Vol. 41
In This Issue: ESSAY | READ LOCAL | NOW READ THIS | TOUCH GRASS | FINAL FRAME
Wisconsin has a primary election on April 2. Early voting has already begun. The big ticket is, of course, the presidential primary–though you’d be forgiven for not feeling like it especially matters who you pick at this point, given that both Biden and Trump have already won enough delegates to secure their party’s respective nominations.
There is still one crucial option in this contest, however - the “uninstructed” option. Taking a cue from Michigan, Minnesota, and a few other state’s similar efforts, people who are fed up with Biden and the U.S.’s ongoing refusal to oppose the genocide of the Palestinian people (among other things) have launched a campaign to urge fellow people of conscience to vote “uninstructed.” It’s a simple but effective way to lodge a protest vote, to let your voice be heard. It lets Biden and the Democrats know that we are seriously pissed and, if he wants to win our votes in November, he really ought to (finally) do the right thing and stand up to Netanyahu and Israel.
You can learn more about the campaign and what voting “uninstructed” means/will do at the Listen to Wisconsin page.
I’ve been heartened to see the campaign gaining momentum and some crucial endorsements, including from my own State Rep. Francesa Hong. She’s consistently a voice of reason and compassion in our state legislature and I’m grateful to her and everyone else who has been clearly and consistently standing up and speaking out for issues that matter, despite constant blowback from the right and even some fellow Dems.
There are also other important, local offices and issues on the April 2 ballot. You can guide a good guide to the election via the Cap Times that includes the local Dane County races (several Dane County Supervisor spots are open), or head to the League of Women Voters page for their always excellent coverage and guides, statewide.
There are two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot (on the back!) as well, and I strongly endorse voting “NO” on both. They are essentially an effort by the GOP-controlled Legislature to do an end-run around Gov. Evers’ veto, while caving to the conspiracy theories and impulses of the election-denying Trumpists in their ranks. See Dan Shafer’s excellent explanation of the problem, which I also link in the section below.
I believe strongly in the importance of elections. It’s a major way to cultivate a healthier democracy and to make real change, especially at the local and regional level. I also believe strongly that simply voting and then turning away from politics and policy for the rest of the year is part of* why we’re facing the very real threat of losing that democracy. We have to care, and be involved, year-round. I want viable third-party candidates, for instance. It’s going to take a lot of collaboration and effort to get there (at the moment, we are not even close–and too many of the third party candidates are equally as problematic as the main parties’ choices, and the campaign and election process in this country is deeply broken).
I have equal disdain for the “voting is useless, you’re all sheep” and the “voting will solve all your problems, please give us your money and never ever criticize our anointed candidate” crowds. Neither camp has our best interests as a people in mind.
Grassroots, community organizing and mass mobilization of regular people who are similarly fed up with politics-as-usual seems like the only way forward that has any hope of making a positive difference.
Despair is not the answer. Whatever you can do to help, no matter how seemingly small or large, wherever you are, whoever you are–it all matters.
*Massive corporate spending, dark money, and the attack on voter rights across the country play an equally–if not larger–role in wreaking havoc on politics and elections. This isn’t an individual responsibility, but a systemic problem that a coalition of us as individuals must tackle.
Read Local.
“What will the ‘uninstructed’ vote say about Wisconsin?” [Scott Gordon for Tone Madison]
…as Democrats continue to tell us how urgent it is to beat the Republicans in elections and save democracy, they’re maybe not really that icked out. They’ve perhaps not outgrown the blithe arrogance and calculated tepidness that cost them Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016.
“Madison Gay Hockey Association displays pride on ice” [Clara Lefton for Cap Times]
Love the MGHA, love this story. Queers on ice!
“Good in theory, bad in practice, worse in process: Why you should vote ‘no’ on two statewide referendum questions to amend the Wisconsin constitution” [Dan Shafer at The Recombobulation Area]
Instead of a genuine effort to ensure proper public funding of election administration in Wisconsin, what this is is an attempt by Republicans and their right-wing allies to appease the election deniers that make up such a huge part of the party’s base.
Now Read This.
“Vancouver’s new mega-development is big, ambitious, and undeniably indigenous” [Michelle Cyca for McLean’s]
The fact is, Canadians aren’t used to seeing Indigenous people occupy places that are socially, economically or geographically valuable, like Sen̓áḵw. After decades of marginalization, our absence seems natural, our presence somehow unnatural. Something like Sen̓áḵw is remarkable not just in terms of its scale and economic value (expected to generate billions in revenue for the Squamish Nation). It’s remarkable because it’s a restoration of our authority and presence in the heart of a Canadian city.
“The Right’s War on American Children” [Oliver Willis]
The right wing in America expresses its hostility to children in so many ways it is nearly unquantifiable. They refuse to enact overwhelmingly popular gun safety measures, even following repeated bloody school massacres from coast to coast enabled by America’s freewheeling NRA-approved gun culture. The right makes children vulnerable to all manner of preventable dangers, from tainted foods to polluted lakes and rivers to a wide spectrum of climate disasters.
“Searching for Savita” [Jessica Valenti]
Women and girls are dying—abortion bans are killing them. So why aren’t we hearing about it?
The Oatmeal (one of my favorite web comic artists) recently partnered with poet Callista Buchen to create this beautiful, moving comic about grief.
Touch Grass.
What are your favorite places to explore the outdoors? I’m especially interested in smaller, lesser-known, local pockets of nature-joy.
For me, I can name several, but I’ll highlight Turville Conservation Park since we’re about to hit early-spring-ephemeral season and its a great place to take a stroll while surrounded by some of the first blooms of the year. Huge patches of bright purple-blue Siberian squill reliably pop up early in the spring along the winding walking trails in the park. I always feel like I’ve wandered into some delightful fairy realm when I visit during this time.
You’re likely to also find clusters of fawnlilies, mayapples, bloodroot, wild ginger, Dutchman’s breeches, and a variety of other spring ephemerals that make the woods feel especially magical.
Squill and some other very early bloomers are likely to begin popping in the next couple of weeks. April and May are great times to visit generally, and you’re likely to also spot a lot of migratory shorebirds returning (the park borders Lake Monona).
Bonus: Every second Sunday of the month, there’s a free, guided nature hike through the park.
Final Frame.
‘Til Next Time.
Thanks for reading and for standing up for your friends and neighbors! Take care of each other out there.
Always feel free to hit me up with questions, comments, suggestions, and tips on great hiking spots or good books. And please feel free to forward this email to a friend and/or hit that subscribe button. xoxo