I may be an alarmist here, but, really, isn't this alarming?
Michigan's Republican Governor Rick Snyder has enacted and acted upon "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions, authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the (governor appointed) emergency manager" because he thought a city wasn't doing well enough financially. Thus, the roles of duly elected officials in Benton Harbor, Michigan, have been taken over by government officials. (Eclectiblog, Detroit News). As a result, virtually all contracts, schools, services, etc., can be altered by governmental decree (by gubernatorial whim?). Where are we, 1980's Baghdad? 1950's USSR?
And it gets worse, according to Rick Ungar at Forbes, Scott Walker is planning to enact the same laws in Wisconsin. In May.
I'm sadly afraid it won't be too terribly long before Walker makes us erect statues of him on every street corner.
ADDENDUM: I just spoke (8 PM) with a state political reporter who said "for now at least, there's nothing being talked about publicly with respect to this." For now, at least.
In the comments to his article, Rick Ungar responded to my question about whether this is privatization for privatization's sake or a belief this is for "the common good,": "I think that legislation such as this is on the avenue to privatization and the removal of pesky regulations that interfere with large business – and those who pursue these policies believe they are effecting law for the common good. In this instance, I don’t think ignoring the elected will of the people in a local election is for the common good – but I think Gov. Walker would disagree with me." 10:23 AM, 4/17/11
4/18/11 Walker says it is "absolutely false."
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Some comments on the Sarah Palin "Tea-Party Rally" in Madison
First words out of her mouth, "What up, Madison, Wisconsin?!"
She also incorporated a "WTF?"
The rally was sponsored by the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity.
Tea Party supporters were outnumbered (CBS News).
"Thug" was only used once (that I heard).
Palin said union supporters "trash your capitol and vandalize business."
She also stated, "A pension is a promise that must be kept," and that Scott Walker believed that, too--obviously oblivious to Walker's budget that will reevaluate and possibly change the current defined (traditional) benefit plan to defined contribution--in essence, a 401K-like fund that could completely deplete. (WREA Newsletter) It appears Walker's budget bill also raises serious questions about the all-too-real possibility of him raiding an existing public worker pension fund, as well (WisconsinReporter.com), which, um, would be illegal.
Other than that, it was business as usual--boo Obama, boo unions, yay patriotism, etc.
Annoying?
You betcha.
Find Palin's entire speech on this page
She also incorporated a "WTF?"
The rally was sponsored by the Koch brothers' Americans for Prosperity.
Tea Party supporters were outnumbered (CBS News).
"Thug" was only used once (that I heard).
Palin said union supporters "trash your capitol and vandalize business."
She also stated, "A pension is a promise that must be kept," and that Scott Walker believed that, too--obviously oblivious to Walker's budget that will reevaluate and possibly change the current defined (traditional) benefit plan to defined contribution--in essence, a 401K-like fund that could completely deplete. (WREA Newsletter) It appears Walker's budget bill also raises serious questions about the all-too-real possibility of him raiding an existing public worker pension fund, as well (WisconsinReporter.com), which, um, would be illegal.
Other than that, it was business as usual--boo Obama, boo unions, yay patriotism, etc.
Annoying?
You betcha.
Find Palin's entire speech on this page
MisLeading Wisconsin meets the conservative Pundit Press
Pundit Press, a conservative blog covering local and national issues, asked me a few questions in a short interview and the results are published here.
Battle lost, but war remains
It's time to call off the troops on the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Prosser won. The "unsaved" ballots from Brookfield put him in the lead, and state canvassing has confirmed his victory with a 7,316 vote margin. (1) Although there should still be investigations into the seeming continued ineptitude of the Waukesha clerk who "forgot to hit save" and didn't annouce it until two days later, the race is done.
Because Kloppenburg lost by a 0.488% margin, her campaign can request a state-funded recount (0.5 % is the Wisconsin threshhold). (1) It would cost county coffers a total likely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (6) (the state summary of recount procedures can be found here). (2) Minnesota recounted its 2010 gubernatorial results. Democrat Mark Dayton's margin, at 0.42%, was "a larger unofficial margin than has ever been overturned in a modern-era recount, in any state." (3,4) Dayton's opponent, Republican Tom Emmer conceded after results confirmed a relatively unchanged margin. (7) (for thorough and insightful discussion about the insignificance of recount changes, check out Rob Ritchie in the Huffington Post here). (5)
But Kloppenburg's loss was not without gains. She was an aftertought in the primary, but yet state voters almost unseated a sitting state justice. And, hopefully, it will make Waukesha County's vote counts a bit more reliable, and believable, for goodness sakes, in future elections.
Figuratively, there will be many more battles. And don't think for a minute this single election has determined the way this war will end.
(1) Ballots are now totaled, JS Online, 4/16/11, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119938614.html
(2) Election Administration Manual for WI Municipal Clerks, State of Wisconsin, http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11826&locid=47
(3) 2010 Election Results, Mpls. Star Tribune, http://elections.startribune.com/returns/mgovsm.html, retrieved 4/16/11
(4) Editorial: ...lower recount threshhold, Mpls. Star Tribune, 11/15/10, http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/108257194.html, retrieved 4/16/11
(5) Contested Recalls Unlikely..., by Rob Ritchie, Huffington Post, posted 11/1/10 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-richie/contested-recounts-unlike_b_777299.html, retrieved, 4/16/11
(6) Potential recount would cost... Wisconsin Reporter.com, 4/14/11, http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/potential-recount-would-cost-local-governments-money-manpower retrieved, 4/16/11
(7) Mark Dayton declared winner, finally, MPRNews, 12/10/10, http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/12/08/emmer-recount-concession/ retrieved 4/16/11
Prosser won. The "unsaved" ballots from Brookfield put him in the lead, and state canvassing has confirmed his victory with a 7,316 vote margin. (1) Although there should still be investigations into the seeming continued ineptitude of the Waukesha clerk who "forgot to hit save" and didn't annouce it until two days later, the race is done.
Because Kloppenburg lost by a 0.488% margin, her campaign can request a state-funded recount (0.5 % is the Wisconsin threshhold). (1) It would cost county coffers a total likely in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (6) (the state summary of recount procedures can be found here). (2) Minnesota recounted its 2010 gubernatorial results. Democrat Mark Dayton's margin, at 0.42%, was "a larger unofficial margin than has ever been overturned in a modern-era recount, in any state." (3,4) Dayton's opponent, Republican Tom Emmer conceded after results confirmed a relatively unchanged margin. (7) (for thorough and insightful discussion about the insignificance of recount changes, check out Rob Ritchie in the Huffington Post here). (5)
But Kloppenburg's loss was not without gains. She was an aftertought in the primary, but yet state voters almost unseated a sitting state justice. And, hopefully, it will make Waukesha County's vote counts a bit more reliable, and believable, for goodness sakes, in future elections.
Figuratively, there will be many more battles. And don't think for a minute this single election has determined the way this war will end.
(1) Ballots are now totaled, JS Online, 4/16/11, http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/119938614.html
(2) Election Administration Manual for WI Municipal Clerks, State of Wisconsin, http://elections.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=11826&locid=47
(3) 2010 Election Results, Mpls. Star Tribune, http://elections.startribune.com/returns/mgovsm.html, retrieved 4/16/11
(4) Editorial: ...lower recount threshhold, Mpls. Star Tribune, 11/15/10, http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/108257194.html, retrieved 4/16/11
(5) Contested Recalls Unlikely..., by Rob Ritchie, Huffington Post, posted 11/1/10 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rob-richie/contested-recounts-unlike_b_777299.html, retrieved, 4/16/11
(6) Potential recount would cost... Wisconsin Reporter.com, 4/14/11, http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/potential-recount-would-cost-local-governments-money-manpower retrieved, 4/16/11
(7) Mark Dayton declared winner, finally, MPRNews, 12/10/10, http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/12/08/emmer-recount-concession/ retrieved 4/16/11
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Me so happy: Bizarro World heads to Washington
In Superman's Bizarro World, everything is topsy-turvy. Bad is good. Up is down. Indeed, the Bizarro code includes, in perfect Bizarro English, "Us do opposite of all Earthly things!" (1) It seems a lot like that in Wisconsin since Walker took over.
Today in Washington, Scott Walker shared the spotlight with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, both testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about “State and Municipal Debt: Tough Choices Ahead.” Shumlin played Superman to Walker's Bizarro.
Shumlin, a first-term democrat, took over Vermont, a state with severe fiscal problems, this January, creating austere budgets. (4) In a state with collective bargaining, Shumlin, as a Senator in 2009, worked with educator unions to achieve concessions, including, among other things, across the board salary cuts and freezes, as well as increased pension contributions. (2) He negotiated with the state employees union for significant concessions. (3) He came into office declaring that chastising educators and education would stop. (4) His speech today included, "I do not believe that those to blame for our current financial troubles are our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other state employees." (2) This normal world, it's not a perfect world (teachers discuss strikes, for example, which for Wisconsin public workers are illegal), but Shumlin notes, "...the current debate about state budgets is that the focus has been not on bringing people together to solve common problems, like we have done in Vermont, but on division and blame." (2) A reporter from Vermont related to me that working together is, indeed, pretty much the case. (4)
That is the normal world.
And then there is the Bizarro World.
First off, Walker's colleague, Republican Jim Sensenbrenner introduced Walker with what those in the normal world would consider an unflattering term, a "very polarizing figure." (5) Walker called his own policies "progressive" (5) (which in Bizarro World must mean "incredibly conservative"). He included the Bizarro gem, "Sometimes, bipartisanship is not so good. " (5) And he was grilled by committee members on everything from not mentioning collective bargaining in his campaign and union busting (both which he admitted during questioning, but at no other time), to the patronizing hire of Brian Deschane, the unqualified son of a bigtime donor. (5) And when I was watching the news, it appeared that Bizarro governor seemed to think the testimony was going swimmingly.
Us in Wisconsin no need to worry.
Me so happy.
Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introducing Scott Walker
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) asking about union busting
(1) Bizarro World entry, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarro_World
(2) Mr. Shumlin Goes To Washington, Shumlin website, http://governor.vermont.gov/blog-mister-shumlin-goes-to-washington
(3) Governor...Contract With State Employees Union, Vermont Official website, http://www.vermont.gov/portal/government/article.php?news=1485
(4) Interview with Vermont reporter, personal conversation, 4/14/11
(5) Walker proves a lightning rod..., by Craig Gilbert, JS Online, 4/14/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119838014.html
Today in Washington, Scott Walker shared the spotlight with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, both testifying before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about “State and Municipal Debt: Tough Choices Ahead.” Shumlin played Superman to Walker's Bizarro.
Shumlin, a first-term democrat, took over Vermont, a state with severe fiscal problems, this January, creating austere budgets. (4) In a state with collective bargaining, Shumlin, as a Senator in 2009, worked with educator unions to achieve concessions, including, among other things, across the board salary cuts and freezes, as well as increased pension contributions. (2) He negotiated with the state employees union for significant concessions. (3) He came into office declaring that chastising educators and education would stop. (4) His speech today included, "I do not believe that those to blame for our current financial troubles are our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other state employees." (2) This normal world, it's not a perfect world (teachers discuss strikes, for example, which for Wisconsin public workers are illegal), but Shumlin notes, "...the current debate about state budgets is that the focus has been not on bringing people together to solve common problems, like we have done in Vermont, but on division and blame." (2) A reporter from Vermont related to me that working together is, indeed, pretty much the case. (4)
That is the normal world.
And then there is the Bizarro World.
First off, Walker's colleague, Republican Jim Sensenbrenner introduced Walker with what those in the normal world would consider an unflattering term, a "very polarizing figure." (5) Walker called his own policies "progressive" (5) (which in Bizarro World must mean "incredibly conservative"). He included the Bizarro gem, "Sometimes, bipartisanship is not so good. " (5) And he was grilled by committee members on everything from not mentioning collective bargaining in his campaign and union busting (both which he admitted during questioning, but at no other time), to the patronizing hire of Brian Deschane, the unqualified son of a bigtime donor. (5) And when I was watching the news, it appeared that Bizarro governor seemed to think the testimony was going swimmingly.
Us in Wisconsin no need to worry.
Me so happy.
Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introducing Scott Walker
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) asking about union busting
(1) Bizarro World entry, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizarro_World
(2) Mr. Shumlin Goes To Washington, Shumlin website, http://governor.vermont.gov/blog-mister-shumlin-goes-to-washington
(3) Governor...Contract With State Employees Union, Vermont Official website, http://www.vermont.gov/portal/government/article.php?news=1485
(4) Interview with Vermont reporter, personal conversation, 4/14/11
(5) Walker proves a lightning rod..., by Craig Gilbert, JS Online, 4/14/11, http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/119838014.html
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
A Teacher's Tale
A rare departure from my usual posts: divisiveness since Scott Walker
Today I saw a parent from afar who I remember from when I had his daughter, Ashley, in my class a few years back. Today he watched with pride--as did I--as his daughter excelled in a school district competition. Ashley was quiet, a bit insecure, but she was bright, polite and helpful, and was truly an enjoyable kid. I tried to give her tasks to build her confidence, I gave her special projects to keep her challenged and excited. Her parents seemed happy with her experience in our classroom.
About six weeks ago, my teaching colleagues and I walked through our community to share our views on Governor Walker's budget bill. Some carried signs, most of the garden variety, "Honk, if you like teachers," things like that.
A few people did honk. Not a lot, but in this heavily-Republicanized county, it was still reassuring. More shook their heads in disgust as they went by. A couple passers-by gave us the finger, community members I recognized, and with whom I had exchanged greetings on occasion.
And I can picture Ashley's dad, hanging out his car window, veins popping from his neck, his voice angry as he hurled insults defaming my profession, my school, my personal character. And then he turned his car around and did it again.
Not long afterward, his wife came by, with Ashley in the passenger seat. Ashley's mom honked, and continued honking, with her left hand out the window, furiously pumping a thumbs-down.
And all I could think of was, "Hey, remember me? I taught your daughter. I cared for her, built her spirit, nourished her intellect. I was proud--still am--to say I was her teacher."
Well, that's not all I thought.
I thought how truly sorry I felt for that poor, little girl.
Today I saw a parent from afar who I remember from when I had his daughter, Ashley, in my class a few years back. Today he watched with pride--as did I--as his daughter excelled in a school district competition. Ashley was quiet, a bit insecure, but she was bright, polite and helpful, and was truly an enjoyable kid. I tried to give her tasks to build her confidence, I gave her special projects to keep her challenged and excited. Her parents seemed happy with her experience in our classroom.
About six weeks ago, my teaching colleagues and I walked through our community to share our views on Governor Walker's budget bill. Some carried signs, most of the garden variety, "Honk, if you like teachers," things like that.
A few people did honk. Not a lot, but in this heavily-Republicanized county, it was still reassuring. More shook their heads in disgust as they went by. A couple passers-by gave us the finger, community members I recognized, and with whom I had exchanged greetings on occasion.
And I can picture Ashley's dad, hanging out his car window, veins popping from his neck, his voice angry as he hurled insults defaming my profession, my school, my personal character. And then he turned his car around and did it again.
Not long afterward, his wife came by, with Ashley in the passenger seat. Ashley's mom honked, and continued honking, with her left hand out the window, furiously pumping a thumbs-down.
And all I could think of was, "Hey, remember me? I taught your daughter. I cared for her, built her spirit, nourished her intellect. I was proud--still am--to say I was her teacher."
Well, that's not all I thought.
I thought how truly sorry I felt for that poor, little girl.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Nuggets from the News
A smattering of stuff today from our favorite governor...
From Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel: "Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday that he’d ordered that a son of a prominent supporter be demoted because there were “more qualified” candidates available."
Really, Governor? Your crack staff couldn't figure out that a guy with no college degree and no experience wasn't less qualified than a guy with a doctoral degree and eight years experience (who didn't even get an interview, for goodness sakes)? (1)
Daniel Bice (again) of the JS: "Who knew that Gov. Scott Walker had headed out on a national tour to help raise money for Republican senators facing possible recalls?" Bice cites an interview with NewsMax.com (cited in an earlier posting here) that Walker was in Florida drumming up money for legislators in Wisconsin. (2,3)
You're kidding, right? The governor who wailed about protestors "almost all from out of state" (and proven false (4) ) is now not doing his job by traveling to seek money from out-of-state people to help his pals? Amazing.
And one more from the Journal Sentinel (Patrick Marley): "Milwaukee's ordinance requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave would be voided under a bill Republicans in the Assembly sent to Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday." (5)
As we've heard, ad nauseam, when the majority vote fits Walker's agenda, it's "Hey, the people voted for it." This ordinance passed with 69% of the vote. That's 69%! And, since Walker doesn't want it, he yet again--just like collective bargaining, just like open meetings--simply has his legislature change the laws to accommodate his agenda. Did I already say, "Amazing?"
A little less than 266 days until the recall petition can be submitted to the GAB, Governor.
But, then, who's counting?
(1) "Walker Responds..., JS Online, 4/12/11
(2) "Report: Walker Launches national fundraising tour, JS Online, 4/12/11
(3) "Walker: Unions Won't Steal Prosser Election Win," NewsMax.com, 4/10/11
(4) Politifact, JS Online
(5) "Court of Appeals reinstates...," JS Online, 3/24/11
From Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel: "Gov. Scott Walker said Tuesday that he’d ordered that a son of a prominent supporter be demoted because there were “more qualified” candidates available."
Really, Governor? Your crack staff couldn't figure out that a guy with no college degree and no experience wasn't less qualified than a guy with a doctoral degree and eight years experience (who didn't even get an interview, for goodness sakes)? (1)
Daniel Bice (again) of the JS: "Who knew that Gov. Scott Walker had headed out on a national tour to help raise money for Republican senators facing possible recalls?" Bice cites an interview with NewsMax.com (cited in an earlier posting here) that Walker was in Florida drumming up money for legislators in Wisconsin. (2,3)
You're kidding, right? The governor who wailed about protestors "almost all from out of state" (and proven false (4) ) is now not doing his job by traveling to seek money from out-of-state people to help his pals? Amazing.
And one more from the Journal Sentinel (Patrick Marley): "Milwaukee's ordinance requiring businesses to provide paid sick leave would be voided under a bill Republicans in the Assembly sent to Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday." (5)
As we've heard, ad nauseam, when the majority vote fits Walker's agenda, it's "Hey, the people voted for it." This ordinance passed with 69% of the vote. That's 69%! And, since Walker doesn't want it, he yet again--just like collective bargaining, just like open meetings--simply has his legislature change the laws to accommodate his agenda. Did I already say, "Amazing?"
A little less than 266 days until the recall petition can be submitted to the GAB, Governor.
But, then, who's counting?
(1) "Walker Responds..., JS Online, 4/12/11
(2) "Report: Walker Launches national fundraising tour, JS Online, 4/12/11
(3) "Walker: Unions Won't Steal Prosser Election Win," NewsMax.com, 4/10/11
(4) Politifact, JS Online
(5) "Court of Appeals reinstates...," JS Online, 3/24/11
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