middle wi news - september

8/4/2019 Middle WI News - September

1/13

Information Technology SolutionsMiddle WisconsinNews

A FACT-DRIVEN VOICE FOR

MIDDLE WISCONSIN VIEWS

FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE

FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS

Se p te mb e r 1 6 , 2

Concert for Voters . . . . . .1

Working Wisconsin . . . . . .3

Hmong Perspectives . . . . 4

Grassroots Wisconsin . . 5

The Essay Page . . . . . . . .7

Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

The Literary Page. . . . . . . 9

Beyond Wisconsin . . . . . 11

Challenging the Myth . . .12

2011Middle Wisconsin

IN THIS ISSUE:

w w w .M id d le W isco n s in .co m

And you know those fund raisers people are always having for victims of cancer orother medical disasters to pay for their bills? Those need to stop. Its not right. Not

because you care about your neighbors, but because a medical emergency shouldnot conclude with an economic emergency. Its time for universal healthcare. JonErpenbach paused for the crowd gathered around the stage at the 400 Block ofWausau. He spoke on a beautiful, sunny Sunday to a group gathered for music, foofriends, and voter registration.

A twelve hour concert may sound ambitious, and it was, especially since this is thefirst concert coordinated by Middle Wisconsin. Despite the stretch of time, the scheule was packed with talent and a variety of entertainment. Starting with Bart Hobsodressed as Mark Twain on the banjo, to the Sidarity Singalong straight from Madison, to Jimeon the cello with Sloppy Joe, and ending with

the rambunctious rock of Doug Kroening and thRailers, eight musical acts played with distinflair and passion, and all agreed to do so forfree. The crowd ebbed and flowed throughouthe day, enjoying the entertainment, singingdancing, hanging out with friends, kids actities, and eating sno cones and eggrolls. Estimates of total attendees range from 600 up to 1000, although it is difficult say just how many people filtered through.

The line-up of speakers also helped draw a crowd, starting with our favorite politicalactive farmer, Tony Schultz, who drew upon the wisdom of Eugene Debs to focus o

his message of unity. Dave Obey, a political legend in Wausau, spoke to the im-portance of the parties working together again, something that Middle Wisconsin hasought as an objective from the beginning. After Erpenbachs rousing speech, DonSeidel spoke of her background and appreciation for the social systems that allowedher to get an education and be successful. I found Pat Kreitlow to be an incrediblypersonable politician with the ability to articulate the values of the community andpoint to clear policy changes.

In addition to food vendors, several information tents were available. Middle Wisconsin made thirty new contacts for our email list and sold out of many sizes of t-shirts. Several unions were represented and the Democratic Party tent was busy w

(Continued on next page)

Editorial Committee:Dave Svetlik, Jim Mattes,

A Concert for Voters in ReviewBy Mandy Wright

Notice

Individuals consideringrunning for MarathonCounty Board must file

by December 1st.


2/13

Concert for Voters Continued . . .

visitors all day. Most critical to the entire event though, were the tents that handeout information about the new voter ID laws and registered voters. We empow-ered 39 people to speak their voice in our democratic process and cast a vote inthe next election.

Most important to the success of an event like this was the crowd. It was a funday, reported Jen Powers who rode her bike down to the event, volunteered, anstayed long past her shift. Hula-hoopers found open space to get their groove onwhile children enjoyed the AFSCME childcare providers generosity with crafts,games, and face painting. I estimate that one hundred people came together to

volunteer everything from time spent organizing the vendors and permits, talent aa musician or childcare provider, money from an organization-although most camin the form of $20 given by individuals, and donating bottled drinks. The truegrassroots nature of our group was apparent in every aspect of this event. Mid-dle Wisconsin began as a means to make a difference in our own community. Ware well on our way folks, thank you for all your help.

Middle Wisconsin NewsSe p te mb e r 1 6 , 2 0

Pa g e

HAPPINESS

I ASKED the professors

who teach the meaning of

life to tell me what is hap-

piness.And I went to famous ex-

ecutives who boss the

work of thousands of

men.They all shook their heads

and gave me a smile as

though I was trying to

fool with them.And then one Sunday af-

ternoon I wandered out

along the Desplaines riverand I saw a crowd ofHungarians under the

trees with their women

and children and a keg of

beer and an accordion.

Carl Sandburg 1878 1967

Change Desplaines toWisconsin and

Hungarians toMiddlewisconsinites andthis works quite well!!



3/13

Information Technology Solutions

I am honored and humbled to receive this award, especially on this day set aside to honorthe contributions and sacrifices of labor. I have dedicated my lifes work to improve theworking conditions, wages and benefits for all laborers in North Central Wisconsin andacross this great State of Wisconsin. It is a just and noble cause.

This Labor Day takes on special significance given the recent events in this state since February 2011. All laborers and by extension, the working and middle class are under attack ba radical fringe both at the federal and state level. These radicals, backed by the wealthy acorporate elite, aim to turn back the progress that labor has made since the turn of the century. This would include eliminating workers voices in the workplace, scaling back child labor protections and reducing the minimum wage among other anti-worker legislation. Thiis being advanced under the falsehood that this is good for the ordinary worker who strug-gles to make ends meet. These anti-worker legislators, primarily in the Republican party,do not have your best economic interests in mind. The only interests they have are self-serving-to get elected and serve their corporate masters who financially back them.

The attacks on workers have even been embraced at the local level. Prior to the immoralunion busting law passed in June of this year, local counties and municipalities had an op-portunity to give their workers dignity and peace of mind in their workplace. The City ofWausau and Marathon County had a golden opportunity to do just this. However, MayorTipple and also the Marathon County Board refused to give their workers a contract eventhough they could have done so. The end result of this refusal has created a workplace offear and uncertainness. Their actions are shameful and harmful to labor. Moreover, the significant economic bruising to these employees will drastically affect the local economy asthese employees have less disposable income to spend. These workers will, no doubt, sig-nificantly tighten their belt thus exacerbating the economic recession we are currently in.

Workers know that the only way to have a robust economy rolling is to get the money intothe hands of the laborers who buy goods and services which in turn creates jobs. You arebeing sold a bill of goods from the Republicans who endlessly dribble through their echochamber minions that if you give the money to the wealthy through tax breaks and corporaloopholes that they will create jobs. It is pure nonsense, contrary to an effective and proveeconomic recovery policy and encourages you to vote against your own economic self-

interests.

I encourage you to stop watching fake Fox entertainment network and turn off the punditswhose message harms you. I encourage all workers to become educated about how they arbeing taken advantage of by the Republicans and their anti-worker agenda. Become educaed on the political issues which affect you, become active participants in the political proceand stand up for yourself, your family, your children and your community. If you are tiredof being run over, run for political office at either the local or state level and take a stand folabor and the working class. Stand up for communities over corporations and people overprofits. The very existence of the working and middle class is at stake. You can make adifference. Solidarity my brothers and sisters in this historic struggle.

Working WisconsinLabor News and Views

By John Spiegelhoff


Pa g e


John Spiegelho

Sta Representave

forWisconsin Council 40

AFSCMEwas chosen 2011

Cizen Of The Yearby the

Marathon CountyLabor Council

This is the text of the

speech given by John

at the end of the

Labor Day Parade in

Wausau, WI


4/13

In the Hmong Community, many couples have been married since coming fromLaos and Thailand. However, now many of the couples have to prove that theyare legally married. Well, how do you prove that you are legally married when

nothing is written down on paper? My own parents were faced with this issuewhen my dads insurance company informed him that my mother of thirty sevenyears would not be covered under his health insurance. My own parents havebeen married since they arrived here in this country, but were married in a tradi-tional Hmong wedding. Many of the people in the village recognized that theywere married. Wisconsin law does not recognize common law marriages.

When we were told that my mother would no longer be covered by my fathershealth insurance company, my sister and I had to find a solution. We thought toourselves, why dont they just go in and get a marriage license; even though,they are already married according to our Hmong traditions When we went to

visit the City Clerks office, they told us my parents would need legal docu-ments, such as: divorce papers, birth certificates, and other forms of identifica-tion. It got to be a huge issue, because they did not have some of these legaldocuments from their native country, they could not be married. I had to havethe Hmong Association write a letter to the City Clerks office stating that wedid not have legal documents to prove a marriage, death, or birth. The CityClerks office in Dodge County had never had a situation like ours. They were-nt sure what to do. After going to many different offices, the City Clerks of-fice informed my parents they needed to affirm their marriage.

When the marriage is considered not valid, denied, or is doubted, then an affir-

mation of marriage needs to take place. Law 767.18 affirms the marriage. Thecourts need to declare that the marriage is valid by having the two people attestto the fact that they are actually married. Several questions are asked of the cou-ple by the judge and later the judge will decide whether to affirm the marriage ornot.

Finally, after a month of trying to figure out what to do, my parents went to court

to affirm that they were husband and wife and are married. If you know of any

Hmong members in the community facing this dilemma, please inform them of

this situation, so they can affirm their marriages and make it legal.

Hmong Perspectives


Pa g e


What Do You Mean?We Need To Have A Marriage License?

By Mang ThaoHmong History

The Hmong migratedfrom southern Chinain the nineteenth cen-

tury to the mountain-ous areas of Laos, Vi-etnam and Thailand.During the Vietnam

War the Hmongworked with the

American CIA duringthe secret war inLaos, and thereforewere forced to leavetheir homeland after

the victory of the com-munists. After spend-ing time in refugeecamps in Thailand,

many Hmong settledin the United States,with large concentra-tions in California (ca.

91,224), Minnesota(ca. 66,181), and Wis-

consin (ca.49,240).

Wausau Area HmongMutual Association


5/13


Pa g e

Grassroots Wisconsin

So what is happening on the local scene for justice?The First Annual NAOMI Sustainer Breakfast Pro-gram was held September 8 at Good Shepherd Luther-an Church of Wausau.

The event was well-attended. Along with a deliciousbreakfast came wonderful speakers who told of theirexperiences with NAOMI.

NAOMI works for social justice on the local level. Ittrains people of faith to work together for the good ofthe community.

In our area, these congregations make up NAOMI:Bread of Life Congregation, Church of the Resurrec-tion Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church of St. John

the Baptist, Holy Name Catholic Church, Mt. SinaiCongregation, St. Anne Catholic Church, St. MichaelCatholic Church, St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Faithin Christ Fellowship Church and First PresbyterianChurch.

NAOMI is the acronym for North-central Area Con-gregations Organized to Make and Impact. NAOMIbelieves that people of faith can work together andbring change for the good of the community. The or-ganization was started in May of 2008. It is affiliated

with a national organization, Gamaliel of Chicago, thatbegan in 1968.

NAOMI has several programs that get at the root caus-es of injustice. TIP (Treatment Instead of Prison) of-fers rehabilitation to prisoners to deal with addictions.TIP offers hope to people with addictions who mightbe facing another jail term if their addiction is not tak-en care of. TIP offers tax savings for the communityby reducing the need for more prison cells.

OPEN DOOR is another program that equips releasedprisoners with clothes and other necessities. Often areleased prisoner has no where to go upon release.Both these programs offer hope and a second chanceto prisoners.

SAVING MORTGAGES was another program of-fered by NAOMI. This workshop helped people fig-ure out ways to save their mortgage rather than losetheir home through foreclosure.

NAOMI continues to work on grassroots issues thatimpact the community.

NAOMIBy Virginia Kirsch

We global through the local. We are connected to all of the globe by the air we breathand the water we use, but we (because of our physical body) can only act locally.

Think globally; act locally

(Grassroots continued next page)


6/13


Pa g e

Grassroots Continued . . .Exit Polling

By Nancy Tabaka Stencil

The early morning hours of August 16 found me driving to Rhinelander to take part in something called Exit Polling.What is exit polling you ask? It is a group of people who take a polling sample from voters after they leave the pollingstation. Our group set up a box that has a ballot slit made in the top and is taped shut and signed by two or more from thegroup across the tape. We have filmed ourselves in this process. This is done to ensure all involved that this box is nottampered with at any point until the end of the day when the polls close and the votes are counted in a public place. Weused paper ballots for people to privately check off who they voted for. The voter folds it and places it in the box, signinga numbered book so we have an accurate count of signatures to ballots to let the public know that no one is stuffing theballot box. Along with this we have a person who counts refusals. This process will ensure us of a count close to the actual count inside. At the end of the day we go in to the polling place as it closes and ask for a copy of the actual polling tapfrom the machines. Throughout the day we let people know where we will be at the end of the day if they would like tocome and watch us count votes.

Our day started off slow - perhaps a combination of people not knowing what we were all about and us not being com-fortable yet in what we were doing. As the day wore on, many people came through and openly expressed who they vot-ed for. These were our most challenged moments as a group - to remain non-partisan! I for one found this very difficult,having done extensive canvassing for Jim Holperin since Memorial Day. Mid way through our day we faced some adver-sity from the manager at the YMCA as she began getting phone calls from large donors to the Y who did not like ourpresence! One couple who came to vote received an email earlier in the day telling them that if they came and voted inthe exit polling, their vote would not count inside! Many people asked what organization we were with. We are a part ofthe Election Defense Alliance (EDA). We are not for profit and as I said earlier, are non-partisan.

As the day wore on we were visited by a local TV station and a newspaper reporter. Our report-er, Kyle Rogers, took quite an interest in what we were doing and joined us at the end of theday to open the ballot box and count the votes. He did a feature on us, complete with a picture.

Exit polling can paint a picture of statistics. Had there been a large discrepancy, the EDA

could have challenged the electronic systems in this polling place. This explains the necessityfor a taped and signed box and following a chain of command. Our count was off by approx-imately 200 people. We had learned part way through our day that there was another entrance/exit.

We were all exhausted at the end of the day, but I think I can speak for all of us that it wasawesome to be a part of polling that was once used primarily by newspapers as a means of predicting an early outcomeat the polls. At this time I would like to give a huge thank you to Phil and Barb Keller for all their work in making thishappen. From the afternoon many of us sat down to watch Stealing America Vote by Vote to our meeting with thehead of the EDA, it is amazing what we learned!


7/13

Information Technology Solutions

I was sitting in church one Sunday listening to aplethora of prayers and a sermon about how Chris-tians should act towards one another in their com-munities. I had a hard time concentrating in

church this particular Sunday due to the thoughts Ihave regarding the direction of our country.

The pastor talked about being concerned for otherswho are less fortunate in the community how weshould behave and treat others in our interactionswith them. My thoughts wandered to what theradical Republicans must think when they go tochurch on Sunday.

What do the radical Republicans believe in? Ifactions speak louder than words, I believe the radi-cal Republicans are hypocrites at the highest level

if they attend church. The radical Republicanagenda hurts the most vulnerable among us. If asociety is measured on how we treat those lessfortunate than ourselves, the radical Republicansseem to be morally bankrupt.

Throughout Wisconsin and the United States, theradical Republicans passed, or attempted to pass,the following measures:

Slashed funding to the Homestead and EarnedIncome Credit. This tax credit actually helpsthe working poor to decrease their taxable in-come, thereby putting more money in theirpockets. This in turn helps families avoid be-ing on assistance at county and state levels.

Unemployment compensation benefits wereslashed as people who lose their job cannotreceive compensation for the first week afterthey are laid off.

Decreased funding to public schools by $900million while giving tax dollars to charterschools. The radical Republicans ultimategoal is to privatize public schools. Charter

schools were originally created to help thepoor. Now the wealthy can send their childto private school on the tax payer dime.

Radical Republicans have attempted to slashfunds to social security and Medicare and aito repeal the Roosevelt New Deal. The Replicans want to repeal anything that benefits sciety.

This list is not all inclusive, but reflects a sampof the carnage the radical Republicans are reek

on the poor, working and middle class, while siultaneously coddling the wealthy and corporati

Most citizens would probably say their commuis pretty important to them. Communities are filies, and families take care of one another. Ththe message I hear in church. This includes quty education and public services such as clean wter, beautiful parks, and programs that benefit aof the community.

I believe that most folks who vote Republicanhave never really looked at how their vote affectheir own family and community. I surmise thitrue and that they simply fill in the oval on theballot as they always have, and as their parentsgrandparents did before them.

Do those who vote Republican have a moral copass gone askew? The answer is probably no.Their vote is more likely due to a lack of educaon the agenda of the Republicans for whom thevoted. If the people who I work, play, and worwith in Merrill understood the true agenda of ththey voted for, church would take on a whole dferent meaning.

The Republican Moral CompassBy John Spiegelhoff

Middle Wisconsin NewsAu g u s t 3 , 2 0

Pa g e


The Essay Page

How long? Notlong. Because the

arc of the moral uni-verse is long, but itbends toward jus-tice.

-Rev. Martin LutherKing, Jr.


8/13

Information Technology SolutionsMiddle Wisconsin NewsSe p te mb e r 1 6 , 2 0

Pa g e


LettersWhat a wonderful Labor Day parade! Itwas a well balanced mixture of what theholiday is all about - workers and families.It also had the high school bands and thetheater everyone is used to seeing in pa-rades.

The preparation started days before as I wrapped address labels around suckersticks that said "Find us on Facebook" and www.middlewisconsin.com. Spread-ing the word of Democracy is what it is all about - educating the people. My big-gest surprise was as we came down 3rd Avenue and I began to see folks alongthe curb with signs. Signs thanking teachers and recalling Walker! This fueledmy enthusiasm! The people of Wausau DO understand, they really DO get it.The on-lookers loved Middle Wisconsin's drum section! They yelled for morecowbell! The people cheered and they knew....this is what Democracy lookslike! The end of the parade had us turning our back on Pam Galloway and SeanDuffy, just like they turned their back on us months ago. We are a peaceful peo-ple who look out for each other. It never ceases to amaze me how politicians can

look us straight in the face and lie.

Yes, what a wonderful parade, but shame on the Wausau media for the coursethey chose in covering the event. For people that didn't attend, the media madethe parade look as though it was little short of a riot! It was portrayed as disgust-ing and vile! However the media made the Merrill parade , which was less con-tentious, look very candy coated. Perhaps that is what people think everythingshould look like - candy coated. But I will side with the less popular. My hat isoff to the countless people like Randy Radtke, who are not afraid to take a stand.

It was a wonderful parade!

Nancy Tabaka Stencil

Labor Day 2011

Labor is prior toand independent ofcapital. Capital isonly the fruit of la-

bor and could neverhave existed if la-

bor had not first ex-isted. Labor is thesuperior of capitaland deserves muchthe higher consider-ation.

By Abraham Lin-coln, 1861From State of theUnion Address
http://www.middlewisconsin.com/http://www.middlewisconsin.com/http://www.middlewisconsin.com/


9/13



Pa g e

The Literary PageA PRAYER AT ELEVEN

By Tom Neale

Forgetting there would beno mail on Veterans Day,the dog and I walkeddown the driveway to the road.

The final eight logs

of a six cord load of fire woodwere scattered around the chopping block.I had shut off my chain-saw

and turned my attentiontowards the towering white pinealong the bank of Spirit Creekbeyond the western meadow.

Aware it was eleven AM, more or less,i offered a prayer to that forest elderfilled with anguish for all of us,

wounded as we are by war.

Having prayed, i reflected while walkingon what prayer might be not turning from the world towards the Divine,rather turning towards the Divine through oneself.

While i chewed on this,a young eagle heading northswept up the county road,attracting my rapt attention.

When I came in the houseto pick up a laundry basketto carry in a load of wash,i glanced at the clock above the sink.

It was eleven fifteen.that prayer, that walk, the young eagle,all of it had honored the momentwhen slaughter paused to catch its breath.

(Continued on next page)

The poems featured onthe Literary Page thismonth are the work ofTom Neale. They

come from a 9/11 se-ries called ONEMAN'S WRATH. Thistitle is inspired by aquotation from MiklosRadnoti; written in aBalkans labor campduring WW2:

The wrath of poetsand prophets is kin-dred/food for the peo-ple and drink.


10/13



Pa g e

The Literary PageContinued ..

THE BLACK BOULDER PRAYER

for Skylar White

By Tom Neale

For the small black boulder

where i sit i give thanks.For the mystery and magic,the majesty of the Big Wateri give thanks.For this air i breathe,such a small part of this warmblue wind scoured skyi give thanks.For this pipe i smoketo honor the eldersliving and long gone

with whom i share this countryi give thanks.For the pebbles ive putin my pocket i give thanks.For the childrens laughterI can hear down the beachi give thanks.For this beauty with whichim surrounded i give thanks.For the wave rounded cobblei carry to the car

to add to the Spirit Creekfire ring i give thanks.For these small momentsby the sweet seai give thanks.

GUNS AND LOVE

By Tom Neale

A gun knows nothingof love.

Though a triggermight be squeezedto fill a freezer, sochildrenmight eat through thewinter;a rifle knows nothingof love.Though a barrel mightbe aimedat a rattlesnake in a

schoolyard,a pistol knows nothingof love.Our weapons knownothing of love.


11/13



Pa g e

Beyond Wisconsin

CONTRACT FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM

Here is the Contract for the American Dream, led by Van Jones and the RebuildTeam. The Contract was taken to members of Congress during the August recess,to present it in local communities and make it part of our national vision.

It is a Contract to create jobs, invest in America and rebuild the American Dreamfor all. 175,000 citizen signers have already added their names and the contract

was run in a full page ad in THE NEW YORK TIMES. Let America see the solu-tions to our broken politics and struggling economy.

Americans who are willing to work hard and play by the rules should be able tofind a decent job, get a good home in a strong community, retire with dignity andgive their kids a better life. Every one of us has the right to LIFE, LIBERTYAND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. This is our covenant, our compact andour contract with one another.

Below are the main points of the Contract:

1. INVEST IN AMERICAS INFRASTRUCTURE

2. CREATE 21ST-CENTURY ENERGY JOBS

3. INVEST IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

4. OFFER MEDICARE FOR ALL

5. MAKE WORK PAY

6. SECURE SOCIAL SECURITY

7. RETURN TO FAIRER TAX RATES

8. END THE WARS AND INVEST AT HOME

9. TAX WALL STREET SPECULATION

10. STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY

From MoveOn.org Civic Actionhttp://rebuildthedream.com/

By Virginia Kirsch

If

Not

Now,

When?


12/13

By pursuing a steady repeal of job-destroying regulations, we can help lift the cloud of uncertainty hanging over smalland large employers alike, empowering them to hire more workers, Eric Cantor wrote in the 2,064-word memo.

And I would begin with the EPA, because there is no other agency like the EPA. It should really be renamed the job-

killing organization of America, Michelle Bachmann said, according to a CNN transcript of the debate.

In a meeting with Tea Party activists, former Republican Speaker of the House and potential 2012 presidential candidate

Newt Gingrich said that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was nothing more than a job-killing regulatory en-

gine of higher energy prices.

Clean Air Council - July 14, 2011. Report findings on the Proposed EPA Utility Toxics Rule include: Net annual benefits between $52.5 and $139.5 billion) Net job increases of 115,520 Healthcare savings of $4.513 billion

http://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_a

Union of Concerned Scientists report,A Bright Future for the HeartlandJuly 19, 2011 The Clean Energy Economy

A roadmap for renewable energy and energy efficiency.InA Bright Future for the Heartland, UCS based its analysis on the renewa-ble energy and energy efficiency goals of the Midwestern Governors Asso-ciation (MGA)a collaboration of 10 states working on key public policyissues.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-

bright-future-for-the-heartland.html

Earth and Industry - August 12, 2011. A reportreleased this week by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC),automotive workers union (UAW), and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) shows that vehicle emissions standardsand clean vehicle R&D and production are already responsible for 155,000 jobs at 504 facilities in 43 states and the Dis-trict of Columbia. 119,000 jobs have been created in this industry since 2009 alone.http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/

By Dave Svetlik


Pa g e

CHALLENGING THE MYTH... And if all others accepted the lie which the partyimposedif all records told the same talethen the lie passed into history and became the truth.

George Orwell, 1984 (published in 194

The Fallacy ThatRegulations Kill Jobs

The Benefits of a Clean Energy Economy fothe Midwest Economy By 2030: 85,700 net new jobs $40.9 billion in new capital investment $1 billion in new income for farmers $3.5 billion in new local tax revenues $42.8 billion in lower electricity and na

ural gas bills

Continued on next page
http://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_ahttp://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_ahttp://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_ahttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.nrdc.org/transportation/autosuppliers/files/SupplierMappingReport.pdfhttp://www.nrdc.org/transportation/autosuppliers/files/SupplierMappingReport.pdfhttp://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://earthandindustry.com/2011/08/green-jobs-galore-expected-from-new-fuel-economy-standards/http://www.nrdc.org/transportation/autosuppliers/files/SupplierMappingReport.pdfhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/solutions/big_picture_solutions/a-bright-future-for-the-heartland.htmlhttp://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_ahttp://www.cleanair.org/program/outdoor_air_pollution/air_toxics/new_study_uncovers_additional_105_billion_annual_benefits_a


13/13

So . . . . . Please dont confuse me with the facts.

The reader will please forgive the hint of sarcasm and the fact that the author of this article hasnt contribut-

ed a single word to this point. It is just that some topics simply speak for themselves. Of all the false claimsthat have been made in the political debate in the last few years, job killing regulations is probably the

most destructive. Virtually all valid research (herein lies the problem - science and empirical data are just

such a nuisance where ideology is concerned) indicates that environmental and safety regulations result in

net employment gains and the long term growth of cutting edge technologies that further enhance the econo-

my. (Not to mention the fact that it is rather pleasant not being killed at work or in your car, or because of

carcinogens in the air because regulations have made all of these infinitely safer. Oh, and I should mention,

Ive never been a big fan of having my grandkids eating lead paint chips. And Im not crazy about e-coli in

my hamburger. And Im not too excited that my grandkids are being protected by fewer and fewer child

labor laws - you know - the ones that keep them from working in sweat shops like little kids do in third

world countries? And I kind of like the fact that the Wisconsin river is no longer an open chemical sewer

for industry and maybe I can safely eat a fish out of it once in a while. Maybe its just me, but Im not wild

about things living in my tap water either. Probably just me. Ive always been a little fussy.)

This article wouldnt be complete without mentioning one other curious fact: Perhaps the single greatest

cause of unemployment in US history is DEREGULATION - specifically of the financial industry. It al-

lowed the fraudulent practices leading to the near total collapse of our economy. Forgive me again, but it is

rather difficult to swallow job killing regulations just now.

The past few years have been an endless charade of ludicrous ideological claims from our politicians. We

may wish to think that operating the United States of America without regard to any facts can carry us on togreat prosperity and stature in this world, but the laws of physics (and nature) eventually rule. They dont

care what we believe. We as a nation, are either going to begin acting with the intelligence and integrity we

are collectively endowed with, or this is not going to be a decent country for anyone.


Pa g e

CHALLENGING THE MYTH . . .And if all others accepted the lie which the party

imposedif all records told the same talethen the lie passed into history and became the truth.

George Orwell, 1984 (published in 194

Continued from page 12

Let no one attempt with small gifts of charity to exempt him-self from the great duties imposed by justice.

--Pope Pius XI

middle wi news - september

Documents