A friend sent me these two graphics. They present an interesting comparison of the difference in funding and just one aspect of what we’ve been up against in the past few election cycles. What I’ve been seeing on social media, the election environment in the region this past year, and the scuttlebutt I’ve been privy to, we have to work hard, scrape for any spare change we can gather and find creative ways to get friends, relatives, and the nasty old guy down the street to realize that our region has been invaded by a stampede of slimy snakes who’s masters want nothing more than send us back to a pre-Magna Carta social structure.

The next Twelve months will be the peremptory battle for the continued existence of public education, social security, civil, economic, and human rights, protections of our environment, and quite possibly the fate of our nation’s constitution. Watching the theatrical incompetence of our opposition play out to what should be the equivalent of slitting one’s own throat, result in them actually augmenting their prospect of achieving their objective, leaves me bewildered that so few seem to understand and fear for the future.

The past couple of years have been seeded with frustrations dealing with the physical and mental ramparts that come with having benefited from being a patron of Medicare for over a decade. As I write this, I see by the clock on my screen that it now is the eleventh day of November, Veteran’s Day. I don’t broadcast the fact that I spent four years ans six days in the U.S. Army. I went in on April 1st of 1975, officially, I’m a Vietnam Era Veteran I always joked that I was an April-Fool Veteran. I was an honorable trooper, working in an infantry unit as a chemical, biological, and radiological NCO for a few years and then as what would now be similar to a diversity/inclusion coordinator. I was one of only a few white guys working in that job at the time. I think back to that time, one when the military was at the forefront of giving diversity and inclusion some priority and attention, almost a decade before regular government agencies, collages and universities, along with corporate America started to get serious about it.

The past few years we’ve seen diversity and inclusion under attack and so many of the positive accomplishments made over the years since then being repealed, rescinded, and publicly attacked with little recognition or vocal public objection.

It’s getting late,(or early from most points of view) so I’ll just say that for the last few years that I’ve struggled, I’ve seen a small group of dedicated members develop into a force of positive change and energy. To use a term that many veteran’s would understand, that I learned almost half a century ago, this group has developed some esprit de corps. As the work from the party and the office has grown into today’s rendition, it has taken on this esprit de corps, the common spirit existing in the members of the group, inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor and mission of the group.

I’m hoping to be able to make it to this morning’s meeting and take in all the energy, understanding, and energy that has been radiating from all of you. My years in the army were a time that helped me develop my views and ideals on so many aspects of being a citizen of our nation. I have pride in the fact that I served in the military but for me I feel I better served the people with the three decades working for the University of Wisconsin System, serving the people of Wisconsin. The last twelve years have been ones where Wisconsin has struggled to hold on to its esprit de corps. I hope the rebirth of this spirit that has flourished the past few months continues togrow in the coming months and ignite across Wisconsin and the nation. I hope this humbled, old vet can continue to contribute more towards this mission and battle along with all in this group. 

If I don’t make it in today, I just want to express to all of you something that I, as a vet, never feel comfortable with when I’m the recipient, “Thank you for your service”