3 demands, an announcement, and some good news

13 May 2011

Dear Scott Walker,

I have five things to say to you today. The first three things are demands, which I highly recommend you take seriously if you don't want to be recalled (just kidding - you're going to be recalled anyway). The fourth one is an announcement, which should also be read as a warning. And the fifth thing is great news, so I saved it for last to give you a reason to keep reading.

1.  Stop lying. About everything, but especially the fact that our schools need to be "reformed." As I predicted, you never fail to disappoint, so your speech at the Americans for the Destruction of Public Education on Monday was a lie-filled disaster.  Where do you get the audacity to say out loud that we have a "moral imperative" to "reform" our schools?  The only thing our schools need, to keep them at the top of the nation in terms of test scores and graduation rates, is continued funding and community support. Just this week, Wisconsin schools were ranked first - for the 2nd year in a row - in graduation rates. In fact, the best data shows that the only area in which our schools do fail is in the much-lied-about charter ventures that have been consistently proven not to out-perform traditional public schools. Stealing money away from the schools that the vast majority of Wisconsin children attend and giving government handouts to a select few in the form of "vouchers" (which would allow even rich kids to attend private schools), is immoral, corrupt and reprehensible.    Here's some valuable advice for you: if it's not broken, don't do everything in your power to destroy it.  
2. Stop saying "People elected me CEO of Wisconsin."  Wisconsin is NOT your personal business to defraud and defund. It is a democratic state in which the people have a voice. And since you allege to "govern" these people, it is the mandate of the democratic process that you not only listen to them, but engage in active dialogue with them. So stop pretending like you own us, and our land, and everything on it, and start doing your real job instead of trying to force your failed "business model" on the state as if you know anything at all about how the business world works (because we have access to your track record, and it's terrible). As soon as you stop doing all those things, I'll start referring to you as "governor" again. Give the job the respect it deserves, and people will begin to acknowledge that you deserve the title. 
3. Stop being so stubborn. I'm glad to hear your bad math revealed a surplus in the budget. Give it back to our kids. This is your big chance to prove that you are actually capable of performing an act that involved both intellect and compromise. I know you hate education, and most of our children, but the rest of us don't, and this is (see above) a democracy. So give us our budget back.
4. We are not "still" mad. We are MORE mad. And to prove it, we'll see you tomorrow. Because every time you open your lying mouth, we get madder. The people of Wisconsin will not allow you to destroy our exemplary public education system. Nor will they allow you to take away our rights to collective bargaining. So we're holding a rally tomorrow, starting at 2:30, to let you know how we feel. I hope you can make it! This would be a great chance for you to meet with some concerned citizens and hear us out.  I think it would be really productive if you could attend. Bring the family! Kids love rallies. They're a great lesson in democracy (which, I'm sure, your own children cannot possibly receive at home, given your my-way-or-the-highway style of "governing"), and also there are popcorn stands.  I can't wait!
5. The good news: luckily for you, the people who hate you the most are really good, decent, honest, hardworking, smart, productive and talented people.  Today an article stated that in the past few months there have been a total of about 90 threats to Republican and Democratic officials in Wisconsin.  (They didn't mention the threats you yourself have made to your constituents, most shamefully, to bring in the National Guard to shoot at us if we protested your plan to take away our rights, or your on-going threats to "create jobs" by firing us - if we factored those in, this figure would be a lot higher. Personally, I think it's pretty shoddy journalism not to even mention that, but what else would we expect from the Republican State Journal?)  Anyway, I sincerely hope none of these threats of violence are serious, but the fact that you received so few of them is really a testament to the restraint and moral fortitude of the hundreds of thousands of people who hate you so much. So this something we both can celebrate.  

In closing, I am so looking forward to the news of your resignation. Maybe you could announce it tomorrow at the rally!  Can you imagine?! The thunderous applause would shake the Capitol dome - it would be enough to satisfy even your insatiable ego for life.  You should really consider it.  Also, my parents are coming to town from Michigan this weekend and I would love for them to be a part of that historic moment.  That reminds me - I have to charge up my camera battery!

See you tomorrow! Enjoy your resignation party!

Heather DuBois Bourenane

Infuriated Wisconsin taxpayer who will not stop insisting that you resign until you are recalled

Details on tomorrow's rally - see you there!

 

Want to get really, really drunk? Take a sip every time Walker lies! Don't drink? This will make you want to start.

Do you have what it takes to sit through Walker's address to the American Foundation for the Destruction of Public Schools?  If so, watch this: http://www.livestream.com/studentsfirstpa/video?clipId=pla_bc4c6e5e-85a0-4e12-8467-5ad2fcfb4398. Walker starts around the 19:00 mark.  I highly recommend you start with the drinking game (instructions above).