!"#$%!&''"#$%()'

*"(+&#wiunion#wisconsin

#solidarity

#egypt

#egypt#tunisia #iran

#bahrain

#Algeria

#algeria

#peace

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content march 2011i am a giant douche bag - Chris Talbot-Heindl

Fight For Ur Rights Wisco - Jason Loeffler

Open Email to Wisconsin Assembly Reps and Senators - Judy Haight

Scott Walker - Steve(ToyRobot)smith

Celebrating Protest Week I - Eric Krszjzaniek

This Isn’t Just a Protest - Robin Lee

Celebrating Protest Week II - Eric Krszjzaniek

re-call - Robin Lee

On the Budget Repair Bill - Katrina Shankland

I Want My Party Back - Marc Seals

Scoot’s Next Move - Robin Lee

Joe Republican - Jeff Parker

Celebrating Protest Week III - Eric Krszjzaniek

Celebrating Protest Week IV - Eric Krszjzaniek

My Job is to Defend My Constituents - Julie Lassa

Self Portrait - Steve(ToyRobot)smith

Not What Democracy Looks Like - Robin Lee

Reflections Mural - Stephanie Jones

From the Front Lines in Madison, Wisconsin - Kristine Mattis

Untitled - Azaria Nori

Asphyxiation - Steve(ToyRobot) smith

Untitled - Azaria Nori

Moment of Connection - Stephanie Jones

mollusc - Michelle Wojtaszek

Donors & Index

Mrs. Hisname - Stephanie Jones

advertising:bitchin’ kitsch is offering crazy low rates of $5 for a fourth-page ad, $10 for a half-page ad, and $20 for a full page ad. book yours today by emailing chris at chris@talbot-heindl.com.

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about b’k:bitchin’ kitsch is a zine for artists, poets, prose writers, or anyone else who has something to say. it exists for the purpose of open creativity. if you have something you want to share, please email it to chris@talbot-heindl.com.

Eric Krszjzaniek - pg 5 Steve(ToyRobot)smith - pg 14

on the front cover:i am a giant douche bagby: Chris Talbot-HeindlGicleé printwww.talbot-heindl.com

on the inside front cover:Fight For Ur Rights Wiscoby: Jason LoefflerPoster

on the inside back cover:Mrs. Hisnameby: Stephanie JonesOil on canvas

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Scott WalkerSteve(ToyRobot)smithInk on paper

judy haight, steve(ToyRobot)smith.

Open Email to Wisconsin Assembly Reps and SenatorsBy: Judy Haight

Dear Senators and Assembly Representatives of the State of Wisconsin:

I have been reading through the January 2011 Special Session Assembly Bill 11, also referred to as LRB-1426/1, commonly known as the “Emergency Budget Repair Bill”. The text of this bill can be found here: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/11-1426_101.pdf. I think there is a Senate version as well but I have been unable to find it online.

I am really very glad that Wisconsinites have been given a few extra days in which to take a look at this bill and bring their concerns to their elected representatives since the bill contains many provisions that can adversely affect people, families, business and communities. I have a number of questions that I hope you will be able to answer.

My first question is why was this bill introduced in the first

place, and why was an attempt made to force it through quickly almost without any debate? From published reports, the State would have ended the fiscal year on June 30 with a positive balance except for three tax cuts to businesses that were passed prior to the introduction of this bill. It appears that nearly everything in this bill could go through the State’s normal budgetary process.

My next question is why this bill will effectively eliminate so many jobs but does not work to create new jobs. Why aren’t you working to expand the tax base?

This bill wipes out respite care, and wipes out grants for community programs for alcohol and drug abuse, prisoner reintegration, outreach services, community improvement job training and more, and will reduce the eligibility levels for Medical Aid which includes BadgerCare, and includes denial of care for anyone who can’t afford to share in the cost. Certainly these programs are expensive, and perhaps expenditures here should be looked at. But to wipe them out overnight without giving families and communities a chance to find a way to cope demonstrates a lack of concern for those you serve. In addition, the bill mandates the

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judy haight (con’t), eric krszjzaniek.

Department of Health Services to attempt to obtain waivers on federal requirements. Will this result in yet more of our federal taxpayer dollars leaving the State?

This bill also provides for the sale or contracting out for operation of the State’s power plants. These plants are currently producing power so it’s unclear why this is in an “emergency” budget bill. Oddly enough, although standard practice for large purchases or sales such as this would generally involve a bidding process, and although Wis Stats 196.80 clearly gives the Public Service Commission jurisdiction over the sale and transfer of power plants and the licenses to operate them, this bill indicates there will be no bidding process and will go around the PSC. Why is this? Published news stories indicate the plants are old and need upgrading, but the bill does not indicate a study was done to determine whether it’s cheaper to upgrade and maintain the plants or to sell them and buy power. What do you anticipate the net effect will be on taxpayer burden? With a bidding process in place, Wisconsin based energy companies can compete, and the money from the sales will

stay in the state. Unfortunately, at least one published news story indicated the plants may go to Koch Industries, which supplies coal and natural gas but is not a Wisconsin-based company. News stories also report the owners of Koch Industries contributed large sums to Governor Walker’s campaign, so it’s unclear whether sale of the State’s power plants as put forth in this bill is for the benefit of the people or political payback for Governor Walker’s contributors. Could you address this please?

If you are unaware of any of the news stories that I mention, please contact me and I will be try to find them for you.

This bill increases the number of unclassified (non-union) division administrators by 35 FTE positions, and decreases 36 FTE positions in executive branch agencies but gives no explanation for this action. Why are these new positions needed? Will people filling the existing positions be transferred to the new positions? What is the rationale for including this in an “emergency” bill rather than through

Celebrating Protest Week IEric KrszjzaniekPhotograph

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judy haight (con’t).

the normal budgeting process?

The portion of the bill that has received the most public notice, of course, is curtailing union rights for state and munipal employees including teachers. Wisconsin has a long, proud legacy of union activity. Gains that unions brought to Wisconsin and the rest of the United States include the 5-day work week, which all workers now benefit from. If you need more details on the benefits union activity has brought to life in America I will be happy to provide them. This bill speaks less to representing the values and culture of the people of Wisconsin and more to political payback for corporate backers of Republican political campaigns. Curtailing union rights does nothing to balance the State’s budget and certainly has no place in an “emergency” bill. Could you please explain why you have included it?

This union issue has been used as a wedge to divide the people of Wisconsin. Despite published reports that compensation including benefits for State employees is actually less than it would be in private enterprise, fingers have been pointed at public sector employees as somehow getting more than their fair share. Rush Limbaugh calls them parasites. It takes a special sort of person to be a teacher and not everyone can do that. On the other hand, every citizen of the State has an equal opportunity to take the civil service exams and apply for State jobs, and I think there is a similar opportunity for municipal jobs.

There should be no stigma attached to working in civil service, yet in public opinion there is a trend to divide into camps based on where you work. At a time when the Assembly and Senate might have worked to bring the people of Wisconsin together to face our problems as one and move the state Forward, this bill caused division and social unrest. Instead of pointing out union workers and saying they have too much, why did you not look for a way to bring more to non-union workers? In pointing out union workers as being different, somehow people forgot to look at all of you who are highly paid public servants with a nice benefit package. What about voting in a hefty pay cut and benefit reduction for yourselves in order to do your part? No need to include it in this “emergency” bill of course, just include it in the regular budgeting process.

If this bill passes and union rights are curtailed, communities such as Madison and the Fox Cities stand to lose federal funding for public transportation and other programs. This has a severely negative impact on the affected communities. What do you intend to do to alleviate this problem if you pass this bill? The part of the

bill that strips union rights from municipal employees was supposedly to help municipalities manage their budgets. Can you explain how losing federal funds due to this action will help the communities you represent?

Under this bill, effective with the March 12 paycheck, represented employees will begin contributing more to their retirement and insurance. This is effectively an immediate pay cut. Local business owners have told me it will substantially hurt their businesses. Why not wait until the October Open Enrollment period so that employees would have a chance to choose more affordable insurance? It’s already in the bill for the Government Insurance Board to begin to look at other insurance options. So again, why is this part of an “emergency” bill rather than the regular budgeting process?

Under this bill, a local government employer who participates in the local government plan offered by the Government Insurance Board may not participate if it intends to pay more than 88% of the average premium. How does this help to balance the state budget? If it does not affect the state budget, why is it in this bill?

Under this bill, UW Hospitals and Clinics Authority employees cease to be State employees and lose union representation and the right to collectively bargain. This is about 5% of employees who are currently represented by State unions. Given that these employees were not paid by the State but by the Authority, how does this help balance the state budget? Benefits for these employees were handled by the State – what will happen to those benefits, such as retirement funds. Why is this in an “emergency”

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Celebrating Protest Week IIEric KrszjzaniekPhotograph

bill rather than going through the regular budgeting process?

This bill eliminates the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Authority. This appears to have been done mostly to eliminate the ability of home health care workers to participate in a union. What will happen with the registry of independent home care workers currently maintained by the WQHCA? If issues arise for home health care workers, how will they be handled in the future? Currently violations of the nondiscrimination provisions of contracts is handled by WQHCA. What impact does this have on caretakers, families and communities? How does this help to maintain jobs in Wisconsin and balance the budget?

Quite probably I do not have all the information at hand that you do and so do not understand all of the intent and consequences. I look forward to a response. But if I do not completely understand the ramifications then perhaps many of your constituents don’t understand either. All in all, it seems to me this bill was rather hastily put forward, with insufficient thought to some of the consequences, without regard to the values and heritage of the citizens of the State of Wisconsin, and with too much consideration for out-of-state corporate campaign backers. I call on you to remember who it is that votes for you, and who you are supposed to represent. I would like to see this bill discussed in the wards and districts you represent before it is passed so that both you and the citizens you represent can evaluate the impact. To encourage this dialog I am forwarding this letter on to a few news outlets.

Yours truly,Judy Haight

This Isn’t Just a ProtestBy: Robin Lee

This is more than just a protest.This is a revolution.This is not about the problem.It’s about finding a solution.

This is much more than just chanting....This is raising our voice.It’s not just raving and ranting,It’s protecting our right of choice.

It isn’t about getting out of school,or getting off from work.

It’s about showing we have more power,than one dictating jerk.This is more than just a rally.This is history in the making.People’s right’s won’t die without a fight.Freedom’s fruits not ripe for the taking.

Sure, the state of the state is suffering.But we won’t let it suffer more.Our lives will not be decided,in meetings behind closed doors.

This isn’t about just Madison,it’s about America home of the free.This is not about the presentIt’s about the future yet to be.

This isn’t about the problem.This is about the solution.This is more than just a protest.This is a revolution.

judy haight (con’t), robin lee, eric krszjzaniek.

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On the Budget Repair BillBy: Katrina Shankland

It’s difficult to take all of this in and not feel cheated. I feel like the time I’ve taken to write and call politicians from the state to the federal level, the donations I’ve made, the thoughts I’ve shared with people in my network, the time I took this weekend to head down to Madison and stay up all night in the Capitol to make my voice heard and also volunteer, is cheapened. It’s cheapened by the Republicans’ refusal to negotiate—nay, to even listen, by the ways in which they’ve attempted to silence their opposition, by their doublespeak and “It’s just about the budget: nothing more, nothing less”es and their manipulating and posturing

and reprehensible behavior as a whole.

I was so enlivened when I came home on Sunday morning after a full 12 hours spent with people who cared and could articulate exactly why they were affronted by this proposed legislation. Now I feel like it was a fever dream.

Giving testimony at a public hearing was one of the best things I’ve done as part of the democratic process. It was a hearing, but it was also a healing. The people I was privileged to be with at the public hearing at midnight on a Saturday were people of all ages and backgrounds. They were impassioned, articulate, insightful, eloquent and convincing. They used reason and employed facts in their testimonies. Some cried. I certainly did, through many of

robin lee, katrina shankland.

re-callRobin LeeGraphite on paper

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katrina shankland (con’t).

their stories.

When I was able to speak, almost exactly at 1:00 a.m., I was so moved that most of what I was thinking I would touch upon was ignored as I allowed my emotions to deliver what was more of a speech than a testimony. Several minutes later, as I asked question after question of what would happen to our public servants, the next generations’ education, the public safety, my voice broke, I got up as everyone clapped, and I went back to my seat and sobbed.

I felt so much better, knowing that everyone else in that room knew exactly why I was so hurt and worried for all of us. All of us.

Coming back here and following the news again, seeing how none of what we are saying and doing seems to be making even a dent in the political machine that is Scott Walker just undermined everything: all the effort that hundreds of thousands of people are putting in to cast a vote with their voice, their feet, their leaving their jobs for a day.

Now, I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a strange juxtaposition of emotions: heartened by the amazing individuals I sat with and the incredible Assemblywoman who hugged us afterward and told us how much of an honor it was to listen to us testify; beaten by the corporate interests who have bought our Governor and many of his party members, forcing their hand with a union-busting bill thinly disguised as a short-term budget fix.

Disgusted by how little I feel a representative democracy can actually give its people; ashamed to be taking for granted the incredible gifts of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press when people in Iran, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Tunisia, Libya have given so much more for so much less.

I can’t reconcile all of this. I feel simultaneously embarrassed for how much I care when in other countries, the stakes are much higher and consequences much graver, yet compelled to continue caring, because, in spite of the contrast between the Mideast and Midwest, it matters.

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marc seals.

I Want My Party Backby: Marc Seals

After nearly two decades of being a Republican, I must face the reality that my party has abandoned me.

In the early 1990s, I became a registered Republican. I was a public school English teacher in Georgia who felt betrayed by the leftward shift of the Democratic Party; it seemed that there was no longer room for moderate or conservative Democrats. I took call for the Republican Party to be a “big tent” at face value and jumped ship.

I was strongly opposed to the idea of teachers being unionized. Unions were for blue-collar workers, I thought. Unions create an antagonistic relationship between employees and management, I thought. In fact, I was the campus representative for two non-union teachers associations-- the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the Professional Educators’ Network (in Florida). These organization existed to provide an alternative to the teachers’ unions; even so, I never heard anyone within those organizations say that the unions did not have a fundamental right to exist.

Even when I returned to graduate school, I stuck by my conservative principles. This was rather lonely at times, I will confess, but I believe that education should not be a partisan issue. I have never voted straight party line, because I agree with the Clinton-era Republican mantra that “character counts.” Nevertheless, I have voted for far more Republicans than Democrats over the last two decades.

I finally earned my PhD in 2004 (after ten years of college), and I moved to Wisconsin to take a position on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County. The pay here was quite a bit lower than in other Midwestern states, but the benefits package helped make up for that. We were paid less because the benefits were more generous. I fell in love with Wisconsin and the Baraboo community. I have become a die-hard Packers fan. I root for the Badgers (unless they are playing my alma mater). I have endured the coldest weather in decades (2006) and the snowiest winter on record (2007) with my smile intact. In short, I have made this my home.

Every year that I have lived here, we have not received even a cost of living increase; we accepted this because we were told that it was the only way that we could keep our benefits package. When the economy sunk into recession, we had a legislatively approved raise taken away and

replaced by furloughs that amounted to a 3% cut in pay. We have endured this pay cut for each of the last two years. When people ask what I make as a professor, I ask them what they think I make-- they usually guess a sum that is at least twice my salary. In addition, we accepted larger class sizes (and thus a larger grading burden) to help the state balance the budget.

Now the governor says that it is time that state employees pay their share. After years of flat salaries and even pay cuts, to hear that we have not sacrificed is insulting and disingenuous. I teach 100 students a semester in classes in American literature, film, and composition. I am the faculty sponsor of the Navigators Christian Fellowship, the faculty sponsor of the UW-BSC Disc Golf Club, and the Director of the Honors Program. I work about sixty hours a week (because that is how long it takes to do my job well). In short, I work hard and (I think) do a good job (as may be evidenced by the fact that three times in four years, the students have selected me as “faculty member of the year”).

The so-called Budget Repair Bill will represent a reduction in my take-home pay of somewhere between 8 and 13 percent, depending upon whose figures you believe. A cut like this will be devastating to my family. I fear that we will need to sell our home. We may even need to seek employment elsewhere. This prospect would break my heart, because I really do love it here. Governor Walker has said that we are the “haves.” A comment to a recent Baraboo News Republic letter to the editor suggested that all the professors drove Jaguars and Mercedes. No one on our campus drives anything like that. (I, for the record, drive a 2003 Honda with a check-engine light that has been on for six years, a broken door lock, and a malfunctioning interior light.)

Even so, I find it most distressing that the bill takes away the right of workers to have collective bargaining. Wisconsin was the pioneer of workers’ rights 75 years ago; it is disheartening to watch this reversed. The United Nations’ “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (to which the United States is a signatory) asserts “that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”; this declaration lists as one of its articles “Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his [or her] interests.” The faculty at UW-BSC are not unionized. In fact, very few of the 26 institutions within the University of Wisconsin system have voted to unionize. This may very well be because we wanted to

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avoid an antagonistic stance toward administration and the legislature. That antagonism is, sadly, now a foregone conclusion.

I will not revisit in any detail the arguments that show the absurdity of Governor Walker’s arguments. It has been well-documented that Governor Walker is misrepresenting the fiscal crisis for political gain; regardless, he has clearly overplayed his hand. A poll released this week shows that the majority of Wisconsinites agree. Governor Walker does not seem concerned, insisting that he is backed by a “quiet majority.” If he valued education enough to listen, I could teach him about the Greek concept of hubris—excessive pride or self-confidence to the point of dismissive arrogance. Hubris was the downfall of many Greek heroes, and it will likely prove to be Governor Walker’s downfall

Scoot’s next moveRobin LeeColor pencil and marker on paper

as well.

The recording of the prank phone call released Wednesday demonstrates that the governor is willing to engage in dirty political tricks, duping Democratic senators into returning to Madison. Even more damaging was the confession that he considered planting troublemakers in amongst the peaceful demonstrators. Finally, he agreed to accept an illegal trip to California. If this administration is what the Republican Party has become, then I must wonder where that leaves me. I know where it leaves Walker-- poised to hand the state back to the Democrats in the next election cycle and become a footnote in state history.

Personally, I pray that Governor Walker listens to the voters and sits down with the opposition to negotiate. Regardless, I want him to know one thing—I want my party back.

marc seals (con’t), robin lee.

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Joe Republicanrevised by: Jeff Parker

Joe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. With his first swallow of water, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised. All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer’s medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it too. He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry. In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for

his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.

Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air. He walks to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union. If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he’ll get a worker

jeff parker, eric krszjzaniek.

Celebrating Protest Week IIIEric KrszjzaniekPhotograph

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jeff parker (con’t), eric krszjzaniek.

compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn’t think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

It’s noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FDIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression. Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime. Joe is home from work.

He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards. He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live

in the house financed by Farmers’ Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans. The house didn’t have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification.

He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to.

Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn’t mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: “We don’t need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I’m a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have.”

Celebrating Protest Week IVEric KrszjzaniekPhotograph

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julie lassa, steve(ToyRobot)smith.

Self PortraitSteve(ToyRobot)smithInk on paper

My Job is to Defend My Constituentsby: Julie Lassa

I want to share with you the facts behind why I have joined my Senate colleagues in blocking a vote on Governor Walker’s “budget repair” bill. It’s not a decision I took lightly, but the Governor’s unprecedented attempt to ram this extreme bill through the Legislature in a matter of four days required a drastic response.

While the Governor had said for months that he wanted financial concessions from state workers, he never hinted that he would try to take rights away from all public workers. It was a shock to hear the first details about this

radical proposal – and even more shocking to learn that the Governor intended to pass the bill so quickly. The bill had only one public hearing, and the Republicans ended it abruptly, leaving hundreds of people in line who had waited hours to give two minutes of testimony. The bill passed the committee at midnight and was scheduled for a vote in the Senate the same day.

If it weren’t bad enough to strip public employees of their voice in the workplace, Governor Walker is also trying to grab the power to unilaterally throw seniors and working families off SeniorCare and BadgerCare without a vote of the Legislature. More than 59,000 people in Central Wisconsin participate in these vital prescription drug and health care programs. On top of all of that, the “budget repair” bill doesn’t even repair the budget – it leaves the current fiscal year deficit even deeper than before. And it raises the debt ceiling so the state can borrow even more money. No wonder more than 1,500 of my constituents contacted me in a few days, asking me to do whatever I could to slow this bill down or change it to address their concerns.

I and my colleagues urged the Governor to slow the process down so the impact of this bill could be studied and debated. He steadfastly refused. When we learned that Governor Walker was shutting down the attempts of even his own party members to amend the bill, it was clear that he had no intention of speaking with us, much less negotiating with us. Unlike the U.S. Senate, we do not have the ability to filibuster a bill. The only option left to us was a Wisconsin Constitutional provision to deny him a quorum in the Senate.

Since we took that action, public employees have stepped forward and agreed to the Governor’s pension and health insurance demands. These employees are willing to pay their fair share. They just want to keep their worker rights, rights they have had for half a century. This compromise now gives Governor Walker the money he says he needs to balance the budget. By accepting their offer and ending his efforts to silence workers, the governor could begin healing the deep divisions his bill has created.

Will Governor Walker take this opportunity? Will he listen to the state’s religious leaders, like Archbishop Listecki, who said there is a moral obligation to respect the legitimate rights of workers? Or will he continue to tell my colleagues and I to come back and “debate” the bill when he has no intention of accepting any compromise? The decision and the responsibility lie with Governor Walker.

I have heard some media commentators refer to this as

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julie lassa (con’t), robin lee, stephanie jones.

a “vacation.” Believe me, it’s anything but. My work begins early each morning and continues until late into the night, as I speak with constituents and local elected leaders and work with my colleagues to try to find a way past the current impasse. I’m paying my expenses out of my own pocket, and trying my best to cope with being away from my husband and children and my home.

I miss my two daughters, but I hope they will learn a lesson from this experience. When the rights of people are threatened, each of us has a duty to act. My job now is to defend the rights of my constituents, and I intend to keep doing that job the best I can.

Not What Democracy Looks LikeBy: Robin Lee

This is not what Democracy looks like.This isn’t how it sounds.Take a long slow look around,there’s no democracy to be found.

The public matters in democracy.They have more than “the right” to be heard.They have a right to have someone listen,to every chanted word.

In democracy the teachers are hailedas the most important in the land.Their skills, their will, their courage,is something all understand.

In democracy workers are allowed to unite,so they can be treated fair.And water is a sacred neednot to be abused but shared.

No, this is not what democracy looks like,when democrats have to run away.When they feel there’ll be no compromise

if they try to stay.

It’s not a democracy when a leader won’t hear his people,when they tell him he’s leading the wrong way.Even when they call, write, and protest,every single day.

It’s not democracy when it’s bought.It’s not democracy when it’s sold.Not when you take a call from a donor

Reflections MuralStephanie JonesGlazed earthenware & mirror

when thousands of tax payers are on hold.Not when you threat with the threat of debt,or wave that dreaded pink slip.When you lower tax of the wealthy,when we can’t read your lips.

It’s not democracy when it’s cut off.It’s not democracy when it’s forced through.It’s not democracy when it’s silenced,and told there’s nothing it can do.

This is not what democracy looks like.People sleeping away fr om their homes,and if they are, having troubles sleeping,so spend their nights writing turmoiled poems.

So tell me what democracy looks like?I’m not sure what it should?But I know, it’s not like this,Democracy’s supposed to look good.

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kristine mattis.

From the Front Lines in Madison, Wisconsinby: Kristine Mattis

As someone who has been involved in the protests in Madison for the past six days, I find the news media coverage of the momentous events in this town to in no way portray the reality of what is going on here. In their attempts to constantly be balanced, the news media seem to have lost all ability to be accurate.

The mass protests by unions and their allies that have occurred in Madison, WI, resulted after an abrupt announcement by Governor Walker late last Friday, Feb. 11, that he was introducing and fast-tracking a so-called “Budget Repair” bill, which would not only deeply cut benefits to public workers, but effectively strip unions of all of their collective bargaining rights. The response to the Governor’s move was rapid and in no way orchestrated or long-planned – there was absolutely no possible time for that. By late Monday, Feb 14, the WI state legislature announced a hearing of the bill in the Joint Finance Committee which was open for public testimony. It was then that unions and affected public sector workers began to try to organize to fight the bill.

Interestingly, members of the public, including myself, arrived early Tuesday morning to have our positions heard in the committee hearing on the bill. When the public testimony began, numerous media outlets were present to cover the proceedings. The media portrayed the hearing as a chance for “both sides” to have their voices heard, as if this were an even dispute between two viewpoints with equally numbered constituents. That was not the case. The clerk’s office documented testimony against the bill versus for the bill to be roughly 20 to 1, at least. Moreover, I know first hand that many of the bill supporters who spoke before and after I did had not been waiting in line with the rest of us. Where did they come from? They seemed to be placed into the queue somehow, conveniently, very early in the day when the media was present. As the proceeding wore on, few if any supporters of the bill were present at all.

These six days of protests have been completely non-violent and peaceful. There have been rumblings that protesters have “trashed” the capitol. That is completely false. Members of unions, particularly the Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA) and the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants’ Association (MGAA), have been regularly organizing volunteer crews to clean up trash and litter.

As crowds swelled from approximately 13,000 on Tuesday,

to around 70,000 (some estimate 100,000) on Saturday, the media finally began to take notice. But curiously, most media outlets only began to show up when the Tea Party announced it plans for a counter-rally on Saturday. Contrary to sources, these Saturday rallies did not consist of a meeting of disputing views in virtually equally numbers, nor were they a “clash.” The Walker supporters numbered roughly 700-1000 at most, while the anti-bill, pro-union activists outnumbered them nearly 100 to 1. Furthermore, there was no violence and no confrontation between opposing sides. (But interestingly, it was the first day that the capitol police posted signs on the capitol building stating “No Firearms Allowed.”) The Tea Party contingent barely made a blip with their paltry turnout.

As far as the actual issue at hand, most media outlets merely mimicked the talking points repeated ad infinitum by Governor Scott Walker, and did no investigating into the veracity of his claims, nor any critical questioning about the situation in Wisconsin. Here are some facts:

1. The state of Wisconsin is not facing a financial crisis. Though specific numbers have been continually disputed and some even claim that the state faces a surplus at the end of the 2009-2011 budget, what is clear is that Wisconsin’s financial woes are moderate at most, and do not constitute a dire situation. The $3.6 billion shortfall that Walker keeps repeating is based on the State Budget Office Analysis which calculated the 2011-2013 biennial figures based on agency requests. These requests always exceed actual monies allocated. The 2011-2013 actual budget has not even come out yet. Walker is misrepresenting these details. Moreover, Governor Walker was unconcerned about budget matters when he offered over $140 million in tax incentives to out-of-state multinational corporations, but now he is suddenly unable to afford to take care of his in-state workforce. The “crisis” is manufactured.

2. The government employee unions bargained for and ratified contracts late last year that provided numerous concessions, including but not limited to freezes in compensation for two years and increased health insurance premiums. Unions are not opposed to “sacrifices”; in fact, they had ALREADY agreed to them.

3. The erosion of collective bargaining rights has nothing at all to do with the contrived “Budget Repair.” Stripping unions of their freedom to negotiate will do nothing to help alleviate deficits.

4. The workers in the private sector have not been voluntarily sacrificing for the public good; pay cuts and loss of benefits have been thrust upon them without any say

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kristine mattis (con’t), azaria nori.

on their part, precisely because they do not have unions to support them.

5. The rhetoric spewed by the right, such as “I lost my pension, so should you” is akin to saying “My legs were cut off, now yours should be, too.” Unionists would prefer that our legs not be cut off – and we would like to see all non-union workers walking again too. Our battle is for the rights of ALL workers, and our victories are YOUR victories. This is trickle-up economics – and it actually works.

6. Union workers are not lazy slackers; indeed they do some of the most difficult jobs imaginable, such as being home-health care workers, factory laborers, and teachers.

7. The gap between rich and poor started to increase in the 1970s and has reached its widest margin today. Coincidentally, during that same time period, massive tax cuts for corporations and for the wealthy have been mounting.

8. The people who have not sacrificed are the wealthy and corporations. They have the ability to repair these purported budget deficits, yet those who can barely make a decent living are instead called upon to lose what little they have. All the while, Wall Street flourishes and the rich continue to accumulate more and more of the financial wealth of the nation.

9. The struggle in Wisconsin is not about my union or any other union; it is class warfare, plain and simple. It is a battle for decent human rights and against the systematic, concerted and well-orchestrated effort to remove all the rights of workers in this country. Anyone and everyone who makes less than a six-figure income – i.e. the poor and middle class - should be outraged by this immoral and unjust bill and united in our effort to protect our right to a decent living.

Why is it that those who have never had to worry about money, never had to sacrifice, and never had to fight for anything in their lives continually get more and more while working folks get less and less? And why, inexplicably, do other working folks support this race to the bottom?

The corporatization of America has already occurred; now we are well into the third-worldification of America.

We Wisconsin workers are fighting for you and fighting for this country. We must win.

Untitledby: Azaria Nori

America, we’ve covered the basics.America, your cunt sings of beauty, and the faithful are spreading their legs in unison, waiting for you to stop sticking your dick in other countries’ sandboxes and bring home the American Dream!America woke up looked around sauntered to the bathroom, lazily shit, showered, shaved sparkled her teeth and looked into the mirror.America claimed her beauty.America’s claim to fame.And I demand to know, America, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?Famine at your doorknocking.The needy, the hungry, the statue that brings us liberty no more is screaming from her frozen lips of an America that she once came to... “America you’ve lost yourself! America, I demand that you stop and wash your mouth out with soap! America, I beseech thee, how do you claim such enormity when you are but a child in the eyes of this world?”andAmerica never answered.America never got the queer shoulder.America forgot to swallow whole the evening news before blowing out the birthday candles.America ran for the hills and left actors and cynics to cast shadows on the name of freedom.America, come home and face your consequences!America, come look in the mirror.America, be humble.America, breathe.-that’s it...America, hypocrisies are only what you make of them!

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steve(ToyRobot)smith, azaria nori.

AsphyxiationSteve(ToyRobot)smithInk and marker on paper

Untitledby: Azaria Nori

Dear Sir,

Whether you like it or not we have found ourselves with a bit of a quandary. An epiphany passes, as a dew drop forgetting it’s place when the dawn turns to mid-morning sunshine, but a quandary none-the-less. A quarrel if you will please. A common thing really. It starts here; somewhere between the stomach and what I presume to be the heart of this carbon-based creation of me, that this immense beauty will swell when I encounter you, and indeed it does swell. That, also, while my mind wonders to you and what plane you lie, I have to wonder if Pandora is to come and sweep it all under the rug, much like walking

on broken china. Which creates whole other depths, whole other sensations altogether, though those are not the type one enjoys discussing in civilized conversation publicly, for any purpose, but privately amongst oneselves.

You see, dear Sir, your quandary is different. For you have specifically stated never to listen to what tumbles from your lips, but to simply adore your doings. I am, in fact, Sir quite enjoying them - and I do thank you whole-heartedly you for them all. So, I leave you with this, one of my favorite inquiries and I do love a good intrigue. Do tell me something beautiful?

Sincerely,

Your Lady in Waiting

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Moment of ConnectionStephanie JonesOil on canvas

stephanie jones.

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molluscby: Michelle WojtaszekInk on paper

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