Must-Read from TPM: Wisconsin resident's letter about humiliating treatment during visit to Capitol

[highplainsdem]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/03/lockdown_2.php

LockDown
Josh Marshall | March 3, 2011, 12:32AM

TPM Reader NL reports in from Madison ...


-snip-

For 16 years, as a citizen of Wisconsin, I have been welcome in our state capitol building. As a university professor, I have testified at hearings; as a constituent, I have met with my elected representatives; as a citizen, I have taken my family to gaze with awe at the rotunda ceiling and learn about our state's history. My parter and I even decided to hold our wedding ceremony in the capitol building, testimony to the respect we felt for the traditions, institutions, and freedoms of our state.

But today when I went to the capitol to visit my representative, Janis Ringhand, and discuss my concerns about the governor's proposed budget and its effects on phosphorus runoff into lakes, I was treated like a common criminal.

Instead of walking freely through the capitol building, I was subjected to the myriad humiliations of a woman visiting her husband in federal prison. I was forced to empty my pockets of every dime, expose all my belongings to the scrutiny of a line of officers, even take off my coat so that I could be security-wanded by an officer. I could not walk through the building unless I was accompanied by both a staffer and a police officer, every single step of the way to my representative's office. I was told that I would not be allowed to use the restroom without a police officer in attendence. I had to pass inspection before at least 30 officers, lined up both outside and inside the King Street entrance.

How much time did this humiliating process waste? At least 45 minutes of my time. At least 30 minutes of the staffer's time. Untold hours of the police officer's time. How much money did it waste? I have no idea, but surely quite a bit.

-snip-

[Indydem]

1. Wow.

I had no idea that the capital was that OPEN before.

In Indiana, passing through a security checkpoint and being subject to a wanding is pretty much the norm anywhere you go for a government building.

Hell, you have to pass through security to go to small claims court!

Obviously the escort is a bit much, but if memory serves me correctly you have to sign in with your intentions in the Indiana state house,and it's been that way for at least 16 or 17 years.

[Poboy]

2. Recommend

[highplainsdem]

4. Thanks!

[Poboy]

6. You're welcome.

[myrna minx]

3. This is *not* how it's done in Madison. The Capitol has *always* been the people's space.

This will not go over well.

[QC]

5. Can we call it fascism yet?

Any chance the tragically-misnamed Justice Department might take some time off from tormenting Donald Siegelman and Bradley Manning to weigh on what's happening in Wisconsin and elsewhere?

[highplainsdem]

7. kick

[QC]

8. Kick!