Hundreds of thousands of protestors have descended on the Capitol in Madison, WI in the last year. Tens of thousands of volunteers have mobilized petition drives, meetings, and rallies in their own communities. Numerous reports in the media cite “dislike” of Gov. Walker or single issue reasons such as the collective bargaining roll back as driving factors fueling the recall. Although these reasons would be legally sufficient under Wisconsin’s constitutional right to recall, I have found public discontent to be much more multifaceted than these often used examples. After 8 months of collecting interviews and posting reports from people around the state, I have found the issues to be as diverse as the people themselves.
Concerned citizens have spoken about topics ranging from diminished access to and rising costs of health care, voting rights, environmental deregulation, child protection, competent leaders, education, farming, cronyism, women’s health/reproductive issues, campaign finance, Supreme Court impropriety, workplace environment including safety and intimidation, college tuition, election fraud, jobs, livable wages, immigrant issues, human rights, democracy, favoritism, inner city isolationism, gun control, Native American treaty rights, mass transit, corporate influence, 2-party system, unemployment, collective bargaining, corruption, deportation, poverty, incarceration, WI retirement system, access to elected leaders and Capitol building, fair taxation, equitable funding, hunting, state park system, nutrition, privatization, mining and fracking, working government, 99% issues, protecting the vulnerable, Wisconsin’s legacy, and more…
Here is a recap of some of WI Voices interviews from this past year.
“Frank”
lost Badgercare; livable wages; fair taxation; retirement
inner city isolationism; equitable government; competent leaders
family farmers; corporate influence; favoritism; livable wages
health care; independence; equitable gov’t
correctional officer; privatization; collective bargaining, livable wages
Auriel Auriel and Julia Willett
visibility in government; worker’s rights; democracy; access to Capitol
equal protection and rights; child protection; immigrant issues; deportation
Chris Wondra (left, with friends)
government corruption; education; transparency; democracy
Social Services; child nutrition; fair funding; protecting the vulnerable
collective bargaining; workplace environment; education; fairness
Zhi Yang Chen, Yang C., Jay S., Linshu Li Lily Spider
democracy; working government; voting rights
Susan Bickley and Marie Martini
99% issues;WI legacy; transparency; education
Gov. Walker Supporters; fair taxation; corporate influence; democracy
voting rights; human rights; working government
preserving Wisconsin; protecting the vulnerable; education
WI legacy; mass transit; protecting the vulnerable; livable wage
“Megan”
child protective services; workplace environment; livable wage
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For more stories from regular people in Wisconsin, check out WI Voices TV.
Here are two other stories produced by grassroots upstarts:
"WI Teacher Resigns..."
See, “Recall elections ordered for Walker, Kleefisch, 4 GOP senators”, 3/31/12, Wisconsin State Journal, at http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/recall-elections-ordered-for-walker-kleefisch-gop-senators/article_97b6f274-7a74-11e1-bd58-001a4bcf887a.html
See, “Just over 931,000 signatures submitted for Walker recall, GAB says”, 3/13/12, at http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/gab-authorizes-4-senate-recall-elections-ab4hj00-142337285.html
Keep up the good work!
You would think that, as a retired teacher, my only concern would be the loss of collective bargaining for public workers. Not so. I am in favor of recalling Walker for many more reasons. I didn’t realize how many until I saw your list. I take issue with each one – and I think there are as many as 50 reasons given! Walker MUST GO!
this is what the recall is all about
Wait…I thought it was JUST about collective bargaining. I thought it was just UNION THUGS driving this. Oh..that’s right…that’s what Walker would have us think. Thanks for reminding everyone that it’s not.
I’ve been notified that the new site wasn’t allowing comments…and now it has even eaten a few previous ones! Bear with me as I maneuver through this…Thanks!