(no subject)
Holy cow, how did it get to be St. Patrick's Day already??
This last month has been the longest and the shortest. I am exhausted. I have been up to the Capitol Square 7 times since Feb. 15 at one protest rally or another. I know there is another one tomorrow, but I don't know if I can do it - I am tired, my foot hurts so bad that there are times I have trouble walking, and I am emotionally drained. The great and interesting thing about the rallies is that they are invigorating. Most of them have been, well, relaxed. Folks are pissed as hell, but we are comfortable with each other - we are all in it together. The only day that was tense was the Thursday after the Senate held their illegal vote. I got up there around 9:30 am. The Capitol was closed, despite the recent court order, and even Rep. Parisi and Rev. Jesse Jackson couldn't get in. And then we hear the State Patrol were dragging people out of the Assembly...and one guy came out and told us about it (I was standing near the People's Mike that morning) and told us how one person got his face smashed. A little while later a young woman told us about a confrontation and assult upon her by an off duty DCI officer. Things were heated and you can tell the mood around wasn't good. Folks were getting upset with the State Patrol, who were standing in front of the doors right in front of us. I was a little worried there, but then some off duty Madison cops (Cops for Labor!) stepped up and they calmed folks down a little, reminded us that we were all in this together. It didn't help much when they did open then doors because they were getting all TSA on us. I decided not to try to go in since I had my bag with me and that would hold up security.
One of the problems is that we are pulled in all directions at once. If it isn't the stripping of collective bargaining rights (and I am an AFSCME member) then it is the STUPID idea of selling our power plants, no bid necessary, then it is the draconian cuts to local governments, draconian cuts to education (essentially privatizing our Public education system!), then it is the draconian cuts to our environmental protection, then it is the HUGE amounts of money going to ROADS! Roads over Education!!
Sorry, my head just blew up...
And THEN there is the *fantastic* (heavy sarcasm there) idea to break the UW Madison away from the UW System and make it its own Public Authority..and Chancellor BIDDY (yes, that is her name) Martin loves this idea - the new frigging Badger Partnership.
Can we say work is tense? One of the most mellow professors I work with went on a tirade about what is wrong with the US and US economy (and Walker) (hint, goes back to Regan giving those huge tax breaks in the 80s to the richest americans and far more left wing than I ever thought he was...) There is almost no other topic of conversation... unless it is about our horrible financial person who hasn't been to work 2 full days since Feb. 14! (and one of those full days is actually two days where she went home early) Yes, she will be fired, eventually, but it takes time (why can't we hit a nice middle range - where the Union protects against bosses unfairly firing someone and getting rid of the truly bad worker?). It is actually better if she is not here - she has been making so many mistakes, that is, when she actually does her job...but it falls to me and the supervisor to cover for her, so that is not helping our stress level.
The rally was interesting this last Saturday. One of John's co-workers came with us - his first Political Rally! He got into it, chanting "Shame Shame Shame!". John and I even made signs! (Can you sense the Powerful & Obnoxious Odor of MENDACITY? is what my sign said) It is a recharge to go up there...and I love the sense of humor folks have despite the deep anger everyone holds. Some of the signs show a great deal of humor and thought. My favorite so far is "I could eat alphabet soup and CRAP a better bill!" Amen, brother.
There are good things happening - almost spring, we may be going on a trip this fall, my friend in San Francisco keeps sending me great baby pictures that keep me smiling during the stress.
Yea, I think I want to stay home this weekend and maybe straighten up the house and work on something, which I really haven't the energy to do these days...
SOLIDARITY FOREVER!
This last month has been the longest and the shortest. I am exhausted. I have been up to the Capitol Square 7 times since Feb. 15 at one protest rally or another. I know there is another one tomorrow, but I don't know if I can do it - I am tired, my foot hurts so bad that there are times I have trouble walking, and I am emotionally drained. The great and interesting thing about the rallies is that they are invigorating. Most of them have been, well, relaxed. Folks are pissed as hell, but we are comfortable with each other - we are all in it together. The only day that was tense was the Thursday after the Senate held their illegal vote. I got up there around 9:30 am. The Capitol was closed, despite the recent court order, and even Rep. Parisi and Rev. Jesse Jackson couldn't get in. And then we hear the State Patrol were dragging people out of the Assembly...and one guy came out and told us about it (I was standing near the People's Mike that morning) and told us how one person got his face smashed. A little while later a young woman told us about a confrontation and assult upon her by an off duty DCI officer. Things were heated and you can tell the mood around wasn't good. Folks were getting upset with the State Patrol, who were standing in front of the doors right in front of us. I was a little worried there, but then some off duty Madison cops (Cops for Labor!) stepped up and they calmed folks down a little, reminded us that we were all in this together. It didn't help much when they did open then doors because they were getting all TSA on us. I decided not to try to go in since I had my bag with me and that would hold up security.
One of the problems is that we are pulled in all directions at once. If it isn't the stripping of collective bargaining rights (and I am an AFSCME member) then it is the STUPID idea of selling our power plants, no bid necessary, then it is the draconian cuts to local governments, draconian cuts to education (essentially privatizing our Public education system!), then it is the draconian cuts to our environmental protection, then it is the HUGE amounts of money going to ROADS! Roads over Education!!
Sorry, my head just blew up...
And THEN there is the *fantastic* (heavy sarcasm there) idea to break the UW Madison away from the UW System and make it its own Public Authority..and Chancellor BIDDY (yes, that is her name) Martin loves this idea - the new frigging Badger Partnership.
Can we say work is tense? One of the most mellow professors I work with went on a tirade about what is wrong with the US and US economy (and Walker) (hint, goes back to Regan giving those huge tax breaks in the 80s to the richest americans and far more left wing than I ever thought he was...) There is almost no other topic of conversation... unless it is about our horrible financial person who hasn't been to work 2 full days since Feb. 14! (and one of those full days is actually two days where she went home early) Yes, she will be fired, eventually, but it takes time (why can't we hit a nice middle range - where the Union protects against bosses unfairly firing someone and getting rid of the truly bad worker?). It is actually better if she is not here - she has been making so many mistakes, that is, when she actually does her job...but it falls to me and the supervisor to cover for her, so that is not helping our stress level.
The rally was interesting this last Saturday. One of John's co-workers came with us - his first Political Rally! He got into it, chanting "Shame Shame Shame!". John and I even made signs! (Can you sense the Powerful & Obnoxious Odor of MENDACITY? is what my sign said) It is a recharge to go up there...and I love the sense of humor folks have despite the deep anger everyone holds. Some of the signs show a great deal of humor and thought. My favorite so far is "I could eat alphabet soup and CRAP a better bill!" Amen, brother.
There are good things happening - almost spring, we may be going on a trip this fall, my friend in San Francisco keeps sending me great baby pictures that keep me smiling during the stress.
Yea, I think I want to stay home this weekend and maybe straighten up the house and work on something, which I really haven't the energy to do these days...
SOLIDARITY FOREVER!