As I'm sure you all have heard, Wisconsin's new governor has proposed a bill which would strip public workers of their unions' rights to collective bargaining and increase employee health care premiums and paycuts. Excluded from this bill are police officers, firefighters and state troopers who, Republicans concede, would need to 'help' maintain order after it is passed (hmm...should that tell you something right there?). These are also groups that endorsed Walker during his election campaign. I must say, though, that the firefighters ARE NOT AT ALL pleased about the removal of unions. They have come out in full force in complete support of STOPPING THIS BILL. **See top right youtube clip.**
So I, along with thousands of other Wisconsinites, and concerned citizens across our country, have had a very intense week. This bill that was not even introduced until last Friday, was slated to be signed and voted upon with a week. The bill is also not up for discussion by our governor nor by his Republican supporters who now havethe majority of the seats in the state Senate.
A radical removal of laborers' rights with absolutely no allowance for discussion in compromise has resulted in protest. And rightly so. This is going to effect a lot of really hardworking people who do not make a lot of money to begin with and it's not just educators like me, but nurses, prison guards, electricians, daycare providers, DNR workers...
If you have not been following what is going in Wisconsin this week, please do so! States like Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, and Nevada are paying close attention to what is going on here because Republicans are proposing similar measures.
I don't want to turn my blog into a great political lament, but I'm really worried. I fear having my voice silenced by people who don't know or care about what it's like to just get by. People who think that Mark and I are shirking some sort of duty to "pay up like the others" working in the private sector (I think we paid those dues when we lost our business). I fear that this great state that I was born and raised in and take such pride living in, is going to become a place where we can't afford to stay. And that breaks my heart.
So, that being said, I also have felt moments of hope and pride this week as lots of people like us have come out in HUGE numbers in support of workers' rights and unions. It truly has been an incredible thing to witness and partake in and it brings me such joy to see people across the state who are unable to drive to Madison to protest, participating in other forms of protest.
People of all ages are coming out in support of public employees, including this little boy who was quite pleased that I wanted to take his picture. Certain school districts across the state have closed on various days since last Wednesday. My district was closed for 2 days.
And guess what? VOTING IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT!
TV news crews surround the Capitol.
Friday afternoon people gathered to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak.
My brother-in-law, Greg, is a phy ed teacher at West. My brother, John, teaches at UW Madison and he and his partner, Jim, would also be affected by this bill. We all will. It will further empower those who have the most power.
Greg, John and I smiling on the outside. Not really thrilled on the inside.
One of my favorites. This sign reads "Down with the Cheesehead Pharaoh of the Midwest!"
Onlookers climbed trees as the crowd gathered to hear Jesse Jackson.
Friday night
As I'm sure you all have heard, Wisconsin's new governor has proposed a bill which would strip public workers of their unions' rights to collective bargaining and increase employee health care premiums and paycuts. Excluded from this bill are police officers, firefighters and state troopers who, Republicans concede, would need to 'help' maintain order after it is passed (hmm...should that tell you something right there?). These are also groups that endorsed Walker during his election campaign. I must say, though, that the firefighters ARE NOT AT ALL pleased about the removal of unions. They have come out in full force in complete support of STOPPING THIS BILL. **See top right youtube clip.**
So I, along with thousands of other Wisconsinites, and concerned citizens across our country, have had a very intense week. This bill that was not even introduced until last Friday, was slated to be signed and voted upon with a week. The bill is also not up for discussion by our governor nor by his Republican supporters who now havethe majority of the seats in the state Senate.
A radical removal of laborers' rights with absolutely no allowance for discussion in compromise has resulted in protest. And rightly so. This is going to effect a lot of really hardworking people who do not make a lot of money to begin with and it's not just educators like me, but nurses, prison guards, electricians, daycare providers, DNR workers...
If you have not been following what is going in Wisconsin this week, please do so! States like Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Florida, and Nevada are paying close attention to what is going on here because Republicans are proposing similar measures.
I don't want to turn my blog into a great political lament, but I'm really worried. I fear having my voice silenced by people who don't know or care about what it's like to just get by. People who think that Mark and I are shirking some sort of duty to "pay up like the others" working in the private sector (I think we paid those dues when we lost our business). I fear that this great state that I was born and raised in and take such pride living in, is going to become a place where we can't afford to stay. And that breaks my heart.
So, that being said, I also have felt moments of hope and pride this week as lots of people like us have come out in HUGE numbers in support of workers' rights and unions. It truly has been an incredible thing to witness and partake in and it brings me such joy to see people across the state who are unable to drive to Madison to protest, participating in other forms of protest.
People of all ages are coming out in support of public employees, including this little boy who was quite pleased that I wanted to take his picture. Certain school districts across the state have closed on various days since last Wednesday. My district was closed for 2 days.
And guess what? VOTING IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT!
TV news crews surround the Capitol.
Friday afternoon people gathered to hear the Rev. Jesse Jackson speak.
My brother-in-law, Greg, is a phy ed teacher at West. My brother, John, teaches at UW Madison and he and his partner, Jim, would also be affected by this bill. We all will. It will further empower those who have the most power.
Greg, John and I smiling on the outside. Not really thrilled on the inside.
One of my favorites. This sign reads "Down with the Cheesehead Pharaoh of the Midwest!"
Onlookers climbed trees as the crowd gathered to hear Jesse Jackson.
Friday night