Power to the People

Rachel Maddow's national news show on MSNBC began today with the tagline "Thank Wisconsin It's Friday." She proceeded to announce that "The center of American Politics right now is Madison, Wisconsin." Here's why....

It began one week ago. The newly elected Republican Governor of Wisconsin-Scott Walker- gave a speech announcing the contents of his Budget Repair Bill, a bill designed to plug the shortfall in the current fiscal budget of Wisconsin. There was to be a surplus this year, until the Republicans passed new tax cuts a few weeks ago. This bill calls for a number of controversial measures, including the loss of federal funding, changes to how medicaid eligibility is determined, and provisions making state workers contribute more to their pension and healthcare benefits. But most controversially of all, and the reason for the hubbub in this small Mid-West Capitol, is the measure which strips all public workers in Wisconsin (except those in the police and fire services) of their right to collectively bargain.

Or their voices about their working conditions.

Then and there, we knew this was going to be big. Just how big, I couldn't even imagine.

Emails immediately began flying across cyber space. Phone lines started to ring off the hook. Media teams got to work getting out the message. This bill was going to end fifty years of organized labour history, the first state in the USA to pass collective bargaining laws, and set the ball rolling on working conditions such as minimum wage and the 40hr work week. By Monday, the office I intern in -the Democratic Minority leaders office- had received over 700 emails about this bill, 99% of which greatly opposed it. Other legislators inboxes were in the same state, as were their voicemails. Around midday, we heard a commotion outside, something that sounded a lot like chanting. Running into the hallways, and looking down from the balcony of the second floor, we saw over a thousand people march through the west entrance and into the centre of the Capitol. For twenty minutes, they chanted "Kill the Bill", before turning and leaving the building.

Given the current political climate, the media immediately picked up on the "kill" part of "Kill the Bill". In a case of political correctness gone too far, they construed that it was violent, inflammatory language. Personally, I think its just a nice, short, catchy chant, that rhymes very nicely.

Regardless of this, protesters have continued to chant it throughout the week. On Monday, I thought this march into the Capitol was really cool, and I was really happy I got to witness it. What was to come next paled in comparison, as over the course of three days, a gathering of a few hundred opposed to the bill, turned into a rally of 40,000 protesters.

The bill itself began its journey through the legislative procedure on Tuesday morning, as the Joint Finance Committee held a public hearing to listen to those who wanted to speak in favour or against the measures proposed. Hundreds signed up to have their voices heard, a true testament to free speech. While they waited for their slot, many chose to visit their representatives to personally express their views. Staffers (in Republican offices) were a little nervous about how to deal with these constituents, but they would soon experience baptism by fire. For more and more constituents turned up every hour, desperate to express their opinions to the state government.  During the afternoon mail run, I had to navigate around a number of people in and out of offices.

At 9pm, the Republican chairs of the Finance Committee cut off registration to speak before them. They continued to allow those who had signed in, to testify until 3am. With a huge stack of paper indicating the number of people still waiting to speak, Republican's adjourned for the night, ready for a vote on whether to advance the bill on Wednesday.

But Democrats continued the listening session, arguing that everyone who came here wanting to speak should be given the right to testify. That is what democracy is. So, they continued to listen to people. From 3am Tuesday. Last I heard, they were still going strong, Saturday morning. Legislators and staffers have been switching on and off throughout the nights to ensure there are always people there to listen to the concerns these citizens of Wisconsin have. It is truly incredible. While Democrats kept listening, Republicans ignored the voices of democracy, refusing to negotiate on the bill, leaving voicemail inboxes full, and locking down their offices. One who decided he should speak to his constituent, ended up arguing and shouting at her!

I was in the hearing on Wednesday, listening to testimonies for about 8 hours. The stories and testimonies I heard were both wonderful and heart-wrenching. Many talked about how inspirational teachers had been to them, or how much they loved teaching themselves, and how amazing this whole experience was. It made be proud to be standing there, proud to see democracy at work, proud to be the son of working-class teachers and union members.

Others poured out their fears and concerns at the microphone, genuinely worried about what the future may hold, and shocked at what this bill proposed to do. I saw grown men cry, devastated about the road this Governor was taking. One in particular, was an ex-marine, who had fought in Iraq, and now worked as a correctional officer. He didn't know how his family could live if this bill passed.

As more and more teachers, nurses and other state workers testified, so too did children and students, eager to express their support for their own education. And they were serious; they weren't just there to be a part of the crowd. They knew what they were doing, what they believed in, what they were fighting for. You had be to serious, to spend hours and hours in the hot Capitol building, with many choosing to camp overnight inside.

With so many teachers present at the protests, schools across the state have been forced to close. Many teachers were torn between turning up for a work, or joining the rally, but most decided they needed to protect education for the long term, and will undoubtedly be teaching students about the week's events upon their return to the classroom. Crowds grew from 10,000 on Tuesday, to 25,000 on Wednesday, 30,000 on Thursday, and over 40,000 on Friday, when the Rev. Jesse Jackson turned up in Madison to help rally the crowds.

On Thursday, things took a turn for the intriguing. The State Senate was due to vote on the bill first, and when they took a quorum call (requiring 20 out of 33 Senators present to vote), they found that the Democratic Senators-14 of them- had disappeared. They decided not to come to the floor. After a call of the house- where Capitol police and State troopers can search for the Senators and bring them to floor yielded no results, the Senate was forced to postpone it's vote.

Turns out that the 14 Democratic Senators had all left the state, leaving just 19 Republicans- one short of the number needed to vote. By actively hiding away, the Democrats were allowing themselves, their staffers, and everyone in the state much more time to digest the ramifications of this bill. It was a bold move, but has proved to be smart, and extremely popular, as many across the country have congratulated their motives and their moves. They have become affectionately know as the Wisconsin 14.

Assembly Democrats meanwhile have been rallying the crowds in the Capitol, donning bright Orange shirts proclaiming their support for Wisconsin families. It's now their job to fight the bill in the Assembly, which will vote on it before the Senate. They are another symbol of hope for everyone here protesting in Madison, as they try to stop this bill being implemented. When they left the Assembly chamber to go to caucus, they needed no police escort; crowds parted to let them through, cheering and clapping, smiling and shaking hands. It was like walking down a tunnel lined with people, as if I was a Green Bay Packer who had just won the Superbowl!

The protests have remained incredibly peaceful; though a large security force has been present at the Capitol this past week, including Madison, UW and local area police, along with county sheriffs and state patrollers, there have been almost no confrontational incidents. I have only heard of 9 arrests this entire week. I actually saw one of them; a man somehow managed to get through the barriers to the chamber, but was tripped by a fellow page and then jumped on by police before being escorted away. You always get one idiot.

What's almost as remarkable as the continued peace-even with the Tea Party Rally which occurred today- is the organization of the protesters: There has been a continuous stream of them, with new people arriving all the time to reinvigorate the chants and cheers; hand made information signs have been posted all around the Capitol, and information stations have been set out, handing out flyers with info on what is happened, providing free food and drink for people, and even setting up a lost and found station. It has been incredibly powerful just to see the diverse groups of people here, and particularly moving when police and firefighter groups- who are exempt from this bill and have been working in the Capitol during the day, to come back at night in plain clothes and support their fellow state workers. The Madison fire department actually marched through the building in full dress uniform, accompanied by bagpipes and a marching band.

And then there are the signs- so imaginative, so clever. There is one man walking around dressed entirely in those candy necklaces, made like a dress, with a sign that reads "Even I don't look as ridiculous as Scott Walker". I saw a Walkerzilla sign, eating up the proposed train line, and a sign that read "Dumbledore wouldn't have let this happen"!!! Someone had created a mannequin Walker bent over with his backside pointing in the air hovering over his famous "brown bag". One man was simply representing America, stood on a plinth with a dog by his side, waving a huge American flag over his head.

More signs can be found here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-best-protest-signs-at-the-wisconsin-capitol

There were various signs and comments comparing Walker to Hitler and Mubarak in Egypt. Hyperbole to the max. I also heard a number of quotes meant to inspire all the protesters, including references to Martin Luther King, who was on his way to Memphis to support unions and collective bargaining when he was assassinated. My favourite quote is this one, courtesy of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1937 "The right to bargain collectively is at the bottom of social justice for the worker, as well as the sensible conduct of business affairs. The denial or observance of this right means the difference between despotism and democracy."

The following post will have links to various sites with more info on the Wisconsin saga, many of which have lots of pictures on there too- Check them out!

The nation's media attention will remain focused on Wisconsin for the coming week, as the fight over collective bargaining continues to unfold. As it was the first to give rights to unions in the fifties, so it is one of the first in the current climate to try and take them away. Many other states have a keen eye on Wisconsin, waiting to see what will unfold, as Governors across the US plans similar moves.

What is going to happen here remains a mystery. I know one thing for sure- these people will not give up. And they won't go home quietly.

I still here their chant in my head...."This is what democracy looks like"