The proposed idea of running fake candidates in primary elections has me disgusted, appalled and unhappy. This is absolute evidence that the ruling class in this country is completely out of touch with their constituencies, and only concerned with personal agendas and dirty politics.
In a time when every vulnerable citizen of the State of Wisconsin is in extreme jeopardy, both political parties now want to engage in "playing dice with the universe".
As America sinks lower, American politics have hit the sludge at the bottom of the barrel.
The Democrats have, and need to keep, the moral high ground. I am an independent voter, who happens to vote for democratic candidates because they are the best person for the job, 99% of the time. When I see a political party support mean girl high school tactics to win elections, I don't see any reason to support them.
We need to get rid of the politicians who have brought the State of Wisconsin to its lowest point in history. The Scott Walkers. The Alberta Darlings. Ad infinitum.
What we don't need is people who have avoided dirty politics so far to jump in and counteract this assault on democracy by engaging in equally unproductive politics. Democratic candidates need to take the moral high ground on this issue and refuse to use the same repulsive tactics that are being used by the GOP.
Voters in Wisconsin have had enough of the Republican leadership. Have we now come to a point we've had enough of the Democratic leadership, too?
I say we use the same method to hire legislators in the next election, as we use for selecting people for jury duty. You get a slip that tells you to report for four years of political service in Madison. At least we'd have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. And avoid all the NONSENSE that is currently happening in this state's political arena.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Sheriff Clarke and His Amazing Ego
Sheriff David A. Clarke, one of the head cops in Milwaukee, has entered a war of wills with the judiciary in Milwaukee County.
It is a sad day when someone's ego takes over what should be expected behaviors from a top law enforcement officer. Sheriff Clarke needs to let some of the air out of his super-inflated head.
First of all, going to war with the Judicial System is not a good idea. Ever. Law Enforcement and the Judiciary are supposed to work together to rid the streets of hardened criminals. Not so in Milwaukee County right now. Sheriff Clarke seems determined to obstruct justice by imposing restrictive procedures on delivering a prisoner to a courtroom, tactics that impede the justice system and waste time. If he was doing this out of any kind of real security risk, it would be one thing. But the particular prisoner in this story has never been a problem in court appearances. Sheriff Clarke is playing this "I'm Bigger Than You" game because he does not like the particular judge presiding over the case, or the orders that the Judge has imposed in this case. A war of wills, if you will, which never ends happily.
You would think that a law enforcement officer would know better than to disrespect the judiciary. Not so, David Clarke. Sheriff Clarke seems to be suffering massive ego bruising, and he's going public with a formal complaint against the Judge and continuing to impede the judicial process.
Is this who we want in a position of power? The position of power seems to have gone straight to Sheriff Clarke's ability to understand his role, clouding his judgement. That is not what the citizenry of Milwaukee County needs or wants. We want intelligent leaders who work well together. Sheriff Clarke can't seem to grasp the concept that the judicial system holds sway over him. He doesn't like it one bit. So he's an obstructionist. Great. With leaders like this, it is not hard to understand why this country is in the dumper.
David Clarke is a little bit like Scott Walker. Too big for his britches. Time for a more thoughtful Sheriff. When I read of silliness like this, I'm appalled and disgusted that we have a giant ego entrenched in a powerful position, rather than a reasonable and intelligent person.
It is a sad day when someone's ego takes over what should be expected behaviors from a top law enforcement officer. Sheriff Clarke needs to let some of the air out of his super-inflated head.
First of all, going to war with the Judicial System is not a good idea. Ever. Law Enforcement and the Judiciary are supposed to work together to rid the streets of hardened criminals. Not so in Milwaukee County right now. Sheriff Clarke seems determined to obstruct justice by imposing restrictive procedures on delivering a prisoner to a courtroom, tactics that impede the justice system and waste time. If he was doing this out of any kind of real security risk, it would be one thing. But the particular prisoner in this story has never been a problem in court appearances. Sheriff Clarke is playing this "I'm Bigger Than You" game because he does not like the particular judge presiding over the case, or the orders that the Judge has imposed in this case. A war of wills, if you will, which never ends happily.
You would think that a law enforcement officer would know better than to disrespect the judiciary. Not so, David Clarke. Sheriff Clarke seems to be suffering massive ego bruising, and he's going public with a formal complaint against the Judge and continuing to impede the judicial process.
Is this who we want in a position of power? The position of power seems to have gone straight to Sheriff Clarke's ability to understand his role, clouding his judgement. That is not what the citizenry of Milwaukee County needs or wants. We want intelligent leaders who work well together. Sheriff Clarke can't seem to grasp the concept that the judicial system holds sway over him. He doesn't like it one bit. So he's an obstructionist. Great. With leaders like this, it is not hard to understand why this country is in the dumper.
David Clarke is a little bit like Scott Walker. Too big for his britches. Time for a more thoughtful Sheriff. When I read of silliness like this, I'm appalled and disgusted that we have a giant ego entrenched in a powerful position, rather than a reasonable and intelligent person.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Scott Walker's Art
Scott Walker and his equally tasteless wife, Tonette, removed a commissioned painting by an artist that hung above the mantel at the governor's mansion. It was a painting of three children of different ethnic backgrounds playing with bubble wands. There are several stories behind the painting and the artist is well known and celebrated. But, Mr. and Mrs. Walker decided a bald eagle painting was more appropriate, as they wanted to celebrate some civil war anniversary. Had it not been for those eagles, the civil war would have been lost. These dang Republicans are always celebrating war instead of working toward and honoring peace!
Personally, I think the Walkers didn't really want to look at children who didn't fit the particular profile of what the Walkers deem good taste in children, i.e. white kids with private school educations. Rather than have a painting commissioned depicting a bunch of boarding school kids in matching blazers, drinking vodka and smoking weed, the Walkers conveniently located a picture of a bald eagle, and replaced the offending masterpiece.
Well, one does not dispute questions of taste, I guess. It is quite obvious that Mrs. Walker was hoping (desperate) to get married, so she sunk her talons into a much younger (inexperienced) Mr. Walker. I hereby dub Tonette as Wisconsin's First Cougar. Why not a cougar picture? Wisconsin has a few of those. I've spotted them on Highway 51 between Mercer and Hurley. But there is no explaining taste. Still, the eagle picture makes sense from her perspective. Raptor. On the hunt. Bald.
I just think Wisconsinites need to say enough is enough, already. The Walkers have devastated the working class. Allowing the Walkers to impose their art tastes on a public building, in the name of war, is just plain hideous. I guess they didn't like the reminder of the class war they both engage it with the ethnic children painting. It's what we've come to expect from the Walkers. No taste. No class. No art. No smart.
Personally, I think the Walkers didn't really want to look at children who didn't fit the particular profile of what the Walkers deem good taste in children, i.e. white kids with private school educations. Rather than have a painting commissioned depicting a bunch of boarding school kids in matching blazers, drinking vodka and smoking weed, the Walkers conveniently located a picture of a bald eagle, and replaced the offending masterpiece.
Well, one does not dispute questions of taste, I guess. It is quite obvious that Mrs. Walker was hoping (desperate) to get married, so she sunk her talons into a much younger (inexperienced) Mr. Walker. I hereby dub Tonette as Wisconsin's First Cougar. Why not a cougar picture? Wisconsin has a few of those. I've spotted them on Highway 51 between Mercer and Hurley. But there is no explaining taste. Still, the eagle picture makes sense from her perspective. Raptor. On the hunt. Bald.
I just think Wisconsinites need to say enough is enough, already. The Walkers have devastated the working class. Allowing the Walkers to impose their art tastes on a public building, in the name of war, is just plain hideous. I guess they didn't like the reminder of the class war they both engage it with the ethnic children painting. It's what we've come to expect from the Walkers. No taste. No class. No art. No smart.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has an idiot for a governor, but is has been easy to stop him in his confused tracks.
Wisconsin's GOP is enmeshed in behavior that is best classified as "dirty politics" and in reality is just downright ugly and inappropriate, much like the republican agenda.
But there are some bright spots on the horizon. Like Russ Feingold running for Herb Kohl's senate seat. At least we would have some presence in Washington. Has anyone seen Ron Johnson? Obviously, the rhetorical comments he consistently made in his campaign for office clearly is not serving him well in the realities of politics. He seems to be hiding in his office, wondering what, exactly, he is supposed to do now that he's won the prize. Here's a clue, Ron. Resign. Go home and count your money. Admit you are in the deep end and you don't know how to swim. As we all suspected, you have NOTHING to say.
The recall elections seem to be progressing as they should. I think Sandy Paasch is going to definitely kick Alberta Darling right back to the slums of Mequon. This is very important to me since Alberta Darling has been in office far too long to be an effective lawmaker. Alberta is a walking poster for limited terms. She went to Madison when she was relatively young. She's entrenched in her job, not engaged for her people, as are most career politicians. We need to stop allowing people to use legislative buildings as a place to grow old.
In short, Wisconsin seems to be emerging from one of its most dark moments in politics to a new dawn where intelligence and moderation is replacing fanatical and illegal manueverings by those currently in charge. Although the wool had been pulled over the voter's eyes in the last election, it is always hard to maintain an illusion, which is what the rabid right politicians didn't understand. Maybe because they believed the illusion. Maybe because so many of our politicians are delusional. Maybe because they actually didn't understand that wanting something to be true doesn't make it true.
Whatever the reason, the pendulum always swings, and it is swinging back to the age of reason. I have faith that Wisconsinites have learned the importance of responsible voting and the danger of political rhetoric.
Wisconsin's GOP is enmeshed in behavior that is best classified as "dirty politics" and in reality is just downright ugly and inappropriate, much like the republican agenda.
But there are some bright spots on the horizon. Like Russ Feingold running for Herb Kohl's senate seat. At least we would have some presence in Washington. Has anyone seen Ron Johnson? Obviously, the rhetorical comments he consistently made in his campaign for office clearly is not serving him well in the realities of politics. He seems to be hiding in his office, wondering what, exactly, he is supposed to do now that he's won the prize. Here's a clue, Ron. Resign. Go home and count your money. Admit you are in the deep end and you don't know how to swim. As we all suspected, you have NOTHING to say.
The recall elections seem to be progressing as they should. I think Sandy Paasch is going to definitely kick Alberta Darling right back to the slums of Mequon. This is very important to me since Alberta Darling has been in office far too long to be an effective lawmaker. Alberta is a walking poster for limited terms. She went to Madison when she was relatively young. She's entrenched in her job, not engaged for her people, as are most career politicians. We need to stop allowing people to use legislative buildings as a place to grow old.
In short, Wisconsin seems to be emerging from one of its most dark moments in politics to a new dawn where intelligence and moderation is replacing fanatical and illegal manueverings by those currently in charge. Although the wool had been pulled over the voter's eyes in the last election, it is always hard to maintain an illusion, which is what the rabid right politicians didn't understand. Maybe because they believed the illusion. Maybe because so many of our politicians are delusional. Maybe because they actually didn't understand that wanting something to be true doesn't make it true.
Whatever the reason, the pendulum always swings, and it is swinging back to the age of reason. I have faith that Wisconsinites have learned the importance of responsible voting and the danger of political rhetoric.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Winning Strategies for Perpetual Losers
I like self help advice because usually it's so ludicrous, it provides comic relief. But there are so many losers lately, I just feel I must reach out and try to help.
The first problem is that losers don't recognize themselves as such. Not all losers are stupids and not all stupids are losers, but there is a close correlation between being a loser and being ignorant. Ignorant is not the same as stupid.
First off, how to recognize if you're a loser:
1. Do you have to depend on other people to support the image you're trying to project? Does your fantasy begin at home and involve people who "can" to make you (who "can't") look good?
2. Do you have to call people and arrange for all aspects of your social life? Is anyone reaching out to spend time with you?
3. Do you have secret behaviors that are detrimental to healthy relationships?
4. Are you a liar? Not white lies. Big fat horrendous lies.
5. Are you perpetually sad, angry and lonely, despite being surrounded by people?
6. Do you pray a lot for good things to come your way? Do you ever pray for anyone you dislike?
7. Are you secretly delighted when bad things happen to people whom you envy or of whom you are very jealous?
8. Do you covet?
9. Are you upset or are you confused when people find out the truth about your personality and back off from a relationship with you?
10. Do you have any clue in your head about what really makes you function or what would actually make you happy?
So what are the winning strategies for losers? There are two loser roads.
1. Accept that you're a loser, probably always have been a loser, and will die a loser's death. It's the one thing that can make you less of a loser.
2. Plato said "the unexamined life is not worth living". Look at yourself. All the things you're hiding need to be unveiled and all the harmful behaviors you've engaged in need to be honestly addressed, either through sincere apology or just by going forth and noting that you used to be a major f*ck head but you're really trying to change.
Accept that even though you might be a major loser, its never to late to shed that skin.
Or not.
The world is full of losers and you all will certainly find each other, and drive each other crazy, much the way you're driven the good people from your lives.
The first problem is that losers don't recognize themselves as such. Not all losers are stupids and not all stupids are losers, but there is a close correlation between being a loser and being ignorant. Ignorant is not the same as stupid.
First off, how to recognize if you're a loser:
1. Do you have to depend on other people to support the image you're trying to project? Does your fantasy begin at home and involve people who "can" to make you (who "can't") look good?
2. Do you have to call people and arrange for all aspects of your social life? Is anyone reaching out to spend time with you?
3. Do you have secret behaviors that are detrimental to healthy relationships?
4. Are you a liar? Not white lies. Big fat horrendous lies.
5. Are you perpetually sad, angry and lonely, despite being surrounded by people?
6. Do you pray a lot for good things to come your way? Do you ever pray for anyone you dislike?
7. Are you secretly delighted when bad things happen to people whom you envy or of whom you are very jealous?
8. Do you covet?
9. Are you upset or are you confused when people find out the truth about your personality and back off from a relationship with you?
10. Do you have any clue in your head about what really makes you function or what would actually make you happy?
So what are the winning strategies for losers? There are two loser roads.
1. Accept that you're a loser, probably always have been a loser, and will die a loser's death. It's the one thing that can make you less of a loser.
2. Plato said "the unexamined life is not worth living". Look at yourself. All the things you're hiding need to be unveiled and all the harmful behaviors you've engaged in need to be honestly addressed, either through sincere apology or just by going forth and noting that you used to be a major f*ck head but you're really trying to change.
Accept that even though you might be a major loser, its never to late to shed that skin.
Or not.
The world is full of losers and you all will certainly find each other, and drive each other crazy, much the way you're driven the good people from your lives.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Ed Flynn vs. Scott Walker
It is such a sad state of affairs when the police chief in Wisconsin's biggest city tells the governor that his proposed concealed carry legislation is detrimental to law enforcement officers and law abiding citizens.
You would think a governor would get that. You would think a governor would want to protect the citizens of his state. You would think a governor would have some sense of society.
But we are talking Scott Walker, who could rent out the vacant space in his head for plenty of cash. Warehouses of room there.
I am really not interested in packing heat to go to the local Pick 'n Save. But it appears that this may be in my future, if this legislation passes. I might have to engage in a gunfight over a parking space, or the last bottle of Orangina. I know for sure that the self-check-out line will be a dangerous place as will the deli counter. I see mangled bloody fingers reaching for the ticket dispenser and being driven off by the salami addicts.
Fundamentalists, like Scott Walker, have their place. It just doesn't happen to be in American society. I want to see Scott Walker's birth certificate. I just don't believe he's an American. I don't believe he was born here. I don't believe he was born at all. He seems to have crawled out from under some rock that was dropped on him.
Does Scott Walker have traumatic brain injury? Can we demand that Scott Walker be given a mental competency test? I think we need to do something to stop this train wreck. And soon.
You would think a governor would get that. You would think a governor would want to protect the citizens of his state. You would think a governor would have some sense of society.
But we are talking Scott Walker, who could rent out the vacant space in his head for plenty of cash. Warehouses of room there.
I am really not interested in packing heat to go to the local Pick 'n Save. But it appears that this may be in my future, if this legislation passes. I might have to engage in a gunfight over a parking space, or the last bottle of Orangina. I know for sure that the self-check-out line will be a dangerous place as will the deli counter. I see mangled bloody fingers reaching for the ticket dispenser and being driven off by the salami addicts.
Fundamentalists, like Scott Walker, have their place. It just doesn't happen to be in American society. I want to see Scott Walker's birth certificate. I just don't believe he's an American. I don't believe he was born here. I don't believe he was born at all. He seems to have crawled out from under some rock that was dropped on him.
Does Scott Walker have traumatic brain injury? Can we demand that Scott Walker be given a mental competency test? I think we need to do something to stop this train wreck. And soon.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A Society of Mean People
My daughter-in-law is a very gentle soul; not that she doesn't have her moments, as do we all. But she recently had to quit a job because one of her co-workers had become so outrageous in her attacks. The coworker not only was abusive verbally to Shelly, but refused to answer any questions or offer any assistance (Shelly was new on the job) and then left threatening messages on Shelly's cell phone after Shelly talked to the supervisor about the communication problem. Shelly said she felt so vulnerable to attack that she didn't have a choice but to move on. It's too bad. We all know how hard jobs are to come by.
The point is, people in the United States have a mean factor I don't really see in other cultures, and I travel a great deal. Some people are just mean, and they seem to relish in their obnoxious behavior. They smugly interact with people they deem of "lesser" value than themselves. They are quick to point out how superior they are to people with less money, less status, less ______ fill in the blank.
The more successful people are, the meaner they seem to be. Perhaps the biggest indicator of how mean a person is would be how judgmental a person is. Those narrow minded souls see things from one perspective, their own, and if another person's behavior varies from what they deem "appropriate", it seems to give them free license to be mean, rude and disrespectful. I don't know how they elected themselves "God", but they have and you're basically screwed if you try to intelligently disagree with them.
What's particularly worrisome is that this meanness extends to their own family members. I grew up in a mean family, and I think I've finally outgrown it, but it took years of self-examination and insight to get here. My mom was very mean, especially to me. I guess some parents have to have one child they don't necessarily like, but it bothers me to see this behavior repeated with two of my sisters and their own daughters. It seems to me a little honest historical review would highlight the reasons for, and hopefully resolve the issues and how they arose, but mean people are very incapable of self-examination. They just believe they're right and incapable of wrong. They seem to live in a vacuum of self absorbed and painfully inaccurate views of reality. And they do so much damage. The withholding love and refusal to apologize keeps them so enmeshed in these toxic behaviors.
Mean behaviors can be tied in to mental and/or emotional illness. I worked with a woman whom was so toxic that we finally had to transfer her out of the department. Her dysfunction was legendary among her peers and one never knew what would set her off on one of her many distasteful, outrageous and sometimes utterly bizarre tangents. It was an enormous relief to not have her in our workplace anymore. The voices in her head were so loud, the rest of us could almost hear them. She continues her dysfunctional behavior in her new department, and because she is so obviously disturbed, no one takes her to task. For some reason, America thinks its alright to tolerate this behavior, rather than treat the underlying illness that causes it.
Mean people are disturbed people. They want to be well-thought of, but it just doesn't seem to ever work out that way. They're driven by their meanness, by their judgments and ultimately, by their illness. Since mental health care is so important, but so lacking, very few mean people get the psychological help they truly need. And this is evident all across America.
The point is, people in the United States have a mean factor I don't really see in other cultures, and I travel a great deal. Some people are just mean, and they seem to relish in their obnoxious behavior. They smugly interact with people they deem of "lesser" value than themselves. They are quick to point out how superior they are to people with less money, less status, less ______ fill in the blank.
The more successful people are, the meaner they seem to be. Perhaps the biggest indicator of how mean a person is would be how judgmental a person is. Those narrow minded souls see things from one perspective, their own, and if another person's behavior varies from what they deem "appropriate", it seems to give them free license to be mean, rude and disrespectful. I don't know how they elected themselves "God", but they have and you're basically screwed if you try to intelligently disagree with them.
What's particularly worrisome is that this meanness extends to their own family members. I grew up in a mean family, and I think I've finally outgrown it, but it took years of self-examination and insight to get here. My mom was very mean, especially to me. I guess some parents have to have one child they don't necessarily like, but it bothers me to see this behavior repeated with two of my sisters and their own daughters. It seems to me a little honest historical review would highlight the reasons for, and hopefully resolve the issues and how they arose, but mean people are very incapable of self-examination. They just believe they're right and incapable of wrong. They seem to live in a vacuum of self absorbed and painfully inaccurate views of reality. And they do so much damage. The withholding love and refusal to apologize keeps them so enmeshed in these toxic behaviors.
Mean behaviors can be tied in to mental and/or emotional illness. I worked with a woman whom was so toxic that we finally had to transfer her out of the department. Her dysfunction was legendary among her peers and one never knew what would set her off on one of her many distasteful, outrageous and sometimes utterly bizarre tangents. It was an enormous relief to not have her in our workplace anymore. The voices in her head were so loud, the rest of us could almost hear them. She continues her dysfunctional behavior in her new department, and because she is so obviously disturbed, no one takes her to task. For some reason, America thinks its alright to tolerate this behavior, rather than treat the underlying illness that causes it.
Mean people are disturbed people. They want to be well-thought of, but it just doesn't seem to ever work out that way. They're driven by their meanness, by their judgments and ultimately, by their illness. Since mental health care is so important, but so lacking, very few mean people get the psychological help they truly need. And this is evident all across America.
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