The Fourth Option (A Centrist Perspective) Blog

          Have you noticed? There seems to be a developing trend among republican governors: Immediately, following their inaugurations, they tell the citizens “I have a mandate—The people elected me to cut the state debt and balance the state’s budget.” Then, almost simultaneously, they begin giving away a healthy portion of the state’s savings to rich corporations, while at the same time placing the entire burden of paying the state’s debt on the backs of the poor and the middle class (cutting their salaries, cutting their benefits, and cutting the services to their communities). These governors seem to feel that these types of actions are well within their rights. Little do they know – they are wrong!      The “equal protection” clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) protects all citizens against discrimination by state governments—especially when it can be shown that the state’s policies are meant to discrimina...

Does Governor Scott Walker have any respect for the law? Or any respect for his employers – Wisconsin’s Citizens? Does he have any respect for himself? If he does, he certainly is doing a poor job of showing it. Time and time again, Scott Walker has blatantly ignored court orders. On March 1, 2011, he refused to obey Judge John Albert’s orders to permit access to the Capitol during normal business hours, and this week he defied Judge Maryann Sumi’s restraining order that prevented him from deploying his political ploy to cuts collective bargaining rights for public workers. Yet, what makes Walker’s overt disregard for the law most egregious is the fact that he appears to be coercing (or attempting to coerce) innocent, law abiding citizens into following him in breaking the law. Fortunately, in some instances, the citizens of Wisconsin are lucky to have high principled women and men, like Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney, who refused to do so. Wisconsin’s citizens voted for Scott Walke...

In these whitest valors of Your promise, when Heaven’s clouds rains kisses on earth, Spiritual I am! Your soul is myself. But who knows that better than You? The Source in these births and rebirths of continued cycles of all creation. In these flakes, whose purity of Your answers whispers correctness.  I am most spiritual: contemplating praises of gifts and sacrifices and the praise of “Your Gift of Sacrifice.” And the happiness from You in this. For spirituality, though humbling, is the most external of internal experiences. The most connected-ness of self to others, the greatest understanding of solo to harmony, beat to rhythm, movement to pulse, earth to Heaven, life to death, the now to the eternal, happiness to Spring, contemplation to Inspiration, or me ― and You!

“Another day, another challenge,” the schools' district supervisor said. “Another day, another challenge,” the principals replied. “We say can do to challenges,” the teachers said. “Why so many challenges?” the students cried. It was the Minister, who heard the answer from a little boy in bible class. He said, “A Challenge is the Lord whispering -- ‘You’re up to the task!’"

     There is no doubt that the government in the state of Wisconsin is in deep financial debt. There is also no doubt that in order to reduce the size of this huge debt, Governor Walker needs to cut government spending (including the wages and benefits of Wisconsin’s public workers). What is in doubt is the fairness of the Governor’s budget policies, which clearly discriminates against the middle class and the poor.      Consider the following: Although there are many wealthy citizens in Wisconsin who could easily afford to pay luxury taxes on expensive cars, boats, beach-front cottages, etc., Governor Walker has made it clear that they will not be asked to do so. He said, and I quote, “Revenues is off the table!” In other words, sales tax, luxury tax and property tax will not be collected from the wealthiest citizens as means of lessening the deep and painful cuts Governor Walker is inflecting on the middle class and working class workers. Clear...