Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Why We Lost The Cold War

As a child growing up in the nineteen fifties there were plenty of reminders about the never-ending battle against Soviet Communism.

In and out of the classroom we knew of the value of our democracy, the freedoms we enjoyed as Americans.  We had open and free elections, though blacks could not vote in the South where the poll tax ensured the rule of whites. We could travel across our great country without having to show identification or answering to anyone as to our purpose, so long as there was no probable cause to stop us.

The differences were not limited to democratic values.

The virtues of capitalism were everywhere. In Poland, peasants stood in line for hours for a loaf of bread. In Moscow it took weeks, no months, to have a telephone installed. And the Soviet airline Aeroflot was a joke, United States Airlines Compete With Aeroflot - And Win :

At the height of the Cold War, Americans indulged in self congratulations when comparing our airline industry to the Soviet's Aeroflot. The rickety communist propelled travel provided images of a sweaty, husky commissar boarding an oversold but underfueled airplane, burdened with packages and a bottle of carry-on borscht.

As he worked his way into the seat, storing his chickens in the overhead compartment and his goats under the seat in front of him, he settled in next to an equally husky and sweaty peasant with a crying, soiled child -one  under each arm. If they were lucky, they would arrive at the scheduled destination city, and perhaps within twenty-four hours.

Onward

After the first of the year I was shopping at a big box store. The lines indicated it would take a half hour to check out. I asked the manager why there were so few clerks, "With the holidays over, no help to be had?" The response was frank and honest, "No, after the new year, we were instructed by regional to reduce our staffing to these levels."

My Facebook friends know that I spent over an hour on hold Monday with a life insurance company, a health insurance company, and a telephone company.

It was my fault trying to reach them on the first Monday after the holidays. Of course, I tried reaching them last week to no avail. There are only so many minutes one can waste on a cell phone.

Maybe the free-everything capitalists are right. We need competition. We need competition from the Communists. Then American corporations will start providing service.

Some of my friends probably think that the destruction of our Constitution under the second Bush reign with warrant-less search and seizures is a disaster. They probably think the telephone company turning over their phone records to the government without any legal authority is a travesty.

Screw the Bill of Rights.

The real travesty is the telephone company not answering the phone.

Praise Nordstroms. Praise the local Sundance 608 movie theater. Praise the Nitty Gritty. Praise the local Sentry.

 

 

 

Madison's State Street - Wasting over $3 Million a Year

This week's Isthmus features an article, Chronic pains detailing the problems of a few dozen offenders who accounted for almost 400 police contacts in the State Street area during a five month period.

The two men were no ordinary criminals...Each person on the list of 24 had 10 or more contacts with police in the first five months of 2008. Lindsey, 41, was one of the worst: From January to June, he had 42 recorded police contacts, including being sent to Dane County's detox center 16 times...

The study group found that 98 people were responsible for nearly 800 police contacts downtown during this brief period.

An examination of the repeaters shows that almost all of them were either homeless, suffered from mental illness, or had a drug-alcohol dependency problems.

What is so shocking is that a similar study was done over ten years ago.

In the intervening years I  repeatedly told anyone who would listen that a computerized list of the individuals who showed up most frequently with Police or Fire department contacts is the key to reducing problems downtown.

It is real simple.

Read the entire Isthmus article. The last half details solutions critical to a solution.

These individuals need help. They need help, that by law, the state of Wisconsin and Dane County are required to provide. They need treatment or in some cases institutionalization, especially if they refuse to stay on a treatment program.

The study just completed only covered police contacts. They should include fire and paramedic contacts as well. The top twenty offenders are probably good for close to 3000 contacts in a year. At an average cost of $1000 a contact that comes to $3 million annually.*

All of this points to the fact that the city is chasing its tail and the wrong culprits when it comes to liquor-fueled downtown problems including violence.

State Street's problems emanate from two sources associated with frequent liquor and drug abuse. The first group is already identified - older men with severe health problems.

The second are violent thugs who were not found in the area ten or twenty years ago. They too can treated. Remove the older men, free up law enforcement to deal with the young thugs, thus setting a higher standard for State Street behavior, and the problem is solved without draconian measures affecting the sale of alcohol to reasonable people.

Then all that is left is to close the over the top private alcohol fueled parties, and get the youngsters back in the taverns where they belong.

An effective Madison Neighborhood Resource Team (NRT) fro State Street is a start. If we look at it on a cost effective basis, the county's Joining Forces For Families (JFF) should make an appearance.

After those problems are solved, imagine what could be done with the money to work with low income households.

It might also result in fewer murders and violent assaults.

*This number ($3 million) is probably low. While some contacts may be nothing more than instruction to cease offensive behavior, if the contact includes a conveyance, a booking, and subsequent prosecution which will include multiple police officers, the cost is at least $1000. A fire conveyance and detox is probably a minimum of $2000.

Fuel Plummets; Airline fares soar

As we travel today, the busiest travel day of the year, it is important that we give thanks that the airline industry is not in line for a bailout.

For those in the Madison area, we can also take thanks that the Dane County Airport reduced landing fees in an effort to convince Northwest Airlines to increase its Madison load and resume more connecting flights to Minneapolis and Detroit. My beloved United Airlines and American Airlines are a lost cause.*

Rivaling the mismanagement and greed of the financial services industry and the automobile manufacturers, the airlines spent the last ten years lowering the quality of service, the frequency of service, the rate of on-time departures and landings, and the availability of seats.

And they raised the fares.

Some of you, dear readers, may recall that we were told that fare increases, baggage fees, the removal of seats and their replacement with orange crates, and the rationing of water on transcontinental flights were all the result of increased fuel prices.

Please note that fuel prices are half of what they were two four months ago and the lowest in five years.

Enough said.

*Dane County Regional Airport in Madison had the fourth-highest average domestic fare at $468. Cincinnati had the highest average fare at $595, followed by Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C. at $568; Knoxville, Tenn. at $524; Madison; and Grand Rapids, Mich. at $461.

A Way To Cut Government Spending: Control Alcohol Abuse

During my fourteen years as mayor of Madison, the biggest waste of money I witnessed was the expenditures for additional law enforcement, paramedics, and other costs associated with alcohol abuse.

This week, the Oskosh Northwestern editorialized, State must admit alcohol is a problem

But first, Wisconsin has to admit it has a drinking problem. Wisconsin has to awaken and realize Number One is a ranking we don't want to have when it comes to a categories like "highest percentage of underage alcohol consumption."

Simultaneously, similar opinions were published by other Gannett newspapers including the Herald Times Reporter of Manitowoc, the Green Bay Press Gazette, and the Appleton Post Crescent.

As weekends approached, I would contemplate the additional $20,000 or more that was spent to deal with alcohol abuse. That was money we could use to combat poverty, fund wellness clinics, or even lower taxes.

There are a lot of things wrong with the way we treat alcohol in Wisconsin, and much of it is cultural.  Most of it can be traced to underage drinking, which leads to tragic accidents, wrecked lives, and life-long substance abuse problems.

Curiously, based on my own review of reports in Madison, the problem is not centered so much in bars and taverns, but in homes and campus apartments. Most licensed operators have too much to lose by admitting underage drinkers or over-serving.

The private apartments and homes provide little supervision, no identification checks, no regulation of consumption, and too many opportunities to drink and drive.

There are a lot of reasons to change our culture.

We could be motivated by the heath issues and a desire to stop the carnage.

If that is not enough, consider the cost to the taxpayers in direct expenses - law enforcement, ambulance conveyances, incarceration, and indirect expenses - deaths, maimings, and lost productivity.

Driving Back From Milwaukee: Flooding Unabated

When I drove to Milwaukee yesterday to meet with some conspirators to further our plots against Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC), I listened to radio entertainer Charlie Sykes marvel at the record flooding in the suburban Milwaukee area.

My assignments in place to undermine WMC and right wing Milwaukee talk radio, heading home I noticed the flooded fields and the extremely high water at the Rock River. I had noticed that the river had overflowed its banks when I headed east in the morning but the water appeared much higher in the evening.

I arrived home and heard on the news that a portion of I-94 westbound was closed until further notice because of the high waters. The Capital Times: Bad news in wake of flooding:More rain is on the way

I find it curious that the record flooding does not necessarily mean there was record rain. Flooding usually occurs because of heavy rain and/or more paved surfaces.  I find it curious that Sykes can marvel at the power of nature, discuss the flooding unabated, but never connect the dots, or in this case, the pools of water.

While the volume of rain is responsible for the flooding, undoubtedly the flooding severity is, in part, the result of more water failing to penetrate the ground and flowing down storm sewers, culverts, drainage ditches, shopping center parking lots, roof tops, and roads into already stressed waterways.

And some farmers' fields.

Many farmers are losing many thousands in seed, fertilizer, and pesticides.

Rabbit Rehab

All spring Sara ranted about the extensive damage the rabbits did to everything green in our yard during the past winter. I have little use for them.

Last week we found a nest with three babies. Sara and the girls lined up a wheel barrow and some fencing to keep predators away. This morning she checked on them. The hole was filled with water. One was dead; the other two were barely alive.

They are now in the garage in a box laying in bedding with a lamp two feet overhead. They were fed by hand using a dropper.  Ticks were removed and most of the fleas are gone.

What the world and our Madison neighborhood does not need is more rabbits. I am walking around the house muttering about rabbit stew and looking for hawks overhead.

Tomorrow they are going to some shelter for rehab. It's not a bad life; just ask Amy Winehouse.

Capitol Foolishness Abounds: Lasee Trumps Nass, Scooby Doo

In the never-ending struggle to attract attention, reporters, and voters, Wisconsin state representative Frank Lasee (Rep-Green Bay) put out a press release on Tuesday making his Republican colleague Steve Nass look sound like Albert Einstein wandering among the cast of Scooby Doo.

Lasee wants Wisconsin to drill for oil. Then we can be Alaska. Or Wyoming.

To make his case, Lasee first must dismiss the experts who correctly understand the role of taxes and fees:

According to the Wisconsin Taxpayer’s Alliance and liberal professor Andrew Reschovsky, three states...

While it was easy calling Reschovsky a liberal, the Taxpayer's Alliance was never known as a bastion of left-wing thinking. Drats.

Anyway, with the heretics summarily dismissed, Lasee shores up his own leaky fiscal boat:

There are studies from reliable sources and well-educated economists* that show that states and countries that tax less (after a reasonable level of government services have been reached), enjoy greater prosperity over those that tax more...

The undocumented, unnamed Lasee experts are probably the disgraced Tax Foundation and the academically challenged Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy. In any case no definition is given to 'a reasonable level of government services,' which Lasee believes means no public education. At any level.

The left discredited, the foundation for his economic theories in place,  Lasee presents his thesis:

Taxes paid by everyone who is using oil, natural gas, copper and other minerals are providing more government tax money to spend without causing people in these states to pay more. The governments in Wyoming, New Mexico and Alaska get to spend the taxes paid by out-of-staters and the people of these states don’t have to pay as much for their government. This is a good reason to lift the federal and state prohibition on drilling for oil in Wisconsin.

Taxes are taxes. Somehow Lasee thinks that the taxes that Alaska gets from the oil do not count in assessing the per capita tax burden. Sorry.

Which proves that this is not about reducing Wisconsin tax collections, but about drilling for oil in Baraboo or Richland Center.

But Lasee really misses the opportunity. If his thinking is sound it should apply to all natural resources. 

Lasee, let's follow your advice starting with lumber. I am sure that the folks in Wausau and Green Bay look forward to paying a 15% royalty on lumber.

Water.  Now there is a precious natural resource that may one day be as valuable as oil.

The state of Wisconsin should impose a 15% tax on every barrel of fresh water pumped in the state. Like Alaska, a portion of the revenue will be used to operate government today and a portion will be set aside in a trust fund for future generations when water is truly scarce.

You know, this is a damn good idea.

I am serious. Thank you Mr. Lasee.

We don't need no stinkin' oil.

And another thing. If you want to get taxes from out-of staters, increase the sales tax and reduce residential property taxes. A state like Wisconsin, with a high level of tourists and conventioneers, will see a disproportionate tax revenue come from the foreigners and flatlanders.

*When the hell did 'well educated people' carry any weight in the Republican Assembly caucus? Nass is going to have a field day with this one.

Reschovsky is well educated.

I am well educated.

Johnsonville Sausage Reheats Hot Topic

Yesterday's post regarding Johnsonville Sausage selling its brats at Madison's Memorial Day weekend Brat Fest did not sit well with some readers. And the complaints were not from vegetarians.

It appears that many have a nasty taste in their mouths leftover from the last election.

For those with a short memory, one of the most incredible hit jobs in recent history on an honorable and fair man, Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, was approved, in part, by Johnsonville Sausage, LLC of Sheboygan Falls.

Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce  (WMC) paid the bill, perhaps as much as $2 million dollars for a series of radio and television ads that besmirched Butler. When you got done listening to the trash put out by WMC and its comrades one had the impression that Butler, while a justice, was spending most of his time freeing rapists.

WMC is run by a board of directors who authorize the content and publication of its issues ads. Johnsonville Sausage, CEO William R. Morgan, sits on the board of directors.

This is the same organization that trashed Governor Jim Doyle in 2006, Kathleen Falk when she ran for Attorney General in November 0f 2006, and Linda Clifford in April, 2007. The ads against Clifford gave the impression that she was personally carrying illegal aliens across the Rio Grande on her back.

WMC ads were nasty, cruel, and also tragically misleading. They make no apologies for what they do.

Next spring they plan to go after Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, the "Queen Bee" as they call her. Meantime, we as consumers, buy the products of WMC members who use the profits to buy savage, false, ads that avoid the laws regarding political finance reporting.

(If anyone has knowledge about rumors that WMC met with Michael Gableman directly or though intermediates and made a commitment to raise a minimum amount of money to trash Louis Butler, please contact me.)

Memorial Day Weekend: Madison Johnsonville Brat Fest

Coming sooner than you think will be the annual brat festival sponsored by Metcalfe's Sentry here in Madison. It will not compare with the Sheboygan Brat Festival of the 1950's and 60's, but this tamer family event will serve Johnsonville Brats to benefit close to 40 area charities.

Unlike the Sheboygan event, this one will have the "A' list of Wisconsin celebrities, particularly those politically connected to serve up the sausages. If First Lady Jessica Doyle is not to your taste, there is always City of Madison Fire Chief Debra Amesqua. Brad Clark the city of Madison manager of Madison Channel 12 will be preceded by State Senator Fred Risser.

This is a solid community event sponsored by the local Sentry store since 1983 in the parking lot of the Hilldale Mall by popular store owner, Tom Metcalfe. Now his sons, Tim and Kevin continue the tradition.

It looks like this is a great collection of wonderful people all pulling together.

For more information be sure to check out the festival home page, Johnsonville World's Largest Brat Fest.

This year's event runs from May 23 thru May 26th, rain or shine.

Crumbling Dollar Lifts Wisconsin Blue Cheese

Another victim of the disastrous Bush economic polices and the war in Iraq is the absence of the finest European cheeses from swank east coast restaurants.  As the Village Voice reports, How Chefs Are Dealing With the Tanking Dollar: Getting creative with imported goods

Recently, I (reporter Sarah DiGregorio) realized that I could no longer afford my favorite stinky French cheese (not that I ever really could, technically)...

At Kellari Taverna...Greek feta, once crumbled over many dishes, is now only on the tomato salad..."It's killing us!" exclaims Gregory Zapantis, the Greek-born chef at Kellari Taverna. "A few years back, it was equal—one dollar to one euro. Now the euro is $1.60."

The concerned New York culinary reporter turned to an economist who specializes in wine economics to discover that, "... the government spends more than it has, putting us in hock to the Europeans, Japanese, and Chinese to pay for Bush's tax cuts and the war in Iraq."

But the inventive mid-town Manhattan chefs now turn to Bucky when times are tough, "Zapantis has fallen in love with the fish he gets from Long Island in the summertime. And he's happy to have discovered Wisconsin blue cheese as an unlikely alternative to feta."