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| "Jesus Christ was a Socialist" - Hugo Chavez, Venezuela |
Oshkosh City Council breaks law,
no one seems to care
A second legal opinion has come out
determining that the "no-bid" contract to
build rest-rooms at the new Oshkosh
Amphitheater was in violation of state law.
In the second opinion it was determined
that a local council can override the bidding
laws with a 75% vote, which the Oshkosh
City Council did not do, voting 5-2 to give
the $675,000 contract to C J Meyer, Inc.
The state law is meant to protect tax
payers from cronyism and to ensure the
lowest price for tax payer funded work.
The DA's office has indicated that they
have no intention of prosecuting the case,
essentially stating "so what?"
See article in Oshkosh Northwestern
University of Wisconsin
Tuition going up 6.9%
The State Board of Regents has passed a
massive 6.9% tuition hike across the UW
system. Combined with President Bush's
recent cuts to work study programs, this
will force more poor and lower class
students out of higher education, leaving
military service in Iraq or prostitution as
their best alternatives.
Although the state legislature and other
baby boomers are rapidly growing older,
continuous financial cuts to the UW
system combined with increases in tuition
should ensure that only rich white kids will
become the nursing assistants needed to
take care of their physical needs in old age.
See article in Oshkosh Northwestern
Please Stop Killing Other People
Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day Founder,
Wisconsin Governor and Senator
(1916-2005)
"Who am I? Why am I here?" James
Stockdale dies at 81
2005 Candidate John Daggett cleared of
all charges
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| Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day Founder, Wisconsin Governor and Senator (1916-2005) Wisconsin Giant Dies (State Journal) Capital Service to honor Nelson (Capital Times) Nelson left Earth better than he found it (Tomah Journal) Clean lakes, clean air loose a genial steward (Journal Times - Racine) |
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| "... fighting for our Rights, In her satin tights; There is nothing she can't do!" |
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Libertarian Party of Dane County:
Eminent Domain Ruling a Raid on
Property Rights
Fascism is the partnership of the government and
big business.
The recent Supreme Court ruling upholding the
power of any government to take, even by force,
legally owned property to use, or give away, as
they see fit should be of grave concern to all
Americans. But even though this was a federal
ruling, the ramification, as well as the ultimate use
of such power, will be felt most at the local level.
Backed with such a powerful ruling, however
unconstitutional, we believe will further empower
local governments to collude with corporate
money under the guise of "community good".
The foundation of freedom in America is
grounded in the ownership of property. That
many of our other rights to freedom are rooted in
the right to own property. That without that basic
freedom, it becomes a myth that anyone actually
owns property. For if any government can simply
determine that your property would be more
useful to others than to you, it really is not yours,
no matter if you hold the deed. And with it the
foundation of your freedom. With so little real
freedom left, this was a crushing blow to those of
use who hold the founder*s vision of personal
freedom precious.
We have already seen what local governments
have done, using the eminent domain power they
already have. Witness the pig trough rush to
secure others property when millions of dollars
were thrown at local politicians to build an
entertainment center. Property owners were
forced to accept assessment prices rather than
what the property was now worth due to the
demand of the Overture largess.
The Libertarian Party of Dane County calls on all
freedom loving residents of Dane County to call
on local representatives and let them know we will
not stand for any more attempts to subvert our
founder's wish that private property remain in the
sole domain of the owner.
Maine Greens see rise in state wide voter registration
Maine Greens now have 2.4% of the state's voter registration, compared to
28% for the Republicans and 31% for Democrats. The number is
significant as one of the highest shares of registered voters by a third party
in the nation.
Supreme Theft
Supreme Court Ruling Legalizes 'Theft by Takings'. While
Democratic and Republican officials side with developers, Greens vow
to remain a bulwark against the condemnation of private homes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders sharply criticized the
Supreme Court's June 23 decision in the Kelo v. City of New London case,
calling it a "legalization of theft."
The decision expands the power of government to condemn private
property ('eminent domain'), permitting officials to transfer property from
one private owner to another.
"Working class and low income homeowners will be at special risk, since
they provide less tax revenue, and the Court now gives permission for city
councils and statehouses to evict and replace them with commercial and
residential development for the sake of a wealthier tax base," said Steve
Kramer, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "The Court has
legalized theft -- theft from the poor for the rich."
Green leaders say that the party will remain steadfast in its opposition to
the use of eminent domain to remove people from their homes under the
license provided by the Kelo v. City of New London decision.
"Republican and Democratic officials -- including many liberal and
progressive Democrats -- accept huge gifts from real estate interests that
want to clear out neighborhoods for new development. Greens refuse all
corporate contributions," said Peggy Lewis, who is also co-chair of the
national Green Party. "In the wake of the New London decision, the choice
between voting for a Green and voting for a Democrat or Republican in
some races might spell the difference between keeping and losing one's
home."
Greens around the U.S. are fighting predatory development plans in which
residents and small businesses face mass removal under strengthened
powers of eminent domain:
- Brunswick, Georgia faces a massive redevelopment plan
targeting 135 blocks of the heart of Brunswick, the population of
which is 78% black, with 57% in entrenched poverty. Elaine
Brown, Green candidate for Mayor of Burnswick, is defending
African American residents threatened under the plan, which has
slated whole neighborhoods for brutal displacement through
"takings by condemnation" and eminent domain. Ms. Brown has
offered an alternative plan to make Brunswick a national model and
a base for black economic empowerment and progressive social and
political change. More information: <http://www.elainebrown.
org/Brunswick%20Factsheet.php>.
- In Brooklyn, New York, Park Slope Greens are working with
other local activists in the Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Coalition
to head off an attempt by billionaire developer Bruce Ratner to seize
homes and businesses in Fort Greene and Prospect Heights. Mr.
Ratner, with the support of the current Borough President and other
Democratic elected officials, wants to build an arena and 19 high-
end residential skyscrapers. Gloria Mattera, Green candidate for
Brooklyn Borough President, is challenging the plan and has publicly
exposed the secret sweetheart deals behind it. Ms. Mattera calls for
a moratorium on big scale development of high rises and big box
stores until developers agree to involve the community in decision-
making and commit to maintaining the integrity of existing
neighborhoods. More information: "Mattera Campaign Calls On
Brooklyn Borough Hall for Restraint After Supreme Court Ruling"
<http://www.electgloria.org/news/campaign/20050624.php>.
"The decision proves that liberals may be as likely as conservatives to side
with wealthy and corporate interests, and sometimes even more likely,"
said Greg Gerritt, secretary of the Green Party of the United States.
"We now have reason to fear judicial appointments made by Democrats as
much as the hard-right appointments of President Bush. We clearly need a
new spectrum to describe politics -- dedication to corporate power versus
dedication to the rights of people and the health of the environment. Let
there be no doubt where Greens stand."
Greens especially praised Justice O'Connor's dissenting opinion:
"Any property may now be taken for the benefit of another private
property, but the fallout from this decision will not be random. The
beneficiaries are likely to be those citizens with disproportionate influence
and power in the political process, including large corporations and
development firms. As for the victims, the government now has license to
transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more.
The Founders cannot have intended this perverse result."
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