Tuesday, June 28, 2011

More from Carrie! (you go girl!)

Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I know that you are familiar with Fox News, but did you know that there are some reporters on Fox News that had your agenda figured out all the way back in February? This is a clip of Juan Williams and Shepard Smith discussing why you wanted to break up unions. http://youtu.be/NJBGWH222KI 
I was aware of the fact that 70% of the top political campaign contributors gave money to Republicans; hearing it again reminds me of the reason why we continue fighting and why we will always continue fighting. Our voices will not be silenced; they cannot be silenced. There is too much at stake. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.
Carrie 
 
Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. Well, today was the last day of student attendance. Now most teachers will spend several days continuing to clean and organize pro bono publico (for the good of the public or otherwise known as free). Then we will be on to other fun things such as part-time jobs, taking classes, and teaching summer school. That is what summer is all about, right? Then before we know it, we will be back in the classrooms cleaning and organizing for the start of a new school year. I was dis appointed that you could not visit my school and spend a day with me this year. I am hopeful that you will take time next school year to come and job shadow me. Your schedule may open up a little more around the end of 2011/beginning of 2012. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, you are invited to gain an appreciation for what teachers do on a daily basis. Oh, and I am not going to allow you to read Dr. Seuss' Oh! The Places You'll Go. I will not allow you to read it to my students because, even if they cannot detect your insincere and mocking manner, I know your actions and words are insincere and mocking. Perhaps you do not even realize you are being insincere and mocking when you read Dr. Seuss' Oh! The Places You'll Go to students. Let me help you connect the dots. Your blatant disregard for education, child welfare, child safety, and family health are apparent in the legislation you and your cohorts are forcing, sometimes illegally, through legislature. This does not even take into account the "leading by example" of fraud and lying you and your cohorts are displaying. This is why your photo opportunity classroom visits where you read Dr. Seuss' Oh! The Places You'll Go reek of insincerity and mockingness. Just so you know, I know that mockingness is not a word, but I needed to change the word mock into a noun form, so mockingness it is. Who knows, maybe I have just taken the first step toward institutionalizing a new word! We are making history every day. I know my Webby Speech: We are making history here! I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.

Carrie  
 
Dear Scott Walker,
Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I went to a retirement party today. I will be going to several more within the next week. You are the cause of these early retirements. I hear you are trying to roll back child labor laws, though. We probably won't need as many teachers if the children are working in sweat shops. Don't think my use of the words "roll back" were an accident either! I am sickened by what you are attempting to do. The good news is, the people of Wisconsin are not going to allow this to happen. We will not let this happen because this is what we are fighting for: http://youtu.be/0k7F8O_5yaE. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more!
Sincerely,
Carrie

Friday, June 10, 2011

I am not in the mood for you tonight...but you must know anyway...

Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. That is all for now, not because I don't have anything to say, but rather because I am not in the mood for you tonight. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.
Sincerely,

Carrie

CAN YOU HEAR US?????

Dear Scott Walker,I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I have a quotation from Facebook for you tonight. I am not going to comment on it; I simply want you to ponder it. Well, you and everyone else I am including in this email. After you ponder it, if you are like me (one filled with virtues and conscience), you will be compelled to send the quotation to someone else so he or she can ponder it. And so it begins..."Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in taxpayer funded bailouts, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes? Yeah, me neither!" I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.
Sincerely,

Carrie 
 
Dear Scott Walker,I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I just read the good news about the official "state dessert" making it's way through legislation. I heard a snip-it on the radio this morning that it was a possibility. I am including the link to the article and a quotation: http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/123470919.html "Fourth-graders from Mukwonago have been pushing lawmakers to anoint the cream puff as Wisconsin's favorite treat. They convinced Republican Sen. Mary Lazich to introduce a bill." This information is good to know; I wonder what else students could push for...what else would republicans be willing to introduce for the benefit of students? What else could students possibly want from republicans? How else could students and republicans work together to improve the state of Wisconsin? I feel like the state dessert is just the beginning. Imagine all of the accomplishments that could happen if students and republicans teamed up. Where would it end? We might have a state restaurant, candy, and cartoon before you know it! On second thought, the students now probably have much more relevant legislation they would like passed, such as reduction in class-size, sufficient school funding, accessibility to technology, and reinstatement of school specialists. It looks like the republicans might have to rely on themselves for ideas about bills that are really important to Wisconsinites. The students will just worry about the bills that affect them on a daily basis. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.  

Carrie
Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. Perhaps the heat is getting to me a little, my husband says I get crabby when it gets hot. Seeing your generic email when I checked my email today really made me quite bitter. To blow off some steam, I am going to create my own generic email based on your generic email. We'll see if it helps. 
Thank you for your generic e-mail message reply.  I welcome you expressing your views and concerns to me, and I commend you for participating in sending a generic email message reply. (This is sarcastic because you have not expressed your views and concerns to me and because at this point I am only willing to commend you for handing in a resignation letter.) I take into account the views of all of the citizens and politicians of Wisconsin, and I will keep your specifically generic comments in mind during my service as your constituent.
If you would like more information about my or other constituents’ positions on issues, or would like to read my or other constituents’ public statements on issues, I encourage you to explore the WI Workers Against Walker website http://wiscworkers.blogspot.com/.  I like to respond individually to every letter and telephone call I receive; however, I cannot respond to any of your communications due to the lack of volume and substance.  If your request is time sensitive, please call my home at XXX. You may also write to me via conventional mail at Carrie XXXXX
As noted in emails previously sent to you, please know that any communications will be subject to release under my own personal "public records good conscience" and that my policy is generally to release communications sent to this email address.
Once again, thank you for contacting me with generic email message replies. (Once again, this is sarcastic. Who would really want to receive a form reply when they are pouring their heart and soul out to you each and every night?) Please feel free to contact me again if I can ever be of assistance to you and especially if you are going to craft an original piece of writing instead of the generic email message replies.
Sincerely,
Carrie

Here is your generic email reply so you can compare. I wrote my response using as much fidelity and homage as your generic email message deserves. 
Thank you for your e-mail message.  I welcome you expressing your views and concerns to me, and I commend you for participating in your state government.  I take into account the views of all of the citizens of Wisconsin, and I will keep your specific comments in mind during my service as your Governor.
If you would like more information about my positions on issues, or would like to read my public statements on issues, I encourage you to explore my website: www.walker.wi.gov.  I like to respond individually to every letter and telephone call I receive; however, I cannot respond to each e-mail individually due to the volume.  If your request is time sensitive, please call my office at (608) 266-1212. You may also write to me via conventional mail at Governor Scott Walker: PO Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707.
As noted on our website, please know that any communications may be subject to release under Wisconsin's public records law and that our policy is generally to release communications sent to this email address.
Once again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me again if I can ever be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
Scott Walker
Governor

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more...one a day from Carrie K!

Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. Have you ever felt like what you are saying is falling on deaf ears? I have felt like that lately. The good news is I have been talking to people about how I am feeling and they seem to be having similar experiences. Many people are becoming increasingly frustrated with your flippant attitude. Citizens of Wisconsin are reaching out to you (some of them daily and from Walkerville) and they feel like their concerns, ideas, and voices are falling on deaf ears. Since they are corresponding with you, you would be the owner of those deaf ears. I guess we could also say that the emails and letters are falling on blind eyes since you only have a computer generated generic response. The good news is that I believe these are self-inflicted ailments. I am sure that you have it within yourself to begin hearing and seeing again, only if you want to. If you begin hearing again first, I hope someone will read these questions to you and transcribe your responses. If your regain your sight first, please read and answer them yourself. 

Why? Why are you so UNwilling to listen to the majority of people? http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2011/05/walkers-numbers-continue-to-get-worse.html Why? Why are you targeting hardworking and vulnerable citizens of Wisconsin? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/11/AR2011031103966.html (This link mistakenly says you "won" but to be fair it is dated 3/11/11) Why? Why do you disregard the well-being and health of Wisconsinites? http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14087832 Why? Why do you insulate yourself from your constituents? http://www.alternet.org/economy/150095/right-winger_scott_walker_overreached,_and_his_arrogance_has_turned_the_political_tide_against_him_in_wisconsin?page=entire Why? Why are you so diametrically opposed to compromise? http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49919.html Why? Why are you willing to break the law and perhaps even lie? http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=32638 Why? Do you create a financial crisis when there is none? http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html Why? Why are you perfectly content with disenfranchising voters? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/wisconsin-voter-id-law-scott-walker_n_867090.html Why? Why are you systematically and persistently trying to create divisiveness among the people of Wisconsin? http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/22/walker-may-have-wasted-political-capital-by-sparing-wisconsins-policemen-and-firemen/ Why? Why has no one told you that your attempts at division are failing? http://my.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/despite-exemption-wisconsin and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/05/wisconsin-protesters-walkerville-tent-capitol-scott-walker-budget_n_871523.html Why? Why? Why?
 I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.
 Sincerely.
Carrie 

Dear Scott Walker,I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I am not sure if you have been around the Capitol or watched the news or seen any articles lately; there is a growing community of tents. This community is named Walkerville. The people play a game called Scottyopoly to pass the time. Teachers were sharing stories about how the budget cuts you have proposed will negatively impact classrooms and their students. Donations from all over the world are once again pouring into Ian's pizza. Walkerville citizens are organizing community meals and rotations for duties. It is amazing how one small man can inspire so many people to come together to fight for the right thing. It is just too bad that so many people cannot inspire one small man to do the right thing. If you have an opportunity, you should see if you can get a tophat, tux, and cane. Then take a walk through Walkerville. It would be interesting to see reactions to you carrying around a sack (a pillowcase would work) with a big $ on it. Could you just imagine! Maybe you should go incognito instead with those glasses that have the fake nose and moustache attached. Either way, I think a visit to Walkerville would help you understand interdependence, contribution, and teamwork. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.

Carrie K
 
 
Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. How was your Saturday? This Saturday was our annual neighborhood rummage sale in Washington Heights. I was unable to attend because I was teaching people how to throw axes at Pirate Fest in Port Washington today. You have missed your opportunity to rummage in our neighborhood wide this year, but there is still one more day for Pirate Fest. I am not inviting you to Pirate Fest in Port Washington because you don't seem to come to events that I invite you to. I am going to provide you with the necessary information if you would like to attend. 
What: Pirate Fest
Where: Port Washington (take Hwy 33 into town until you cannot drive anymore, it is on the lakefront)
When: Sunday, June 5, 10 am- 6 pm
Why: See pirate ships, pirate fights, and learn how to throw axes from me
Cost: FREE, tips are greatly appreciated :)
This is going to be a short email because I am tuckered out from being in the sun all day. I want to get a couple more report cards done before bed. It is going to be an early bed time because I will be back in the sun tomorrow all day teaching people how to throw axes. Yeah, I am pretty awesome and amazing, not to mention humble :)
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.
Sincerely,
Carrie
 
Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I am including an invitation for a literacy celebration picnic. It is the 4th Annual Literacy Celebration Picnic. I have invited you to things in the past (teacher grade-ins and Thunda Around the Rotunda), and you have been unable to attend. I am hoping you can come to the Literacy Celebration. There will be Reader's Theatre performances, hot dogs, and maybe even a dance party! Plus, it has never rained during the Literacy Celebrations. Did I mention that this is the 4th Annual? Here is the invitation; I hope you can make it. Feel free to bring any of the following as your potluck item: hot dogs, buns, washed strawberries, washed grapes, cut up watermelon, cut up cantaloupe, washed and cut carrots, washed and cut celery, washed and cut cucumbers, ketchup, mustard, ranch dressing, pasta salad, rice, chips, dessert, water, or juice. 

Dear Parent/Guardian/Scott Walker,
 
A literacy celebration!
 
Where: Mitchell Park, 2200 W. Pierce St.
When: Friday, June 3, 2011
            10:30am – 2:00pm
(Students will be walking from school to the park prior to this time.)
Who: Mitchell School Book Buddies (Rooms 107, 110, 200, 213)
Cost: There is no cost for this fieldtrip.
Food: The picnic will be a potluck. Students will be assigned a food item to bring to share. See attached note to sign up for a food item.
Transportation:  The students will be walking to and from Mitchell Park with their book buddies. Parents may walk with us, or meet us at the park.
 
Purpose: Throughout the year students have been forming academic and social relationships with their book buddies. They have worked together to develop reading fluency, enhance pronunciation and strengthen comprehension skills, both in English and Spanish. This celebration of literacy will include student performances that demonstrate the culmination of this collaboration.
 
Chaperones: All parents, non-school-age children, and Scott Walker are welcome. School-age siblings are expected to attend school as usual the day of the picnic. If parents and/or Scott Walker would like to help set up and cook, please arrive at Mitchell Park at 9:30am.
 
Questions? Send us a note or call us at (414) 902-xxxx
 
                                                                        Sincerely,
 
Carrie

Dear Scott Walker,
I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more. I had the opportunity tonight to view your Brown Bag Lunch #23. It reminded me of something I saw in Madison. I took a photo of it and tagged you on Facebook. It was a brown paper bag that had "Walker's Brown Bag is Full of SH&*" Here is the link in case you forgot the question or your response: http://youtu.be/flUjTwxI620 

When you talk about the "tools to balance the reductions in state aid" you do realize that you are one of the people reducing that aid, right? You are reducing the aid and then supplying the "tools". Granted, I am a layperson when it comes to corporate underhandedness and manipulation; this seems like a classic case of "your coworker is gone, you have to do twice the work for half the money, and you better do it with a smile on your face because you have a job and I am supplying you with the "tools". I do not understand why you need to reduce state aid in the first place when over $600,000,000 (that's $600 million) was "found" in the budget and you are refusing federal aid (just google "Scott Walker refusing federal aid", there are too many instances for me to cite here). 

When you say you are giving the school districts the "tools to avoid those layoffs and protect middle class jobs" you do realize that there are thousands of layoffs and the middle class is shrinking by the minute, right? (http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/the-u.s.-middle-class-is-being-wiped-out-here's-the-stats-to-prove-it-520657.html?tickers=%5EDJI,%5EGSPC,SPY,MCD,WMT,XRT,DIA http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/09/8-surprising-facts-about_n_675545.html#s124108&title=CashStrapped_States_Are http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/examiner-opinion-zone/uncertain-america-shrinking-middle-class actually just google "shrinking middle class" and once again you will have a plethora of articles to peruse) The only thing you are avoiding is having to take responsibility for job loss in the state of Wisconsin. You definitely do not want to factor in the number of people out of work when you are touting "Wisconsin: Open for Business", do you? From what I hear, you do not count the jobs lost in your running total of jobs gained anyway. I hear you only talk about the increase in jobs since you took office; you do not talk about the people who have lost their jobs since you took office. If you ask me, that seems like only putting deposits into your credit union records and ignoring any checks you write. Who wouldn't want to look at that statement at the end of the month, right? I only have additions and no deductions?!? That does not even take into account the jobs that decided to expand to other states rather than Wisconsin. What analogy can we make with that? I guess that would be like me recording deposits in my credit union, ignoring deductions for bills, and pretending that I didn't even want that lollipop at the drive-up window anyway. It might be a bit of an over-reach; if anyone can relate, you can.

With regard to charter school certification requirements, when you say "...take that successful, semi-retired business person and ask them to come into the classroom and teach a little bit about business, we're not going to require them to go back and get a whole new certification. Instead, if they've got a college degree, we're going to give them the opportunity to share their business experience and share that in the classroom." you do realize that senate bill 22 allows them to do more than teach a little bit about business, right? Senate Bill 22 allows anyone to teach any subject for any amount of time as long as the person "demonstrates competency". There is no stipulation in Senate Bill 22 that suggests a minimum or maximum amount of time in the classroom or even that a degree is necessary. Am I safe in assuming that since you stated a college degree is necessary, you either A.) did not know there was no such requirement or B.) will not be teaching in a charter school? Did you realize that by creating a college degree prerequisite you were making yourself ineligible? Was that on purpose to "save face"? 

This is just nit-picky because I teach English as a second language and have my master's degree: in the video at 1:14 you said "...to help ensure that every kid can move on to the fourth grade with the skill set that they need when it comes to reading." I believe you meant to say "...to help ensure that every kid (a little too informal for my taste, but you are brown-bagging it and this is not a grammatical error; I would have used "student", though) can move on to the fourth grade with the skill set that HE OR SHE NEEDS when it comes to reading." 'Kid' is singular; therefore, you must maintain singularity throughout the sentence. On a side note, as someone who has her master's degree in literacy, I'd like to know what your expectations are for the necessary skill sets for students at any level in any curricular area. Also, you say "semi-retired business person and ask them" when you really mean ask him or her. You also mean to switch to the singular form for the rest of the quotation. I know, I know when you spend so much of your own hard-earned money on both a bachelor's and master's degree, you tend to take your certifications and degrees pretty seriously. It is both a curse and a blessing. I OPPOSE senate bill 22 and so much more.

Carrie