia, I found myself stuck on how to approach the piece.
Should I write it like a diary of my reflections? Should I include my emotions/opinions? What did people want to know?
To find out, I asked my friends on Facebook what they would most like to know about this experience.
Q: Watching from home, the party was able to project an image of unity the longer the convention went on. Was that your impression as well?
A: In my experience, there was more unity as the convention progressed.
Sunday night, I left a show where people ...