Op Ed, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Government shutdown risks lives and safety as Coast Guard is left without proper assets

Posted by Op Ed | Jan 23, 2019 |

For more than 45 years I had the distinct honor of wearing the uniform of a Coast Guardsman. My career culminated in serving for every man and woman—active, reserve, civilian, auxiliary, and their family members—as the 25th Commandant of the Coast Guard. Over 35 of those years were spent on the front lines of Coast Guard operations including eight commands at a time when my service was obliged to operate under the mantra of “doing more with less.” “Doing more with less” are appropriate words for a martyr, and the one certainty of being a martyr is inevitable death....

Op Ed: Legislative “coup” by Wisconsin’s GOP opens door for Trump 2020 reelection

Posted by Op Ed | Dec 5, 2018 |

In response to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s passage of sweeping lame-duck legislation restricting the powers of incoming Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, Wisconsin officials released the following statements: “Wisconsin has never seen anything like this. Power-hungry politicians rushed through sweeping changes to our laws to expand their own power and override the will of the people of Wisconsin who asked for change on November 6th. Wisconsin values of decency, kindness, and finding common ground were pushed aside so a handful of people could desperately usurp and cling to power while hidden away from the very...

Local activist publishes an illustrated guide to explain the politics behind Foxconn

Posted by Op Ed | Oct 6, 2018 |

Hypocrisy and lies in the political sphere have a long history of visual lampooning. Cartooning, journalism, and fine art meet in the popular genre of a graphic narrative. I have been an activist artist for 50 years. Although I am better known in Milwaukee for various posters, banners, and recently giant fish puppets for water protection events, I have been writing and drawing stories for the past 15 years. I was aware of Foxconn since reading about the worker suicides at the Taiwanese company’s mammoth factory complex in China several years ago. I was horrified that the company put...

WHEDA helps make the dream of homeownership a reality for Milwaukee residents

Posted by Op Ed | Sep 20, 2018 |

As executive director of WHEDA, the WI Housing and Economic Development Authority, Wyman Winston has spent his career helping communities by investing in families. This Op Ed expresses the condition of his organization and its impact at state and local levels. More people are now working in Wisconsin than ever before. Employment is at an all-time high, reaching 3,090,200. Unemployment is at a near record low of 2.9%. Median Household Income is up by 15.94% from 2010- 2016. These strong economic indicators mean that for many Wisconsinites, homeownership isn’t just a dream, but a truly attainable goal. Constantly striving...

A Shift in the Wind: Alderman Russell Stamper’s Message to the African American Community

Posted by Op Ed | Aug 15, 2018 |

“We must take pride in ourselves. We must take inventory of what we do and how we can intensify our efforts to turn the tide in our community. Too many times we have relied upon others to come to our rescue. Too often we have relinquished control of our destiny. These times must be no more.” | I am reminded of something Dick Gregory once said, “When there is a raging fire, the only thing that will save you is a shift in the wind.” Our community is on fire and we are the powerful shift in the wind...

Op Ed: Milwaukee can never desegregate under America’s Oligarchy system

Posted by Op Ed | Apr 15, 2018 |

“American democracy is a sham, no matter how much it is pumped by the oligarchs who run the country, and who control the nation’s ‘news’ media. The United States, in other words, is basically similar to Russia or most other dubious ‘electoral’ and ‘democratic’ countries. We were not formerly so, but we clearly are now.” – Eric Zuess The United States is dominated by a rich and powerful elite. This is the conclusion of a 2014 study, produced by Princeton University Professor Martin Gilens and Northwestern University Professor Benjamin I Page, Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups,...