Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Tax Nonsense Coming Your Way

In the coming weeks, Wisconsinites will be inundated with misinformation, bad math, and assorted ideological drivel from snake-oil salesmen purporting to be experts on taxes. You can expect to hear from the groups ranging from the phony "non-partisan" Tax Foundation to our own Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC).

The theme will be simple and misinformed. The public will be told that sometime in early May they are finally working for themselves, that until then, their year's income went to government. Wisconsinites will be reminded that while residents of other states will heave earned enough to pay the tax bill by April 22nd or 23rd, Badger state residents will be working until at least the first of May for the governement.

We will be told that in Wisconsin we suffer the seventh or perhaps, the fifth highest tax burden in the United States.

And the facts are:

• All of these studies are flawed, badly flawed. When it comes to total government revenues Wisconsin ranks around 23rd or 25th, depending upon which study you use. Wisconsin collects very little of its revenues in fees and these studies do not include that less progressive revenue collection. Other states may have lower tax collections than Wisconsin but their heavy reliance on fees takes a bigger bite from the taxpayer.
• Theses studies never look at results  -the quality of the public service.
• These studies never examine the externalities of public service. The city of Madison operates Monona Terrace at a loss. But while the revenues do not show up in the Monona Terrace ledger, the facility brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales taxes and tens of millions of dollars that stimulate the regional economy.
• These studies overlook obvious differentiations between governments. For example, a comparison of per capita spending between Milwaukee and Madison is meaningless unless the author factors in that public transit is in the Madison municipal budget, while in Milwaukee, the county operates the transit system.

Stanley Kutler: Where's FDR When You Need Him?

Waxing America's favorite Emeritus Professor in the entire galaxy, the esteemed University of Wisconsin Constitutional scholar Stanley Kutler is at it again: Where's FDR When You Need Him? Bush's 'Trickle-Down' Economic Policies Useless For Those at the Bottom

Despite his detractors, then and now, Roosevelt energized popular government—and American democracy emerged stronger with his presidency. New Deal programs, combining relief, recovery and reform, and, ultimately aided by World War II and the Cold War, revitalized capitalism, launching an era of unprecedented prosperity. FDR’s Inaugural Address opened on an auspicious note: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”
...

...In 1932, Walter Lippmann, the prominent public philosopher, described FDR as merely “a pleasant young man,” without any particular qualifications, who very much wanted to be president of the United States. Indeed, FDR had little in his record that the public could have anticipated a president worthy of the company of Washington and Lincoln. A week after the inauguration, Lippmann – certainly no stranger to changing his mind – praised the new president: “In one week the nation, which had lost confidence in everything and everybody, has regained confidence in the government and itself."...

Kutler is not the only one thinking of FDR during this nomination process. The following is from a post I started but never finished last week:

Barack Obama and the Legacy of FDR

Americans who supported both John Kennedy and Bill Clinton in their respective presidential campaigns were optimistic that a new better day was in store for Americans.

But not since FDR inaguration has there been such a need for the infusion of fairness into our institutions. Just as small, but significant changes, allowed the Bush Administration to create the foundation for an oligarchy, small changes will allow new opportunities for all Americans.

There is no doubt in my mind that after four years of an Obama administration this nation will be freer and safer.

There will be demand in some quarters for more rapid change. No doubt it will take at least two years for Americans to begin to see changes implemented, as it will take near heroic efforts to alter the course of the enormous ship of government that is rife with payoffs, handouts, and greed.

Frankly, I will feel far safer with Obama answering the phone no matter who is calling: a tin horn dictator or foreign minister, a Senator, a corporate executive, or a paid lobbyist.

Senator Russ Feingold. Why He Is the Best

I found it on Wisopinion.com

It needs as much exposure as possible.

Russ Feingold on the New FISA Legislation

 

Selecting the Democratic Presidential Nominee: Obama

In my lifetime there were two candidates who offered real change. One was George McGovern and the other Bobby Kennedy. Neither was electable. One's campaign was cut down by the felonious Nixon administration; the other by an assassin's bullet.

There are four qualities or characteristics that we examine in selecting a presidential nominee.  They are positions on the issues, personality-trust, electability, and propensity to advance fundamental change.

We rarely get past the first two qualities. For each voter, the candidate's positions on critical issues such as choice, war, support of public education, and free speech rule out the vast majority of candidates. Left with only two or three serious contenders, the issue of personality takes hold. And then we move on to the hypothetical match-ups where the pundits speculate as to which candidates do best against the various nominees of the opposing party.

Consequently, it is unusual to view a candidate through the prism of fundamental change.

Few candidates offer themselves up as advocates of change. When they do, it is not as a catalyst for progress but as part of a rant against the bureaucracy, usually the pledge to bring change to Washington.

Governors from both parties, like Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan promised change. Neither weakened the grip of the lobbyists, neither ended corporate welfare, neither advanced the cause of social and economic justice, though Carter tried.

Barack Obama provides the opportunity for the Democrats to nominate a candidate who is sound on the issues, has the personality and public trust to win, and is promises fundamental change. On issues from war to poverty, economic development to the environment, Obama knows the priorities.

Most importantly his campaign statements and his performance as a United States Senator demonstrates he appreciates the narrow path a president must navigate to stand on principle and to compromise when required.

There is no one thing that Obama has said or done that leads me to the conclusion that he is to be trusted in uncharted waters, but it is the compilation of his record.

• He was prepared to stand before popular sentiment in 2002 and 2003 and question the foundations for the war in Iraq.
• He understands that to combat poverty, we need to enhance the family and advance public education. 
• He appreciates the problems created by NAFTA and that we need to make American products competitive abroad while we protect jobs in this country.
• He recognized the mistake made by Congress in compromising our civil rights and civil liberties in the overzealous attempt to ferret out terrorists.

i admire his appreciation for liberties and rights, his determination to get to the root of poverty, and his commitment to economic justice.

Most impressive was his judgment in questioning the premise of the Iraq war.  He performed far better than the so-called more experienced and mature leaders who should have known better. That is why I trust him with our future.

Charlie Sykes Move Over. Mark Belling: The New Expert on Child Raising

Not content to let Charlie Sykes corner the market on telling Wisconsinites how to raise their children, Mark Belling  has some sage advice and opinions for those of you disappointed that the 18th century work-houses of Oliver Twist's day are no longer thriving.

Pete Kennedy at GMtoday, wrote a thoughtful piece, Don't fill up the cup, Arrowhead drug testing a ‘really stupid’ idea , questioning the wisdom and the constitutionality of the Arrowhead High School drug testing policy.

Belling, eloquently jumps into the discussion with this profundity, Way to Go Arrowhead,

The presumption that a high school kid has rights is precisely the attitude that empowers them to make bad decisions.

The illogic, the misunderstanding of the Constitution, and the sheer stupidity of this comment makes The Three Stooges, yes, all seven of them, presidential contenders.

Anyone who raised a child in the last 50,000 years knows that the most powerful force in the universe is teenage peer group pressure. It is  that scourge that parents must continually battle in an effort to minimize not just the bad, but the scary, the stupid, and the silly decisions that kids make.

As for the notion that kids have no rights, I guess Mr. Belling missed the last two hundred years in this country. When it comes to kids:

• Kids are persons and are protected from predators be they strangers or abusive parents.
• Kids do not have to work for seven cents an hour for twelve hours a day, six days a week - I know, more "nanny state" interference with a free market economy.
• Kids can own property and have assets, through trust funds that are carefully regulated and monitored by federal and state law.
• In almost every instance the provisions of the United States Constitution applies to children. The exceptions of some rights that are omitted that children do not enjoy is a very short list.
• Most of the Constitutional protections in the first Ten Amendments apply to children.

Belling goes on to tell a mother who cannot afford a $600 ticket for the Hannah Montana concert:

... the angry mother ought to consider instilling in her children acceptance of the harsh reality that in life we don’t get everything we want and that the things that we desire are in our reach only if we work for them.

Yes, little Susie, the way George W. Bush worked for his fortune, the way the rip off artists at Halliburton worked for theirs, the way Jack Abramoff and his cronies and the crooks at Enron, all worked for theirs.

Mark, here is some better advice for a nine year old girl:

We have to make choices in life about what to do with our money. It might be nice to go to a Hannah Montana concert, but think of all the things we give up, better things.  Maybe one day you will have enough money to do things like that but for now it will have to wait. In the meantime, understand there are people in this world like Mark Belling, who are materialists who place the value of everything in terms of money. Dear, there are other things in life to value like love, clean water, fresh air, and getting the likes of Stephen Nass (R) out of the legislature. 

Airlines Plot Against Customers - Passengers Joyfully Share Airport Comforts

Passengers may grumble but they know that flight cancellations are the best outcome with conditions are not safe for air travel. Whether it is mechanical problems or inclement weather, it is best to stay on the ground.

That said, it is clear that the airlines are largely responsible for this year's major delays and cancellations. In the rush to show profits the airlines took two flagrant steps which compound the problems created by weather and a congested system.

The first was to lay off a significant number of pilots and other crew members. Now when there are problems, there are not a sufficient number of pilots to fly equipment that is in position.

Then there are the mechanical problems and the availability of equipment. As another storm socks Denver, United airlines is flying planes to other airports so they will "Be in position" for weekend travel. Ten years ago, United had enough equipment so the airplanes could hang in Denver with the passengers. Now United skips town, leaving the passengers stranded.

Northwest Airlines already admitted that it was inadequately staffed.

The FAA may be a government agency, but the number of planes, pilots, and crew are industry decisions. Another example of better service to you through government deregulation.

Menatime, Ma, Pa and the kids are sleeping on the floor in the baggage area, dining at the fastfood resturant near gate B24, and shoplifting $2.78 candybars since they ran out of cash long ago.

Airlines Outsourcing Maintenance, Call Centers and Your Safety

A few weeks ago I had another battle with a United States airline. I made two calls to check on an existing reservation and accomplished nothing in over ninety minutes except to discover I was speaking to people in the Philippines who knew less about airline travel and airline management than me.

Whether buying automobiles, checking on my health, or making travel plans, I find it useful to work with people who know more than me -not a very high standard.

Finally I cheated.  Years ago I was a frequent flyer so I had the special phone number they can use. In five minutes I spoke to someone in Chicago and resolved the matter.

That prompted me to see just what was the airline outsourcing situation. I read that the Teamsters Union notified passengers that United Airlines is outsourcing heavy maintenance on equipment that goes to China. In fact,In the Beijing repair station, only five of 2,179 mechanics are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Forbes Magazine recently reported that AAR Corp is a great investment. They are providing maintenance and repair services to US airlines at a reduced cost.  The article makes no mention about the quality of the work. The article tells me that AAR stock is good for my portfolio but it does not mention if it is good for my health.

Probably the most distressing is U.S. News & World Report, which published on December 20, 2007 that, The Transportation Department IGs (Inspector Generals), for example, have revealed potential safety risks posed by the airlines' outsourcing of maintenance work.

The story does not provide any more detailed information on the nature of those safety risks.

The Wall Street Journal was not shy to report that the failure of Boeing to complete its delivery schedule of the new Dreamliner,the Boeing 787, is a failure on the part of suppliers. The headline: Layers of Outsourcing Slow 787 Production;'Hostage to Suppliers'

Boeing figured it could save $10 Billion by outsourcing the supplies.

Today, the Dreamliner is at least six months late, and the goal of delivering 109 planes by the end of 2009 is threatened...Boeing said in September that it had set aside nearly $2 billion in additional research-and-development money for increasing costs associated with the delays.

That does not include future problems, delivery penalties, and the waste in fuel as the more efficient 787 goes into service two to three years late.

Disclosure: I am compensated by more than one labor union opposed to outsourcing. And I have a bazillion friends who don't pay me a damn thing that are just as vehemently opposed to outsourcing.

Stanley Kutler Gives Mitt Romney A Lesson In the Constituion and Religion

Waxing America's favorite Emeritus Professor in the entire galaxy, the esteemed University of Wisconsin constitutional scholar Stanley Kutler, provides Mitt Romney with a lesson in American history. Over at The Huffington Post, Kutler notes in Romney's Religious Vision for All? that

The founders, Romney said, "did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square." Many of the revolutionaries and founders indeed were religious; but many likewise believed in religion as a "private affair." Romney's "originalism" is deeply flawed. What is undeniable is that the founders moved with a calculated purpose and disestablished religion as it had existed in colonial times. Religion would not be the central component of public life, much as Kennedy had said in 1960.

Kutler goes on to note that when some elements were upset with the 1962 Supreme Court decision banning prayer in public schools, President Kennedy was eloquent, thoughtful, and forthright:

We have in this case a very easy remedy," Kennedy said, "and that is to pray ourselves. We can pray a great deal more at home, we can attend our churches with a good deal more fidelity, and we can make the true meaning of prayer much more important in the lives of our children. I would hope that as a result of this decision, all American parents will intensify their efforts at home, and the rest of us," he concluded, "will support the constitution and the responsibility of the Supreme Court in interpreting it."

Can we imagine a president today -- or a presidential candidate -- speaking with such candor and historical understanding of American pluralism? (Let alone wit!) The mind boggles.

Is anyone listening? Should Kutler wax eloquently about the abuses of insurance companies, or maybe riding bicycles in snowstorms?

Clean Air: Wisconsin and California Style

California and Wisconsin leaders are grappling with the challenge of improving air quality. Californian's Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation, which the Associated Press describes as the "easy part" - California Grapples With Emissions Law.

Now the Golden State has to figure out how to meet the tough environmental standards and still not adversely impact the state's economy. There needs to be a constructive dialog in the state between political leaders, business leaders and environmentalists.

California can be faulted for enacting the legislation before understanding the full implications. Yet the Republicans and Democrats who jointly worked for the adoption of the standard must be admired for their commitment. Their goal is to cut back air pollution 13% and return the state to 1990 standards.

In Wisconsin, the latest on this subject from the Wisconsin business community is an edict from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC), Business Execs Urge Governor to Oppose New Ozone Regs. The press release calls upon Governor James Doyle to petition the federal government to halt the new ozone standards. WMC claims they will hurt the state's economy and "Now is not the time to be adding onerous regulations on industry.”

In Wisconsin it would be nice if WMC committed to better air and water quality standards, recognizing they should engage in discussions with the state government and environmentalists.  Once again WMC leads the business community in saying "No" to everything, except, of course, lower taxes on business, which require the property taxpayer to make up the difference.

Rural Electrification, Town Roads, Grandma's Telephone, and the Packers on Cable TV

It was not Milton Friedman's free market capitalism that brought electricity to rural Wisconsin and America. It was not Ronald Reagan's dismissal of government regulation that paved roads from the farm to town. It was not some silly Neocon view of the world that installed a telephone in Grandma's living room in some poor neighborhood of Milwaukee.

All of those changes were the result of government interference in the market place through regulation, taxation, and the redistribution of both public and private resources.

After the 1936 passage of the Rural Electrification Act, bureaucrats worked to assist electric utilities to wire rural America with low-interest loans and technical assistance. Congress decided that the social value of rural electrification would mean progress for farmers and their families. It was not some invisible hand that lead to the mechanization of American agriculture.

State legislatures and county boards voted to build paved roads to small towns and farms. That was a redistribution of tax dollars, mostly coming from wealthy city folks. Some of it was self interest, some of it not. After all, getting goods to market, through these public subsidies benefited the producer and the consumer.

Eighty years ago the telephone was a luxury. Yet state legislatures and their regulatory public service commissions made it clear to AT&T that if the behemoth wished to wire wealthy neighborhoods, they would have to provide service to the poor ones as well.

In every instance there were policy makers and consumers who along with the industry, weighed the costs and benefits of the regulations.  We did pretty well.

Now comes football and cable television. The political leaders, the policymakers, and the industry heavyweights are all on the playing field.  No one is looking out for the consumer.

As for public education, fuhgeddaboutit.