Paul Soglin: Waxing America

A Proposal: Extend "Slow/No Wake" Beyond Current Flood Conditions

The current "Slow/No Wake" Order for the Madison-area lakes has helped mitigate shoreline damage from extremely high water levels this season. The Order has also made the lakes far more pleasant for sailboaters, kayakers, canoeists, and swimmers, as well as the casual shoreline walker like myself.

Now that the lakes have begun to slightly recede from their all-time high levels, power boaters will start to pressure the County to lift the Order in time for the busy Fourth of July weekend. Barring a severe and sudden drop in the lakes' levels, there is no good reason to lift the Order now beyond the economic impact of fewer power boaters.

In a few weeks of normal or less than normal rainfall, however, the levels should drop a bit and pressure to lift the Order will intensify, and sometime later this summer things will return to normal.  Boats will line up and wait for an hour or more to go through the Tenney Park Locks so they can navigate from one large lake to the other and back to see if, indeed, the algae is greener on the other side.

Here's a proposal that will draw fire from power boaters of all stripes: water skiers, raft-up partiers, and fisherpersons: how about extending the Slow/No Wake Order on a one day per week basis for the rest of the year?  Rotate the No Wake day through the week so that it's a weekend day two weeks of every seven and a weekday for five weeks. That would be fair to all, and help the shoreline property owners, the non-fossil fuel boaters, the environment, and the quality of the lakes.  Any County Board members ready to commit political suicide and take up this proposal?

- Barry Orton

United Airlines Gets a Thumbs Up; So Does AT&T

Compliments are forthcoming for United Airlines and AT&T. Yes, two of the largest corporate giants that have felt the vicious sting of the pesky Waxing America mosquito are deserving of compliments.

On the final leg of the already chronicled journey, with unplanned stops in Denver and Fort Collins, I wanted to change my ticket which normally requires a $150 change fee. My first request was met with a 'no' but when I comply took up the matter with a supervisor, the fee was waived.

I explained that while I knew the fee applied at the time I purchased my non-refundable ticket, that two points justified waiving the fee. First I was coming down with a cold which would make it more painful to wait another day to fly. Secondly, and more importantly, United had failed on the other two flights to deliver me in a timely manner to my destinations when we ran out of fuel necessitating two additional stops.

The supervisor made an exception and, I might add, the tenor of the conversation was quite reasonable.

Thank you, United Airlines.

We had sixteen people with cell phones west of Estes Park, not far from the infamous Stanley Hotel.  I was the one of only six with consistent reliable cell phone service. Like most of the others who had good service, my provider was AT&T.  I may not be pleased with their policy on cable deregulation in Wisconsin, but the cell phone service has been great.

Thank you, AT&T.

Understanding Why J. P. Cullen Left Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) received a major setback this week with the announcement that J.P. Cullen Construction was not only leaving the board of directors of WMC but the organization as well. Previously some WMC members withdrew from the board but kept their WMC membership.

I was involved in all of this since first discussing the matter with Dave Cullen, the companies CEO, last year on behalf of the Original WMC Watch, not Epic Systems. The news stories do correctly note that the Cullen withdrawl came at the request of my former employer, Epic Systems Incorporated.

What is critical to understand is that Epic did not force Cullen out of the organization, but rather persuaded the major construction company.

It is important to get this right for two reasons. First, the story should be accurately told. Secondly, understanding what happened plays a significant role in motivating other WMC companies to take similar action.

Cullen, like many of the WMC board members, did not buy into the savage attack ads that the business organization runs.  Dave Cullen is concerned about Wisconsin's business climate but is not a true believer when it comes to the WMC right wing agenda.

Dave Cullen, like many of the WMC board members, is fully occupied in running his company, particulalry during these difficult economic times.
Consequently, when Epic expressed its displeasure about WMC and Cullen's role, the die was cast. Cullen was uncomfortable with WMC and its own role.

If Cullen was already motivated to leave the organization, it means that there are dozens of other WMC board member who need only a gentle push from others to break the bonds of camaraderie which is all that holds them to WMC.

United Airlines Fuel-less Skies II

United is two for two this past week with my flights. Heading west we had to make a stop in Denver since we were running out of fuel, United Airlines Fuel-less Skies. That was Friday.

On Wednesday I was scheduled to fly into Denver. Wind sheer caused us to circle and then the pilot announced we were to head to Fort Collins since we were running out of fuel. That is a twenty minute flight. We refueled for forty minutes, took off and twenty minutes later landed in Denver.

That was more takeoff and landing fees, more fuel wasted than saved, more salary costs, and of course, more wasted time and inconvenience for the passengers.  Many missed connecting flights since their departures got out of the gates as soon as the wind advisory was lifted, while we were back in Fort Collins, not preparing to land.

No baggage. Some of the bags were up within twenty minutes.  Most of the passengers did not get their bags for an hour. That is because of the reduced staffing levels designed to save United money and make the passengers lives' miserable.

The Nader Supreme Court - Right Wing as It Gets

It is clear that the Nader Supreme Court with the addition of the two most recent appointees, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito will viciously reshape American law until the time comes when one of the five conservative justices is replaced.

The decisions by the Supreme Court involving the  Washington D. C. hand gun regulations and the Millionaire Amendment dealing with political contributions clearly establishes that we now have a court driven by the right wing agenda.

Unlike the appointees of other Republican Presidents, these recent appointments made possible by the Nader effect, which gave George W. Bush the White House in 2000, are sorely lacking as legal scholars and will set aside legal precedents in their effort to rewrite the laws of the United Sates. 

Keep in mind that President Eisenhower appointed Chief Justice Earl Warren and Justice Brennan, President Ford  appointed John Paul Stevens, Reagan appointed Sandra Day O'Conner, and even the first President Bush appointed David Hackett Souter.

Once again conservative justices poke holes in the nonsensical right wing contention that, by definition, liberal judges and justices are 'activists.' Alito and his comrades continue to strike down laws from the bench, replacing their judgment for that of the legislative body. Exactly what conservatives contend that liberal justices do when they believe when legislative bodies over step constitutional boundaries.

The difference then is not in 'activism' but in ideological rigidity by these right wing fanatics that mocks the Constitution, weakens our government, and carries the intellectual and scholarly weight of a carp.

Park Volunteers Apply Polish to Madison Gems

On a recent walk, I came across someone doing something for free that she wouldn't do for money. She was sitting on the ground weeding the gravel of the Lake Mendota jetty near the Tenney Park locks.  Her advanced age and the close presence of her dog told me she wasn't a park employee, as well as the hand-weeding she was doing in an era of limited budgets and limited mowing.

Sure enough, a friendly conversation yielded the fact that she was a regular volunteer who lives near Tenney Park and tends several of its garden features, as well as the wonderful plantings around the Gates of Heaven synagogue in James Madison Park. A retired Madison high school teacher, "Gigi" said that she weeds the jetty an hour at a time, and if she didn't, "the weeds would be up to your shoulder by the fall."

It turns out that many of the Madison parks have volunteer labor behind their beauty: unsung people whose gardening skills are put to use for the benefit of the public. A great example is Period Garden Park on East Gorham Street, a downtown neighborhood gem which is almost entirely maintained by volunteers.

The People for Parks program organizes many such efforts, and coordinates volunteer opportunities and donations. This Saturday morning, June 28, for example, you can help at a garlic mustard pulling event at Edna Taylor Park.

Like many other public institutions, our parks depend not only on our taxes, but also on many donations of money and time of which we often are unaware.

- Barry Orton

Tattoos Cause Firestorm in Los Angeles

When I served as mayor of Madison, if there was an issue as dreaded as endless debates over liquor licenses, it was personnel matters that related to appearance and grooming.

The Los Angeles Fire Department  (LAFD) is caught in a tattoo controversy. According to Sandy Banks in the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, Los Angeles Fire Department tattoo coverup muddles real mission:

At issue is a policy the department announced this spring, requiring firefighters with tattoos to cover their body art whenever they are on duty.

I am not a big favorite of tattoos, especially the massive works which hides, not enhance the human body, but as Banks points out, the LAFD has more important issues to fry than tattoos. Painted or not, in a crisis the citizenry want the firefighter who arrives to be comfortable and ready to perform.

The LAFD has numerous administrative problems that make the inked arms and necks pale in comparison. Frankly, if I was chief, I would do everything imaginable to discourage the men and women of the department from getting tattoos.

This is all reminiscent of thirty years ago when police and fire departments went through the long hair controversy. Then the issue was also grooming, with the added safety issue. Police officers, it was feared, would be vulnerable to assailants pulling their longer locks. Firefighters' tresses could catch on fire.

Most police departments figured out reasonable hair lengths.

The fire departments realized that so long as the hair was covered and protected by the uniform, it was not vulnerable to fire.  The uniform protected their hair just as it protected the skin.

The tattoos might seem unflattering and distasteful to the likes of me, but so long as my firefighter is devoted, professional and prepared to serve, I can live with the ink.

Why George Carlin Worshiped the Sun

George Carlin was so much more than the schtick his seven forbidden words became.  His passing saddens all fans of comedy and of the debunking of authority.

Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll to to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...And he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money! [...] I've begun worshipping the sun for a number of reasons. First of all, unlike some other gods I could mention, I can see the sun. It's there for me every day. And the things it brings me are quite apparent all the time: heat, light, food, a lovely day. There's no mystery, no one asks for money, I don't have to dress up, and there's no boring pageantry. And interestingly enough, I have found that the prayers I offer to the sun and the prayers I formerly offered to God are all answered at about the same 50-percent rate.

(Hat tip: digby)

- Barry Orton

United Airlines Fuel-less Skies

Legend has it that Warren Buffet, during one economic crisis or another, when asked if was a good time to buy airlines stocks, replied, "It is never a good time to buy airline stocks,"

Now we can add that it is never a good time to fly, even under the best of conditions, as was the case Friday when I headed west from Chicago.

Readers of Waxing America know that I freely share my opinions about the airlines, particularly United and American, in a hope to provide constructive criticism.  I have flown over a million miles, well over 600,000 of them on United.

I need not share with you the trouble I have seen.

Friday was a first. We departed a bit late but the flight was managed well when we boarded and things progressed nicely as we headed west.  Then, unexpectedly, the pilot announced that our non-stop flight was going to put down in Denver for a thirty minute fueling.

Otherwise, we would not make our destination.

In these pricey times, while the airlines are unforgiving to passengers who need to rebook a flight, have two suitcases to check, or forget to keep thier mileage account current, the carriers haul as little fuel as possible to reduce weight and save money.

Someone miscalculated and we did not have enough fuel. No rebates, no coupons, no extra miles were offered.  All we got was the official  apology from the pilot who pointed out that "It is better to be on the ground and wishing you were in the air than being in the air and wishing you were on the ground."

I wonder if he was the same staff member who boarded the plane with the usual black, rectangular crew bag that has a sticker which read, "The beatings will cease when morale improves."

Looking Inside Charlie Syke's Head. Oops. My bad.

Charlie Sykes posted Top 10 reasons to blame Democrats for soaring gasoline prices authored by some  William Tate.

Do not waste your time.

This list does not include the war in Iraq as a reason that fuel prices are soaring. The absence of the single most reason important why fuel prices are up reflects on the value of this list.

Oops.  My bad. The title of the list is not:

The Top reason to blame Republicans for soaring gasoline prices that eclipses all others.