this is only the beginning
Despite ranting and raving all day long about the political events in my state, my city over the last 30 hours, I don't have much left to say. I am not surprised that the budget repair bill eventually went through. I am not surprised that the Republicans in the state Senate resorted to desperate and illegal tactics to bring it to a vote.
I am also not surprised at the public uprising in response to the whole situation. Folks, it is about damn time we as a public do something about the decades-long attack on the middle class and the poor in this country. This piece from The Guardian lays it out brilliantly. And for once it doesn't blame Barack Obama for not undoing more than thirty years of anti-union anti-middle class public policy in just two years of presidency. This paragraph, in particular, stands out to me:
Undermining and destroying collective bargaining rights is one of the most important structural reforms that any rightwing government in a developed country can win. And it is not just because, as has been widely noted, that unions contribute money to the campaigns of Democratic candidates. It is much deeper than that. Organised labour is relatively weak now, but for more than a century, it has been the most important force for positive economic reforms in the United States, from the eight-hour work day, to health insurance and Medicare, social security, pensions and minimum wages. The labour slogan, "Unions: the folks who brought you the weekend", is a true but vastly understated historical reality in America.
Once again, I went downtown with my children to join the protesters - determined, angry and cold. Since the public was denied access to the Capitol yet again (even state representatives and the Reverend Jesse Jackson were denied entrance for a little while), we didn't stay long before Daniel and Anya both cried and complained that they were cold and miserable. It's okay, I assured them. This isn't over, far from it. We don't have to stay right now.
Well, you all have better sources than this insignificant corner of the blogosphere to find out what's going on here, so I'll jump ahead to the knitting now. This morning I finished another hat for a Democrat:
This one goes to Josh Zepnick, a representative in the state Assembly. I don't even know where he hails from, but by golly, he's getting a hat.
Yarn: Plymouth Galway tweed something-or-other, leftover from Stuart's Valentine mittens
Pattern: improvised, but there was really nothing to it. I cast on 112 stitches on size 6 needles, knit a couple inches, did a round of purl, switched to size 7 needles, did an 8-point decrease at the top, sewed up the hem and called it good. I wanted to do a red duplicate-stitch Democrat Donkey on there, but I ran out of time.
It's a nice hat. I was rather sad to give it up, though you can see that it's a little big for me since it's meant for a man's head. In fact, I've discovered I'm fond of the turned-under hem on hats. I have yet to do this on a sweater, but I expect I'd like that, too.
Stand up, Wisconsin, and stand strong. Keep fighting for the public good. I stand with you.
I am also not surprised at the public uprising in response to the whole situation. Folks, it is about damn time we as a public do something about the decades-long attack on the middle class and the poor in this country. This piece from The Guardian lays it out brilliantly. And for once it doesn't blame Barack Obama for not undoing more than thirty years of anti-union anti-middle class public policy in just two years of presidency. This paragraph, in particular, stands out to me:
Undermining and destroying collective bargaining rights is one of the most important structural reforms that any rightwing government in a developed country can win. And it is not just because, as has been widely noted, that unions contribute money to the campaigns of Democratic candidates. It is much deeper than that. Organised labour is relatively weak now, but for more than a century, it has been the most important force for positive economic reforms in the United States, from the eight-hour work day, to health insurance and Medicare, social security, pensions and minimum wages. The labour slogan, "Unions: the folks who brought you the weekend", is a true but vastly understated historical reality in America.
Once again, I went downtown with my children to join the protesters - determined, angry and cold. Since the public was denied access to the Capitol yet again (even state representatives and the Reverend Jesse Jackson were denied entrance for a little while), we didn't stay long before Daniel and Anya both cried and complained that they were cold and miserable. It's okay, I assured them. This isn't over, far from it. We don't have to stay right now.
Well, you all have better sources than this insignificant corner of the blogosphere to find out what's going on here, so I'll jump ahead to the knitting now. This morning I finished another hat for a Democrat:
This one goes to Josh Zepnick, a representative in the state Assembly. I don't even know where he hails from, but by golly, he's getting a hat.
Yarn: Plymouth Galway tweed something-or-other, leftover from Stuart's Valentine mittens
Pattern: improvised, but there was really nothing to it. I cast on 112 stitches on size 6 needles, knit a couple inches, did a round of purl, switched to size 7 needles, did an 8-point decrease at the top, sewed up the hem and called it good. I wanted to do a red duplicate-stitch Democrat Donkey on there, but I ran out of time.
It's a nice hat. I was rather sad to give it up, though you can see that it's a little big for me since it's meant for a man's head. In fact, I've discovered I'm fond of the turned-under hem on hats. I have yet to do this on a sweater, but I expect I'd like that, too.
Stand up, Wisconsin, and stand strong. Keep fighting for the public good. I stand with you.
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