Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day 27 Good news from the courts and some tough decisions

Springtime in the Badger state when the snow melts and all the accumulated muck is brought to the light of day.  The muck in this case being the illegal maneuvering of the G.O.P. in its efforts to pull a end-around through the Wisconsin legal system.  Why are they risking their careers to destroy the lives of all but a overly-prosperous few ?  It's not like they get to keep the money for themselves.  Well I suppose they will get some of it eventually.  There are always 'speaking fee's' for private audiences of corporate chaos-mongers (yup Voivod reference) who having raked in millions or possibly even billions in ill gotten and undeserved gains, will throw a $10k bone (speaking fee same thing) to their former lackey for all that was done for the over-prosperous.  Does the former politico's feel they are receiving their just reward for services rendered or do they feel like a clown putting on there final sad performance for the bosses?

How can the right wing justify broad sweeping cuts to a $15 dollar an hour state employee who performs a needed function in society while simultaneously criticizing those who would "tax the rich" claiming that the millionaires cant afford any more unfair taxation? 

Are we the majority of Wisconsin (and American) citizens so gullible that we can live with this obvious double standard?  If taxes on the billionaires is 'penalizing the successful unfairly' how is it any different when applied to a family getting by on $45k a year?

How can someone deem it 'fair and balanced' to use a phrase at random, to cause the suffering of millions of families to aid a select few?  If someone has to suffer to get us through tough economic times shouldn't it be the over-privileged and over-prosperous few, who have the resources to save the over 300 million working American souls around them?

How did we get suckered into this, and why did we buy it in the first place at election time?  Because we are accustomed to what is normally for us Americans a relatively peaceful and prosperous life.  We stopped paying attention to issues.  We let the politicians lull us into thinking that our votes don't count.

One vote will never matter.
Someone else will take care of it.
I don't have time for politics.

These are the commonly heard statements that repeated often enough, became the basis for us to dig our own graves.  Now that your livelihoods are immediately threatened, do you wish you had paid attention?  Do you wish that you had voted?  Do you wish that you took a half hour or an hour out of your week to study the issue's and understand what is going on?

Wisconsin will win this battle and regain our state and we will balance the budget and put our collective house in order.  And hopefully we will remember the lesson this time that if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

Maybe we will learn not to base our choice of candidates on 30 second sound bites comprised of nothing but obviously false statements and emotional rhetoric.  Our future is in our hands and once we remake Wisconsin into the great state that she once was, will we have learned our lesson and pay attention to the events that change and shape our lives/  For all of our sake's I deeply hope so.  I know I'll never fall asleep at the wheel again.  Hopefully you wont either because if you do (and I"m still alive) I am not going to go through this hell again.  I love Wisconsin and America but we need to grow up, listen up and act up to protect ourselves from greed and tyranny.

Wow what a rant I just went on.  Probably due to the intense physical/emotional hell that I'm living with now.  I'm surprised that I can even write a (nearly) complete sentence anymore.  Heck I'm actually surprised I can still walk three blocks to the Capitol every morning.  I bet that will change soon though.  Oh boy I cant wait to be pushed around in a wheel-chair.  This just keeps getting better and better.  But at the end of the day, the Badger State, Wisconsin, is worth every bit of it.

On Wisconsin!    FORWARD!!!!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so impressed by your passion. I am a public school teacher in Verona and I appreciate your efforts to bring some sanity to the way our government responds to the people, not just those that voted, but to all the people of the state of Wisconsin. Be good to yourself and I hope the tide turns soon. Peace,
Doug McFarlane

Anonymous said...

Stay safe I will pray for you :)

A.N. Maus said...

You're completely right about voter apathy. I have to be honest and say I didn't vote in the last mid-terms, though I've done so in the past. I will NEVER miss another opportunity to vote again.

Hang in there Matt. Remember you have people thinking of you and sending positive thoughts and energy your way.

glenn_uk said...

What you are doing is extremely courageous, but you should not pay the ultimate price. Ghandi never actually starved himself to death, but he did make powerful statements during his several hunger strikes.

Heard of your action on the Mike Malloy show.

The wheels of politics grind slow, despite a week being a long time in politics. A week is much, much longer on hunger strike. A year... impossibly so, and it might take a year or two to get these thugs out of office. That's longer than you can wait.

Make your statement, but don't make it your final one. I salute your bravery, you need to live to fight on another occasion - please. You are a brave, compassionate, noble soul, and the world needs people like yourself alive in it. Our lives are terribly short as it is.

Serg said...

Listening to you on Mike Malloy's Show, love you, man! Thank you for standing up to the fascists.

Solidarity!

4earth said...

Hi Matt - I really enjoyed your interview with Mike Malloy just now. You are a very brave man and all our thoughts from the Malloy chat go with you. I know you are determined and that I cannot dissuade you from your course, but please stay safe. We are all out here with you!

Unknown said...

Matt, I'm so impressed that you are putting yourself at risk like this. I think with Judge Sumi slapping down the GOP like she did and the way the recalls are going - and especially with the blow stricken to Prosser's race...I think the forces of good are winning enough skirmishes along the way that it is not necessary for you to make the ultimate sacrifice like this...however, I respect you whatever you do.

Jason Barr said...

Matt, you are a true hero. Keep up the good fight. Stay well – stay alive. Yours is an experience unlike any other and I hope to see it become a memory you cherish for the rest of your long, happy life.

Thank you for your commitment and resolve. Thank you for your reporting, perspective and insight. Thank you for your sense of humor. Thank you for the Voivod reference.

Peace…

On Wisconsin! FORWARD!!!!

Anonymous said...

want a big mac

Anonymous said...

idiot

Anonymous said...

get a job and life...

Anonymous said...

go to work, pay taxes, quit being a freeloader

Anonymous said...

hungry?

Anonymous said...

freeloaders shouldn't eat...

Anonymous said...

you don't deserve a wheelchair.