What happened in Wisconsin has moral implications for democracy.
'In the wee small hours of the morning, Wisconsin Republicans took unprecedented action to impede the governing ability of the incoming Executive Branch of state government under the new Evers Administration. The terrible irony is not lost on many observers, in that eight years ago Governor Scott Walker pleaded with then-Governor Jim Doyle to not take any action in a "lame duck" session before Walker took office.
Amidst all the protests, statements, and claims from both Democrats and Republicans, there resides a deeper, moral struggle that will have drastic moral implications for our democracy. In fact, it speaks to the very nature of why democracy exists, and what it means to everyone's lives. It is my assertion that Democrats and progressives need to make this moral vision a priority in everything they communicate from now on. Because while it is a moral vision of democracy most people accept, it is diminishing in public discourse thanks to decades of intentional conservative effort to cause its diminution. What is this "moral vision"?
Simply stated, democracy was founded on the idea of empathy - that we have a moral responsibility to care the lives of other as ourselves. Democracy exists as a metaphor for our values. How we express those values determines how our government functions (or doesn't function). Consider this - in order for democracy (and our government) to function, people must act towards each other with empathy. Our freedom comes with an enormous responsibility for the freedom of others. Elected officials have a moral responsibility to protect AND empower the people who elected them, by acting on our values of caring for others in a democracy. Democracy is a metaphorical system founded on "The Golden Rule" (which exists in some form in every religion on Earth) - that we should act towards others as we would have others act towards ourselves.
Sadly, what happened in Wisconsin over the recent 48 hours is a reflection of how absent the "Golden Rule" is in our our democracy and our society in general. The actions taken by State Senate and Assembly Republicans have contributed to the continuing slow death of the one of the great moral tenets of our democracy.'>>>
http://www.frame4future.com/single-post/2018/12/05/What-happened-in-Wisconsin-has-moral-implications-for-democracy?
Eyeball_Kid
(7,434 posts)idea that their legislative action is a direct assault on the Constitution, both state and federal, and should never withstand judicial scrutiny. This should be the high water mark of shameful and unpatriotic actions that any political party can take. But its only Wednesday.
violetpastille
(1,483 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)My recollection is that Walker & that RW Judge only survived recall by a dubious sliver of votes; one County Clerk's actions were almost laughably "irregular" & she pulled both of them through their recalls.
Now that SCOTUS is Koch packed, I see little hope for the judicial & inevitable Repug appeals process favoring the democratic rights of Wisconsin voters.
Recall is the only way to get these Repugs out in Wisconsin.IMHO
CrispyQ
(36,540 posts)SharonAnn
(13,780 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Hitleresque if you will. Hopefully their is some remedy legally. This is not right.
So much for the moral majority.
ZeroSomeBrains
(638 posts)They don't care if they steal a US House race in North Carolina or a Supreme Court seat or the highest office in the land. The ends justify the means. Wemust never forget and never forgive these individuals. Perhaps expropriation of their assets one day would be acceptable. It would be to me.
Gore1FL
(21,157 posts)Liberalhammer
(576 posts)Be they politicans or supporters.
They wantva war, let us finish it.
Perseus
(4,341 posts)Once Democrats take power, can it be reversed, can a lawsuit follow to reverse this travesty?
I can't believe this could be written on stone...
SharonAnn
(13,780 posts)Greybnk48
(10,177 posts)for Republican lawlessness since 2010 when Walker was scammed into office by the Teaparty in an illegitimate election.
What's going on here is NOT just a Wisconsin problem. It's a trial run for other States, just like everything else has been since that first election. Everyone better be outraged by this, not just us Wisconsinites.
mountain grammy
(26,658 posts)This was making national news, thank goodness, but now HW has taken it off the radar. Those Republicans always stick together.
ffr
(22,674 posts)They are just vindictive little assholes. Nobody should ever vote for a republican. Ever, on any level of government. We know they by their actions, not their words.
erronis
(15,382 posts)"Simply stated, democracy was founded on the idea of empathy - that we have a moral responsibility to care the lives of other as ourselves."
Empathy seems like a key element that is lacking in most of the right-wing/ultra-conservatives. Maybe empathy for money and power, and perhaps some empathy for each other. But none for "the others".
Perhaps liberals have too much empathy and that makes us less effective at ramming our agenda down the throat (or up the ass) of others. But I think we can find a good middle ground and just shove it to the RW nutjobs.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)DownriverDem
(6,232 posts)The Dems won the Governorship, Attorney General & Secretary of State. They are all women! The repubs here are trying to undo what we the people voted for. Bills regarding minimum wage/sick days (putting off when it starts), recreational pot (undo letting folks grow it at home), to strip campaign finance authority from the incoming secretary of state & keeping dark money, dark are examples of what they want to do. Our governor has his faults (Flint Michigan water problem), but he is somewhat moderate. He signed a bill to expand Medicaid. Snyder's term is ending will he stick it to us as he leaves? repubs are brain dead. Do they really think they will gain support by pissing folks off?
Response to elleng (Original post)
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BigmanPigman
(51,640 posts)a minority is by stealing, lying and cheating. Dems should be screaming this from the rooftops. Before 2020 make sure the public knows AND REMEMBERS everything these criminals have done at every level of govt. We must not "play nice" with these un-American criminals or they will continue this for decades longer than they already have. The white, old man voter is dying and the GOP can't hold on without dirty tricks and they do it in plain sight.
rickyhall
(4,889 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)And make attempting to do so a felony. The only think that will keep Republicans from trying these power grabs is the possibility of centuries in prison.
This was criminal.
EarnestPutz
(2,123 posts)...that I've been thinking about a lot lately. I keep coming back to empathy.
I reread The Federalist Papers every so often and the one that always stands out to me
is that the founding fathers wanted us to take care of one another- no benevolent
monarchy - just us.