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elleng

(130,126 posts)
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 07:14 PM Dec 2018

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?

23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What happened in Wisconsin has moral implications for democracy. (Original Post) elleng Dec 2018 OP
...as if Wisconsin Republicans have no Eyeball_Kid Dec 2018 #1
K & R violetpastille Dec 2018 #2
Wisconsin needs to do recall petitions then collective recall election for these Repugs asap. stuffmatters Dec 2018 #3
Rule #1: Never vote for candidates who have disdain for government. -nt CrispyQ Dec 2018 #4
Never, ever vote for a Republican. Not ever. They will cause damage and destruction for generations. SharonAnn Dec 2018 #12
This is Despicable colsohlibgal Dec 2018 #5
Power is all that matters to Republicans ZeroSomeBrains Dec 2018 #6
They must know they are dying, or they wouldn't be so eager to play scorched earth politics. nt Gore1FL Dec 2018 #7
Fuck WI Republicans Liberalhammer Dec 2018 #8
Question...Can this be reversed? Perseus Dec 2018 #9
Since the Republican legislature will still be in place, the court will probably need to act. SharonAnn Dec 2018 #14
The State of Wisconsin has been the prototype Greybnk48 Dec 2018 #10
Agree! mountain grammy Dec 2018 #15
Republicans have done the same when they lost the House ffr Dec 2018 #11
I like this: Simply stated, democracy was founded on the idea of empathy - that we have a moral erronis Dec 2018 #13
Lawsuits now! SHRED Dec 2018 #16
Michigan too DownriverDem Dec 2018 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author slumcamper Dec 2018 #18
The GOP knows the only way they can maintain power over the majority while being BigmanPigman Dec 2018 #19
Saw some Wisconsin Repug acting like a liberal government was the end of the world. rickyhall Dec 2018 #20
We need it written into state constitutions that this sort of crap can't be done after an election 47of74 Dec 2018 #21
K&R il_lilac Dec 2018 #22
You've put your finger squarely on an issue... EarnestPutz Dec 2018 #23

Eyeball_Kid

(7,410 posts)
1. ...as if Wisconsin Republicans have no
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 07:22 PM
Dec 2018

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 it’s only Wednesday.

stuffmatters

(2,574 posts)
3. Wisconsin needs to do recall petitions then collective recall election for these Repugs asap.
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 07:33 PM
Dec 2018

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

SharonAnn

(13,766 posts)
12. Never, ever vote for a Republican. Not ever. They will cause damage and destruction for generations.
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 09:11 PM
Dec 2018

colsohlibgal

(5,275 posts)
5. This is Despicable
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 08:08 PM
Dec 2018

Hitleresque if you will. Hopefully their is some remedy legally. This is not right.

So much for the moral majority.

ZeroSomeBrains

(638 posts)
6. Power is all that matters to Republicans
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 08:43 PM
Dec 2018

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.

 

Perseus

(4,341 posts)
9. Question...Can this be reversed?
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 08:46 PM
Dec 2018

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...

Greybnk48

(10,148 posts)
10. The State of Wisconsin has been the prototype
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 08:49 PM
Dec 2018

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

(26,568 posts)
15. Agree!
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 09:18 PM
Dec 2018

This was making national news, thank goodness, but now HW has taken it off the radar. Those Republicans always stick together.

ffr

(22,644 posts)
11. Republicans have done the same when they lost the House
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 08:55 PM
Dec 2018

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

(14,942 posts)
13. I like this: Simply stated, democracy was founded on the idea of empathy - that we have a moral
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 09:11 PM
Dec 2018

"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.

DownriverDem

(6,205 posts)
17. Michigan too
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 09:33 PM
Dec 2018

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)

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
19. The GOP knows the only way they can maintain power over the majority while being
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 09:44 PM
Dec 2018

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.

 

47of74

(18,470 posts)
21. We need it written into state constitutions that this sort of crap can't be done after an election
Wed Dec 5, 2018, 10:04 PM
Dec 2018

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.

EarnestPutz

(2,085 posts)
23. You've put your finger squarely on an issue...
Thu Dec 6, 2018, 12:10 AM
Dec 2018

...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.

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