Why the Prospects for Milwaukee Are So Bleak. Round Two

Wow. Now that was interesting. Why the Prospects for Milwaukee Are So Bleak. The problem is some folks cannot read, or read things that were not there.

Badger Blogger: Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin: Milwaukee's problems are the fault of "talk radio."

No. There is not what I said. The problems of crime and poverty  are not the fault of talk radio. The problem of not getting to a cohesive solution is exacerbated by right-wing talk radio. That is where the fault lies.

The prospects are bleak because of a lack of dialog, the lack of understanding by Milwaukee talk radio hosts as to what happened in NYC in the 1990's (Misinformation: From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to Charlie Sykes), and the dismissal of solutions that ignore job development and training, childcare, transportation, and public health.

Boots and Sabers: Soglin misses the point...listeners are who determine the content.

Another feeble attempt to turn my commentary into an attack on the people of Milwaukee.

From Where I Sit: Paul Soglin blames talk radio for the problems of inner-city Milwaukee.

The problems of inner city Milwaukee go back to the failure of Milwaukee leadership, and the leadership of most major cities, in the 1970's to understand the evolving economy, the loss of manufacturing jobs, the looming international economy, and the subsequent rise on crime and poverty.

McBride Media Matters: Talk radio derangement syndrome alert!!!

...he apparently thinks that the citizenry doesn't include talk radio's listeners.

Another feeble attempt to suggest that when Sykes-Belling-Weber select narrow content, it is the fault of their listeners.

... Lack of childcare causes crime? Lack of universal health care causes crime? Transportation causes crime?

No Jessica, but quality childcare, quality health care (you said universal, Jessica), and adequate transportation to the better jobs are all elements that contribute to combating poverty, reducing crime and strengthening neighborhoods.

The conservative hosts have listed teenage motherhood, the collapse of the family structure, and the high school dropout rate, as being among the pressing issues

And in the face as what has happened, the practical way of correcting these problems is provide quality childcare, quality health care and adequate transportation to the better jobs. I do not recall solutions like that in listening to the conservative talk, when show hosts bemoan the rising crime.

How does he think NYC lowered crime rates when Giuliani was mayor? It was through an aggressive law enforcement strategy called Broken Windows.

Let's get it straight. Broken windows alone does not lower crime. Broken windows is not an aggressive law enforcement policy. Broken windows works when part of an aggressive community policing program combined with tackling the problems associated with poverty. I should know. I instituted a broken windows program in Madison in 1989, years before Giuliani was elected mayor.

Finally, the vast majority of the crime reduction was the result of changing demographics. This is well documented as crime fell universally throughout the U.S. as the population aged.

Dan and Nicole's Still Spinnin' Blog: This does go to a larger point that demonstrates how liberal elitists like Paul Soglin view the “common man”.  They think you aren’t smart enough to come to your own conclusions or have your own thoughts.  This is why they push for things like the “fairness doctrine”.

Another attempt to transfer my criticism of the talk hosts to their listeners combined with drivel. No one saw a single line in my recent post or any of my posts about the fairness doctrine.

Charlie Sykes: presume he means that we do not share his enthusiasm for and faith in more government programs. But -- and I can only speak for myself here -- I have never suggested that "law enforcement alone" would solve the city's problems. In fact if Soglin spent more or (sic) his drive time listening he might here (sic) me spending considerable time talking about...education,,,business climate...failed social service organizations...etc....

Charlie, if you examine your own list, it is all negatives, except for the implication for support of school vouchers. I do not for a moment question that  you correctly  identified "Social breakdown, including out of wedlock births, babies having babies, drop-out rates, drug use and the tolerance of the thug culture," as critical issues.

Now what do we do about it? I will even join you in saying that many government and non-profit programs fail to live up to expectations and are relatively ineffective.

But pointing the finger at the obvious does not break the circle of poverty and bad behavior. The languishing  teenage mother who is witnessing her child follow in her footsteps needs an intervention. Where does that start?

A thank you to Charlie Sykes and Jay Weber for acknowledging my criticisms. I do not know if Mark Belling has responded.

A special thanks to the right side of the Cheddarsphere for linking to Why the Prospects for Milwaukee Are So Bleak, thus making Wednesdays hits the highest non-election coverage in Waxing America's history.

Finally.  If I were to criticize my own post it would be the following:

Where does this transplanted Chicagoan get off criticizing Wisconsin's largest city when during the fourteen years he served as mayor of Madison, he did nothing but fight with Henry Maier over economic development issues and John Norquist for supporting the construction of Miller Park (which he thought should have been built downtown),  and now in his own city of Madison, where crime is rising, whenever he opens his mouth, you can hear the crickets chirping?

Comments

[Dan Sebald]

I believe John Norquist felt the stadium should have been downtown as well. (I asked him one day after a lecture at Canterbury Bookstore.)

[Anon]

A lot of Milwaukeeans felt that way, that the stadium ought to be downtown -- but we were betrayed by Bud Selig and local lobbyists influencing our own legislators, led by Alberta Darling, and we still refuse to patronize their ballpark.

As for the squawkers on radio, their politics of fear are felt beyond the city borders into the burbs, according to this letter in Milwaukee Mag:

FEAR FACTOR

Congratulations!!!! Finally a journalist who is not afraid to take on talk radio and tell the truth about MMSD [Endgame, September]. Those of us who served in office or are serving in office, such as Neil Palmer, Jim Ryan and Christine N., have always known that nation wide MMSD is head and shoulders above the rest of the country. I can remember talking to a high ranking official from Detroit telling me the same thing that the person from Seattle told you. However, anytime we showed our support of the District....Belling and Sykes would crucify us and no one from the media would stand up and support us. This is the reason why many elected officials say nothing...they fear Sykes and Belling. We all know they play a big role in the election process even though the Mayor of Waukesha was successful in his election bid. (There is hope). This community suffers much because of these two individuals and some day the community will realize that. ... But, your article...this month is the best I have seen.

Joe Greco, former Menomonee Falls village president

[Elliott]

Rubbish.
As I remember it, wasn't the former "gentleman" of Men. Falls the one who was doing insane things back during his term,trying to raise astranomical tax amounts for outraceous progressive programs.
I am sorry,if more of the people out there listened to Charlie Sykes, Mark Belling they would be a whole lot more clued-in to what the progressive/socialists are doing to our lives.
After (40)plus years of "wisconsin welfare",what have the socialist/progressives accomplished. They have killed the work ethic in those people who collected welfare payments by sitting on thier "duffs" waiting for the mailman to deliver thier checks and then cash them to play poker while thier children burned next door in thier own homes, un-attended. Would not work at turning hamburgers even at ($8.00)/ hr. This is the kind of socialist/progressive program you want for your Wisc. Health care - run like the Motor Vehicle Dept. when you are bleeding or your Appendix has you "doubled-over" and they tell you you have to get in line "take-a-number". While there still remains a chance to gain our society back you best wake-up and listen to Sykes and Billing - they are as close to the TRUTH as your going to get. Burke 1848 "The success of EVIL is good men do nothing" and Fiendgold is not a good man. Take care.