Friday night in Oshkosh. What a hoot! The sirens went off for the second night in a row. I did something very stupid. Rather than going for cover in case of a tornado I drove out to Menominee Park. I wasn't alone. It looked busier than Sawdust Days. Cars parked everywhere, lawn chairs set up, and people lining the shore as far as I could see. Are we that starved for entertainment?
In the Northwestern today is an article titled "Security contractor: Marines abused him in Iraq". This is one more example of a sad state of affairs regarding our servicemen. The pay in Iraq is something like $7.50 per hour for U.S. paid soldiers. Private companies in Iraq, working with U.S. tax dollars, pay their security people $10,000 to $13,500 per week to do the same thing that our U.S. servicemen are doing for $7.50 per hour. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is more than a tiny bit of animosity between these two groups of Americans. Expect to see more of this as the quagmire continues. For more:
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=12349
This coming Tuesday would've been Robert M. LaFollette's 150th birthday. Fighting Bob is well worth learning about. He looked for problem areas and tried to legislate things that would improve the lot of the common man. When he pushed for Workman's Comp. he received death threats. Lumber barons such as Mr. Sawyer cringed at the thought of paying an employee to rest and mend following an accident on the job. Fighting Bob stuck to it and some of the first Workmen's Comp. checks in Wisconsin, (and possibly the planet), were received by workers in Oshkosh who got hurt in the lumber mills.
Fighting Bob graduated from the U.W. Madison in 1873. The speaker at his commencement was an Edward Ryan---who later became Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Some of Mr. Ryan's words were prophetic and profound:
"the question will arise, and arise in your day though perhaps not fully in mine: 'Which shall rule-wealth or man? Which shall lead-money or intellect? Who shall fill public stations-educated and patriotic free men, or the feudal serfs of corporate wealth?'"
It is unknown how much of this speech sunk into Bob LaFollette's head on the day of his graduation but it may have had a subliminal effect. His adult life was spent trying to keep corporations in line, allow them to make money, and refusing to let them turn their workers into slaves.
There is a big party scheduled this Tuesday in Madison for Fighting Bob. Nancy Unger who recently wrote a great book on him will be there. Her book can be found at the Oshkosh Public Library. Here are a few links to learn more:
http://www.fightingbob.com
http://www.fightingbob.com/article.cfm?articleID=341
http://www.themic921.com/lee.html
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Heroes/FightingBobLaFollette.html
http://www.madison.com/post/blogs/micprog/index.php?ntid=42480
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Democracy in Action
The Wisconsin State Democratic Convention is being held in Oshkosh this weekend. While they are in the Convention Center Saturday, a counter Convention of sorts will be happening in Riverside Park. You could say that there will be a lot of liberals inside and outside the convention. Yes. Liberals! They will proudly tell you that. There will be considerable agreement among the Democrats and the Greens. Many Democrats will take in the activities outside. There will be friendly sparring and heated disagreements too.
How did we get to this point in 2005?
This is a simple primer and it may me 'old hat' for some of you. For the rest...here goes.
Enter Fighting Bob. Robert M. LaFollette, a Wisconsin boy, became a County D.A., later Governor of Wisconsin, and later one of the most influential Senators in U.S. history. He did all this as a Republican. He was a capitalist with a conscience. He pushed for a Workmen's Comp. law here which 49 other states later copied. That later led to the nation's first Unemployment Insurance which even later led to what we now know as Social Security.
Fighting Bob was not so gently nudged from the Republican Party about a century ago. Corporate interests basically took the party over and there was no room for a "people's advocate". Fighting Bob finished his career as a Wisconsin "Progressive", ran for president and lost. His ideas are alive and flourishing 80yrs. after his death.
The corporate takeover of the Republican Party was fairly complete by 1910. Progressives supported Democrats in the 1930's (FDR). Democrat John F. Kennedy became President in 1960. The Corporate Republican Party decided at that time to take a different tact. They began giving big bucks to both Republicans and Democrats. That way they could attempt to control both parties and never lose.
At this time in 2005 Corporate interests control the Republican Party 100%, (as they have for 100 years), and they control over 70% of the Democratic Party.
This sets the stage for what is happening in Oshkosh this weekend.
-Republicans, as a party of the people, ended over a century ago. The G.O.P. means nothing to the common person.
-Democrats are sincere and for the common good, but corporate interests are playing havoc with the good sincere people in the party.
-Greens, Progressives, and many former Republicans are keenly aware of the crippling effect of those corporate interests and will be at Riverside Park Saturday afternoon.
Come and join the fray this weekend. It will be entertaining and informative.
Courage.
How did we get to this point in 2005?
This is a simple primer and it may me 'old hat' for some of you. For the rest...here goes.
Enter Fighting Bob. Robert M. LaFollette, a Wisconsin boy, became a County D.A., later Governor of Wisconsin, and later one of the most influential Senators in U.S. history. He did all this as a Republican. He was a capitalist with a conscience. He pushed for a Workmen's Comp. law here which 49 other states later copied. That later led to the nation's first Unemployment Insurance which even later led to what we now know as Social Security.
Fighting Bob was not so gently nudged from the Republican Party about a century ago. Corporate interests basically took the party over and there was no room for a "people's advocate". Fighting Bob finished his career as a Wisconsin "Progressive", ran for president and lost. His ideas are alive and flourishing 80yrs. after his death.
The corporate takeover of the Republican Party was fairly complete by 1910. Progressives supported Democrats in the 1930's (FDR). Democrat John F. Kennedy became President in 1960. The Corporate Republican Party decided at that time to take a different tact. They began giving big bucks to both Republicans and Democrats. That way they could attempt to control both parties and never lose.
At this time in 2005 Corporate interests control the Republican Party 100%, (as they have for 100 years), and they control over 70% of the Democratic Party.
This sets the stage for what is happening in Oshkosh this weekend.
-Republicans, as a party of the people, ended over a century ago. The G.O.P. means nothing to the common person.
-Democrats are sincere and for the common good, but corporate interests are playing havoc with the good sincere people in the party.
-Greens, Progressives, and many former Republicans are keenly aware of the crippling effect of those corporate interests and will be at Riverside Park Saturday afternoon.
Come and join the fray this weekend. It will be entertaining and informative.
Courage.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Millie Does it Again
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.
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.
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?
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