yep...that's dope

new waterdeep

the new waterdeep record just might be my favorite of their last few. definitely worth checking out. it's odd to follow a band for as many years as i've followed waterdeep. especially an independent band. sure, i long for the "old sound" like anyone who loves a band does at times, but the spirit of the music hasn't changed. there is still this great, earthy quality to it that will always speak to me.

waterdeep.com

this is pretty much amazing

decency?

I was recently turned on to an excellent op-ed piece by UW history professor Bill Cronon. His conclusion is that the current controversy in Wisconsin is "not only about bargaining rights or the pension payments of public employees. It is about transparency and openness. It is about neighborliness, decency and mutual respect."

I think Mr. Cronon nails it, I would highly encourage you to check out his piece. Find it here.

Rather interestingly his article has prompted a controversy of its own. How could it not? You can tell from this photo that Bill Cronon is a dangerous person. Wink. Apparently the Republican Party of Wisconsin has asked for all of Mr. Cronon's e-mail correspondence. Since Mr. Cronon is a public employee they're technically allowed to do this based on Wisconsin's open records law. Still, with this request coming from the chair of the Republican Party of Wisconsin it would seem they're doing this in an attempt to intimidate, perhaps even silence a dissenting voice. You can follow Mr. Cronon's thorough treatment of this issue on his blog, here. Fascinating stuff.

why do i care?

I’ve been having trouble falling asleep for weeks now. Many nights I lay awake thinking about the current controversy in Wisconsin. Last night I started asking myself the question, “why do I care?”

I was at the Capitol again last weekend. I hope it doesn’t embarrass anyone to hear that I teared up a bit. It was a pretty moving scene. While driving home I pondered the same question keeping me up at night, “why do I care?”

So, why do I care? Something about this current controversy has stirred me. Amongst other things, these are a few of my biggest motivators.

Justice

I’ve always had what my friend John describes as “justice issues.” As with many things, the good comes with the bad. What can I say? I have a hard time remaining passive when something offends my sense of right and wrong. This bill (and much of the general budget) offends that sense. I don’t see the justice in taking away the opportunity for workers to have a voice at the bargaining table to discuss things like benefits and working conditions. I don’t see the justice in giving Governor Walker the power to circumvent law and the legislative process to do whatever he wants with Medicaid. I don’t see the justice in giving the Governor the power to sell public assets without so much as a bidding process. I don't see the justice in slashing programs that benefit our state's poorest and most vulnerable.

Education

I’m of the mind that strong public education is essential to the future of our country. If we’re going to remain competitive with the world’s emerging nations education will play a huge part. You’re going to have a hard time convincing me that our teachers are overpaid, under-worked, and too highly valued. Our schools are our future. It’s that simple to me. John F. Kennedy said, “Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing.” I would happily change his plumber analogy to something like a doctor, lawyer or football player. Cutting over a billion dollars in education. Does that seem like a good idea to anyone? The saddest thing is that it will be our state's poorest and least privileged schools that will feel these cuts most acutely. There's that pesky sense of right and wrong again.

No Compromise

One of the most consistently disappointing things about this entire controversy has been Governor Walker’s willful disregard of compromise and negotiation. I know this style of leadership resonates with some, but it simply doesn’t with me. In my mind a good leader will give clear parameters and then work to build consensus within those parameters. When do you get everything you want without having to compromise? I’m not naive enough to think that everyone will agree, but compromise has to be a part of the equation.

Governor Walker has thrown our state into chaos and caused significant and lasting damage. He has created a needless rivalry between private and public sector workers, pitting worker against worker, friend against friend, even family member against family member. Sadly, this controversy has stirred up acrimony and conflict that could last decades.

anti teacher? really?

Perhaps it’s only because I come from a family of professional educators, but I have never in my life imagined people could be so down on teachers. While at the Capitol on Saturday I was amazed to see dozens of Tea Party signs calling teachers “greedy” and “selfish,” and accusing them of having no “skin in the game.”

There was one particular Tea Party protestor that caught my eye and gave me pause. This guy was carrying a very large sign on which was drawn a crying baby and the words, “stop leaching, start teaching.” Apparently this didn’t get the message across clearly enough. There was a perimeter of police officers who were surrounding the Tea Party protestors, essentially forming a picket line. At one point I saw this guy run the length of the picket line behind the police officers carrying his sign and rubbing his eyes in a mock crying motion. In addition to it being surreally hilarious to see a grown man do such a thing, it was disturbing.

In the comments section of one conservative website I’ve been reading a commenter wrote. “Teachers do s--t, they work 180 days out of 365, and their students can't find America on a world map.” I heard Rush Limbaugh describe the Union workers of Wisconsin as “bottom feeding freeloaders,” and part of the “taking class.” Governor Walker described them as the "haves." Public servant or bottom feeder?

I want to believe there has been some sort of mistake and people don’t actually mean what they’re saying. I want to say, “wait, let me get this straight, you think teachers are overpaid, too highly valued, and underworked?”

I actually hesitate to write a blog defending public school teachers, because I don’t know where to start. To be sure there are problems with education in America. I don’t think anyone disputes that, teachers included. I also don’t think anyone would dispute the notion that there are lousy teachers, just as there are lousy lawyers, doctors, and football players. Still, I can’t for a second go along with the misguided notion that Wisconsin’s teachers are a bunch of greedy hacks, or are to blame for our current fiscal state. Anger at teachers is anger misplaced.

Anyone who believes that teachers don’t work hard and aren’t worthy of our support needs to befriend a teacher. I think you’ll find that most teachers carry a heavy weight on their shoulders. You’ll learn about the late night grading sessions and infuriating encounters with lazy students and even lazier parents. You’ll learn about their love and concern for their students, a passion that rivals any doctor, lawyer, or football player.

PS:

There is an especially large amount of anger directed towards teachers because they closed schools for days. I understand that people disagree on this issue. I think it’s important for us to understand that from the teacher’s perspective desperate times call for desperate measures. Again, anger at teachers is anger misplaced. Governor Walker could have ended this whole thing days ago with a willingness to compromise.

star power

Meet the GOP's Newest Rising Star

While reading the above article describing Governor Walker as the new “rising star” in the GOP I couldn't help but wonder if this is exactly what Scott Walker wanted. Let’s be honest, every politician has a distinct desire for power and influence. Politicians are ambitious people. This isn’t altogether a bad thing, but it is what it is. We shouldn't be naive. What Scott Walker has done places him on the national stage, which is every politician’s dream. We’re talking name recognition, fundraising support, and encouragement from national media figures.

And then I listened to this…

In this recording Walker thinks he is talking to uber-wealthy oil tycoon David Koch. I hope every Wisconsinite will stop to ask, why, during this crisis, is Governor Walker taking phone calls from a New York oil tycoon who contributed to his campaign. During the conversation Walker admits they thought about planting "trouble makers" in the protest crowds. He also brags about the many national news programs he’s been on. Repeatedly he boasts that he’s not the type of guy who will negotiate or budge. To add insult to injury he stands by as the caller describes the opposition as "democrat bastards."

Toward the end of the second segment Walker talks about having dinner with his cabinet just before introducing his controversial bill. He held up a picture of Ronald Reagan and told his cabinet that this was their moment to make history, just like when Reagan fired the air traffic controllers. That's right, he actually held up a picture. I’m not surprised, but am a little bit scared to learn that our current Governor is privately casting a historical mold for himself. You have to wonder whose interest he has at heart, Wisconsin’s or his own.

I would encourage every Wisconsinite, especially those who are in support of Governor Walker, to listen to this recording and decide for yourself.