Stand with Wisconsin's working people

[Omaha Steve]

Take action here: http://action.workingamerica.org/c/575/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1478

CEOs and their corporations spent more than $1 billion nationally last fall to elect politicians who would work for them. Now those politicians are saying "thank you" by trying to enact an all-out assault on middle-class families. But this week, Wisconsin has shown us how powerful it is when working people fight back.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker thought he could cut the pay and trample the rights of more than 150,000 state workers and not face any consequences. Well, he was wrong. Tuesday, 13,000 people went to the state capitol to protest Gov. Walker's plan, and to tell their state legislators to oppose it. Dozens spent the night in sleeping bags in the Capitol Rotunda and over 50,000 arrived to protest on Wednesday.



Stand with the workers in Wisconsin in their struggle to be heard over the CEOs.

Then, get ready to put up the same fight in your state, because Gov. Walker isn't the only one who owes payback to the CEOs who got him elected. Governors and state legislatures around the country are threatening to pass similar laws that would drive down wages, weaken workplace protections and cut services middle-class families depend on.

Wisconsin has shown us that when working people join together and fight back, we can make headlines and influence politicians-even without billions in corporate money. Stand with Wisconsin's workers.

In solidarity,

Working America, AFL-CIO

[GSLevel9]

1. off topic...

but I HATE it when people refer to Union Workers as Working America. Does that mean that everyone outside of a Union doesn't work? Silly. And btw, I AM in a Union.

[madmax]

4. Let's fry that fish later - for now let's kick some ass. :)

[GSLevel9]

7. Agreed. But it must be done logically.

First. Walker has the right to do this, he ran on it as part of his platform last year and he won the election. His teabaggin' supporters are sitting at home eating popcorn hoping for Nat'l Guard troops beating the protestors.

So... the protests need to be loud enough to give Republican politicians enough pressure that Walker loses the support for his plans within his own party.

If Republicans are deaf to the protestors then Walker gets his way and he must be replaced by a Governor who will reinstate what is taken away. Elections are important. Bring out more people next time. In 2012 elect more Dems to state office to put pressure on Walker. Remember... the worst Governor (or POTUS) can't get much done without support from the State House (or Congress).

[madmax]

9. Are there no Teabaggers or 'normal' Republicans

in WI that realize their ass is in this thing, too. Or, are they the let me cut off my nose to spite my face type.

When it's your pocket the hand of government wants to dip into - all bets are off.

From my armchair command post in NC I'm seeing a lot of protesters in WI. A little spark happening in Ohio - hope this catches on fire.

[RKP5637]

2. Recommend!!! n/t

[grasswire]

3. a poem for public protests

The Low Road

What can they do
to you? Whatever they want.
They can set you up, they can
bust you, they can break
your fingers, they can
burn your brain with electricity,
blur you with drugs till you
can t walk, can’t remember, they can
take your child, wall up
your lover. They can do anything
you can’t blame them
from doing. How can you stop
them? Alone, you can fight,
you can refuse, you can
take what revenge you can
but they roll over you.

But two people fighting
back to back can cut through
a mob, a snake-dancing file
can break a cordon, an army
can meet an army.

Two people can keep each other
sane, can give support, conviction,
love, massage, hope, sex.
Three people are a delegation,
a committee, a wedge. With four
you can play bridge and start
an organisation. With six
you can rent a whole house,
eat pie for dinner with no
seconds, and hold a fund raising party.
A dozen make a demonstration.
A hundred fill a hall.
A thousand have solidarity and your own newsletter;
ten thousand, power and your own paper;
a hundred thousand, your own media;
ten million, your own country.

It goes on one at a time,
it starts when you care
to act, it starts when you do
it again after they said no,
it starts when you say We
and know who you mean, and each
day you mean one more.


--Marge Piercy

[madmax]

5. If you can't participate in person or phone bank

maybe you're like me.

If can spare a few bucks. Here's how:

STRIKE FUND

Public Worker ActionFund
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
6333 W. Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53213

[TBF]

6. Solidarity K&R nt

[Better Believe It]

8. K & R

[jwirr]

10. Last election we voted on keeping the school board from firing teachers

in our district. The proposal came from the school kids themselves. This has been heating up for quite a while and is not centered in their WI bill. The unions are there - the students are there - the Packers are there. Who next will step up to the plate? Parents?