Tue, 8 Mar 2011 Dear Editor, I attended the rallies at the Capital the last 2 weekends and I will be up there with my sign again this weekend along with tens of thousands of other Wisconsinites including my wife with her sign. I've never experienced anything like what has been taking place. Huge crowds of average people, all good natured and determined to prevail. We march round and round, waving our signs, most homemade [mine said "I MAY BE OLD BUT I DON'T NEED A WALKER"] and, sometimes, chanting and singing. [What's disgusting? Union busting] Lots of "high fives". There were police all over but not one incident that I know of. A cop "wanded" me when I went inside the Capital and he thanked me afterwards. There were bands and lone guys with guitars or pounding on plastic buckets. There were speeches from a speaker's platform set up just outside the Capital entrance. I have to say, it was a lot of fun with good vibes all around but, I believe, most people there realize that, good vibes aside, this is serious business. Shutting down the State Capital is not something to take lightly. Its also not a trivial thing to defy a Governor freely elected. But, that is what we are doing and, I believe, will continue to do until he gives in or is removed from office. {One sign said, "I voted against the train, I didn't vote for this"]. Its obvious to all, I believe, that he is out to crush and humiliate the public sector unions. If he is allowed to do that, he will come after all unions. He has outside support as does the other side because this is a test case. It goes well beyond Wisconsin and both sides know it. That makes me even more determined to keep marching.
Dave Johnson |