I was wrong!

[Yon_Yonson]

A few months ago I made a bet that when Herr Walker and his NEOCON henchmen passed the budget bill the Unions would be in the streets in mass. I lost and I was wrong because I am not seeing much of anything as far as protest. The last one I went to was Saturday's Devils Lake State Park where about 250 protesters showed up and I got to ‘flip Herr Walker off’.

As a non union self employed worker I have stood side by side with union folks since early February and been to almost all of the Madison protest. I have canvassed for recalls, volunteered for Kloppenburg, performed data entry for WISDEMS, lost track of how many letters/emails sent and I will continue to do that but I am expecting to see Unions in mass. Unions’ folks have the rank and file on their side and what speaks the loudest is anger expressed in mass like maybe a 100,000 people or so. The bill passed and I see no counter action happening, it’s like everybody stayed home except for a handful or so.

Is that all there is, is that all there is
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is

[ewagner]

1. Finite resources

We can only "spend" our political capital for so long...right now the best "investment" of that political capital is on the recall elections.

I wish I could have joined you in giving the Gov a "one-finger-salute".

[Yon_Yonson]

4. If the Senator Recall elections fail we can forget about recalling Herr Walker

Over the last 5 months in Wisconsin we have seen just how far the NEOCONS are willing to go to break the laws of the land. It all reflects badly on Herr Walker and his ‘brown shirts’ but the fact be they don’t give a shite about law but worst yet the citizens of Wisconsin. These people are an instrument of a policy of corporate greed that goes back to Robber Barons and when they secretly tried to dispose of FDR. They are going to rig the recall elections as sure as they rigged the Kloppenburg/prosser election because their history is a legalized ruthless one that has left broken families, destroyed communities and bodies in their wake.

I shall volunteer my time to the recall canvasses but when it comes time to man the picket line, when the shite will really hit the fan I shall be there as well.

[sybylla]

2. Recalls

We all knew Walker was going to get his way. Protesting helps you vent a little, but it doesn't change anything as much as working the recalls does.

I think that's where a lot of folks who had been to Madison to protest are working right now.

I know of several counties in my area with organizations working on five of the recall races. Phone banking from home or organizing fundraisers and carpools to canvass.

There's a lot to do if we're going to change the direction of the state. And a lot of people unemployed, underemployed or laid-off want to do something closer to home. Protesting in Madison has a lot more to compete with at the moment.

[murielm99]

3. Something else I hope you do there...

A lot of people who will need photos for voter IDs will have a hard time getting them. Some of the license facilities are open on a limited basis. Some people have no transportation.

I hope someone can organize carpools to get these people out to get photos taken and IDs processed.

[sybylla]

5. Free ID's are supposedly available starting now.

No one needs them until next year, but we are already spreading the word for the recalls about the free ID's and how to get one. Problem is, a free ID still isn't free. You have to have a certified copy of your birth certificate to get one.

I'm sure there will be a push, exactly as you are describing, as we work through the changed election process. I'm crossing my fingers that the DOJ will step in and take these bullshit, disenfranchising laws down.

[murielm99]

6. Good.

Maybe the people in Wisconsin understand that this has to be a long-term commitment. It takes time to build a movement. Protests should continue, and then things like using the courts, recalling republicans and voting them out of office. Wisconsin has a proud history, and I hope most of you understand that. This will take time. Even when you get rid of these teabaggers, the damage will have to be undone by responsible legislators.

I hope most of you are in it for the long haul. Those of us on the outside will help in ways that we can.

[sybylla]

7. Recalls are expensive. Outsiders can help with cash.

Trust us. We've got the rest covered.

:evilgrin:

[midnight]

8. K&R