Voting/Elections
Democracy vs. Autocracy
Democracy vs. Autocracy
What do these terms really mean?
Defined by Webster’s dictionary, democracy is “a government by the people, usually through elected representation,” compared to autocracy, “government by a single, absolute ruler.”
Citizens choose candidates to appear on ballots through caucuses and primaries in democracies; and are elected through free, fair, secure, and non-fraudulent elections, followed by a peaceful transfer of power. In an autocracy, those in power choose candidates, often with pre-determined outcomes, and may refuse to ...
A Lifeline in the Wake of Tragedy
If you think Social Security is just for when you get old....
Here's an ad to watch and share:
https://youtu.be/Lh6vXfZtErc?si=uzRjm3imIcQlJXw6
Do We Want a Government of Laws or Men?
We just celebrated Memorial Day honoring the sacrifice of so many Americans fighting Fascism in WWII. Fascism is a highly personalized authoritarian system. Why should people obey an authoritarian? Their power relies on expressions of loyalty. One approached medieval kings with bows and paeans of praise. They were raised on thrones so that they were literally higher then the supplicants approaching them. Any violation of these protocols suggested that an individual harbored disloyal ideas and had to be dealt with in a severe way. Law is what the authoritarian says it is. ...
“Liberal” is Good for America
“The two parties which divide the state, the party of Conservatism and that of Innovation, are very old and have disputed the possession of the world since it was made...” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
There has always been tension between “conservatives” and “liberals” in social and political affairs. This has been a constant theme of American history. This election year's rhetoric will again emphasize these ideological divides. But because of the fact-free nature of our political debates and advertising this will result in more name calling and fear ...
Vote No Wisconsin
Wisconsin voters will be asked two questions to amend (change) the constitution on their August ballot. These potential changes will impact both the process for distributing federal money, and who has the power to make those decisions. These large sweeping changes will impact a wide range of issues voters care about, from education to the environment to how quickly the government can respond to emergencies (like a public health crisis or a natural disaster). The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin knows that if these amendments are passed they will be harmful to the people ...
Everything is wrong…so elect me
Everything is going wrong. The economy is poor, the military is weak, the government is corrupt, elections are rigged, we’re being invaded, crime is rampant…a litany of doom and disaster has been pushed by those who would like us to react in fear.
It doesn’t have to reflect reality. In the U.S., crime is down, the economy is recovering from COVID and the years prior, our international alliances are recovering, but to aspiring autocrats, it doesn’t matter. Why? If we fear enough we may be willing to cast our vote for someone who appears strong and confident to save ...
Project 2025 is on the Ballot
The first Trump administration was chaotic, disorganized and included many inexperienced and incompetent appointees. Trump's own incompetence and erratic behavior prevented his administration from developing a coherent political agenda. He still managed to do a great deal of harm with exploding the deficit, federal judge appointments and further militarizing the southern border. But Trump's random tweets were not a governing agenda.
This time the billionaires behind the Republican party are not relying on Trump's non-existent leadership abilities to advance their ...
No Choice?
I’ll be 77 in a few months. Supported Democratic candidates my entire voting life. Over half a century.
An oft repeated phrase now stands out to me as I think about how politics have evolved in America over
so many years: “The lesser of two evils.”
Since the 1996 presidential election, after Bill Clinton had begun abandoning working Americans in favor
of Wall Street during his first term in the White House, I feel have been voting for the lesser of two evils
for the Oval Office. It has become painfully clear after almost 30 years of doing so, that voting for ...
Our Vote, Our Ballot Box
On Monday, May 13, at noon, several of us along with The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign met in front of City Hall. This type of event happened in five cities across the state: Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Eau Claire and Wausau. In Wausau, we were joined by Katrina Shankland!
May 13 the Wisconsin Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in the Priorities USA v. WEC case, which will decide the fate of ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin.
In 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court outlawed ballot drop boxes in Teigen v. WEC under the guise of “ballot harvesting.” ...