Fifty days of Wisconsin labor solidarity have changed my life

[PeaceNikki]

The compassion and commitment of those raising their voices at our Capitol have proved 10 times over that there are people who care about each other

Monday, April 4, marked the 50th day since protests started at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison over a bill that would gut public employees' collective bargaining rights. Fifty days of Wisconsinites standing up and making their voices heard. Through hearing testimony, through meetings with their elected officials, through letters and emails to the governor's office. Through protests, through where they chose to sleep, through signs, through chants. Through showing up and taking part. Through recall canvassing and through adding their signatures to recall petitions. Fifty days.

When the protests started, I didn't know enough about the bill to know what its impact would be. I just knew that I was opposed to the idea of a budget repair bill that substantially changed workers' rights being rammed through the Legislature in a week, which was the reported Republican plan. I thought that, at the very least, it was an issue that deserved more time for the public to gather information and participate in the debate. So I showed up at the Capitol to make sure my voice was heard. My dad showed up. My friends showed up. People who I never even knew were interested in politics showed up. And it became something a lot bigger than any of us.

On February 16, when I stood in the stairwell leading to the room in which the Joint Finance Committee was about to vote, I yelled with the crowd "The people united will never be defeated," and I knew that this was different than anything I'd seen before and, possibly, anything I'll ever see again. As that first week unfolded, I educated myself about the contents of the bill and found I didn't at all like what it contained. My motivations changed from merely procedural to substantive -- I wanted to stop that proposal in its tracks. I wanted compromise. I wanted our elected officials to sit at a table and talk.

MUCH more at link: http://www.isthmus.com/daily/article.php?article=33032

I didn't write this, but I know exactly how the author feels.

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. Kick

It's made me proud to be a Midwesterner, and proud to be - dare I say it? - an American. :patriot:

I love your modified patriot smiley by the way!

[malaise]

2. K & R

:applause: :yourock:

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. You guys did GOOD! You've sent a message that needed to be heard...Do NOT mess with the

American Workers! I can't wait to hear how the Teabaggers spin this one.

WTG, Wisconsin! Now, go have a beer! :toast: You deserve it! :toast::fistbump:

[jpgray]

4. As a Minnesotan, I hope it won't gall you to hear I've never felt more favorably toward our neighbor

:D Seriously, this was so inspiring and almost completely unexpected given the nearly silent kill other states have doled out to labor rights in our region. I really regret I couldn't be a larger part of the effort (especially considering you're right next freaking door), because you guys fight for all of us. If there's a sustained backlash against this rapacious reaction on the part of the GOP, WI deserves gobs of credit for kicking it off. Kudos!

[malaise]

5. Great post

And yes Wisconsin started the fight back and earned global coverage.
Wisconsin woke up Unions and workers across the globe.

[PeaceNikki]

6. TOTALLY GALLED, YOU FAVRE-LOVING VIKINGS FAN!!

Just kidding.... totally :loveya:, j!! :hug:

[jpgray]

7. Ya shore.

:hi: :loveya:

[malaise]

10. I backed Packers all the way

:hug:

[lunatica]

8. I love the dark clouds gathering over the Capital

It's a wonderful photo and that's what it should be named. Dark clouds gathering over the Capital when Scott Walker tried to break the unions in 2011.

[PeaceNikki]

9. :)

Yay!

[Scuba]

11. Great post, Nikki. Thanks.

[bigmonkey]

12. Most people care about one another - it's the norm.

The news reports the abnormal, the cruelty and selfishness. Here in the U.S. we're constantly bombarded with the message that "Human nature is bad". I see it as a secularized version of the doctrine of original sin. Even the left is suffering from it.

[Peacetrain]

13. It is easy to be in the parade with the sun shines

It is tough when the storm clouds roll in


Wisconsin is tough.. and they dig in.. they call you guys Badgers for a reason.

You make me proud to be a Mid Westerner./:yourock:

[snacker]

14. thanks...

that made me cry....so proud of my state, and (gotta say it) I LOVE Madison!!!