A beautiful article comparing Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" with Wisconsin of today.

[Cal33]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/274-41/5115-beautiful-wisconsin

[Cal33]

1. These paragraphs are striking:

What does it say about America when unions are more regulated, more controlled, and have more oversight than Wall Street, or corporations that profit from pollution and poison? What does it say about America that our Supreme Court has ruled that corporations are persons and money is free speech and therefore persons with lots of money have more free speech than persons without money?

The people of Wisconsin say different. Wisconsin says that people matter, that we, the people matter, and that we, the people belong to one another and not the corporate states of America.

Tom Joad said: ... The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."

Maybe it is true that the wealthy manipulators of the Tea Party and corporate conservatism of the modern GOP are taking America backwards, back to the Gilded Age of 1890. But we can only go backwards, even a single step, if we allow ourselves to be pushed without pushing back. And that is the beauty of Wisconsin.

[malaise]

10. Indeed

Good article

[Iris]

12. k&r

[RainDog]

2. k&r n/t

[alterfurz]

3. my home, my beautiful Wisconsin!

I've lived in Wisconsin all my life, and in Madison ever since coming to school in '65. I was proud to serve in the "War at Home" that tried to stop the insanity of Vietnam, and as the years went on, settled into thinking Madison's best moment in history had passed. But I've come to think now, and FEEL it like I haven't in 45 years: THIS is Madison's shining moment, Wisconsin's moment, the seed planted way back then, come at last to bloom. ON WISCONSIN, FORWARD BADGERS!

[Cal33]

4. The corporatists have been ruling America for over 130 years. If it hadn't been for

the two Roosevelts and the Democrats after them, our nation would
have become a dictatorship a long time ago. I realize Teddy R. was a
Republican, but he eventually quit them and tried to found a party
of his own. The greedy corporatists of that time did their best
to use him for a patsy. But Boy! Did he surprise them!

So this time, may your fair State of Wisconsin be the shining light
leading to the downfall of the new batch of tyrants, who are lusting
for money, control and and power!

[PeaceNikki]

5. Bursting with cheesy pride. K&R

On Wisconsin.

[Blue_Tires]

6. one of my fav. movies...thanks for this...

[Cal33]

11. You're welcome. It's one of my favorites, too.

[Enthusiast]

7. K&R!

Just beautiful!

[reformist2]

8. It's sad to me that we have to debate things that were settled 75 years ago.

It's like Americans have forgotten their own history - or worse, are rebelling against it.

[Cal33]

9. The conservatives either never knew American history, or if they did,

they've never stopped trying to re-invent it. So much for their insatiable greed!

[Iris]

13. k&r