General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow Wisconsin has changed my life in 2011.
I love my state. I always have. I have been proud to come form a place with such a rich history of Socialist movements, union and labor pride, and to be able to call a politician like Russ Feingold my representative. The mid-term elections broke my spirit and my heart. We lost a progressive voice, gained a worthless suit in his place and an evil monster at the helm of our state. I was devastated and wanted to just stop caring at all about politics. I gave up.
And then it happened.
Walker held up a photo of President Ronald Reagan, who had famously fired striking air-traffic controllers, and said his plan to sweep away decades of protections for state public employees in a stop-gap budget bill represented "our time to change the course of history."
The budget-repair bill, which would strip most collective-bargaining rights from 175,000 public-sector workers while imposing immediate benefits concessions, went public four days later. Walker, a Republican, called for passage in the GOP-controlled Legislature within a week.
Read more: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_3c7f9cd2-4274-11e0-8f25-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1i8tpUt8g
And the people of Wisconsin came together. Teachers, firefighters, business owners, Republicans, Democrats. We stood in the cold and snow and shouted at the top of our lungs that we wouldn't take it. For weeks. And the country and the world stood with us. Proudly.
The GOP tried to push through legislation illegally, our Democratic State Senators, after trying to reason with the unreasonable, fought for us and stood by us by heading to Illinois, leaving the Senate one member shy of the 20 senators required to vote on budget-related bills. Assembly Republicans began procedures to move the bill to a vote on February 22 while Democrats submitted dozens of amendments and conducted speeches. At 1:00 a.m. on February 25, following sixty hours of debate, the final amendments had been defeated and the Republican leadership of the Wisconsin State Assembly cut off debate as well as the public hearing and moved quickly to pass the budget repair bill in a sudden vote. The vote was 51 in favor and 17 opposed, with 28 representatives not voting. The final vote took place without warning, and the time allowed for voting was so short that fewer than half of the Democratic representatives were able to vote; many reportedly pushed the voting button as hard as possible but it did not register.
They went on to get their legislation passed, we had a mess of a Supreme Court race that exposed serious issues with the handling of our ballots accross the state, especially here in my home of Waukesha County. But even on the tails of that, we Democrats stood up and together. We worked our asses off at the recount for weeks on end, challenging everything and forcing the County and municipalities to get their shit together. We formed committees and are observing every election with our own eyes.
And we recalled Senators. We didn't get the majority, but we gained 2 seats and lost none.
Our state Democratic convention was invigorating and inpiring. I was able to thank these fine Democrats for all of their hard work as well as hug, laugh and cry with them.
And now we're out again in the cold and snow recalling Walker, Kleefisch and even a Fitzgerald. It's not over for us and we have not lost. We're taking this great state back.
I know that the Occupy movement has been front and center since it began, as it should be... but don't forget Wisconsin. It has changed my life and breathed new air into my 'give-a-shit' meter. It has shown me that there are politicians who care. And they're Democrats. With spine. I am not alone when I say it and all of you who have stood with us has changed my life. So, as the year ends, DU... don't forget about us!
On Wisconsin.
CatholicEdHead
(9,740 posts)and I saw the chaos first hand even though I was not around Madison. What Walker, Fitzgeralds, et al did was amazing. But I also saw the coming together of the Democratic Party base with many moderate Wisconsinites to stand up against the radical neo-fudalism economic plan that Walker was pushing.
Keep it up, I was able to join in with a spontaneous union protest I came across on my time off from work and give Gov Walker a one finger salute. Keep up the good work and pressure in 2012.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Irishonly
(3,344 posts)Great post. You and the people of Wisconsin have shown the rest of the country what democracy in action looks like.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)And you the rest of the nation gave us strength.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)did not expect anything in return, we got a card that has gone into my collection of documents in this year of amazing things.
Fire Walk With Me
(38,893 posts)Rock on!
Logical
(22,457 posts)PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)They called us slobs, accused us of being 'thugs' and claimed we were 'outside agitators'. They're still making false claims accusing our recall volunteers of horrible things that are all lies. But they are doing that because they are desperate and they know in their hearts that this *is* a ground-swell movement of, by and for the people. And, as I always want to remind DU... it's Demorats who are leading the way. Our elected Democrats as well as our state and county parties. Whenever someone here wants to give up on the party, I always remind them to look in their own backyards... there are very likely some amazing ones that they can and should support to help build the future national leaders.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)onestepforward
(3,691 posts)The people of Wisconsin have been a true inspiration for me in 2011. Words cannot express the joy and hope that Wisconsin has given me.
Thank you, PeaceNikki, for your inspiring posts! I always enjoy reading them.
Together, we can do great things!
JimWis
(1,751 posts)undeterred
(34,658 posts)Dewey Finn
(176 posts)Thank you!
Viking12
(6,012 posts):hugs:
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... but the horror from the Capitol awoke me from my slumber.
Thanks for your story.
malaise
(268,930 posts)Wisconsin restored my faith in the citizenry of the planet.
I love you all
Solidarity Forever!!!
Happy New Year PeaceNikki!! Go Cheeseheads!!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I'm very proud of my Wisconsin brothers and sisters!
Remember Me
(1,532 posts)played an absolutely pivotal part in the whole scenario of the Occupy Movement. It's all one of a piece, and Wisconsin came on the scene with incredible muscle, verve, boldness, panache, competence, and resilience to show the way.
And congratulations on the fine work getting Walker out of there. I'm impressed. The world is!!
WillyT
(72,631 posts):kick:
eridani
(51,907 posts)Also the regular news updates.
Skittles
(153,150 posts)of all my GI brat travels, Wisconsin was my favorite
Paka
(2,760 posts)MH1
(17,600 posts)PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)We marched in the cold and snow last Feb for her 61st birthday.
drynberg
(1,648 posts)Thanks so much, you sons and daughters of Wisconsin! Standing up for the common person and showing us that it ain't easy, but it can be done is...priceless.
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)I have that pic in my office, with a small sticky note and and arrow, with the word "me". Some folks think I really HAVE found me, but I didn't. I always wore my red jacket. Really? Could I find myself? I think not, but no matter.
Because I was there, with you and all of my fighting Dem and union pals.
WE WILL SUCCEED!
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Solidarity!!
to another exciting, inspiring, challenging year!
THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO!!
madamesilverspurs
(15,800 posts)Inspiring, indeed. Wisconsin has given us all a remarkable template for energizing the "WE" in Yes WE Can. Thank you!
gulliver
(13,180 posts)Serial Mom
(2,256 posts)PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Generic Other
(28,979 posts)Thanks Wisconsin!