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Middle Wisconsin News

www.MiddleWisconsin.com February 24, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE:

FEBRUARY 2012
This February issue of Middle Wisconsin News is, as always, a combination of hope and reality. The hope that we can strengthen our communities and foster a sense of fairness and mutual respect. The reality that we have far to go and much to overcome. It is a reflection of our lives. We are all aware that the forces of greed and power have been building in America and throughout the world for many years. We are also aware that price of freedom is eternal vigilance and that perhaps we have been negligent about that vigilance for too long. But it is a new day and hope is before us. We are beginning to understand that our real lifes work lies ahead. We are beginning to understand that there is nothing more important that we can do with our time than to assure that future generations have the same rich life that was given to us by our parents and grandparents. It is the most noble thing we can do. It is what makes us human. Let us go forward understanding that we are all members of the same human community. Let us seek a world that works for all.

February.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 We The People . . . . . . . . .2 The True Costs. . . . . . . . . 3 Working Wisconsin . . . . . 5 American Health. . . . . . . . 6 Hmong Perspectives . . . . 9 Film Festival . . . . . . . . . .13 Challenging The Myth . . 15

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February 24, 2012 Page 2

WE THE PEOPLE
By Virginia Kirsch

Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead

In January 2011 a friend and I met for lunch, thoroughly upset over the cost and tone of the 2010 political campaigns. My friend suggested that we start a letter-writing group. We met for the first time in February with three people. Over the year, we each invited a friend and now have six people. In our March meeting, we went around the table, each speaking of a concern. Within fifteen minutes, the despair was so deep and thick that we could hardly move. We realized that we needed to shift gears. We needed to define the problem, not identify with the problem. Then we needed to find solutions and pass them on to friends via e-mail, blogs and Facebook. We continued to meet each month for two hours with coffee and a treat. Our original mission is found on our blog Informed and Involved Citizens at Wordpress. The four parts include: 1. Study local, state and national issues 2. Confront ideology with truth 3. Educate our communities and encourage citizen involvement 4. Hold elected officials accountable. We have continued our mission for the past year and realize our strongest point is keeping hope alive and finding ways to deal with despair. We have become a support group for each other. The timid found their voice and found the courage to speak up. This probably would not have happened without our group. We found our place and role within the group, calling on the strengths of each other. We studied how the media operates. We studied effective letters. We learned how to combat political marketing. All of us have published on a blog, or Facebook, or the newspaper or made phone calls. We share e-mails and articles on the Internet. Last October, Parker Palmer spoke to the Wausau community via a Webcast. His talk was Doing Democracy from Inside Out. His suggestions helped shape our group. We need to focus on intentionality and act as citizens, not spectators. We are in this together. Learn to live in the tension. It takes practice to hold the tension between two sides and various viewpoints. Use this tension in life-giving and creative ways. Hold the tension between what is and what might be. Operate as a community. Palmer continued: Develop the sense of your personal voice. We are not voiceless. Believe you can make a difference. Help each other recover their voices. Reflect on your own experiences. Trust your own story. Beware of cynicism which is toxic and endemic in our society. Parker Palmer closed with this statement: Keep on walking and keep on talking and let no one turn us around.

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The True Costs
By Joyce Leudke

February 24, 2012 Page 3

We have been hearing a lot about costs these days: the cost of gasoline, of healthcare, of education, of housing, and other costs that directly impact us. But let us consider some other costs that may or may not impact our pocket book, but that impact us just the same. Example One Wisconsin GOP legislative leaders secretly developed new election maps last year to strengthen their majority. These redistricting maps were drafted in Michael Bests Madison offices to grant them attorney-client privilege. Newly released documents show 75 Republicans signed legal, confidentiality agreements, along with Eric McLeod of Michael Best & Freidrich law firm, promising not to discuss the new maps while they were being developed. This legal agreement tells each lawmaker you agree not to disclose the fact and/or contents of such discussions or any draft documents within your possession. Wisconsin taxpayers will pay Michael Best & Freidrich $400,000 to draw up these maps in secret along with the confidentially agreement. Included in documents released to the panel of three federal judges, who are hearing the case brought before the court, was a set of talking points: Public comments on this map may be different than what you hear in this room. Ignore the public comments. The talking points were created by Adam Foltz, a legislative aid to Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. Taxpayers pay Adam Foltz $50,000 a year, and he continues to work from the law office of Michael Best --not the Capitol building. ( Milwaukee Journal) Republicans had fought to keep the emails and other documents private, but the judges issued a scathing order on Thursday, February 16, forcing them to make the contents public. Judge Stadtmueller, a judge appointed by President Reagan, issued another stern reprimand on Tuesday, February 21 blasting Republicans for what he called a pattern of secrecy and concealment. Judge Stadtmueller said: The facts are the facts. And what has occurred here is beyond the pale in terms of lack of transparency (and) secrecy. But appearances are everything. And Wisconsin has prided itself from one generation after another on openness and fairness and doing the right thing. And to be candid, we have seen everything but that in the way this case has progressed. (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 2/27/12.) Judge Stadtmuellers statements address these questions: What is the "cost" to the integrity of the legislative process when it is cloaked in secrecy? What is the "cost" to the constituents when their voices are not heard or ignored? What is the "cost" to the taxpayer when the map and secret documents are drawn up in a private law firm and two aides work at that private law firm out of the public eye instead of the Capitol? Example Two Michael Bests law firm has also given free legal advice (estimated value of$40,000 or more) to Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman. Justice Gableman continues to hear cases brought before the Supreme Court by the law firm of Michael Best and refuses to recuse himself. A noted case was the collective bargaining act. What is the "cost" to the integrity of the Supreme Court when a justice receives free legal advice (Outright bribery was outlawed in 1905.) from a law firm who continues to have cases heard by this justice? Does anyone really believe Justice Gableman is able to be objective in these cases?

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Middle Wisconsin News

True Costs Continued . . .
Example Three

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Mining in Northern Wisconsin has been a contentious issue in the legislature. On Wednesday, February 16, in hopes of pushing through this controversial legislation, Senate Majority leader Scott Fitzgerald disbanded a special Senate mining committee in favor of the Assemblys version. The Assemblys version weakens existing mining regulations along with environmental regulations. Senator Bob Jauch, who represents the district directly impacted by the mine, was on the Senate mining committee. He and the other committee members had scheduled two public hearings, in Ashland and Platteville, that were cancelled. What is the "cost" to the constituents of Senator Jauchs district when the senator they elected to speak for them in Madison is muted because the committee is disbanded? What is the "cost" to the people of this district when only one public hearing was held in the area? What is the "cost" to the voice of the people when they were given a maximum of three minutes to speak at this public hearing? What is the "cost" to the dignity and culture of Native Americans whose lands will be directly affected when their voices are being ignored? Example Four The continuing FBI John Doe probe has resulted in arrests of former and current aides of Governor Walker. Darlene Wink pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of working on Walkers gubernatorial campaign on county time. She has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in ongoing investigations of other close Walker associates. Tim Russell, Walkers former deputy of chief at the county (accused of stealing more than $21,000), and Kevin Kavanaugh, Walkers appointment to the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Commission (accused of stealing some $42,000), were arrested and charged with multiple felonies. Cindy Archer, an appointee of Governor Walker, has had her home raided by the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation. Andrew Jensen Jr, a commercial real estate broker, was jailed for a time for refusing to cooperate with the secret John Doe investigation. He did not want the grant of immunity to be made public. Immunity was given to Cullen Werwie, Walkers current spokesman and former campaign aide, and Rose Ann Dieck, a Republican operative. Four felony misconduct in office charges against Kelly Rindfleisch, a top aide to Gov. Walker during his final year as Milwaukee County executive, will proceed. She is free on a $1,000 bond. What is the cost to the integrity of the governors office with this on-going and expanding John Doe probe? As we can see with these four examples--and there have been many more in this past year--the high cost to the reputation of Wisconsin, its legislative process, the governorship, the Supreme Court, and the people of Wisconsin is a cost too great to bear. It is time to bring back honesty and open government. It is time to restore the reputation of this once proud progressive state. It is time for change. It is in our hands through the recall process. And it is a signal to future elected officials that we will not stand by to see the reputation and integrity of the people of Wisconsin and our government trampled on! We will use the power of Wisconsins Constitution to restore our state.

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Working Wisconsin - Labor News and Views

The Devastating Local Effects Of Walker Economics
By John Spiegelhoff

I must credit my colleagues who have worked to discredit my ideas and not infrequently, me personally. They inspire in a different way. They compel me to ask why there is so much unnecessary hostility to ideas that should be part of the scientific debate. In searching for answers, I have gained a wiser, more unique perspective that I could not have considered otherwise. - - T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., author of The China Study

The vast majority of economists believe that shrinking employees pay and benefits is a counterintuitive strategy for economic recovery. For example, America rose from the Great Depression by the federal government creating jobs such as the Civilian Conservation Corp. The workers received their paycheck from jobs created by the government and put the money back into the economy. Government workers provided a valuable service and contributed to the local economy, which in turn sustained small businesses. This is a tried and true method for economic recovery. Governor Walkers economic policies are not grounded in economic theory but rather through a partisan agenda. Supporting Governor Walkers policies towards public employees is analogous to a large siphon sucking the economic life out of the local economy. According to the Institute For Wisconsins Future, the economic impact of his policies are real and damaging in North Central Wisconsin. The estimated impact of cuts to public workers take home pay in Marathon County is simply enormous. There are 6,827 public workers in Marathon County with employees losing about $1,984 annual take home pay due to the union busting law. This will reduce local buying and economic activity by $13.5 million, leading to closed businesses and retail job losses. The economic impact to Lincoln County is equally devastating. There are 1,751 public workers in Lincoln County with employees losing about $2,067 in annual take-home pay. This will reduce local buying and economic activity by $3.6 million. Communities are bound to suffer in a continued economic slump due to this failed and misguided policy. It is simply amazing to me when I hear how people support these policies with real and tangible harmful impacts on our communities. They clamor about how awful public workers are but fail to realize they really disparage their neighbors and hurt businesses. They are oblivious to the onerous personal and financial impact of these policies on our communities. It is only when we see ourselves interconnected that we can we turn back those who harm our families, our friends, and the State of Wisconsin. Rise up.
Source: www.wisconsinsfuture.org

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American Health
Contraceptive Controversy
By Lon Newman Wausau, WI

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones weve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. - President Barack Obama

The U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops (USCCB) is incensed at the decision by the Obama administration to guarantee that the preventive health care benefit package in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes contraceptive care. In a USCCB video, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the former archbishop of Milwaukee, wags an index finger as he invokes religious freedom protected by the very first amendment. The archbishop calls upon his flock to contact their elected officials and let them know that religious liberty must be restored. Under a cloak of reverence for religious freedom, the bishops say reproductive health care must be denied. As do the rights to millions of American women, millions of people of other religious faiths, and even millions of American Catholics most of whom disagree with the archbishop. Before we ask President Obama to reverse his administrations decision, there are some troubling questions we should ask the bishops and ourselves lest we destroy religious freedom in the name of preserving it: A patient who takes birth control pills, under the USCCBs code of conscience, with the intention of preventing pregnancy, commits a sin. If that same patient takes the same prescription for another health purpose, it is permissible. Is there any way that respects a patients right to privacy that also enables insurance companies and employers to deny birth control pills to prevent pregnancy while it permits them for regulation of menstrual cycles? In Wisconsin, we have a Medicaid family planning program to prevent unintended pregnancy. It has been very successful. It saves taxpayer dollars by reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions among participants. Medicaid payment records show that many Catholic hospitals, clinics, physicians and pharmacists are participating in the program. These institutions provide birth control services and receive public insurance (tax) dollars in payment. There is no reason for the bishops to wait to exercise their consciencerights. They could stop accepting payment for family planning now. Why wait? Many people of sincere faith disapprove of childhood immunizations even though they are, like family planning, on the top 10 list of major public health benefits. Under the religious exemption based on an employers conscience that the USCCB is asking for, an employer with a conscientious objection to immunization might deny its employees children insurance coverage for measles, mumps, polio, Pertussis, and rubella vaccines. What would be the public health impact on children when so many are not immunized?

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American Health
Controversy Continued . . .

We are continually faced with great opportunities which are brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems.
--Margaret Mead

Many Catholic employers throughout the country have family planning and birth control coverage in their insurance policies right now. Is there a reason to wait for Affordable Care Act permission to exclude contraceptive care from the insurance coverage of their employees? If the bishops implement the limits on insurance coverage they are asking for in their own clinics and hospitals and pharmacies which even though they havent, they say they must will these employees continue to provide birth control and family planning services to patients and receive insurance reimbursement while they no longer have insurance coverage for that care themselves? Will employees be forced to seek out nonsectarian health care and pay for it out-of-pocket? In Cardinal-designate Dolans former diocese, there is a nettlesome question of who is an employee of the archdiocese and who is not. Today, diocesan attorneys will argue that sexual assault claims against priests working in diocesan religious ordersshould be thrown out because the priests were not employees. The bishops need to clarify how they are accountable and responsible for the sexual health and morality of the employees of these separately incorporated religious affiliates until they engage in criminal sexual behavior. Those of us who revere the Constitution and the individual right to exercise freedom of religion enabled by the separation of church and state must stop the mass media procession that is now engaged in a responsive reading from the archbishops hymnal. These sounds you hear are not the chimes of freedom. Lon Newman, of Wausau, is executive director, Family Planning Health Services Inc.; public affairs chair, Wisconsin Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and president, Wisconsin Reproductive Health Network.

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February 24, 2012 Page 8

American Health
Plan B - Lets Try The Truth
By Lon Newman Wausau, WI At a Conservative Political Action Conference former Governor Mitt Romney criticized the contraceptive coverage compromise with the same weapon as Archbishop Dolan and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops misinformation. Confusing the public about emergency contraception pills (ECP) is deliberate, pervasive, and has been so often repeated by opponents of contraception, that it has taken on the infectious character of a sexually transmitted disease. It is significant that former Governor Romneys Pro-life epiphany came when he vetoed legislation in Massachusetts that would have given rape victims access to emergency contraception. The basis for his epiphany was the misconception that it would terminate life after conception. It is hard to imagine that Archbishop Dolan and the USCCB are simply misinformed. People of faith who heard their bishops instruction a week ago in the sanctuary, were given the same forced to cover abortion pills lie. They all too often believe what they are told because they believe their religious authorities are honestly seeking truth. That is why it is extremely important that the research on Plan B One-Step (the morning after pill) is explained clearly and forthrightly. Research shows that it prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation and/or fertilization. There is no evidence that Plan B prevents implantation. Ron Hamel, a Catholic ethicist publishing the conclusions of five years of scientific review in the January-February 2010 issue of Health Progress (Catholic health journal), said: . . .virtually all of the evidence in the scientific literature indicates Plan B has little or no postfertilization effect, that is, it has little or no effect on the endometrium that would make it inhospitable to implantation. Its mechanism of action is to disrupt ovulation. One objection frequently repeated by Plan B opponents is that there is language in the pill package that the drug may prevent implantation. However, Nicanor PierGiorgio Austriaco, a priest, theologian, and scientist also studied the active drugs effects and determined that it has no post-fertilization effect. On the argument of labeling, he stated that: . . . labels mean nothing without the scientific data to back up their claims. These conclusions are reinforced in the 2010 World Health Organizations fact sheet on Levonogestrel (LNG) which states: LNG ECP use does not prevent a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine lining. I am pro-choice. To me, we are distracted by the question: When does life begin, because when it comes to the question of contraception, we must ask: When does a pregnancy begin? Most people know intuitively that there cannot be an abortion before there is a pregnancy. Therefore, preventing unwanted pregnancies prevents abortions. But, even if you believe that pregnancy is the same as fertilization, Plan B is not abortion pill.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes

- - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Middle Wisconsin News Hmong Perspectives

By Paokee S. Xiong

February 24, 2012 Page 9

Heroes are not giant statues framed against a red sky. They are people who say: This is my community and it is my responsibility to make it better. Interweave all these communities and you really have an America that is back on its feet again. - - Studs Terkel

I am a Hmong educator, and today I no longer consider myself or my people a minority of the Wausau area like I once did almost 30 years ago. Regardless of the discrimination and prejudices my family faced in the early 80s when we first relocated to the area, I am proud to be a part of a city of which Ive seen profoundly transform into a genuine collective, embracing and nurturing the caliber of diversity it has to offer. In the past 3 decades, Ive witnessed major social changes in an effort to create a community everyone can call home, and it is with the development and support for organizations such as Hmong Heritage Month - a whole month devoted to my people - that these changes are now taking tangible form. Additionally, Ive also seen the number of Hmong businesses and the hiring of Hmong professionals in all sectors of the community increase. So its truly a great feeling to know I am living in a culturally conscious area, -Marathon County -with the resources and partnerships enabling us to continue to thrive and truly become a part of our communitys own heritage. It was and is with this incredible support that we have been able to peacefully live comfortably alongside our neighboring citizens, regardless of the cultural differences we each come equipped with. What a truly amazing accomplishment weve made as a society to show our future generations the importance of accepting, understanding and celebrating diversity! After all, We are one Peb yog ib pab, and we need to continue to respect, support and learn from one another in order to continue to flourish. In 2004, April was declared Hmong Heritage Month because it signifies the month the first Hmong family moved to Wausau back in 1976. Since then, the local Hmong population has grown to almost 7,000 people and it has only been within the last 8 years that weve recognized the importance to celebrate as well as continue to expose our community to this beautiful heritage that, through time, has naturally been woven into the citys fabric. Since the first Hmong History Month, we have been showcasing our presence in Marathon County through a series of events, and this year, I am proud to announce our theme is We are one -Peb yog ib pab. Our goal is to increase representation and involvement from people of all ages and professions within the Hmong community to ensure an accurate reflection, as well as to develop and establish partnerships and support from our general community to truly celebrate as one. We believe its through exposure and education that cultural tolerance can be continuously improved and be our passport to a better future. Hmong Heritage Month is a non-profit organization whose events are made possible through generous donations and support from our local area businesses, agencies, and caring citizens who recognize the need for investing in our community. It is through their kindness and shared vision that weve been able to work together in order to achieve success, and I would like to thank all of our sponsors and partners that have worked with Hmong Heritage Month - whether it was in the past, present, or the future. This year we are hosting The Amazing Race on March 3rd in an effort to raise money that will go towards all 2012 HHM festivities in April. Teams will be competing in a series of challenges around the Wausau area. Each challenge is worth a certain number of points depending on the level of difficulty and outrageousness! With the option to choose which ones to complete, the team who accumulates the most points in the 5 hour race, wins! Our volunteers have been creatively working to ensure a funfilled day with some interesting challenges - with a twist! We hope to attract as many participants as possible to come out for some enjoyment, but more importantly to support a great cause! Registration is now open. Please see the flyer and forms on the following pages for more information. We hope to see everyone there!

Paokee S. Xiong is a member of the Hmong Heritage Month Planning Committee in Wausau, WI

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Amazing Race- March 3, 2012

Team Registration Form
*Co-ed 2-5 people per team: $50/team (all proceeds go towards HHM)

Team Name: ________________________________ Team Captain: _______________________

Team Member Name

Address

Phone

Registration Fee Enclosed _________________

All team members must sign the attached waiver in order to participate! Forms and registration fee can be sent to the following address: Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Assistance (HHM Amazing Race) 1109 N. 6th Street, Wausau, WI, 54403

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Amazing Race - March 3, 2012 Participant Waiver Form

I, _________________________ (your name), understand that by participating in this event I assume that I am healthy to participate in all activities planned and organized and am fully able to meet all the demands that is expected of me. The risk that I am taking in this event is all on my own and relieve the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association of any liability of responsibility if Im to get hurt, injured, or die from the activities Im involved in. I will act civilly towards the organizers and other participants in this event. I also understand that the organizers reserve the right to terminate my involvement if theres just cause. _____________________________________________ Signature (Guardians Signature if under 18) _____________________________________________ Date

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Northwoods Grassroots Labor Activists and The North Central Labor Coalition

Bread and Roses Film Festival

Celebrating a Century of

Women Workers Fighting and Winning

Friday March 23 6:30 PM Collective Voices: The 1912 Bread and Roses Strike Bread and Roses Saturday, March 24 1:00 PM Mother Jones: The Most Dangerous Woman in America Norma Rae Saturday, 4:30 PM Join us for Supper. Saturday, 6:00 PM The Willmar 8 Revisited Made in Degenham All Films shown at The Guild Hall, 39 South Pelham Street, Rhinelander
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The Bread and Roses Strike of 1912 Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; Hearts starve as well as bodies; bread and roses, bread and roses. In 1912 the workers of the woolen mills of Lawrence, Massachusetts, struck for decent pay and working conditions. Women and girls played a key role in the success of the strike and they inspired James Openheim to write Bread and Roses, a poem which later was revised as a song. As we go marching, marching, unnumbered women dead Go crying through our singing their ancient call for bread. Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew. Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too. As we go marching, marching, we bring the greater days, The rising of the women means the rising of the race. No more the drudge and idler, ten that toil where one reposes, But a sharing of life's glories: Bread and roses, bread and roses.

Lawrence workers at the grave of Anna LoPizzo killed by the police during the strike.

The Film Festival will be at The Guild Hall, 39 South Pelham Street, Rhinelander
715-401-2002 715-369-0309 http://northwoodssolidarity.blogspot.com/ Find us on FaceBook -------------------------------------The long memory is the most radical idea in America. Utah Phillips

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February 24, 2012 Page 15

CHALLENGING THE MYTH...

And if all others accepted the lie which the party imposedif all records told the same tale then the lie passed into history and became the truth. George Orwell, 1984 (published in 1949)

The Myth That God Is On Our Side

By Dave Svetlik

Being the free-thinking spirit that he was, Benjamin Franklin had a difficult time accepting the fundamentalist Puritan religions of his day. Avoiding their intolerant attitudes, Franklin concluded, the most acceptable service to God is doing good to man. If people cared for others, it mattered little what they believed. We have a revival of religious fundamentalism in America today. Countless individuals claim to know the will of God. God won the election, God doesnt like those other religions, the Bible says this, the Koran says that, and perhaps most destructive of all, God is on our side. It seems quite a denigration of the supreme creator of this incredible universe (universes?) to think that he could care less than equally for all humans. Claiming God is on ones side excuses one from the hard work of thinking, from the difficult task of trying to understand the equally valid and cherished ideas of those different from us, from seeking the common values that genuinely do exist among all humans, and from the constant vigilance required to control the economic and political power forces that are almost always at the heart of any real threats to human freedom or moral societies. None of us are special children of God. All of us are. If we have followed Franklins precepts and our guiding philosophy has been doing good to man, then we have been truly moral indeed. And be we Christian, Jew, Muslim or Unitarian, we will part this world with grace and dignity and be received with joy. (Portions of this article were previously published in the Wausau Daily Herald)

Confusing Terms
Government Deficit and Debt: The deficit is the yearly difference between collected revenues and government spending. The debt is the total accumulated amount owed by the government and is divided between public and private debt. Income and Wealth: Income is the amount of money an individual makes on a yearly basis. Wealth is the total accumulated money, property, and materials owned by an individual. These terms are often used in confusing and sometimes deceptive ways.