As soon as I finish posting this, I will be heading to my local village hall to cast my absentee ballot for Tom Barrett and Mahlon Mitchell, the two Democrats facing Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. Recall elections are scheduled for June 5th after a million Wisconsinites signed recall petitions.
After I vote, I will swing by the post office on my way to work to mail the pre-paid return envelope I received from the Walker campaign on Friday. They wanted a hundred dollars, or a thousand, or ten thousand. I'm giving a penny. We took a big cut in take-home pay this year thanks to Walker. Our property taxes went up again, our home value went down again, and the University of Wisconsin also raised its tuition while cutting programs. I have a son starting classes there in the fall.
Families have been needlessly divided. Neighbors have decided not to speak to each other. Our most trusted public servants, the ones who do the work every day, have been insulted, abused,and scapegoated. Schools have laid off teachers. Wisconsin leads the nation in job losses since Walker took office.
Choke on my penny, Walker.
Daily Kos readers know why Wisconsin is recalling Walker, Kleefisch, and four state Senators, but in case you've forgotten, here are some reminders...
photo by Craig Spaulding