I know, I know...I promised I'd have a new focus. But I had this total eureka moment that just wasn't going to fit in a facebook post! Maybe it took a couple cocktails from the Milawesomely fabulous Bel Air Cantina to knock it out of me, but my inner Freud has totally deciphered the Republican anti-train sentiment.
They're traditionally anti-ending-in-x. No tax. No sex. That sums up both their fiscal AND conservative values easily. And the train issue puts it at an ugly head.
I arrived at this conclusion after reflecting on how powerful women in the past have used sexuality in a political sense (thank you Stuff You Missed in History Class). Then, my mind wandered to recalling from both film and literature classes how trains are often used as a symbol for copulation (look no further than the end of North by Northwest for that one). So maybe these conservatives just need to put aside their puritanism and get laid? Trains for everyone!
Now if only there were gay trains (insert further Cary Grant reference here). They'd be frothing even more.
UPDATED: I should clarify with WISCONSIN republicans, because the ones we have here campaigned on both anti-sex issues (anti-birth control, anti-gay rights) and anti-transit.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Reluctant Wisconsinite: Am I A Quitter and/or Abandoner?
Alright, last night I promised I'd start going through some of the many questions that have been posed to me this week, since I dropped the bombshell that I'm actively looking to (in hashtag terms) #EscapefromWI.
Here's my thoughts on a couple. I will write more later.
Am I a quitter? Am I abandoning my fellow dems in Wisconsin?
I can obviously see how that's an easy conclusion at which to arrive. My team lost and I'm taking the ball and leaving the court.
I'm not quitting the GAME though. (Although unlike Brett Farve, I have no future plans involving sexting in Crocs (sorry fellas)). I just need to explore my options off this particular field. I am still going to stay involved in politics (like I could turn this OFF!). I am still going to strive to make this world a better place. I am going to keep reading, keep educating myself, keep educating others on how to discern reality from paid advertisements.
To me, quitting would be hanging up all political pathos, buying a 47" TV and watching reality TV until my brain bled.
Additionally, there are some selfish reasons behind my decision. The industry in which I work was the FIRST ONE one the chopping block by the new regime. There is no will whatsoever to move Wisconsin into the 21st Century, fuck, even the '90s when it comes to transportation policy. Why should I stay here? How can that advance my current career? Unless you saw funding hopes dashed and lost a week of pay this year, I don't want you to tell me to "wait it out" for four more years.
Again, I am not quitting the game or my fellow Democrats. I will continue to work tirelessly for democratic and progressive causes. I will not turn my back on Milwaukee and Wisconsin. I love this city. It's by far the coolest city in the Midwest. I know some incredible, amazing, intelligent, bluer than me, people here.
But, some factors I ask you to consider and respect:
1) I'm not from here. I grew up solely on both coasts. I've chosen to live here and now I choose to leave.
2) Throughout history, people have moved to creative centers to personally flourish. Look at all the composers that went to Vienna, writers to New York, artists to Florence. If I feel that my creativity and passions are stifled here, why should I stay?
3) Social media allows for people to stay in touch once they've moved like you never could in the past. I care about my blue comrades here and will continue to stay engaged and informed. I also am going to look into using my knowledge and skillset with these types of communications to helping out on a greater scale for the future.
4) I don't want to be a schmuck defending my progressive values, if I haven't truly lived and breathed in a city/state with more innovative infrastructure, services, etc. I've traveled and sampled many of these things, yes, but I want to be able to truly experience another type of system to be able to say "it's better." What if it's not? What if it sucks? What if I end up agreeing with those I call "conservative assholes?" I won't know if I'm pressured into staying in the status quo.
5) Improve my dating life in Milwaukee and maybe we'll talk.
6) I can always move back.
I promise to answer more questions in the coming days.
Here's my thoughts on a couple. I will write more later.
Am I a quitter? Am I abandoning my fellow dems in Wisconsin?
I can obviously see how that's an easy conclusion at which to arrive. My team lost and I'm taking the ball and leaving the court.
I'm not quitting the GAME though. (Although unlike Brett Farve, I have no future plans involving sexting in Crocs (sorry fellas)). I just need to explore my options off this particular field. I am still going to stay involved in politics (like I could turn this OFF!). I am still going to strive to make this world a better place. I am going to keep reading, keep educating myself, keep educating others on how to discern reality from paid advertisements.
To me, quitting would be hanging up all political pathos, buying a 47" TV and watching reality TV until my brain bled.
Additionally, there are some selfish reasons behind my decision. The industry in which I work was the FIRST ONE one the chopping block by the new regime. There is no will whatsoever to move Wisconsin into the 21st Century, fuck, even the '90s when it comes to transportation policy. Why should I stay here? How can that advance my current career? Unless you saw funding hopes dashed and lost a week of pay this year, I don't want you to tell me to "wait it out" for four more years.
Again, I am not quitting the game or my fellow Democrats. I will continue to work tirelessly for democratic and progressive causes. I will not turn my back on Milwaukee and Wisconsin. I love this city. It's by far the coolest city in the Midwest. I know some incredible, amazing, intelligent, bluer than me, people here.
But, some factors I ask you to consider and respect:
1) I'm not from here. I grew up solely on both coasts. I've chosen to live here and now I choose to leave.
2) Throughout history, people have moved to creative centers to personally flourish. Look at all the composers that went to Vienna, writers to New York, artists to Florence. If I feel that my creativity and passions are stifled here, why should I stay?
3) Social media allows for people to stay in touch once they've moved like you never could in the past. I care about my blue comrades here and will continue to stay engaged and informed. I also am going to look into using my knowledge and skillset with these types of communications to helping out on a greater scale for the future.
4) I don't want to be a schmuck defending my progressive values, if I haven't truly lived and breathed in a city/state with more innovative infrastructure, services, etc. I've traveled and sampled many of these things, yes, but I want to be able to truly experience another type of system to be able to say "it's better." What if it's not? What if it sucks? What if I end up agreeing with those I call "conservative assholes?" I won't know if I'm pressured into staying in the status quo.
5) Improve my dating life in Milwaukee and maybe we'll talk.
6) I can always move back.
I promise to answer more questions in the coming days.
Two Years Ago Today...
REMEMBER.
REMEMBER the energy. REMEMBER the excitement.
REMEMBER that even in a world of instant gratification, real change doesn't come overnight and requires working TOGETHER. We CAN do this still.
...Let's get it together team!...On to 2012.
REMEMBER the energy. REMEMBER the excitement.
REMEMBER that even in a world of instant gratification, real change doesn't come overnight and requires working TOGETHER. We CAN do this still.
...Let's get it together team!...On to 2012.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Provocative Progressive
Dang.
Who knew that my personal response to the election would cause such a ruckus in my social media realm? Who would've guessed that I'd get calls, emails, text messages, and more either vehemently disagreeing with me or cheering me forward?
Over the next few days I promise to address some of the issues that folks have raised. It's fair that folks asked:
Who knew that my personal response to the election would cause such a ruckus in my social media realm? Who would've guessed that I'd get calls, emails, text messages, and more either vehemently disagreeing with me or cheering me forward?
Over the next few days I promise to address some of the issues that folks have raised. It's fair that folks asked:
- Am I just a quitter?
- Am I turning my back on my fellow dems?
- Can I call myself "progressive" and hate on "conservatives"? (Here's my quick reply to that on Facebook tonight: " aren't there PLENTY of people... that call themselves "Christian," yet their messages of hate and intolerance run counter to most of Christ's teachings? Semantics are a slippery slope in politics on both sides of the aisle.)
- Where may I move? What happens if that turns red?
The Reluctant Wisconsinite
I vowed in 2004 that I would never live in a Red State. I can handle a purple state. I could maybe even handle a blue enclave (Austin) in an always red state, but when a state has changed from the one I once knew, well it's time to leave.
Wisconsin, I will bid you adieu in 2011.
It's not just because of the elections. Wisconsin and I have been hanging in there together for a while here, for what seems like "for the kids." The relationship has been suffering. Wisconsin doesn't make me feel the way it used to. I don't think it appreciates me. And now it's gone and cheated on me. Our values have completely shifted. Why stay in a failing partnership? It's time to move out.
One of my motivations for staying in Wisconsin was the possibility of going to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Elated, was I, when plans for high speed rail began formulating and I envisioned staying car-free, commuting as necessary to classes in my mid-30s and receiving top-quality higher education.
Unfortunately, my fellow Wisconsinites don't only not share this vision, but are vehemently against making this lifestyle choice. Why then would they elect a college-drop out to run the higher education system? A man who declared his transit policy to have everyone afford to buy a car, and a stepford wife who wants all moms to drive minivans. Oh, and I will be a mom or abstinent, because these folks are so conservative, they don't even support birth control.
I've had SEVERAL friends challenge me tonight, calling me over dramatic, encouraging me to "sleep on it," even threatening to "defriend" me if I don't stop complaining. Luckily my best friend, the wonderful Kat, called me and cheerlead me through it. Once she got me to stop crying and throwing things, she and I had a practically rational conversation about leaving.
Wisconsin, I will bid you adieu in 2011.
It's not just because of the elections. Wisconsin and I have been hanging in there together for a while here, for what seems like "for the kids." The relationship has been suffering. Wisconsin doesn't make me feel the way it used to. I don't think it appreciates me. And now it's gone and cheated on me. Our values have completely shifted. Why stay in a failing partnership? It's time to move out.
One of my motivations for staying in Wisconsin was the possibility of going to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Elated, was I, when plans for high speed rail began formulating and I envisioned staying car-free, commuting as necessary to classes in my mid-30s and receiving top-quality higher education.
Unfortunately, my fellow Wisconsinites don't only not share this vision, but are vehemently against making this lifestyle choice. Why then would they elect a college-drop out to run the higher education system? A man who declared his transit policy to have everyone afford to buy a car, and a stepford wife who wants all moms to drive minivans. Oh, and I will be a mom or abstinent, because these folks are so conservative, they don't even support birth control.
I've had SEVERAL friends challenge me tonight, calling me over dramatic, encouraging me to "sleep on it," even threatening to "defriend" me if I don't stop complaining. Luckily my best friend, the wonderful Kat, called me and cheerlead me through it. Once she got me to stop crying and throwing things, she and I had a practically rational conversation about leaving.
- Why should I stay and contribute to the economy of a state that is against most everything I believe in?
- What may be worse than my severe disagreement of the people elected tonight, is that I have to go to work, go to bars, go to the supermarket, with people who share those values.
- I'm not from here. I am painfully single. I'm not 100% satisfied with life. Why should I stay in this situation? Why should I not venture out and seek to mix up my life? Why should I be content with discontent?
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