[GPSCC-chat] Fwd: Germany. Austerity. Wisconsin Wave. Primary.

Tue Feb 15 11:24:28 PST 2011

FYI,

Gerry

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Germany. Austerity. Wisconsin Wave. Primary.
Date: 	Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:34:39 -0600
From: 	Ben Manski <info at VoteManski.com>
Reply-To: 	Ben Manski <info at VoteManski.com>
To: 	Gerald Gras <gerrygras at earthlink.net>

*/Good evening, Gerald/*

Many of you have asked me what I've been up to since the 2010 elections.
Others have asked me who I am supporting in tomorrow's Wisconsin primary
elections. I thought I'd share my answers with all of you, in case
you're curious.

A few weeks after last November's election, the German Green Party
invited me to participate in their national convention in Freiburg. I
spoke on a panel regarding U.S. politics and the prospects for
progressive change in the United States. I was jet-lagged and groggy,
and didn't feel all that good about my presentation. But some of what I
said must have gotten through. The very last comment at the session was
made by a German parliamentarian who turned to me and said, "what you
Americans need to realize is that you need a new constitution and
another revolution."

Oh really?

I must have been listening good, because that's just what I've been up
to. I am hard at work on a national democracy convention scheduled for
August 24-28, to be hosted at the Concourse Hotel here in Madison (save
the date, and look for updates). I've also plugged back in with Move to
Amend, where I serve on the national executive committee. I've never
worked on a project like Move to Amend before -- one where you regularly
receive emails demanding an explanation as to why you haven't succeeded
yet. Why haven't we amended the Constitution yet, hmm?

Closer to home, it seems like* Wisconsin's new governor is doing
everything in his power to help us make the case for democratic
revolution.* If you're a Wisconsinite, you know what I mean. But for
those reading in other parts of the world, you should know that for this
week, at least, and likely for the coming months, Wisconsin is at the
center of the struggle over austerity in the United States.

*This past Friday, Governor Walker announced plans to eliminate public
sector unions in Wisconsin. *He introduced what he described as a
"Budget Repair Bill." Among its provisions? It would eliminate nearly
all collective bargaining for local and state public employees. It would
require yearly recertification votes for public employee unions. It
would eliminate "fair share" union dues collection by the state. It
would limit union contracts to one year at a time. And that's just for
starters.

A Wisconsin without public sector unions is not Wisconsin. This state
gave rise to America's public employee unions. They are the backbone of
this state's progressive movement. Everything is on the line. Governor
Walker knows that. He has already notified Wisconsin's Adjutant General
that he may call on our National Guard in the coming weeks. And working
Wisconsinites know it too.

In the next few days, my organization, Liberty Tree, will go live with a
new website devoted to Wisconsin's new wave of resistance against
austerity. Look for news about the "Wisconsin Wave." *And if you are
within traveling distance to Madison's downtown, please make plans to
join us at the State Capitol tomorrow and Wednesday.* My union,
AFT-Wisconsin, has provided a helpful schedule, as well as background
information, here: http://bit.ly/hcisUQ
<http://votemanski.com/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5341&qid=622101>

Finally, tomorrow is primary election day in Wisconsin. Many of you have
asked me who I am supporting, and I'm happy to tell you:

---> In Wisconsin's first ever publicly financed *Supreme Court
election, I am voting for JOANNE KLOPPENBURG.* I've known Kloppenburg
long enough to know that she is committed to seeing our courts protect
the interests of the powerless, not just the powerful, and to expanding
democracy in American life. For full disclosure, Jack Kloppenburg, her
husband, was my undergraduate adviser, and is a wonderful advocate for
environmental and food sovereignty.

---> In Madison's *mayoral election, I support PAUL SOGLIN.* Like other
Greens and Progressives locally, I've worked with (and sometimes
differed with) both Soglin and the current mayor in their terms of
office. I know that Paul Soglin can be counted on to open up city hall
to everyone, and to especially look out for Madison's poor and
marginalized communities.

---> In Dane County's race for *county executive, I support SCOTT
MCDONNELL.* He has served as a strong advocate for human services and
environmental protection in his time as county board chair, and he is by
far the best qualified candidate to take on the duties of county
executive. Joe Parisi is also a good candidate, but my vote will be for
McDonnell.

---> Last, but not least, our local Progressive party, Progressive Dane,
has an incredible team of candidates running for city common council,
school board. I especially want to thank candidates *MARJ PASSMAN*
(Madison School Board), *SAM STEVENSON* (Madison Common Council,
District 2), *MARSHA RUMMEL* (Madison Common Council, District 6),* KYLE
SZARZYNSKI* (Madison Common Council, District 8), *BRIAN SOLOMON*
(Madison Common Council, District 10),* SATYA RHODES-CONWAY* (Madison
Common Council, District 12) and* TJ MERTZ* (Madison Common Council,
District 13) for their very active support in my recent campaign. You
can see the full list here:
http://www.prodane.org/archives/2011/01/wednesday_janua.html
<http://votemanski.com/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5342&qid=622101>

Finally, since some of you have asked, yes, we still have debt to
retire. Please contribute now to help retire our campaign debt ($1200+):
http://votemanski.com/contribute
<http://votemanski.com/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=5343&qid=622101>

Thank you for for your consideration, and for all that you do.

- Ben Manski

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/*For more information visit*/:
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