It's That Time Again

Dear Family and Friends,

            It’s that time again. Almost every year we Americans get the chance to vote on issues involving our communities. This year is no exception. I know it’s easy to blow the whole thing off and say, “Who cares? It’s just a bunch of rich guys paying to get politicians they want.”  I know it’s easy to stay home, but I hope you won’t. I hope you will use the power of your vote to elect representatives who share your vision of what our state and country should be. If you do – if you use your vote wisely – you can make things better. You can help create a place that reflects what is best for all of us. How? Support progressive candidates who believe in equality, democracy, and justice.

            The most important changes in our history came from progressives. The abolition of slavery, a system of public schools, the national park system, consumer safety laws, anti-trust regulations, women’s suffrage, social security, minimum wage laws, worker’s compensation, rural electrification, the GI bill, child labor laws, eight hour work day, anti-discrimination laws, Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, environmental protection, and more universal health care. These were steps forward for ALL citizens, especially those without independent wealth and power. Your vote can strengthen these hard-earned historic commitments. Your indifference will permit the self-interested power brokers to continue to dismantle them. Your vote counts.

            Here in Wisconsin we are at the center of this fight. Scott Walker does not reflect the progressive values that make Wisconsin strong. He has weakened one of the best public school systems in the country by cutting public school funding and increasing private school vouchers. He does not support the right of workers to collectively bargain. He does not believe women are able to make decisions about their reproductive rights and he supports laws that discourage average people from voting. He has fought the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act and refused funding that would have given thousands of Wisconsin citizens health care. He has supported legislation that would weaken environmental pollution standards and he is willing to offer huge tax breaks for corporations. Scott Walker’s vision has done little to help the average citizen in Wisconsin. We can do better. Your vote counts.

            When the “free market” train went off the rails in 2008, most of us thought we would learn from those mistakes and take actions to help average citizens. When the 2008 Congress began to push back against the corporate interests, we totally underestimated their willingness to do whatever necessary to protect their interests. Now, six years later, the corporate elites and the financial money swappers are doing great. The stock market has set records. The banks are rolling in cash. The average worker? Not so much. The Scott Walkers of the world would have you believe the reason average people are struggling financially is because they are lazy. They don’t mention that many of these lazy workers have jobs that don’t pay very much. For example, the average wage at Wal-Mart is $8.81. That’s about $18,000 a year. Oh, and the six Walton children? According to Forbes, they are worth $152 BILLION.  Wouldn’t it seem reasonable to require some equity?  If you elect the right representatives, we can make things better. Your vote counts.

            I want you to vote. I want you to find five others to vote with you. I hope you will vote for progressive candidates because they better represent all our citizens. I want you to vote because there are those who are trying to make it harder for you to vote. Mostly I want you to vote to make things better and I have faith in your good judgment.  It may take a while for us to take back the power that special interests have stolen, but it all begins with the right vote.