After viewing some of the comments made at the Gazette blog on the article titled Managing a major meltdown, it becomes clear at least a few posters have a good handle on the public private partnership smokescreen foisted upon Janesville taxpayers regarding the ice arena. The debate evolved into a deeper discussion about the pros and cons of local privatization, and helped confirm how many voters and concerned taxpayers have their loyalties all screwed up when it comes to defining their own econo-political philosophy.
Of course, I’m totally against the privatization of government, government facilities, properties and programs, particularly those that help level the socio-economic playing field. But let’s be clear first about local government’s obligations to its citizens in the first place. I believe both local and Federal government must do all it can for the health and safety of its citizens. That means snow plowing, disease prevention, an equitable good health care system for all, garbage pick up (more health), education, police and fire safety should be top priority. I can’t imagine someone calling the fire department and being asked for their credit card or how they intend to pay for the service while their house is burning.
The next tier of responsibility should be to defend private property rights and the weak. That includes economically disadvantaged children and seniors. That means Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. It’s not the time to play the blame game when a child or senior is left living in poverty or squalor. America is better than that – or are we?
But a sports facility or an ice rink primarily used for entertainment purposes? Isn’t that a business? Shouldn’t businesses be private? Isn’t that the whole foundation of American capitalism? Plenty of folks in Janesville think otherwise.
Perhaps the best part here is, the group and most of the folks looking to confiscate capital from the collectivist system of government (taxation) for private venture enterprise are Republicans!! Yep. The WHP is a group of local GOP operatives and businessmen. And let’s face it, hockey is generally socially perceived as a Republican identification marker much like NASCAR, if such a stereo-category exists. And in case you haven’t heard lately, folks who have been practicing that form of wealth redistribution and government intervention into private enterprise have been called……… socialists!!
To be fair to socialism, let’s also acknowledge what Republicans call socialism when they practice it – they call it a "public private partnership." Isn’t that convenient?
Lately, I think of this confused and angry Wisconsin voter often when I think about Republicans taking over our country. We've got to have our heads examined.
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