TIME award not meant for Them

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Our friendly little community newspaper the “Janesville Messenger” has once again shown their true colors with their latest editorial titled “This one’s for “You.” But unlike TIME magazine, the editor(s) of the Messenger have not quite bought into the idea that the American public deserve some credit for our creativity or willingness to explore and understand the world with our own eyes. No, if it were up to them, we would be fed a steady diet of intellectually pretentious propaganda from organizations such as the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute or the “objectively superior” Ayn Rand and told to shut up and learn to like it.

JM editorial excerpt:
Time’s choice of “you” for 2006, is, in fact, a colossal cop-out that reflects intellectual paralysis among Western media elites who cannot bring themselves to acknowledge that we risk unimaginable conflagration if we do not muster the will to stand up to Muslim extremism.

That terrible Time Magazine, how brain numbingly stupid of them to give an award to “You.” After all, “You” according to the way they (Messenger) see it, are nothing more than a lazy uninformed slob sitting in front of your computer, punching keys for no good reason, completely oblivious to the Islamists.

Like as if its up to the mainstream media to save us from any and all perceived enemies. But the real oddity here is that for all of the Messenger’s superiority and hubris puffery, why are they relying on the very media or liberals that they so oftenly bash, to save the planet? What about the rest? The editor(s) essentially slams America, but somehow manages to exclude themselves from the culture. Does the Messenger know that regardless of how localist they are, or anti-liberal their rhetoric, they are viewed by readers as part of the fading mainstream establishment?

Just a few days earlier though, the Messenger let all of their readers know that they have received the Forward Janesville Business of the Year award. That was their Dec. 27th cover story, “We’re Honored.”

JM excerpt:
“It’s always nice to be recognized for achievements,” said Steve Karstaedt, president of Community Shoppers, Inc., which publishes the Messenger.

But what about those Islamists? I find the irony here almost too much to bear, but nevertheless, realize that awards are usually given to those who deserve. Even this author congratulates them for the achievement.

Unfortunately, I can’t link to the column I describe here because the Messenger’s editorials are not part of the digital democracy known as the internet. The Messengers “You” editorial does not offer even a small congratulatory acknowledgment of sorts to anybody, because it turns out, the TIME award wasn’t meant for them. That explains everything.

Swift Boat Candidate On Esquire

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The frontcover of the January 2007 issue of Esquire magazine depicts a legless young man with a prosthetic arm proudly holding his Purple Heart. The heart wrenching picture is worth a thousand words, and any thoughts of comfort, thanks or honor may seem trivial to the loss this soldier endured.

Esquire excerpt:
“I kind of felt guilty. I feel like I took the easy way out, which I know isn't true, but I wanted to be back there.” – Sgt. Bryan Anderson, triple amputee

The only thing I can offer the young man is this advice: Do not grow angry towards the president or the country. If you feel you have made a difference, keep that faith. Because if you don’t, and you roll up to the White House fence and throw that Purple Heart (or a facsimile of it) over in disgust and then run for Congress or President 20 years from now, the Swift Boat Veterans will remember. They will say that you volunteered for military service to get into Iraq. They will say you deliberately drove over an IED just to get the medal and cut your time short. They will say the Esquire photo was a publicity stunt for your future campaign run. They will repeat your “easy way out” conscience, brave soldier. Who knows, they may also imply everyone got a medal even if it was only a scratch…… God bless you, Esquire soldier.

TIME buying time with Award

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The tractionless TIME magazine has deemed its Person Of The Year Award to you(us). Although I wouldn’t put too much stock into its meaning, even George W. Bush was named person of the year at one time, at least we can be assured that the latest choice was not based on notoriety. Of course this blog wasn't named specifically, but they may of had it in mind when they discussed the explosion of bluntly honest citizen-run content. That's right – the most significant contribution to the world this year by anyone was, in part, due to your comments right here on Rock Netroots.

Sun Times Excerpt:
It seems like almost every time I read a mainstream media story about political Web sites and bloggers, the pieces are full of ill-informed junk.

The quote above is interesting because its author is saying that mainstream news reports about blogs are poorly written and absent of pertinent information, much like everything else the mainstream reports on. What did you expect? Worse yet, the mainstream frequently belittles the information offered by bloggers, but consider this - most bloggers (including myself) are tireless consumers of big media including magazines like TIME, if they think we are ill-informed, well guess what?

The mainstream media has painted themselves into a corner about blogging, and bloggers will not go away anytime soon, no matter how much it is dismissed or chastised. Brick and mortar media institutions keep a close eye on blogs like this while denying their existence and refusing to give it credibility. That's what happens when you've painted yourself into a corner.

Time Excerpt:
Who are these people? Seriously, who actually sits down after a long day at work and says, I'm not going to watch Lost tonight. I'm going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguana? I'm going to mash up 50 Cent's vocals with Queen's instrumentals? I'm going to blog about my state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street? Who has that time and that energy and that passion? The answer is, you do. And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, Time's Person of the Year for 2006 is you.

I don’t know whether they are poking fun at bloggers or not, to be honest with you, I don’t care. They do seem to be making concessions to web based information. Only time will tell whether or not they are willing to make the necessary changes from this lesson learned. But what must really set them on fire is the “for working for nothing” part.

Whether you agree with my perspective or not, I salute your never-ending quest for information and knowledge without the careful and formal pretensions manufactured by the hired hands of big media. Sure, TIME may be patronizing here a little much and it's a mistake to romanticize this any more than is necessary but nevertheless, to all my visitors, even the ones who hoped I got a lump of coal in my stocking for Christmas, I thank you for visiting this webpage and wish you a Happy New Year!!

Unplugged: Wisconsin Brain Drain

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It should come as no surprise that not only have Wisconsin college grads been overlooked for top positions in local government, but other Wisconsinites have as well. At this level, I don’t buy the idea that we must be in competition with other states and cities in order to acquire smart, competent people. If a manager or superintendent hops from one city to another simply because of signing perks and more money, by all means let em’ go. Their loyalties can be bought. No one is an island, everyone is expendable, there are no guarantees.

Unfortunately this ill-advised hiring mindset is pervasive throughout society as explained by one anonymous caller to the Janesville Gazette.

JG excerpt:
It seems too convenient that Rock County Sheriff-elect Bob Spoden appointed Cmdr. Barb Tillman to chief deputy. How extensive was the search? The Janesville Police Department searched nationwide for its new chief of police, and he seems to be working out just fine.-- anonymous

Got something against promoting a Wisconsinite who passed through the state's educational system and happens to be a 24 year department veteran? Too bad. Barb Tillman has also completed the Criminal Justice Executive Development Institute Program at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. In retrospect, appointing a Wisconsinite from within is the best first decision from Sheriff-elect Spoden. In addition, she toughed it out in what still is viewed as a man's world in the law enforcement environment and deserves to be congratulated for her hard work. Tillman's promotion will likely usher in more advancements of hard working deputies at the lower levels to fill the voids. The snowball effect from this one appointment would not exist had Spoden chosen an outsider. To the contrary, Sheriff-elect Spoden should be commended for his smart choice.

The anonymous comment also implied that the best candidate for a top job can only be found through nationwide searches which of course is not necessarily true or economically feasible.

The Janeville Police Department did a nationwide search for a new police chief and plucked Neil Mahan from Bakersfield, California.

Before that, the city chose a graduate from the University of Iowa who worked as a manager in Concord, Massachusetts and Salem, Illinois to be the new city manager. A seemingly bright individual with plenty of experience, he is still with us today, his name is Steve Sheiffer.

This same direction continues today in Janesville's search for a new director at the Hedberg library, a position which pays upwards to $90,000 a year. In 2005, they appointed Dennis Wilson, who previously worked at libraries in Arkansas, Kansas and Colorado. He was a product of the Missouri University System. His commitment here fizzled out quickly. Afterwards, the board considered one of two applicants from Illinois. The most recent applicant from River Forest, Ilinois, also turned them down.

I am only using them as examples so don’t mistake my comments here as a personal slap against either official or as blind pride at any costs. They all are respectable and committed individuals. My target here more or less is the peculiar set of priorities established by the policy makers doing the hiring. If other Wisconsin municipalities are doing the same, it is no wonder why our graduates refuse to remain here after they graduate.

I can’t blame the state to begin grasping at desperate measures when our graduates are faced with slanted hiring practices. However, the latest proposal of offering free college tuition in exchange for staying in Wisconsin for 10 years after they graduate runs counter to the very idea of what graduates strive for while achieving their education. Not to mention the estimated billions in cost to the taxpayer, if the jobs are not there to begin with, we are just spinning our wheels.

Sure, those promoting national searches for local leadership will claim the importance of fresh eyes and ears, but aside from a completely corrupted and degraded chain of command, it is a poor excuse to use. And aside from the obvious needs of giant cities like New York or Chicago, if other states are doing this perpetual outsourcing as standard procedure for acquiring competent individuals for top positions, they are merely trading apples for apples.

But I also offer an idea here. The state should first encourage all local and city governments to make hiring a Wisconsin graduate or a Wisconsinite one and two on their list of priorities for the best candidate for a top position. The state could accomplish this using sticks and carrots. This could apply to all permanent structural arms of public utilities as well. The state will need to legislate new rules governing the distribution of grants and other state funds regularly earmarked for various needs of each community. For instance, cutting off a $75,000 grant for new street lights if an out-of-stater is hired for a top public post. Of course this is just a rough idea and the state would have to play hardball here, but this is nowhere near the Big Bang proposal being kicked around now. Secondly, the state needs to involve corporations in the education and training of their future employees by cleaning up and enforcing the state tax on corporations and rededicating those funds in a split towards education and healthcare.

As long as communities like Janesville continue to fuel the exodus with their hiring procedures and policies, Wisconsin graduates will have no recourse but to leave Wisconsin, no matter how much money the state throws at the issue.

If encouraging Wisconsin graduates to remain in Wisconsin is the goal, you have to start hiring them here first. That is the bottom line.

Can Heaven Wait?

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The ABC special with Barbara Walters Heaven, where is it? – How do we get there? was very informative and revealed some of the principles behind those who have hi-jacked their own perspective religions.

The Walters special did not however reveal anything entirely new about Islam since after 9-11, but it was assembled in such a way as to encompass all religions including Islam and their relationships to an after-life.

Walters interviewed Islamists who strongly believe in a version of their religion contaminated by intolerance and violence. These quaslamists (new word invented right here combining al qaeda (base)- quasi(fake) and Islam) have been taught by bin laden and others to use their life and death as a weapon against all intruders and infidels, thus giving their leaders(survivors) power and victory over the enemy. Crimes against not only humanity but against their own faith as well. Of course, we have seen with are own eyes as to what extent they are willing to go.

The TV documentary was thought provoking and well made enough to help understand the motivations that drive those we perceive as our enemy. We are in combat with people who not only give their lives for their own cause, but willingly and wantonly do so. Whether we also perceive them as brainwashed really doesn’t matter at this point. The fact is, our military is in battle against those who want to die, while our loyal and courageous soldiers for the most part, are there to do a job, collect a paycheck and return home to their families and friends. Whether they believe it is a just cause or not. Not so with the quaslamists. So my question is – Is it possible for an invader to militarily defeat a people dying to go to heaven? Or can it wait? – in the regard that we change course dramatically enough to stop the killing but remain engaged in efforts to liberate Islam?

Post Election Gasoline Prices

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A letter writer to the Gazette disputed Election Day conspiracy theories regarding the price of gasoline. Claiming that prices did not rise drastically enough afterwards as many had guessed it would.

Unless you haven’t noticed, the price of gasoline has been going up at a pace of a few cents a week since after the election. Beginning in September, oil was going down so fast, many experts thought it would reach $15 a barrel within a year. They implied $1.35 a gallon gasoline was just around the corner.

Earlier in the year, when the prices were high, Bush said there is nothing he could do, after all, he said, “it’s a free market.” But all of a sudden, just before the election, something happened. OPEC, one of the tools of global free enterprise announced it will be cutting production by 800,000 barrels of oil a day. Not because of a hurricane, broken pipelines or a shortage of crude. No sir, they announced the cut in production with only one objective in mind; to stop the price from sliding any further.

Immediately afterwards, several prominent economists and market watchers said the announcement doesn’t carry much weight, that OPEC lacks the discipline to carry out its own threats/goals. Make no mistake, whether or not OPEC actually cut production, the announcement did what it was intended to do. It put the brakes on the declining prices. Around election time, oil prices flattened out, and ever since have been climbing steadily upwards. I can hear people crying foul already, saying Bush has nothing to do with the global price of oil. I would argue that his decisions regarding the middle-east does, but more importantly, mister energy task force himself, VP Dick Cheney held secret meetings years ago with Big Oil in the White House and it can be safe to assume that Big Oil has been given free rein to do whatever it takes to ensure a steady supply of gasoline at the pump. If you have to raise prices to accomplish some level of control over consumption, then by all means, do it. The Bush Administration could care less about high prices, that's “free market” in their view, just don’t repeat the energy crisis the nation experienced in the 70’s with widespread shortages, long lines and rationing. It would doom his presidency. But we'll never know for sure because, the meetings were "secret."

By keeping the meetings secret, the Bush Administration appeared to exercise the idea that energy is a free market untouched by outside forces. There can be no doubt that energy executives see their own interests as bound up with a Republican victory. Certainly they have invested more heavily in buying off Republican legislators than they have their Democratic counterparts.

There is nothing like the good ol'boy free market capitalism espoused by the President and many, many of my fellow Americans. But it is in words only.

JG letter excerpt:
The writer asks the question: So where are the apologies to President Bush and Big Oil from those who loudly advocated these theories?

Although I believe Big Oil manipulates gasoline supply, demand and prices at will, I did not believe prices would jolt upwards after the election. Regardless, nearly everybody thought this would happen and so far, no apologies are necessary. The prediction was as good if not better than the accuracy of tomorrows weather forecast.

Related: Read The coming oil wars, a special report of a three part series by the Chicago Tribune.

Republicans Defeat Ends Gridlock

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Keeping one of his promises, Gov. Doyle agreed to an ethics reform package reached between Democrats and Republicans in Madison.

Ethics Reform excerpt:
"The devil is in the details," says Jay Heck of Common Cause. "We'll want to see how it all works. I think it's an incredibly positive sign. If you'dve asked me three months ago whether I'd envisioned this happening this soon I would've said no."

He is absolutely right. Three months ago, many thought the Democrats would sweep the national offices, but nobody figured the Democrats would do the same in Wisconsin. Mark Green was breathing down Doyle’s neck. Had Green won, ethics reform would have been shelved for years. The Republicans have been running the show in both the national and local scene, ramrodding through party-line bills and discarding democratic motions like common garbage. Now, the drumbeat is co-operation and bi-partisanship. Stuff that has been ignored for years like revenue shortages, budget deficits, job creation, healthcare and restoring the Social Security treasury fund will finally get their just due in Congress, because the people have said enough is enough.

JG editorial excerpt:
Perhaps Democrats, out of power for years in Wisconsin and Washington, have seen the error of idealogical gridlock and gotten the message that voters are demanding accountability and measures to move this state and nation forward.

Yes, being in the minority party while helplessly watching Republicans nearly destroy the state of the union has taught Democrats exactly how not to behave. Discarded by the majority Republicans, words like compromise, bipartisan, co-operation, and unity have been dusted off by the new majority and are the new buzzwords in damage control. Had the endorsements of this newspapers editorial staff won, the error of idealogical gridlock would have gone on much, much longer.

Big Media Censors Competition

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A short while ago, the Janesville Gazette ran an Op-ed article titled “FCC must separate speech and state” written by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. What is the Competitive Enterprise Institute? Don’t let the name fool you. This outfit appears to be nothing short of an extreme right-wing anarco-capitalist groupthink whose name oddly enough reminds me of the Cancer Institute. You know, the Cancer Institute is dedicated to stamping out cancer. Similarly, the Competitive Enterprise Institute is for, you know, stamping out competition. Simply, their attempt to throw the proliferation of media monopolies onto the coattails of speech and state separation is weak. The war between big business and free speech is all about power and control, nothing less. But this rather naively written opinion piece about “big media” is really not a reason to get concerned.

What is more telling of the Gazette's intentions is that they print such an easily debunked and extreme piece of work without running a competitive opposing view. In a real-time sample analysis, the lack of a side-by-side rebuttal in the paper actually disproves the authors philosophy. So, why blame the FCC for censorship and media business restrictions when the supposedly free market (Gazette) does it regardless. The absence of an opposing view censors at least half the available information. I for one do not want the government to practice censorship. But just as well, I want the government to create and enforce laws preventing free market or otherwise, from doing the same.

This article seemed to support the Gazette’s decision to consolidate their own business affiliates. They announced a couple of weeks ago in an info-commercial editorial that Bliss Communications(parent company) has decided to “converge” their radio and newspaper operations thereby creating, in their view, a better product speaking with one voice. Granted, newspapers are facing competition for readers with other multi-media but make no mistake, the Gazette is the only daily newspaper in Janesville, they have no competition. Sure, you can get the Journal Sentinel, Madison Newspapers and even the Chicago Tribune from boxes and stations around town, but they will not carry even poorly written stories about Janesville schools or the broken water main near your home.

In my view, their “convergence” happened for two primary reasons. One, to cut costs resulting from duplication and number two, to tighten the grip on their mini-monopoly. It certainly is their prerogative to do so, but under the guise of a better product?

The Gazette not unlike the cable company Charter has a monopoly in Janesville, they dictate prices, services and most importantly, the content. Take it or leave it.
In a letter to the Gazette editor titled, ”Football fans deserve more from cable TV,” the writer believes if consumers had more than one cable company in town, the quality of service and content would be better. Although the letter writer identified himself as the director of TV4US, the Gazette editor, as they oftenly do, noted afterwards that TV4US is a non-profit consumer advocate. But strangely enough, continued on with an endorsement for more cable competition and choices with this.

JG excerpt:
EDITORS NOTE: TV4US Wisconsin is a nonprofit, grass-roots coalition advocating on behalf of cable TV customers toward competitive alternatives, leading to lower cable bills and improved service. The coalition’s Website is We Want Choice Wisconsin

Remember, this is the editor’s note. So my question is: Why would the Gazette advocate more competition in other industries, but within their own, think convergence is best?

How Not To Give

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The Rock County land swap is finally over. No doubt the higher appraisal of the land convinced many board members to let the offer expire. Now that the real estate transaction is out of the way, will the wealthy parties continue to demonstrate their sincerity to bring a new fairgrounds or Snappers stadium to the county?

Channel 3000 reports that the land swap would have meant a new stadium and fairgrounds in Rock county AND that the residents were overwhelmingly in favor of the deal. Reporting just doesn't get any worse than that. Notice no author name.

I gave $2 to the Salvation Army kettle today at the Woodmans entrance, not much money, but like everybody else who gives, nothing is expected in return. However, the $100 smile from the bell ringer was precious. But a moment afterwards, I thought about the $7 million dollar carrot the wealthy businessmen were dangling as part of the land swap deal. The buyers oftentimes insisted it was a gift towards the fairgrounds or stadium but can be used by the county any way it sees fit providing of course they agree to the purchase offer. I can’t imagine what this world would be like if nobody gave a gift without first getting something in return. It turns out that the $7 million was no gift at all, but part of the original $8.3 million offered to make the swap almost equitable.

JG excerpt:
"As we look at it, we're adding $2 million to the gift, but the net effect is the money that goes to the county is exactly the same as the appraisal numbers they have," he (Watson) said.

Like they always said, forget all the other stuff, just make the land swap deal. When it comes to gifts, it always is the thought that counts. Even when they give you nothing.

Janesville Landlords Are A Nuisance

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City of Janesville passed a new nuisance law targeting property owners for the mischievous behavior of somebody else's children. Do you know where your children tenants are?

JG excerpt:
Taxpayers should be irate, Lund said, that police must answer so many calls generated by those tenants.

Oh, you mean those people?

Democrats Will Restore Fiscal Reality

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The new Congress taking power in January have settled on a plan that would kill thousands of homegrown projects, called “earmarks,” in order to clean up nearly $463 billion in GOP leftovers. The old congressional guard, including the White House are not happy about it. But it becomes plain to see that one mans pork is another mans necessity. That we are suddenly entering a new era of budget management and fiscal responsibility couldn’t possibly coincide with the Democratic victory in November, according to some observers.

Take our very own representative Paul Ryan for instance. Impressing his Republican buddies with another easy win here, they have elected him to the House Budget Committee. Certainly then they must think, he must be doing something right.

JG editorial excerpt:
Ryan believes Congress is entering a new era of fiscal management.

Ryan pushed a line-item veto bill meant to strip Congress of fiscal accountability and hand unprecedented dictatorial powers striking out individual earmarks to one person, the president. Fellow Congressmen should be upset. One of their own was marching to the beat of the executive branch, the sure sign of a presidential rubber stamp.

JG editorial excerpt:
This year, Ryan pushed for earmark reform to reduce wasteful “pork barrel” spending. That rubbed some Republicans the wrong way.

In just two recent examples, I have brought up the idea that he should have/could have earmarked some federal money for schools in his district including Janesville. Nope, not Paul Ryan. That’s wasteful pork in his book. I also thought he could have secured some Federal money to tempt Honda to build a plant in his district bringing over 1,000 good paying jobs here. Nope, not Ryan. That too is pork.

JG editorial excerpt:
His role on the budget committee will help Ryan look out for interests of Wisconsinites and 1st district residents – as long as they don’t expect him to bring home the pork.

Whose interests was he looking out for when he wasn’t on the budget committee but still failed to secure federal money for projects in his own district?

JG editorial excerpt:
”If people think this will help me bring home the bacon, that’s not the kind of guy I am,” he told the Gazette.

Let's get this straight. At a time when completely irresponsible and wild give-aways exploded (real pork) under GOP control of Congress for the past twelve years, what did Ryan bring home to his district? There are such things as responsible earmarks. Schools, roads and incentives to spur economic development for the most part, are not pork. If you think they are wasteful pork, you’re right, you're not my kinda guy. Let me be clear here, as a citizen I am not confusing pork with genuine if not desperate needs of the community. But Paul Ryan apparently is.

Now, under Democratic control the long overdue belt tightening will begin. After bringing nearly nothing to his district for the past six years, Paul Ryan is warning us he will bring home even less.

Damned if they do - Damned if they don't

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In light of recent revelations that the county land is worth considerably more than once thought, the Mulder buying group will change the proposal to acquire the land while simultaneously implying it is doing so to the benefit of the fairgrounds project. It’s one thing when a paid spokesmen for a buyers group deliberately misleads in order to coerce a favorable reaction from a seller. But it’s entirely another thing when the only investigative reporting in town allows the false statements to go unchallenged.

JG excerpt:
“What we hope to achieve in working with the county administration is to demonstrate another level of sincerity to bring a new fairgrounds to Rock County, and I think we…..”— Brian Christianson

This, despite final denials from Fitzgerald, Mulder and Hendricks that the land deal is strictly a real estate transaction.

JG excerpt:
“To me, it’s so simple.” Said Fitzgerald. “Just get this down to one thing – just farmland for farmland – and forget all this other stuff.”

It appears the group of buyers are willing to go to the ends of the earth to get that county land. Too bad they were not willing to do the same for the stadium or the fairgrounds. As a visitor commented on this blog,”we must remember who approached whom.”

The county property more than doubled in value in less than two years based on location, location and potential. If the dollar continues to free fall in value, the AAA+ county land will continue to rise in value at a faster clip than the three parcels of B+ land being dumped by the investors.

JG excerpt:
“You would think that there would be some contribution (to the land) for being close to the interstate, even though it does not have the premier access that others do.”— Jim Viney, Viney Appraisal Service

We’re not talkin’ Newville here. The Mulder properties offered to the County reside within a relatively undeveloped area near the Interstate.

JG excerpt:
Our farmhouse is 60 feet from the highway, and we hear trucks 24 hours a day. – Elton Broege, Brunland Farms

The psychology behind the misinformation places the county board at a clear disadvantage. If they take the deal, residents will expect the county to pursue the stadium/fairgrounds plans with splintered land burdened by an interstate, railroad tracks and poor excess, AND no one willing to commit the $45 million needed for the project except for ……..the taxpayers! If the money isn’t there from the taxpayers, the residents will blame the board for poor planning and making too hasty of a decision to sell off the prime land. If they don’t take the deal, residents will blame the county board for crushing the stadium/fairgrounds plans even though parties in the swap said the transaction has no bearing on the stadium/fairgrounds plans. Uhh, except for Brian Christianson, but he doesn’t offer a $45 million letter of credit either. I empathize with the county board. This is why it was so important for the local media to ask the tough questions and challenge the misstatements in the run-up to the transaction. Not only did they fail, they helped pass it along.

Military: No Experience Necessary

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This (fuzzy) photo was taken of a sign hanging on the National Guard Armory building on South Beloit Ave. in Janesville. As you can see, the qualifications to fight in the wars of the 21th century and operate high-tech weaponry are a huge hurdle for many recruits to overcome.

Declined Counteroffer Should Cancel Deal

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It was never about a new Snappers stadium. It was never about moving the fairgrounds to a new facility. It was never about an auto race track. And it was never about a charitable foundation. As I and many have suspected, it was always just a real estate transaction, nothing more, nothing less. I have to credit the Rock County Board for not caving in to all the car salesman-like promises made by the buyers. The board had the wherewithal to call them on this by writing a counter-proposal asking the wealthy investors for a $45 million letter of credit, basically asking them to put their money where their mouth is. They declined. The board’s counter-proposal also excluded property south of Hwy.14 from the deal.

JG excerpt:
Hendricks urged supervisors to think of the deal as a simple land swap at Thursday meeting. “ I know the concept (of a stadium and fairgrounds) has gotten the entire county talking, but again, this is a simple transaction: land for land and $8.3 million,”he said.

With the time constraints and many unanswered questions, this should make it easy for the board to decide and it should also finally sink in on county residents who have been mistakenly connecting a new stadium or fairgrounds to the motivated buyers or the land swap deal. Residents should not hold this against the county board. We’ve all been taken for a ride and they were not the driver. As Ken Hendricks put it “this is a simple transaction.”

Fueling the confusion, today’s Janesville Gazette front page headlines story titled,” Get the drop on the swap” continued to include the stadium/fairgrounds plans in the sale despite the fact that the key players involved have insisted that the deal is nothing more than a real estate transaction. Have Fitzgerald or Hendricks asked the Gazette to stop this steady stream of misinformation?

Confiscate the Nuisance - Not the Property

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After reading a letter submitted by K. Andrea Briarmoon to the Gazette about the new nuisance law proposed in Janesville, I thought, here she goes again. Now what could be wrong? But, after reading several other letters pro and con to the ordinance, its beginning to look once again that she (Briarmoon) and others have raised some good points. I have not been able to get my hands on the proposed city ordinance, but if at least one other letter writer is correct with the quote,” forfeiture of the property to the city,” people should be outraged and shut this thing down. There is no question that Janesville needs better laws to crackdown on nuisance and illegal activity perpetrated by certain properties individuals, these laws must have some bite to work. But expecting law abiding property owners to draw up corrective measures and plans to combat chronic anti-social behavior and other disturbances exhibited by their tenants is also asking way too much.

JG excerpt:
Police would notify the owner if four or more enforcement actions – either arrests or written warnings – occur at a property or apartment unit within a 12-month period. The owner must meet with police within five days to discuss the problems and within another 10 days submit a plan to eliminate the behavior.

This is laughable. No doubt this is a serious issue, but the person who comes up with the formula to stop odd and/or criminal behavior of others would put Einstein and Freud to shame. They would control the planet.

In seriousness at least, after the four warnings, it’s the police who should be the ones to improvise a plan and submit it to the owner for cooperation. They are the ones with an insight to the problem, they are the enforcers. Not to say that all landlords are created equal either, however they must abide by Federal and state anti-discriminatory housing laws.

But perhaps the worst part of this ordinance is the idea that they would confiscate the property. At first I thought it was typical of Ms. Briarmoon accusing the city of trying to stretch 194 complaints on a tenant into a conspiracy to acquire properties. But it turns out at least, she’s half-right. Simply put, they must drop ”forfeiture of property” from the ordinance, in fact, drop property or location wordings and definitions entirely. A strong and comprehensive nuisance law must target the guilty individual(s) with steep fines, jail or other measures, not the property of where it occurs, private, public or otherwise.

"The city does not earn the property because the police are unable to keep the peace."

Christmas comes early in Rock County

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in southern Wisconsin. But the real spirit of the holidays just began when a hearing examiner denied the request to raise the water levels of Lake Koshkonong. The Lake District has been fighting the DNR to raise the water levels for several years now and it appears this decision should safeguard the Rock-Koshkonong Watershed for years to come. Although the decision can be appealed, its beginning to look like we have some leaders in government who are not willing to sell out the environment. Three cheers for Administrative Law Judge William S. Coleman. If you would like to read more opinion on the lake level issue, click here.

Now that Debi Towns has announced she will not repeal the recount, Democrat Kim Hixson is our new state representative in the 43rd district. Congratulations Professor Hixson!! This is great, great news for Rock County and another reason to celebrate. Things are looking up. It feels good for a change.

Business Encouraged To Avoid Tax Payments

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The Beloit Daily News ramped up their defense of tax-dodging corporations and wrote an editorial blasting the whistle-blower group Institute for Wisconsins Future for their ability to uncover shortages of tax revenue owed to the state. Regardless of the universal agreement that our local taxes are too high, this shortfall in revenue must be made up from somewhere resulting in even higher taxes across the board.

The newspaper goes as far to admit that even if the groups figures are semi-accurate, so what? In their logic, because the taxes make up for only 3% of the states revenue, it’s not a serious issue and better left alone. After all, they think if other corporations get the idea they can just walk-on the states tax laws, more investment will come.

Also, the BDN continues to promote the “growth through taxcuts” theory, an overused tired old horse that is now largely responsible for our countries empty treasury, it is a formula that has seen better days. It becomes obvious that the editors have taken the IWF’s findings as a personal attack and labeled their conclusions as business-bashing. Too bad. When the mainstream media encourages tax dodging as a way to spur economic growth, they have reached new lows in the responsibility they owe to their community.

Crash course on Partisan Confusion

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One thing I have noticed during the discussion of political philosophies and their related economic policies is the seeming confusion and misinterpretation about what exactly defines a conservative or a liberal.

For instance the Janesville Messenger ran an article written by David Boaz, VP of the right-wing extreme Cato Institute. The story was in honor of Milton Friedman who recently passed away. He was a writer and an advisor to Republican presidents. He also was an expert in economic theory, specifically “liberal economics.” Now this is where it gets confusing because most people with a sufficiently general knowledge of the economy equate Republican economic policy as conservative, when in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The Republican economic policies have revolved around the same principles Democrats utilize regarding personal freedom and rights. That is to say, Republicans have promoted free access to profits and all of its attachments the same way democrats have promoted the free access to personal freedoms with all of its attachments. So generally speaking, most modern Democrats are liberal except in one category- economics. Conversely, most Republicans are conservative except in one category- economics. Even the Nobel prize winner Milton Friedman was miffed when others referred to him as a conservative, when in truth, he was a pure liberal with no exceptions.

JM excerpt:
For the next 40 years, Friedman remained one of America’s most important advocates of individual freedoms. He wrote a column for Newsweek, lectured around the world, and appeared on television, always arguing for the benefits of free societies and free markets. He was enlisted as an advisor to Republican presidents and candidates, yet rejected the label “conservative,” insisting that he was a liberal like Thomas Jefferson and John Stuart Mill, or a libertarian in modern terms.

It would be safe to say that the Republicans who requested Friedman's advice on economic policy did not care too much for his personal social views. Friedman preached liberalism to such an extreme, some would confuse him for an anarchist. But that would not be fair. Milton Friedman, for all practical purposes in recorded history could be best described as the father of anarco-capitalism, ironically the economic policy espoused by his son David D. Friedman.

However, it becomes plain to see that even liberalism has its trade-offs when a balance must be struck for the common good. The dropping of pollution standards, the flat-tax, lowering standards on labor safety, deregulation, corporate tax elimination, no minimum wage and the defunding of governmental safety nets like Social Security are just a few examples of the wild-west policies that envelope “liberal economics” practiced by Republicans. The anomaly here is the government spending side of the equation, where neither side, Republican or Democrat have assumed any leadership. Which is exactly why traditional conservatives are particularly angry with Bush, they thought he was one of them. They were wrong. He is the spokesman for the free markets taken to the most extreme. Like many Republicans, Bush practices “liberal economics” at both the supply and demand side, yet somehow manages to still be connected with conservatism, just like Milton Friedman.

In fact the trend lately has been in the favor of democrats/progressives/liberals regarding spending and fiscal management. They have shown some control in balancing government budgets, which is at the core of “economic conservatism.” So in general, the modern Democrat is a liberal on individual rights, but a conservative on economics. Exactly the opposite direction from where the Republicans have been taking us for the past twelve years.

This is not a new idea though, its been around long enough for corporations and other business entities to lobby legislators throughout the world to help them (corporations) secure the same liberal rights as an individual. This is where the battle is being fought today with Republicans selling out our tax policies in favor of business using the principles of “liberal economics.”

Government must allow unfettered personal liberties in order to foster a free society, while simultaneously creating a rule of law to balance and check the markets. What is conservative about Bush and the GOP platform applies only to their views on personal rights. Under the Bush Administration, new rules have been created to restrict personal freedoms involving privacy, abortion, human rights and religion. All conservative in principle, while demanding the markets to run wild as a "liberal economy."

Group Wants Corporate Taxes to be Paid

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Both the Beloit Daily News and the Janesville Gazette ran misleading titles on an article written by the AP.

The newspapers ran the same article, but decided to create their own titles, and although both titles were different, they each implied a negative high-tax atmosphere against a left-leaning advocacy group. The BDN
title “Group wants business taxes raised in state” as well as the Gazettes “Advocacy group claims Wis. companies don't pay enough income tax” are misleading. The watchdog group merely wants the taxes to be paid. That shouldn't be asking for too much. While the WMC, offering the opposing viewpoint to the group want the taxes terminated or lowered.

Jim Pugh, a spokesman for the WMC, said the institute's conclusions cannot be trusted because the people who pay for its work have an interest in big government and higher taxes. This too is not correct. If the companies paid the corporate taxes they owe, the taxes for everybody else will be lower.

AP excerpt
Some of the largest, most-profitable companies in Wisconsin have not paid corporate income tax, resulting in a heavier burden on individuals, according to information released Monday by an independent nonprofit group.

“You have to consider the source of the research,” he said. “This is a very left-leaning institute that's heavily funded by labor and public employee unions.” How many times have we heard this cop-out before? Corporations should be permitted to avoid paying taxes because the group that exposed their nonpayment is partisan?

The erroneous titles appear deliberate enough to assume that both newspapers are members of the WMC or its affiliates, and if true, pose a serious conflict of interest in the way they present the news. But we already know that.

City Management: From one extreme to another

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After reading the article about real estate investor Eric Schwartz and his comments about working with the City of Janesville, it was nice to hear that our city leaders are responding quickly to the needs of developers rehabbing existing buildings and infrastructure.

JG excerpt:
“Janesville has been awesome to us,” said Schwartz, president of Middleton-based Sara Investment Real Estate. “The community has really gone well beyond anything we deserve.”

This is beginning to sound a little scary. More than we deserve?? I don’t even think we will get that kind of thanks from the Hendricks Group after handing them $2.7 million. What did the city give up to receive that kind of praise?

The heaping praise struck me rather oddly considering how city management ignored the requests for help from long-time businessman John Westphal. If you recall, Westphal apparently did not have the same luck Schwartz experienced rolling the dice with the city.

JG excerpt:
”Over the last five years, it’s been pretty depressed in southern Wisconsin” said John Westphal, President of Westphal & Co. He continued, “I’ve been talking with the city (about) this for a year, and I still don’t have an answer. They told me it would take a long time to make up their minds.”

It’s one thing ignoring the pleas of a community contributor like Westphal, but as a taxpayer, I’m concerned about how high the city is willing to jump for investors. When people are given things they themselves don’t think they deserve, perhaps this generosity could have been distributed more wisely. Only a few months have passed since the Westphal incident, but now the city is “really on it” when it comes to somebody else.

The Gazette then helps the reader define what Schwartz meant by “community.”

JG excerpt:
By community, Schwartz means local business and government leaders, developers, contractors and tenants.

Fortunately, in the very next paragraph, Schwartz explains it in his own words.

JG excerpt:
“The people of Janesville should be awfully proud of those people working the front lines (of economic development),” he said. “These guys are really on it.”

Who does he possibly mean?

JG excerpt:
Schwartz said he and his investment company have been treated “like big shots.”

Don’t get me wrong here, I’m taking Schwartz’s comments as the friendly banter of an enthusiastic businessman. I for one want to see his rehabilitation ventures as well as the city succeed. Why does the city appear incapable of treating all its citizens and investors equally? If one investor requests help to avoid leaving, while another investor requests help to enter, what’s the difference? Is this too much to ask?

Part-Time Job With Bling Benefits

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A couple of months ago a letter to the Gazette editor asked why Rep. Paul Ryan doesn't enlist in the army and go serve his country. After all, the enlistment age has been raised, the army is now accepting grandfathers.

JG Sound Off excerpt:
In reference to the letter to the editor questioning why Congressman Ryan doesn't enlist and go serve his country, he does serve his country; he's in Washington while his family of three young children and his wife remain in Janesville. -- anonymous

This is almost too good to be true. How Paul Ryan can unselfishly volunteer his time in Congress and make this important sacrifice for his country is the stuff of heroes. Operating most weeks on a Tuesday-through-Thursday schedule, Congress is poised to finish this year with just 100 working days - two days a week for $165,000 a year salary.

If only the guy wearing the helmet and carrying a rifle in Iraq knew how easy he had it. To think that Ryan's family is stuck in Janesville for another term while he's out in Washington dealing with known unknowns for an average of two days a week, for shame! How does he do it?

Billionaires Don't Need Money

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On Land Swap – JG Sound Off excerpt:
Ken Hendricks was just named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Inc. magazine. When is the Rock County board going to wake up and realize his team is trying to help Rock County? Everything he seems to touch turns to gold.

Hey Kenny, is that you?

If you think he needs the money, you’re brain dead. -- anonymous

Yeah. About as brain dead as the Janesville manager and council was when they decided to skim $2.7 million from Janesville water bills to pay for the special utilities needed to pump water to his "elevated" private development. Why should Ken Hendricks spend his own money for this - when he’ll be getting ours.

Selling Out the Dollar Adjusting to NAFTA

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The director of Public Citizens Global Trade Watch, Lori Wallach, spoke at the Janesville Academy for International Studies about a week ago. Wallach believes NAFTA has led to disturbing economic trends which have resulted in huge trade deficits and job outsourcing just to name a few. Although this may sound like an opinion, she has recent history and hundreds of shuttered American factories to back her up. But perhaps her most telling bit of advice was this:

The U.S. trade deficit is so large and so threatening that Wallace recommends people put 30 percent of their retirement savings in assets measured in another currency – Euros.

Wow. That says a lot, and I completely agree with her perspective.

Beginning with the union busting policy of Ronald Reagan, the drive to isolate, starve and eventually destroy American labor has been in full swing. Although the Bill Clinton era was one of the most prosperous in U.S. history, he had to fight with a hostile Congress for most of the time. In recorded history, Clinton may turn out to have served as nothing more than an interim president between two failed presidencies because of one huge mistake. To my disappointment then, Bill Clinton endorsed the George H.W. Bush free trade agreement known as NAFTA. It was and still is a huge mistake with repercussions still to come.

Wallach’s comment about the future of the U.S. dollar reminded me of the time soon after the WTC buildings were destroyed back in 2001. I clearly recall seeing the image of a Arab man, waving his fist into the camera lenses on a crowded street somewhere in the middle-east and shouting the words,”sell your U.S. dollars.” Who would think just five short years later, we have economists and retirement planners alike encouraging people to divest themselves of U.S. dollars?! My question is then; Have the terrorists won? And what has the current president done to reverse this trend? To top this off, there are reports that countries such as China are preparing to cash in hundreds of millions of dollars in Treasury Notes and exchange them for Euros. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket really caught on big, I guess. One problem though is that our treasury, in real terms of liquidity – is bankrupt! Yet, we are bombarded daily with good news of economic growth and prosperity from the mainstream media and governmental propagandists. We are now heading into the final two years of an economy designed and built by George W. Bush. It has no brakes, the tank is empty and a nut is loose behind the wheel. With all it’s problems the best thing we could wish for is for it to stop moving, but that won't be easy when you’re going downhill.

Although the Wallach speaking engagement was news in itself and reported on by the Janesville Gazette, the newspaper planted seeds of doubt in the report with this little tidbit.

JG excerpt:
Despite her connections to advocacy groups, Wallach said she wasn’t just spouting opinions.

This short yet powerful sentence implied that despite her connections to advocacy groups, what she has to say may be useful or true, because the Gazette said so. Or possibly that her logic is skewed by her connections. Whatever the Gazette intended here, Wallach apparently had to defend her logic by claiming she was not just spouting opinions. On the other hand, the Gazette regularly quotes the opinions and perspectives from members of activist groups and organizations such as Common Cause, Taxpayers Alliance, or the Heritage Foundation without ever writing in opinion disclaimers or that their connections may improperly bias their views.

Point of my criticism here is that although the mainstream media report on news events, etc., they have taken it upon themselves to act as judge and jury by throwing in their opinion in news articles. After all, who is the news subject here, the person being covered or the paid writer just doing their job? Of course if they identify it as an opinion piece, that’s different. But the mainstream media does this gentle form of propaganda regularly to exercise control over both the reader’s intake and the direction and provenance of the subjects intentions.

I have yet to see in my lifetime where facts are taken and every person regardless of their education, environment or background have come to the same conclusion. I can go as far as to say that the sun is hot and bright and yet, 3 out of 4 people will argue this statement with me for hours. It eventually becomes apparent. Someone is right and someone is wrong.
For comprehensive reports and damage assessments of trade agreements see:
Public Citizen
Trade Watch
World not for sale

Generous Wal-Mart Cares for Badgers

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The biggest employer of BadgerCare recipients was Wal-Mart, which had 809 of its employees and 443 of employee dependents enrolled in the state program in April. Providing health care for those 1,252 people costs Wisconsin about $2.7 million a year; Wal-Mart turned a profit of $10.3 billion in 2004. Of course, Wal-Marts ability to pawn off its employee responsibilities are well documented and old news but consider this:

JG excerpt:
(Nov. 28, 2006) The YMCA of Northern Rock County was recently presented with a check for $5,000 from Wal-Mart. The grant from Wal-Mart will assist the YMCA in achieving its goals and advancing its mission.

Thanks to the generosity of Wal-Mart, the YMCA of Northern Rock County much like the Badgercare health program of Wisconsin will be able to offer financial assistance to keep the programs affordable to all the underprivileged, even Wal-mart employees. Well, isn’t that nice of Wal-Mart? They could give that amount to 500 YMCA’s every year in Wisconsin and still make out in health care costs.