It has been a year of challenge, for me and everyone else with financial responsibilities, and in my beautiful home state of Wisconsin. Our proud progressive state has been turned on its political “ear,” thanks to the out-of-state agenda of unbridled wealth and Scott Walker, the governor who does a sublime impression of a weak-minded, gullible, and opportunistic puppet. The recall supporters are facing off against the “win at all costs” crowd, aided and abetted by their eager pack of baying, low-information pawns. Now, as the names and addresses of every recall petition signer are about to be posted online for all to see, let the targeting and harassment begin.
Such were the thoughts racing through my mind yesterday as I watched the events of yesterday’s Occupy Oakland protest march unfold. I sat spellbound in front of my computer screen for hours, wondering at the treatment of protesters at the hands of their fellow Americans, the police. I watched from the comfort of my armchair as police ran up and snatched targeted individuals—taxpayers—from the outskirts of the crowd and dragged them away. I watched police launch smoke bombs and teargas at taxpayers on a public street. I saw a police officer physically attack a videographer with a large stick and knock him to the ground. Shouts of “Attacking the press, attacking the press” alerted a nearby officer who stepped up and grabbed the arm of Officer Bully to stop the assault.
I also gleaned from the live stream that officers from other communities had been paid by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan to come to her city to corner and arrest her constituents. Like mercenaries they came from communities unknown, just as Scott Walker hired police from small Wisconsin towns to come to Madison during last spring's protests.
We all know that Wisconsin is becoming a significant battlefield for the war on our democracy. The Sedition-for-Profit agenda has been unleashed and there will be no dollar left unspent or dirty trick left untried in the effort to keep Scott Walker in office. And if by some miracle (such as the ones in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004), Scott Walker retains his office, the resulting uproar is likely to shake the earth.
Perhaps we will all find out very soon how far the wealthiest will go to protect their interests and profit potential. Perhaps the ones who support Scott Walker and other new Republican governors will just give up and focus on another state instead. We'll see.
I beg you all to keep Wisconsin in your thoughts and hearts in the weeks and months ahead. I do not believe it is an exaggeration to write that it could get pretty ugly here politically once the challenger to Scott Walker emerges. We cannot hope to compete with the money that will be spent upfront and behind the scenes to attack the challenger, undermine recall morale, and to ensnare the undecided. But we also can’t afford to back off and let our state and our American government be derailed to fill the pockets of those who already have so much.
Recall Scott Walker!