I make it a point to not feed the trolls on social media. It’s a waste of time to engage these bottom-feeders. I’ll make an exception today because as Trumpism continues to crash and burn, the level of vituperation and stupidity is reaching rarified heights. So troll on. As you follow your fearless leader over the cliff.
You think you insult me by calling me a liberal…I shake my head in wonder at your ignorance.
And I know I’ve used this before but it can’t be repeated too often….
Evidently, several iterations back this was started by a woman named Lori Gallagher Witt, the brilliance is hers:
An open letter to friends and family who are shocked to discover I’m a liberal… I’ve always been a liberal, but that doesn’t mean what a lot of you apparently think it does.
Some of you suspected. Some of you were shocked. Many of you have known me for years, even the majority of my life. We either steadfastly avoided political topics, or I carefully steered conversations away from the more incendiary subjects in the name of keeping the peace. “I’m a liberal” isn’t really something you broadcast in social circles where “the liberals” can’t be said without wrinkling one’s nose.
But then the 2016 election happened, and staying quiet wasn’t an option anymore. Since then, I’ve received no shortage of emails and comments from people who were shocked, horrified, disappointed, disgusted, or otherwise displeased to realize I am *wrinkles nose* a liberal. Yep. I’m one of those bleeding heart commies who hates anyone who’s white, straight, or conservative, and who wants the government to dictate everything you do while taking your money and giving it to people who don’t work.
Or am I?
Let’s break it down, shall we? Because quite frankly, I’m getting a little tired of being told what I believe and what I stand for. Spoiler alert: Not every liberal is the same, though the majority of liberals I know think along roughly these same lines:
1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.
2. I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Somehow that’s interpreted as “I believe Obamacare is the end-all, be-all.” This is not the case. I’m fully aware that the ACA has problems, that a national healthcare system would require everyone to chip in, and that it’s impossible to create one that is devoid of flaws, but I have yet to hear an argument against it that makes “let people die because they can’t afford healthcare” a better alternative. I believe healthcare should be far cheaper than it is, and that everyone should have access to it. And no, I’m not opposed to paying higher taxes in the name of making that happen.
3. I believe education should be affordable and accessible to everyone. It doesn’t necessarily have to be free (though it works in other countries so I’m mystified as to why it can’t work in the US), but at the end of the day, there is no excuse for students graduating college saddled with five- or six-figure debt.
4. I don’t believe your money should be taken from you and given to people who don’t want to work. I have literally never encountered anyone who believes this. Ever. I just have a massive moral problem with a society where a handful of people can possess the majority of the wealth while there are people literally starving to death, freezing to death, or dying because they can’t afford to go to the doctor. Fair wages, lower housing costs, universal healthcare, affordable education, and the wealthy actually paying their share would go a long way toward alleviating this. Somehow believing that makes me a communist.
5. I don’t throw around “I’m willing to pay higher taxes” lightly. I’m retired and on a fixed income, but I still pay taxes. If I’m suggesting something that involves paying more, well, it’s because I’m fine with paying my share as long as it’s actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare.
6. I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn’t have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live.
7. I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is – and should be – illegal). All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I’m not “offended by Christianity” — I’m offended that you’re trying to force me to live by your religion’s rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia law on you? That’s how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don’t force it on me or mine.
8. I don’t believe LGBT people should have more rights than you. I just believe they should have the *same* rights as you.
9. I don’t believe illegal immigrants should come to America and have the world at their feet, especially since THIS ISN’T WHAT THEY DO (spoiler: undocumented immigrants are ineligible for all those programs they’re supposed to be abusing, and if they’re “stealing” your job it’s because your employer is hiring illegally). I’m not opposed to deporting people who are here illegally, but I believe there are far more humane ways to handle undocumented immigration than our current practices (i.e., detaining children, splitting up families, ending DACA, etc).
10. I don’t believe the government should regulate everything, but since greed is such a driving force in our country, we NEED regulations to prevent cut corners, environmental destruction, tainted food/water, unsafe materials in consumable goods or medical equipment, etc. It’s not that I want the government’s hands in everything — I just don’t trust people trying to make money to ensure that their products/practices/etc. are actually SAFE. Is the government devoid of shadiness? Of course not. But with those regulations in place, consumers have recourse if they’re harmed and companies are liable for medical bills, environmental cleanup, etc. Just kind of seems like common sense when the alternative to government regulation is letting companies bring their bottom line into the equation.
11. I believe our current administration is fascist. Not because I dislike them or because I can’t get over an election, but because I’ve spent too many years reading and learning about the Third Reich to miss the similarities. Not because any administration I dislike must be Nazis, but because things are actually mirroring authoritarian and fascist regimes of the past.
12. I believe the systemic racism and misogyny in our society is much worse than many people think, and desperately needs to be addressed. Which means those with privilege — white, straight, male, economic, etc. — need to start listening, even if you don’t like what you’re hearing, so we can start dismantling everything that’s causing people to be marginalized.
13. I am not interested in coming after your blessed guns, nor is anyone serving in government. What I am interested in is sensible policies, including background checks, that just MIGHT save one person’s, perhaps a toddler’s, life by the hand of someone who should not have a gun. (Got another opinion? Put it on your page, not mine).
14. I believe in so-called political correctness. I prefer to think it’s social politeness. If call you Chuck and you say you prefer to be called Charles I’ll call you Charles. It’s the polite thing to do. Not because everyone is a delicate snowflake, but because as Maya Angelou put it, when we know better, we do better. When someone tells you that a term or phrase is more accurate/less hurtful than the one you’re using, you now know better. So why not do better? How does it hurt you to NOT hurt another person?
15. I believe in funding sustainable energy, including offering education to people currently working in coal or oil so they can change jobs. There are too many sustainable options available for us to continue with coal and oil. Sorry, billionaires. Maybe try investing in something else.
16. I believe that women should not be treated as a separate class of human. They should be paid the same as men who do the same work, should have the same rights as men and should be free from abuse. Why on earth shouldn’t they be?
I think that about covers it. Bottom line is that I’m a liberal because I think we should take care of each other. That doesn’t mean you should work 80 hours a week so your lazy neighbor can get all your money. It just means I don’t believe there is any scenario in which preventable suffering is an acceptable outcome as long as money is saved.
So, I’m a liberal. And if you think that’s an insult…you really are a fool.
Wausau West will have to shut down football for two weeks due to COVID-19 positives within the team. Games this Friday and next have been postponed.
Wausau East football returns from a two week hiatus this Friday at Wisconsin Rapids. I’ll have the game as the 2nd half of our football double header on Foxsports Radio AM1390 & FM 93.9.
Stevens Point has found a “conference” to play spring football… per Travis Wilson at wissports,net
Group A: Bay Port, Fond du Lac, GB Preble, Neenah, Stevens Point Group B: Appleton East, Appleton North, Ashwaubenon, Kimberly, Pulaski Group C: Appleton West, De Pere, GB Southwest, Manitowoc, Oshkosh West Group D: GB East, GB West, Oshkosh North, Sheb. North, Sheb. South
The WIAA State girls Tennis tournament starts today. Area players that earned trips to state:
D-1 Singles
Natasha Bailey-Wausau West
Alexis Kloth-Wausau West
D-1 Doubles
Ellie Preboski/Elli Stank-Antigo
Katie Meyer/Anika Eder-Wausau West
D-2 Singles
Brooke Sommer-Medford
Becky Larrain-Wausau Newman
D-2 Doubles
Grace Sukanen/Ava Sukanen- Wausau Newman
Ella Schroeder/Marissa Stolt-Stevens Point Pacelli
In case you missed it…the Badger football game with Illinois next week has been moved to Friday night. The Badgers open their season at Camp Randall with a 7pm game on October 23rd.
The White Sox are being granted permission to speak to legendary skipper Tony La Russa about their managerial vacancy. According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Angels, who La Russa works for as a senior adviser, have given Chicago clearance to speak to the 76-year-old. La Russa hasn’t managed since retiring following the Cardinals’ World Series title in 2011. He began his career with the White Sox in 1979 and was at the helm until 1986. La Russa has three World Series titles to his credit, one with Oakland and two with St. Louis. Chicago is looking to replace the departing Rick Renteria.
Fleetwood Mac’s classic hit “Dreams” is headed back to the top of the charts. The song written by Stevie Nicks was a number-one smash in 1977. Now the song is climbing back up the charts because of a viral video that showed Nathan Apodaca of Idaho Falls lip-syncing “Dreams” while skateboarding down a highway and chugging cranberry juice. The video’s been viewed over 50-million times, and has sent “Dreams” to number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s Fleetwood Mac’s highest placement on the chart since 1988. It also jumped up to number one on the Billboard Rock Digital Song Sales Chart, and number two on the Rolling Stone Top Songs chart, right behind Cardi B.
The Kinks are releasing a 50th anniversary edition of their classic 1970 album “Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround Part One.” The album became famous for its iconic transgender hit “Lola.” The new box set will include a seven-inch single of Lola, a 60-page book, and two CDs full of studio outtakes, demo recordings, live performances and previously unreleased material. An unreleased version of the track “Anytime” is out now on YouTube. The Kinks “Lola Versus Powerman” reissue comes out December 18th.
Showtime is bringing back one of its most popular series. The network revealed that “Dexter” will be coming back for a ten-episode run. Michael C. Hall will revive his role as Dexter Morgan, the blood splatter expert who moonlights as a serial killer. The series will go into production early next year with hopes of premiering next fall. I never watched the original Dexter. Any fans out there? It looks twisted…
Covers Of The Day (Happy 8oth birthday to Cliff Richard)
Cliff Richard covers Paul Simon
Cliff Richard covers Johnny Otis
If you read or hear a story today about a Biden bashing story from the NY Post…whether its from Fox or Sinclair or Rush or Hannity or Ben Armstrong…just be aware that it’s a lie and almost certainly Russian disinformation supplied to Rudy Guiliani.
Kayleigh McEnany has been locked out of her Twitter account for spreading false information.
“1. Giuliani’s source is the guy who Trump’s own Treasury Dept has said is a Russian agent. 2. This whole story line has been pushed by the Russians for months. 3. And, by the way, Biden was trying to sack the prosecutor for NOT investigating Burisma.”-Richard Stengel
motherjones.com/politics/2020/
“The @GOP’s idea of “democracy”: – Closing polling places – Limiting ballot drop offs – Confusing voters with fake ballot drop boxes – Sabotaging the Census – Pushing through a Supreme Court nominee weeks before an election – Refusing to promise a peaceful transfer of power”-Gavin Newsome
“So Coney Barrett’s official stance on climate change is that she has no opinion, but apparently her father is a longtime Shell Oil lawyer, and Shell now has a major case before SCOTUS that Barrett may be serving on. (But yeah, she’s TOTALLY unbiased)”-Amber
“Stripping away the sophisticated language, all of activist conservative jurisprudence can be summed up as protecting the power, privilege and property of those who have the most.”-Walter Schaub
“The problem with Barrett and Kavanaugh, among others: before joining SCOTUS, RBG had an extraordinary record of arguing cases which helped all Americans and promoted equality. Amy and Brett are average lawyers who’ve done nothing; shouldn’t the highest court have higher standards”-Paul Rudnick
“Let me make this connection for you. The 200+ Federal Judges Donald Trump appointed with Mitch McConnell ARE THE JUDGES voting to suppress votes nationwide, including Texas. All three of those judges were Trump appointees. Elections have BIG F consequences.”-Don Winslow
“what kind of shithole media is so f*cking gullible that it allows itself to be played for fools over and over and over by obvious bottom feeding clownshoes dipshits such as Rudy Giuliani and Steve Bannon?”-Jeff Tiedrich
“Wouldn’t it be nice if pro-lifers focused on suicide prevention? Or ending the death penalty? Or fighting poverty? Or curbing hunger? Or stopping gun violence and police killings? Or combating the opioid epidemic? Or ending wars? You know, things that would actually save lives?”-Robert Reich
Breaking NYT: On Feb. 24, Trump’s economic team privately addressed the Hoover Institution and implied that a COVID outbreak could prove worse than advisers were signaling to the public. Aides appeared to be giving wealthy party donors an early warning.
“They shorted America”-Brian Schatz
“Trump tells his story about he how and Melania recently watched the evening news expecting to see coverage of his Nobel nominations, but were dismayed that the news was covering a hurricane in Florida and flooding in Iowa instead. This is supposed to make the media look bad.”-Aaron Rupar
Comments