What Now, Wisconsin? - TheProgressive

[WillyT]

What Now, Wisconsin?
By Ruth Conniff - TheProgressive
April 12, 2011


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But for the Wisconsin revolution to realize its promise we have to get more than a slight lessening of the massive blows Walker has planned for the state. Somehow we have to harness this spontaneous energy and channel it into a renewed labor movement, a renewed progressive politics.

This was a leaderless struggle from the beginning. As one AFSCME rank- and-file protester told me in the Capitol building "The Teamsters called to ask, 'How is the mobilization going?' This is not a mobilization. It's a popular uprising!" Union leadership was caught flat-footed. The Democrats in the legislature were blind-sided. Still, they hurried to join the rank and file.

The view from the top is discouraging. Union membership has been in precipitous decline for three decades, and nationally unions have focused on supporting a Democratic Party that doesn't support them on key issues like trade.

We have a President who generated tremendous grassroots enthusiasm, when he ran a seemingly progressive campaign, bragging about reaching an agreement with rightwing Republicans for "the largest annual spending cut in our history." Obama has negotiated a budget deal that gives hundreds of billions in tax cuts to corporations--including the Bush tax cuts he ran against-- accompanied by brutal cuts for Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps.

These are exactly the kinds of measures we are fighting in Wisconsin.

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Entire piece: http://progressive.org/rc041211.html

:kick:

[daa]

1. Yep I have been saying this all along, here come the defenders nt

[PeaceNikki]

2. Meh on that author. We're not in a "lull"

Um... we have 8 recalls happening - 2 filed, one with a very promising Dem candidate. The Budget Repair Bill is tied up in court for weeks, at best.

We didn't have all of our eggs in this Supreme Court race. It was a near impossibility to take the seat if a sitting SC judge who was polling 30 points up just 8 weeks earlier. Kloppenburg was a virtual unknown liberal going up against a sitting conservative judge in a state who overwhelmingly went "red" 5 months earlier. We knew this was nearly impossible.

We're still protesting, rallying, showing up at public hearings, recalling and fighting. It's not over.

[WillyT]

3. Hey Peace... Maybe I Read The Article Wrong, Or...

maybe the title was unintentionally misleading, but I took it as a call for Wisconsin's fight to go national, and for our NATIONAL allies (Labor Leaders/Democratic Party) to pick up the battle flag.

:shrug:

BTW - You guys are doing great work!

Did you see this: http://www.orchidforchange.com/parties/waukeshadems.com/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/1343504

:shrug:

:hi:

[PeaceNikki]

4. Yeah, I have mixed feelings on bringing the national party into it.

I think we're kicking ass and taking names and bringing the national party in could hurt that. I think the Labor leaders is a good idea, and I've seen that. Jimmy Hoffa Jr has been here. I don't trust the national Democrats in this. It would make it about them... and it's so much more.

Thanks, I've been so very proud of my state. :)

Yeah, I saw that and was involved in a lengthy discussion of it. It's all kinds of f'ed up, no doubt. Certainly interesting days in WI for liberal political junkies like us!

[WillyT]

5. I Love WI...

Was up in Hayward (Sawyer County) July of 2010 for mom's 80th B-Day and family reunion.

Still have yet to catch a legal Musky after decades of family reunions in WI though, LOL!!!

Lots of Badger graduates in the family too!

:hi:

[PeaceNikki]

6. I don't know squat about fish or fishing...

which is sacrilege, I know, given the number of lakes/rivers here and its general part of our society. I also cannot bowl for shit despite having grown up with a family friend who was a professional bowler with a VERY Polish name who owns an ally. I do enjoy a good fish fry, though (though not recently because I am on a weight-loss journey)!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

7. Wisco loves you

but Bucky's pissed