Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Issue of the Week: Wisconsin After the Recall
The Shepherd Express goes to press before the polls close on Election Day, so at this moment we don't know whether Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican senators will survive their recall elections, or whether Democrats Tom Barrett, Mahlon Mitchell and four challengers will be sent to Madison.
What we do know is that Wisconsin cannot repeat the division and polarization we have experienced in the past 18 months.
Politics is the art of the possible. When one party controls both houses of the Legislature and the governor's office, it is possible to pass radical legislation with a majority of one vote.
But is it wise to govern in the interest of one party? Absolutely not. Because politics, ultimately, is about people. If you push through legislation on major issues by one vote, you're going to generate a strong reaction because you're disenfranchising about half of the population. If, instead, you reach a broader consensus and use incremental changes to build upon the past, you'll pass legislation by wider margins and avoid the divisiveness that has marked our recent political landscape.
An inclusive decision-making process tends to result in incremental change. Nobody gets everything that they want, but most people get at least something from the bargain and they can live with the result because they were part of the decision-making process. The decision can be altered in the future, but those alterations will be based on more discussion, more experience, more voices calling for change.
That's precisely what we need the day after this recall election and all days after that. Wisconsin needs an inclusive, transparent and civil government that benefits the vast majority of the state, not just the political party in charge, no matter which party is in charge.
As former President Bill Clinton said in Pere Marquette Park last week, "Everywhere I go in America and everywhere I go in the world, the only thing that's working is when you get everybody who's got a stake in the game in there and you treat them with respect and move forward together."
Let's hope that whoever wins on Tuesday listens to Clinton's message and takes it to heart.
Hero of the Week: Erica John of NewThreads of Hope
In 1987, Erica John helped a major retailer donate excess merchandise to local charities. Inspired by the experience, John founded NewThreads of Hope, which links manufacturers and retailers and their surplus products, samples and returns with community-based social service agencies, schools and faith-based organizations.
By year's end, NewThreads will have distributed more than $100 million worth of new clothing, shoes and bed, bath and household items to nonprofit agencies serving the needs of the less fortunate, children and seniors. On Monday, NewThreads celebrated the achievement by honoring John for her leadership, vision, dedication and financial support.
NewThreads relies heavily on volunteers to fulfill its mission. Readers interested in helping to sort, process or distribute donated items are encouraged to visit www.newthreads.org.
What we do know is that Wisconsin cannot repeat the division and polarization we have experienced in the past 18 months.
Politics is the art of the possible. When one party controls both houses of the Legislature and the governor's office, it is possible to pass radical legislation with a majority of one vote.
But is it wise to govern in the interest of one party? Absolutely not. Because politics, ultimately, is about people. If you push through legislation on major issues by one vote, you're going to generate a strong reaction because you're disenfranchising about half of the population. If, instead, you reach a broader consensus and use incremental changes to build upon the past, you'll pass legislation by wider margins and avoid the divisiveness that has marked our recent political landscape.
An inclusive decision-making process tends to result in incremental change. Nobody gets everything that they want, but most people get at least something from the bargain and they can live with the result because they were part of the decision-making process. The decision can be altered in the future, but those alterations will be based on more discussion, more experience, more voices calling for change.
That's precisely what we need the day after this recall election and all days after that. Wisconsin needs an inclusive, transparent and civil government that benefits the vast majority of the state, not just the political party in charge, no matter which party is in charge.
As former President Bill Clinton said in Pere Marquette Park last week, "Everywhere I go in America and everywhere I go in the world, the only thing that's working is when you get everybody who's got a stake in the game in there and you treat them with respect and move forward together."
Let's hope that whoever wins on Tuesday listens to Clinton's message and takes it to heart.
Hero of the Week: Erica John of NewThreads of Hope
In 1987, Erica John helped a major retailer donate excess merchandise to local charities. Inspired by the experience, John founded NewThreads of Hope, which links manufacturers and retailers and their surplus products, samples and returns with community-based social service agencies, schools and faith-based organizations.
By year's end, NewThreads will have distributed more than $100 million worth of new clothing, shoes and bed, bath and household items to nonprofit agencies serving the needs of the less fortunate, children and seniors. On Monday, NewThreads celebrated the achievement by honoring John for her leadership, vision, dedication and financial support.
NewThreads relies heavily on volunteers to fulfill its mission. Readers interested in helping to sort, process or distribute donated items are encouraged to visit www.newthreads.org.
He is not the Anti-Christ he is one of it's deciples. The Anti Christ is the T.E.A.. Remember you brought it up.
@jusme
Could you give it a rest for just one minute? It's a$$holes like you on BOTH sides that polarize our State and engage in endless blithering rhetoric that solves no problems, offers no solutions and has simply become to exhausting to tolerate.
No matter what the outcome of the recall election or anyother politcal scenario, you would still find something to complain about. Maybe you should spend a little time with some self examination to figure out what's wrong with YOU as opposed to anyone who doesn't see your way.
Dr Kldare: You could only wish you were him. I do see that you so called Christian T.E.A. babbers are hatefull people and dangerious. Read Below.
Feb. 8th 2012
I was listening to the Milwaukee Wisconsin WTMJ Wing Nut Radio show of Clown charlie sykes. They actually put this freak on TV. His statement was "When we nominate a candidate that is when we will use real bullets (meaning at President Obama)." Where is the Secret Service? This man threatened the life of the President of the United States of America and what did he mean when he said we? Is he talking about the weak minded listeners that will do his bidding? Enough of the Hate and Violence these Commie Pig Republicans spew out of there bile mouth's.
Now say it aint so hater.
@jusme
What the HELL are you writing about? What's a T.E.A. babber? What does an AM radio talk show host have to do with anything? Are you that insecure about left wing beliefs that you actually believe a radio personality has an overt affect on how people form their own opinions and is building some sort of army? What exactly "isn't so"?
Wow. You're a bigger simpleton than I thought. I used to laugh at you, now I just feel sorry for you.
Dr Kildare your questiond reveal your ignorance and this is the best answer you deserve.
Kldare: come back IDIOT.
It's so bad that I cannot agree with those who call this a purple state, we are like a marbled chocolate and yellow cake, except is it marbled red and blue.., and gerrymandered, too. Just like oil and water don't mix, our brand of red and blue will not mix either. We need to tone down both the red and blue quite a bit, get back to rational thought (like an engineer who weighs both the pros and the cons), not like the lawyer who "reasons" through use of fear and legal maneuvers.
Barret saying we need to join together is right. Walker saying he made a mistake in trying to make his change without "talking about it" was right, but it is YOU out there that is not ready to shake hands and get on with working together to make our state business-worthy. YOU are the ones who wanted that slam-dunk moment, wanted to twist the knife, wanted to chicken-wing the others arm until they said "Uncle".
Time to build a bridge, and do not refer to it as a "Bridge to Nowhere".
Remember the real goal, it is not to take all the others money, it is to build a system where we both get more stuff, and the time to enjoy it. It is easier to enjoy it if you do not have to live in fear that someone else is going to take it. Think if money as no more than the tool used to achieve building real wealth of more stuff, more non-conflict time. There is enough money, got to get it circulating again... through all of our hands.
@WaukeshaGuy
Wow. One of the first sensible things I've ever read here. Thanks for clear thinking and a genuine concern for us all to work together and move along. My only hope is that we can all follow the same mantra and works towards moving forward in OUR State. Thunmbs up!