New York City

Wisconsin innovations: worker's compensation, public employee unions, The Wave and now: Protest pizza via the Web

September 20, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Egyptians send pizzaIt's historical fact that Wisconsin was the birthplace of many progressive ideas, including worker's compensation, public employee unions, child labor laws, and more. Some even have advanced convincing arguments that the nationwide sports stadium phenomenon known as The Wave originated at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison during boring late '60s Badger games.

Now add to the Wisconsin innovation list this: Protest Pizza via Web. During last spring's massive protests in Madison relating to Gov. Walker's union-busting bill, sympathizers in Egypt and nearly 50 other countries ordered pizza by email for hungry demonstrators surrounding the state Capitol. The idea originted with sympathizers across Wisconsin and quickly spread worldwide. 

Pizza by Web has now become a part of long-form, sit-in protests elsewhere. The current mass protests on Wall Street in New York City are the latest venue. From a post at FireDogLake.com:

When you get sick, should you risk losing your job? Milwaukee: Yes, Seattle: No

September 17, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Job may get sick, tooThe problem with representative democracy in America is that, too often, it's home sick in bed. Example:

About 70 percent of City of Milwaukee voters decided in 2008 via binding referendum to create an ordinance mandating sick pay for virtually all workers in the city, and not just the well-compensated ones. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce (MMAC) fought a losing battle against the measure in court until, finally, the Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature enacted a statewide law tailored to un-do the Milwaukee ordinance.

That's right. When more than two-thirds of Milwaukee voters not only wanted something but took formal action at the ballot to enact a law making it happen, elites both public and private fought them on the basis that it would be bad for business. Now there's your definition of sickly, right there.

Prince Reince says the Repubs just need ONE MORE House seat to really, really be obstructionist

September 9, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

The headbanger in chiefReince Pribus, former Wisconsin GOP leader and now leader of the whole national Republican wingnut shebang, says in an email to friendlies that dire times are just ahead because Democrats once again are trying to actually pass legislation. Thus, it's very, very, very, very important to send money to the impoverished Republican Party so it can add ONE more House seat and thus change the entire political landscape of the nation. Never minding that the GOP enjoys a tremendous majority in the House already, PRibus (that's not a typo) emails: