My Day 5 Geek Out - Politics Is Geeky Too

Geekdom is not confined to outer space vampires, comic books, and dystopian YA novels. Politics can be very geeky too. And yesterday Laurie and I reveled in good discussion and excellent surrounded by thousands of like minded souls at Fighting Bob Fest here in Madison, WI. A day long event of progressive politics sponsored by

 

FightingBob.com is a nonprofit, nonpartisan online opinion magazine that provides an educational forum for writers, viewpoints and topics not welcome on the pages and airwaves of most mainstream media outlets in Wisconsin. We aim to honor and revive the spirit and mission of our namesake, Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette, the populist governor, U.S. Senator, and presidential candidate from Wisconsin who founded the Progressive Party and spent his career battling the corrupting, impoverishing and anti-democratic influence of big moneyed interests over government and public policy.

It was an amazing day. In a time when selfishly radical politics threaten our democracy, in a time when workers rights and the middle class is being kicked into poverty, in a time where some politicians just don't even care about their own constituents, we need more symposiums like this fighting to bring back the voice of the people.

Radio host Thom Hartmann, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep (and future senator) Tammy Baldwin, the amazing Dr Cornel West, the hilarious Jim Hightower, the locally grown and operated John Nichols, the list goes on and on. They led teh crowd in cheers, jeers, and contemplation. It was heart warming, optimistic, energizing, and just plain fun.

"Freedom and justice are defended through education, and the exchange of ideas promotes solidarity among progressives. To this end, Fighting Bob Fest strives to provide citizens with a forum for democratic participation where frustrations with current policies can be constructively molded into calls to action."     from the Fighting Bob Fest website

Wisconsin is not alone in the fight. Sure we have one of the worst governors ever to sit in office, but his time will come. (In fact just this week the FBI raided the home of his top aid, taking away files and the hard drive of her computer.) He was elected because the people were asleep, they were complacent, they were taking the easy way out. But not any more. We are awake and we will give this state back to the people. And we will take the fight all across the country.

John F Kennedy once said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." It needs your help now if it is going to survive in any way shape or form we can be proud of. We can't let the radical right take control and destroy everything we hold dear. It's easy to tear it down. \But once it's gone, it's a long hard battle to get it back.

Yes, we are our brother's keeper. And when our brother suceeds, we all do.

I urge you to check out fightingbob.com. Sign up for the newsletter. Listen to the speeches. Think. React. Join us in Madison next year for Fighting Bob Fest 2012.