Millie is probably the most amazing person I have ever met in Oshkosh. She is petite, her eyes sparkle, and she is feisty as Hell. She became a vegetarian as a young adult...somewhere around 1935. She lived in Milwaukee in the 1960's and took part in countless protests and marches. She was acquainted with Father Groppi who organized many of those calls for social justice.
She has been in Oshkosh a long time and 'lives' with her books. A voracious reader, she is constantly giving away magazines with the admonishment: "Here. Read this and pass it on". Good ones like Wisconsin's own -The Progressive. She even came out to protest the coming Iraq war down at the sundial until the Dr. told her to slow it down a little. This past winter she bought and delivered a 10lb bag of ice-melt to the Winnebago Peace and Justice center. Not bad for a young lady of 88!
Millie did it again. She wrote another carefully crafted letter to the Northwestern and they were nice enough to print it. It is titled: Freedom, Justice and Danger Under Bush. It will be online at the Northwestern site this week. You can see it here... http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/news/opinion/stories/opinion_21284605.shtml
If you miss it there, it was in the Sunday, June 5,2005 edition.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Reality Checkarena
Reality Checkarena will appear from time to time, but first a comment on this weekend in Oshkosh.
War protesters are back on Fridays at the sundial in Peace Park. There is a slight shift in attitudes. Folks are beginning to realize that our country's (mis)leaders are flatly refusing to give any indication of an end to the quagmire in Iraq. The rummage sale at Peace Park was in full swing when I drove by this morning. Farmer's Market opened today. A freebie at the Leach Amphitheater grand opening. The monthly Art Walk downtown tonight. The Art Walk is a great way to spend a Saturday evening. I think the owners of other businesses are missing the mark by not being open during the Art Walk, which brings a lot of foot traffic into the area.
Now for the Reality Checkarena...
Are you a conservative? 'Mall-Wart'-the place to buy cheap plastic junk, is openly conservative. The owners make it no secret that they support Republican candidates with their wallets and their endorsements. Every time a big box 'Mall-Wart' opens the County Dept. of Social Services needs more money to help pay the Dr., Clinic, and hospital costs of 'Mall-Wart' employees who lack proper insurance.
The Walton family preyed on the taxpayers of Wisconsin to the tune of $2.7-Million last year. The Waltons and friends are staunch conservatives.
This is the reality of being conservative in Wisconsin.
Are you a conservative? Are you possibly something else?
War protesters are back on Fridays at the sundial in Peace Park. There is a slight shift in attitudes. Folks are beginning to realize that our country's (mis)leaders are flatly refusing to give any indication of an end to the quagmire in Iraq. The rummage sale at Peace Park was in full swing when I drove by this morning. Farmer's Market opened today. A freebie at the Leach Amphitheater grand opening. The monthly Art Walk downtown tonight. The Art Walk is a great way to spend a Saturday evening. I think the owners of other businesses are missing the mark by not being open during the Art Walk, which brings a lot of foot traffic into the area.
Now for the Reality Checkarena...
Are you a conservative? 'Mall-Wart'-the place to buy cheap plastic junk, is openly conservative. The owners make it no secret that they support Republican candidates with their wallets and their endorsements. Every time a big box 'Mall-Wart' opens the County Dept. of Social Services needs more money to help pay the Dr., Clinic, and hospital costs of 'Mall-Wart' employees who lack proper insurance.
The Walton family preyed on the taxpayers of Wisconsin to the tune of $2.7-Million last year. The Waltons and friends are staunch conservatives.
This is the reality of being conservative in Wisconsin.
Are you a conservative? Are you possibly something else?
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Minimum Wage / Maximum Disaster
Dear Governor. This is not compromise. This is horse-apples, as my dad would say.
It is a first in my memory. A raise in the minimum wage is usually allowed to pass by the party of the ultra-rich ONLY if a substantial tax break is put into the bill for those 'ultra-rich'. This time it didn't happen this way. The ultra-rich convinced the Guv to prevent any locality from raising their minimum wage higher than a statewide minimum for all eternity. This in return for a paltry increase in the minimum wage.
The Republicans apparently think that the cost of rent is the same in Milwaukee, Madison, and Oshkosh, as it is in Ubet, Luck, and Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. (Yea...Race to your favorite map site and look those up!) They are complaining that it would be too hard to keep track of the minimum wage if it was different in various parts of the state. They must think that folks are brain dead. If it is that hard to keep track of wages maybe we could have uniform prices on bread, milk, and gasoline statewide too. Haven't they heard of computers? Wages could change once a day---like auto fuel.
Guv Doyle was wrong to let the Republicans suck him into this morass. Minimum wage increases should stand alone EVERY time they come to a vote.
Points to remember...
-Personal taxes are extremely high in this state.
-Corporate taxes are extremely low.
-Raising the minimum wage is not going to send businesses to Illinois.
Further...
Aren't the Republicans the party of 'local control'? Why would they be against localities determining their own minimum wage?
It is my sincere hope that Peg Lautenschlager can throw a wrench in this thing and put a stop to the nonsense.
We need a raise in the minimum wage.
Any locality should be able to raise theirs.
NO MORE tax cuts for the rich.
In the words of William T. Evjue: "Let the people have the truth, and the freedom to discuss it, and all will go well".
It is a first in my memory. A raise in the minimum wage is usually allowed to pass by the party of the ultra-rich ONLY if a substantial tax break is put into the bill for those 'ultra-rich'. This time it didn't happen this way. The ultra-rich convinced the Guv to prevent any locality from raising their minimum wage higher than a statewide minimum for all eternity. This in return for a paltry increase in the minimum wage.
The Republicans apparently think that the cost of rent is the same in Milwaukee, Madison, and Oshkosh, as it is in Ubet, Luck, and Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. (Yea...Race to your favorite map site and look those up!) They are complaining that it would be too hard to keep track of the minimum wage if it was different in various parts of the state. They must think that folks are brain dead. If it is that hard to keep track of wages maybe we could have uniform prices on bread, milk, and gasoline statewide too. Haven't they heard of computers? Wages could change once a day---like auto fuel.
Guv Doyle was wrong to let the Republicans suck him into this morass. Minimum wage increases should stand alone EVERY time they come to a vote.
Points to remember...
-Personal taxes are extremely high in this state.
-Corporate taxes are extremely low.
-Raising the minimum wage is not going to send businesses to Illinois.
Further...
Aren't the Republicans the party of 'local control'? Why would they be against localities determining their own minimum wage?
It is my sincere hope that Peg Lautenschlager can throw a wrench in this thing and put a stop to the nonsense.
We need a raise in the minimum wage.
Any locality should be able to raise theirs.
NO MORE tax cuts for the rich.
In the words of William T. Evjue: "Let the people have the truth, and the freedom to discuss it, and all will go well".
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Leach
The Leach Amphitheater is open. I am hesitant to make remarks but I have a few questions/comments.
1) It is my understanding that this piece of land was destined to be used for low-income housing.
2) The 800lb. Gorilla is in the form of a diesel locomotive---and people are deathly afraid to talk about gorillas.
3) Waterfest background. Thursday was picked for several reasons, one being that major acts might be in Chicago, Milwaukee, or the Twin-cities on the weekend, and might be convinced to come to Oshkosh on a Thursday a bit cheaper to fill out their schedule. Well known national acts from days gone by (i.e. past their prime) often filled the bill. This made for an good package years ago. My question: Is this formula still as viable as it was 15yrs. ago?
I wish Waterfest the best. The ambiance of the boat traffic will be sorely missed.
__________________________________________________________
What about Deep Throat? I defer to Matt Rothchild:
http://www.progressive.org/webex05/wx060105.php
__________________________________________________________
Kudos to City Council member Mr. Bain for his 5th Tuesday Forum. I admire what he is doing.
1) It is my understanding that this piece of land was destined to be used for low-income housing.
2) The 800lb. Gorilla is in the form of a diesel locomotive---and people are deathly afraid to talk about gorillas.
3) Waterfest background. Thursday was picked for several reasons, one being that major acts might be in Chicago, Milwaukee, or the Twin-cities on the weekend, and might be convinced to come to Oshkosh on a Thursday a bit cheaper to fill out their schedule. Well known national acts from days gone by (i.e. past their prime) often filled the bill. This made for an good package years ago. My question: Is this formula still as viable as it was 15yrs. ago?
I wish Waterfest the best. The ambiance of the boat traffic will be sorely missed.
__________________________________________________________
What about Deep Throat? I defer to Matt Rothchild:
http://www.progressive.org/webex05/wx060105.php
__________________________________________________________
Kudos to City Council member Mr. Bain for his 5th Tuesday Forum. I admire what he is doing.
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