September
2005
Wal-Mart & Recall Activists use the Power of Innuendo to take out Alderman Olsen
President Abraham Lincoln said:
“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” - Nov. 21, 1864
(letter to Col. William F. Elkins)
Sadly, city of Jefferson residents placed their votes in the hands of one of those corporations when they tossed out populist Alderman Dave Olsen. Olsen’s crime: he dared to oppose Wal-Mart.
So who wins ?
Chris Havill, the General Manager at his family’s car dealership, wins on two levels. First he won because a new Wal-Mart means increased traffic past the family business which means cash in his pocket. Second, he wins because he gets Olsen’s seat.
The Politics of Hate wins because CRG who blessed the recall managed to once again trump common sense and a communitys self preservation.
Wal-Mart wins. I’m not going to rehash this aside from saying that with Havill, a Wal-Mart is now all but assured.
Landowners (recall organizers) who will sell off their property for a tidy sum to Wal-Mart.
Who loses?
On first blush there are some that will say Olsen, but he’s really not the loser. For years he dared to listen to and fight for his constituents. In the face of overwhelming odds including an off-day election, an angry mob, a monster corporation and a local hate group (CRG), Olsen garnered an impressive 48%.
Sadly, the biggest loser is the people of Jefferson. A slight majority, and that was all it took, ceded away their power and their quality of life to a megalith of a corporation.
Lincoln was right.
Jim McGuigan
Jim McGuigan, Watchdogging CRG, Watchdogging Wisconsin
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No, Olsen has a long history of rather un-Democratic tactics in Jefferson. It’s perfectly possible that his history has caught up with him. He’s only been an alder for about 18 months; you can’t say he listened “for years”. For years, though, 1996-2001, the record shows that he directly and deliberately fought against public participation in the City and County economic development organizations that he administered and acted with.
From the Watertown Daily Times, five days ago: ‘”I wanted to have a referendum on Wal-Mart. When I ran for office I told people we should have a referendum - this will be the referendum folks,” Olsen stated, adding that if people want a Wal-Mart to vote for his opponent.’ Begging for a Wal-Mart referendum was one of Olsen’s first acts as alder. And in the Journal today: “You can’t say based upon tonight’s results that the City of Jefferson wants a Wal-Mart,” Olsen said. Olsen wanted only one type of referendum: where there was a clear winner and it was him.
Nor is there any evidence that his opponent Havill or the recall petition group had any support from Wal-Mart or CRG. Please, ask Kliesmet if he tried to help in Jefferson, and get back to us with the answer.
Please, check a map. Havill’s dealership is several blocks north of the proposed Wal-Mart site. In a year or two, we’re due to build a bypass north-to-south around western Jefferson. Its southern end is south of Wal-Mart. You are presuming that north-to-south travellers who now pass Havill-Spoerl will want to continue to drive through congestion and four traffic lights in order to get to Wal-Mart, as opposed to taking the by-pass. West-to-east travellers from outside Jefferson will take the bypass. East-to-west travellers from outside Jefferson, yes, they’ll still need to travel through downtown and past H-S. And all the Jeffersonians who are driving past H-S to leave town to the south will still pass H-S.
Kliesmet is a dishonest sneaky weasel. Why would I contact him? That’s like contacting Benedict Arnold. Kliesmet is a perfect example of what is wrong with our community. That would be like contacting Ken Lay, former CEO of Enron, to ask him what is the best way to run a business.
It appears your attacks on Olsen are mostly opinion. You say he didn’t listen and my sources tell me he did and was responsive.
That being said, the election is over and you and Havill won. I disagree with your tactics and I find them to be undemocratic and contrary to the spirit of the constitution (which, by the way, is what our republic is based on).
You lost on the Wal-Mart debate and you were a sore loser.
Instead of accepting your defeat on that issue you decided you didn’t want to play by the game but that you wanted to change the rules. I don’t respect that and I don’t think any American who believes in our country, the basis (including the constitution and bill of rights) of our republic or the freedoms that we are afforded to vote can respect that.
You did something wrong. You’re the one who has to sleep with your decision. It’s your soul and Havill’s that will have to pay for this clear violation of the Golden Rule so in the big picture recall activists will pay in the end.
Unfortunately it is the community and democracy that will suffer in the mean time.
You are implying that CRG had some effect or influence on this race. I’m saying they didn’t rise on the radar of more than four voters in Jefferson. The only reason CRG said anything in this race was because Olsen and his supporters went to CRG for an opinion! Why did they?
My opinion on Olsen is based on fact and experience. Please click on my name, visit my http://www.goJefferson.com web, and see the literally hundreds to thousands of documents where you can see what Olsen has done in Jefferson. Ignore my opinion. Look at the facts.
I didn’t sign the recall petition and I never endorsed Havill - for whatever my endorsement is worth. Read my “In Defense of Ald. Olsen” opinion piece and see how I disliked the recall process.
Then hats off to you for not signing the recall petition.
I’m glad you can see how undemocratic the recall process has become.