A FACT-DRIVEN VOICE FOR
MIDDLE WISCONSIN VIEWS
WELCOME
Welcome to Middle Wisconsin
News. Much has happened since we
published our first edition two weeks
ago. We are all anxiously awaiting the
outcome of investigations into the
irregularities in the Supreme Court
election numbers, the Senate recalls
are moving forward, and Middle Wis-
consin is planning a post office rally
on tax day (Monday, April 18) to
protest corporate tax avoidance.
We are all aware that much lies
ahead of us, but it is important to
keep things in perspective. Although
the Supreme Court election results
are still unknown, we must remember
that this is only the first of many bat-
tles. We will win some of these; we
will lose some. It is the ―war‖ that is
important, and history is on our side.
Americans have won this struggle
before. But let us all keep in mind that
this is certain to be a long-term
endeavor. We must not lose heart,
and we must encourage one another
to carry on.
We are still in the process of develop-
ing Middle Wisconsin News. There
is much to learn and much to do. We
have added a section called
―Challenging the Myth,‖ which we
hope can be a regular feature in each
edition. This section will be used to
question popularly accepted beliefs
that have little basis in fact. We also
have an essay from a Middle Wiscon-
sin member in this edition and hope
that essays will be a standard part of
our newsletter. If you are interested in
writing an op-ed, essay, or article,
please see ―Call for Submissions,‖ on
page 3.
We hope you enjoy this second
edition of Middle Wisconsin News.
Editorial Committee
Dave Svetlik, Jim Mattes,
Sarah Thurs, Paul Svetlik
© 2011Middle W is c ons in
Middle Wisconsin
Information Technology Solutions
FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
News
www.MiddleWisconsin.com APRIL 15, 2011
Tax Day Teach-In and Picket
Tax Day Informational Picket
A CALL TO ACTION
FOR ACTIVISTS: Monday, April 18  11 am–6 pm
U.S. Post Office, 235 Forest St. , Wausau
Please join us to picket for a more progres-
Tax-Day Teach-In sive tax code, as well as humane budgets
and spending priorities.
Sunday, April 17  7 pm
We will be part of U.S. Uncut’s nationwide
call to action exposing the largest U.S.
UW–Marathon County's
corporations who are reaping billions in
Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and
profits, paying no taxes, and receiving
Service (WIPPS), located on the corner of
bailout money and/or tax refunds.
Stewart Ave. & S. 7th Ave., Wausau
Middle Wisconsin’s Research Committee is
Professors Eric Giordano and Katrina Becker
developing a flier with talking points to pass
will be discussing progressive alternatives to
out. Bring signs.
state and federal budget shortfalls, as well as
the economic, democratic, and moral justifica-
For good examples and general info, see
tions for a progressive tax code.
www.usuncut.org. Click on Actions to see
the huge number of cities involved and the
―targets‖ of the actions—the largest thieves:
GE, M&I, Verizon, and so on.
Contact Information
Wix Covey: wixcovey@gmail.com or
Tony Schultz: info@stoneyacresfarm.net
TAX DAY RESOURCES
 You heard it here first: Tax the rich and solve budget shortfall
By Marc V. Levine http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/116955013.html
 United for a Fair Economy’s ―Take a Stand for Tax Fairness‖ webpage
http://faireconomy.org/enews/take_a_stand_for_tax_fairness
 Demos' Taxes Matter week provides a fresh outlook on how we think about taxes. Check out
"Reclaiming Public Discourse about Taxes," which includes talking points and an informative
webinar: http://sites.google.com/site/demospublicworks/Reclaiming-Taxes
 Who can resist a great infographic? Have a look at Tax Breaks vs. Budget Cuts by the Center for
American Progress: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/02/tax_breaks_infographic.html
or this comparison of budget cuts vs. tax cuts for the wealthy by the Economic Policy Institute:
http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/giving_to_the_rich_and_taking_from_the_poor/
and all of the Economic Policy Institute’s website: www.epi.org
 A few other organizations with excellent resources: Citizens for Tax Justice, the Center for Budget
and Policy Priorities, Tax Policy Center, and Dollars and Sense Magazine

UPCOMING EVENTS
 Saturday, April 16
Tea Party rally in Madison
from noon till 2, featuring the
one and only Sarah Palin.
(It’d be great to get more
people in Madison than the
tea partiers do!)
 Sunday, April 17
Teach-In on Taxation, 7 pm,
UW–Marathon County's
Wisconsin Institute for Public
Policy and Service (WIPPS)
with Professors Eric Giordano
and Katrina Becker.
 Monday, April 18
Tax Day Protest, 11 am – 6 pm,
Wausau Post Office,
235 Forest St.
ONGOING
INVITATION
Mondays  5 pm
Day’s Bowl-A-Dome
 Wausau 
Bring a friend or
two and join
Middle Wisconsin
members each
Monday night to
talk current events
& be around
like-minded folks.
© 2011Middle W is c ons in
APRIL 15, 2011
Middle Wisconsin News Page 2
Supreme Court Election Still Undecided
By Jim Mattes
Last Tuesday’s election for State Supreme Court went down
to the wire, and a week and a half later, there is still no result
between incumbent David Prosser and challenger JoAnne
Kloppenburg.
After the first unofficial canvas, Kloppenburg appeared to
have won by 204 votes. However, after counties conducted
their canvasses to verify the vote numbers, the totals began
to swing back and forth.
The most dramatic announcement came at about 6 pm on
Thursday, two full days after the election took place. Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus
publicly apologized for having ―forgotten to save‖ approximately 14,000 votes in the city of
Brookfield, the second largest city in her county. This gave Prosser a lead of about 7,000 votes.
At this time, only Milwaukee County remains to have its totals verified. Prosser currently leads by
7,305 votes, which is a total within the scope of the half-percent margin allowing the loser of
an election to ask for a recount paid for by the state. If this total holds, Kloppenburg will have
three days after the total count is made official to ask for a recount.
What do Middle Wisconsin members do at this point? We can look glumly at the prospect that
defeat seems to have been snatched from the jaws of victory by either an incompetent or unethical
county clerk, or, we can take action and have the results examined thoroughly at the state and
federal levels. Several of these mechanisms are being put into action already:
 The Government Accountability Board (GAB) has impounded the votes of
Waukesha County until the canvas becomes official.
 State citizens also have the opportunity to file complaint forms with the GAB against
Ms. Nickolaus, citing the areas of her job which she failed to perform.
 Tammy Baldwin, U.S. House member from Madison, has encouraged the U.S.
Attorney General, Eric Holder, to launch a federal investigation into the election
processes that were followed in this election.
Meanwhile, the Governor has weighed in on the impending results. Originally, he blamed Madison
and its being in a ―different world‖ from the rest of the state for the apparent victory of Kloppenburg.
Now that it appears his ally is close to being declared the winner, he has gone on a national attack
against who else? ―Big government labor union bosses,‖ who he accuses of wanting to do every-
thing in their power to overturn the election of Prosser, even if they have to pay for the recount and
―discover‖ additional votes for Kloppenburg. He made these statements from Newsmax.com’s
company headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he is kicking off a national tour to fight
what he calls a union effort to seek recall efforts against the Governor’s allies in the State Senate.
Should we be discouraged? Perhaps for a few moments; but we all knew that this battle for the
values we cherish in our state and our country, would not be easy. We knew there would be
setbacks. It is our obligation to fight through these temporary disappointments and work even
harder to achieve our goals.
Below is the contact information for the various offices mentioned in this article, which you can
reach to make a difference. Think of why you joined Middle Wisconsin and take action!
 Federal Election Commission Phone: 202-694-1015
(The Commission is rumored to be monitoring the number of calls they receive to help
determine their involvement in the Supreme Court election.)
 Government Accountability Board Complaint Form http://gab.wi.gov/node/1282
 Recall the Republican 8 http://www.recalltherepublican8.com/
 Senator Herb Kohl http://kohl.senate.gov
(Ask him to get the federal government involved in the election official count/canvas)
 Attorney General Eric Holder Phone: 202-514-2001 http://www.justice.gov/ag/
 Waukesha County Clerk’s Office Phone: 262-548-7010
http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/defaultwc.aspx?id=38066

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Middle Wisconsin News is
seeking submissions. We are
looking for letters to the edi-
tor, articles on relevant top-
ics, and reports from people
on the street (rallies, visits
with politicians, school board
and city council meetings,
etc.) We ask that letters be
limited to 600 words and that
references be cited where
appropriate.
Please provide author name,
municipality, and phone num-
ber for purposes of verification.
Feel free to contact us with
your ideas for articles. We
are seeking people who wish
to submit occasional work
and those who would like to
be regular contributors. Top-
ics can include politics, social
issues, economics, educa-
tion, local business, unions,
events, and other appropriate
topics. We hope to represent
the broad spectrum of people
who form Middle Wisconsin:
blue collar and white collar
workers, public and private
employees, union and non-
union members, business
owners, farmers, and more.
Submissions may be edited
for length, clarity, accuracy,
and taste, but we will seek
the author’s approval before
publication.
Emailed submissions should
be sent in plain text or as
Microsoft Word attachments.
If you would like to contrib-
ute, contact
dave@middlewisconsin.org.
© 2011Middle W is c ons in
APRIL 15, 2011
Information
Middle Technology
Wisconsin News Solutions Page 3
Pondering...
By Jody Maier
―I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to
take this anymore!‖
– Howard Beale, Network, 1976
Except we do. We do take it. We take it
every day. We sleep. We wake. We take it
all over again. Why? We fear loss. We fear
the loss of the comforts we have accumu-
lated, be they few or many. We fear the
loss of securities scrabbled together. We
look at the little we have and we fear to
lose it. We fear the loss of family, friends,
jobs or upward mobility and so we remain
silent. We fear jail. We fear retribution at
the hands of the powerful. We remain in the
shadows. We are bold with friends, and
More news today. Corporations now
then cower among the enemy. We stay our
have the rights of an individual. They
tongue, minding our manners and speaking
with polite etiquette rather than offend can lobby our lawmakers to rescind
those who are offensive. We continue to pesky human-serving ―environmental‖
debate, to attempt to see differing points of laws. Corporations don’t drink water,
view while ours are dismissed out of hand. so they don’t care if it is drinkable.
We tolerate the lies spoken of us and of our Unless a corporation wants to bottle
and sell it, well, then please keep the
opposition. We kowtow and go about our
water clean until a profit can be made.
lives while another election is raped, the
GOP radicals taking their measure of Corporations don’t breathe the air
pleasure as they see fit. either, so let’s lower our air-quality
standards because corporations do
Mad as hell. Yet here I sit. make money and clean is so darn
expensive. Money is important to a
The quickening of the agenda is here. We corporation; more important than
anything else. A man well camou-
were warned. Throughout history we have
been cautioned to remain vigilant. We fid- flaged in a corporation begins to lose
dled. Rome is burning. Women’s health his humanity and begins to think in
options degraded, the women themselves business terms. ―Well,‖ he says to
insulted. Senior citizens, our wizened tribal himself, ―I don’t like to do this to you,
elders, cast off with no value. Broken, so please don’t take it personally. It’s
just business.‖ These are the men we
cracked, flawed humans left wanting as
their meager provisions are throttled, fear.
squeezed to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.
Wages battered down in depression roll- Tears welling. Seeing red.
backs and further hindered by escalating Beginning to stir.
prices of essential items. Jobs scarce to
find and once found, little more than third- The corporations want business back
world quality: long hours, hazardous condi- in America. Freight is expensive to
tions, low benefits. Not exactly your father’s haul back here from overseas and now
dream for you. that they don’t need to worry about
Still mad. Still sitting. (Continued on next page)

MISSION STATEMENT
Middle Wisconsin is an
independent, citizens’ coalition
working to evaluate and sup-
port political candidates and
measures that promote just
and transparent government,
healthy communities,
social responsibility,
thriving local economies,
environmental stewardship,
and quality education.
© 2011Middle W is c ons in
APRIL 15, 2011
Middle Wisconsin News Page 4
Pondering—Continued
policies rule our health care system;
Medicare has been pilfered and left for
dead. As a whole, there is little differ-
ence between the two major parties.
The money has been allowed to fester
air- and water-quality standards, high
for so long that the disease borne from
wages and benefits, and unions fighting
it is immune to most elections. Only a
them, the atmosphere is right to re-invest in
lethal dose of voter turnout holds the
America. The trouble is that Americans are
potential to cure it. If that fails, ampu-
still fairly well educated and acclimated to a
tation is imminent.
decent standard of living. That is going to
be corrected, too.
Steeled, I march forward.
Educational systems,
educators, and the in- We need to eschew
frastructure that sup- fear. If we do not, we
ported this will now be We need to change the hold zero opportunity
grossly underfunded. to change. We need
world from our center to fight, but not like
We won’t fight for better
wages and working and let it radiate out. our enemy, for we
conditions if we cannot dare not become
Grassroots. them in our attempt to
articulate them. If the
only jobs are low skill, Buy local. overtake them.
low cognitive in nature, Participate in Community
it’s better we don’t un- We need to change
derstand our position Supported Agriculture. the world from our
center and let it radi-
rather than be aware of Forsake ate out. Grassroots.
our isolation and squalor.
Keep the best of us un- corporate products. Buy local. Participate
educated. Keep the rest Protest! in Community Sup-
of us in prison. Malnour- ported Agriculture.
ished, abused, and ne-
Make a sign, Forsake corporate
glected, those among join a march, products. Protest!
us desperate enough to Make a sign, join a
and hold it high! march, and hold it
resort to crime to make
our way are now herded high! Engage the op-
into cages in record position and DO NOT
numbers. Rounded into WITHER. Steel your-
camps, we keep them out of sight. And self for the dawn when civil disobedi-
there is money in this so the corporations ence is required for it may come to that.
take over our prison system. Profit in We are under attack; we are being
convictions, we need tough-on-crime plundered in the most nefarious and
justices on the bench to feed the beast. maniacal of ways. We are many and
Thus, elections are bought and sold. we are strong. We must be resolute.
We must harbor our anger, nurture our
Standing. Fists balled. Jaw clenched. passion, and douse our fear with it.
Quell your silence; engage your
strength and RISE. Look back in the
The system is not broke. Sadly, it remains
face of that which threatens you and
one of the best avenues for change at our
defy it. Like the winds across Superior,
disposal. No, it is not broke, but it is sold.
thunder in the Rockies, and waves
The money and the power have corrupted.
upon our shores, we are relentless.
War profiteering is up; educational spend-
ing is down. Lobbying for pharmaceuticals
is up; aid to the infirm is down. Insurance Your hand in mine, we win. 
 APRIL 15, 2011
Middle Wisconsin News Page 5

CHALLENGING THE
The Myth: “And if all others accepted the lie which the party
imposed—if all records told the same tale—
Taxes Kill Jobs then the lie passed into history and became the truth.”
—George Orwell, 1984 (published in 1949)
By Dave Svetlik

Tax day (April 18) is fast upon us, and Middle Wisconsin is planning a rally at the Wausau post office to expose wealthy U.S. corporations
that pay little or no taxes and, in several cases, actually receive government subsidies. We have all heard the conservative mantra that
―taxes are job killers‖ used to justify this state of affairs. Governor Scott Walker’s corporate tax giveaways at the beginning of his term were
based upon this oft used slogan. If we repeat something often enough, it must be true. But perhaps a look at the historical record might be
of value.

The following graph taken from The Crux at http:// thecentral cruxblogspot.com was developed using historical records from the IRS. As
indicated, the graph compares historical levels of unemployment with individual (top earner) and corporate (top earner) tax rates from 1920
to present.

One can see that beginning in the early 1920s, a sharp drop in the individual tax rate from over 70 to 25 percent was followed by a steep
rise in unemployment from 5 to 25 percent. This of course, was the era of the Great Depression. By the early 1930s, individual taxes were
climbing quickly, along with a more gradual rise in corporate tax rates. It is readily apparent that while taxes were rising, unemployment fell
steadily until the era of World War II.

Perhaps most telling is what occurred from 1950 through 1980. While both individual and corporate taxes remained high during this period,
unemployment remained low. It should be remembered that government debt was also low during this time.

In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected President and ushered in the era of ―trickle down‖ economics. At this point, we see a sharp drop in
individual tax rates, along with a more modest decline in corporate taxes. Notice that the unemployment rate was largely unaffected by the
reduction in tax rates. What the graph doesn’t include is the fact that 1980 is when we began to see the steady rise in government debt that
plagues us today.

It is easy to oversimplify, and this is certainly true when trying to compare tax rates with the level of unemployment. Indeed, most econo-
mists, including New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman, indicate that there is almost no real correlation between
the two. Of importance for the purpose of this discussion is that there is virtually no evidence to support the conservative claim that raising
taxes kills jobs. However, when one considers the current fallout from the rising government debt resulting from keeping top earner taxes
low, there is certainly collateral damage. 