The Middle Class Fights Back: Wisconsin and more

(related content at: On Unions, "Class Warfare" and "It's the Economy, Stupid" posts)

Those greedy, lazy teachers succubi (from 2/28/2011)

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Teachers vs. Wall Street 3/2011

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Contact Scott Walker directly : govgeneral@wisconsin.gov or (608) 266-1212\

On the Protests/Argument

• Sarah Palin Bombs In Wisconsin As Only 6,500 Attend Tea Party Rally, Politicus (April 16, 2011):

• "Forget being a presidential candidate, Sarah Palin isn’t even a decent headliner" 
• More on Sarah Palin in this separate blog entry
• MoJo, 3/1/2011: How will it keep going?

Polls, polls, polls

• Baacklash: Cops, firefighters turn on GOP in labor fight - POLITICO.com  (3/2011)
• Wisconsin Poll: Republican Enthusiasm Gap Vanishes in Wisconsin. Silver lining. 3/2011
• Daily Kos: Majority of early emails sent to Scott Walker were oppositional  ((3/2011)  

In Bed with the Corporatocracy

• The Republican governor's budget plan would open the state up to a corporate asset-grab not seen since robber baron capitalism (3/2011, Guardian)  
• A peek into Governor Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" reveals a shop of horrors that is just the opposite of actually repairing the budget. Among the items listed in the bill until Wednesday night were selloffs of state power generation facilities – in no-bid contracts notoriously prone to insider dealing. The 37 facilities he wants to sell off that produce heating and cooling at low cost to the state's universities and prisons. Walker's budget repair bill would have unloaded them at a low price, presumably to campaign contributors such as Koch Industries – and then stick the bill for producing this power at higher rates to Wisconsin taxpayers in perpetuity. (And this is all being sold as a "taxpayer relief" plan!) Invariably, this will make its way into new legislation once attention is diverted from the current controversy.

This is a Political not a Fiscal Issue

• Walker Emails show steps considered to punish Democrats (3/2011) 

Allies/Supporters of WI Union

• Catholic Bishops Back Wis. Union Protesters - Beliefnet News (3/2011)
• The Back Forty » Hey, GOP: How’s That Union-busting Thing Working Out for You?  (5/12/2011)

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(3/3/2011, Crisis in Dairyland: For Richer and Poorer)

Government/Public Employee Compensation

• Wisconsin public unions: Don't join the government to get rich | The Economist (2/2011)

Push Back: GOP overreaches on Family Planning, Workers' Rights

A phone call, A rally, A pizza, A donation.


Hi all, I'm away from home & internet access so I wil be very brief--I have been so transfixed by all of the events in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain. Things have been moving so fast lately. And the Wisconsin protest is extremely encouraging--it seems that the middle-class is finally finding its voice to push back against the big $$ interests that have been squeezing them/us for decades!

Here are some quick actions (Timing is KEY--some of these things are NOW):

The LONGEVITY of the Wisconsin protests is key: LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE HELPING FEED THE PROTESTERS:
donate a pizza, some bagels or fresh produce at one of the businesses below! (many protesters are taking time off and incurring personal expenses--let's support them!)

• Ian's Pizza 608 257-9248;
• Michelangelo's coffee/pastries 608 251-5299;
• Gotham Bagels 608 467-7642
• Willy Street Co-op (608) 251-6776 http://bit.ly/goISmV
• "Straight to Your Door" Delivery Service: $3 off with coupon "KILLTHEBILL":

(And spread the word!! A little bit from everyone can go far!)

Boston Rally to support rights to Collective Bargaining and Wisconsin Workers

For a quick overview --From CNN money no less--on why unions are important to the middle class. (And here's a response to those who say "teachers already make too much")

RALLY on Tuesday: PLEASE ask your friends/family to attend!

If you want to do carpool--I can send out word of cars available etc

• STATE HOUSE/Boston
• 4-6PM Tuesday (TOMORROW)
• Bring the kids, bring friends, bring signs (not required!)!

Support the WI Dems who are standing up to GOP overreach

• -Donate to the 14 Democrats who are pushing back against Governor Walker! (may I suggest $14 for 14 senators!)--let's send the message to Democrats that when they stand up for us, we stand up for them! (and let's face it, $$$ is the only message the media and politicians seem to understand clearly)

Defunding Planned Parenthood (defunding Title X)

• GOP is waging culture war against women again. Last week the GOP House passed a bill to strip organizations like Planned Parenthood of their funding--NONE of which goes to abortion anyway, by the way (always prohibited by the Hyde Amendment.). It now goes to the Senate. That means calls to Scott Brown ARE VERY IMPORTANT. And a call to Lynch thanking him for voting against the bill would be nice too.
• -Urge Brown to vote no: do not defund Title X

Phones: Boston -- (617) 565-3170

Washington, DC -- (202) 224-4543

FAX: (202) 228-2646 (you can use services like FaxZero.com to send free faxes from the internet!)

• -Thank Lynch for voting no: 202-225-8273

-
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THESE ACTIONS: your 1 phone call, $5 donation can turn into $15 and 3 calls if you just get 2 friends to do the same!