Lots of issues and links lately. Here they are in no particular order:
Defend Wisconsin. Via Virginia, a colleague who’s in the midst of things in Wisconsin right now.
The Wisconsin Senate (that is, the Republican members present in the state) have ordered the arrest of its missing Democratic members if they return to the state. It’s uncertain if such a maneuver is legal.
TPM reports on one Democratic senator from Wisconsin who managed to get his paycheck despite Republican efforts to keep him from it for leaving the state. Maybe that’s the reason for the arrest order. Ohio passed its legislation regarding union rights yesterday, but the Republicans were only able to by resorting to (well, let’s face it) shenanigans. While we’re on TPM links, this is a good piece about the efforts of Fox News to report on this historic uprising of apparent bullies. (As a side note, I spotted a story earlier, but have since lost the link, of someone being cited for unplugging Fox News equipment. First off, I don’t condone unplugging equipment, but is anyone really surprised that the protesters don’t like Fox given the narrative that Fox is presenting?)
Huffington Post on criticisms of the coverage of Wisconsin protests. In particular they cover a pretty big correction by the Times regarding an interview one of their reporters did with a supposed “union man” who has, in fact, never been in a union. This mistake undercuts what was a provocative article that Governor Walker was using as evidence for widespread support of his proposals. The whole article is pretty deeply undercut with the correction.
New York Times article focusing on teachers wondering where all the vitriolic scorn towards them is coming from lately. Knowing as many teachers as I do (and being one myself) I can say it’s a bit mind boggling. I grew up in a small school district that wasn’t particularly well funded. I’m pursuing a PhD and a career in education thanks in no small part to the constant sacrifice and commitment of the public school teachers I had the privilege of learning from. What would be nice is if rather than placing blame on teachers for poor performing students or the budget mismanagement of state and federal governments, we began to treat education with the gravitas it deserves. Maybe smaller classroom sizes, and more one on one time with students would be the place we as a nation could agree to begin. Yes, that means more money, but I take the political rhetoric that comes out each election cycle about the importance of education as more than empty words. Budgets are a problem, but scapegoating teachers and removing resources aren’t going to help answer these problems.
Striking a similar tone, Jon Stewart & the Daily Show’s take on the same issue.
Abe Sauer reports on Governor Walker’s budget speech at the Awl.
Moveon.org has a statement of support for Wisconsin’s 14 Democratic Senators here.
Huffington Post has an AP report on a court order for protesters to leave the Wisconsin capital building after business hours.
Errant Reader 