Madison: Ten Square Miles Surrounded By Reality.

Have you ever wondered: Why is Madison so liberally blinded? How can it continue to shrug off the recession in both the housing industry and keeping unemployment relatively low? The answer is very simple; they have been doing it on the backs of the working class of the rest of the state. I will argue this by addressing majority of employers in the city and how they are affected by the recession.
First: Employers. Who are the major players in Madison?? First place goes to… The Government!! It comes in a 79,700 jobs in Madison, (note: does not include teachers, although they are also government workers)!!! Easily more than 2nd and 3rd place. Second place goes to: healthcare and education at 38,000. And finally Third: Insurance companies at 32,000. Here is a list of the top individual employers in the greater Madison area:

Largest employers Number of employees
University of Wisconsin—Madison 25,614
State of Wisconsin 22,186
U.S. Government 3,900
American Family Insurance 3,570
Madison Metropolitan School District 3,462
WPS Insurance 2,789
UW Health Hospitals/Clinics 2,729
CUNA Mutual Group 2,600

Second: How are these jobs affected by the recession? As until the now, not much. The government workers have been spared until now, because we are at a disastrous breaking point. There has not been massive layoffs, pay decreases, or benefits decreases. Healthcare workers and educators, both are a necessity, both are out of control, a whole other discussion for another day. And Insurance companies, huh, funny how the economy tanked and a law was “just so happened to be passed” to have auto insurance mandatory in this state, you can thank the last group of legislators for that, (I wonder how much money they made on that)

The TOP 3 employers in Madison are largely UNEFFECTED by recession, while the rest of the state sufferes. SO if the top employers are not affected, then the other services are going to benefit from that because they will be able to continue to spend. MEANWHILE the rest of the state picks up the tab to 1. pay taxes to run the government, 2. Still have to go to the doctor and school. And 3. NOW we are forced to pay for auto insurance in orfer to keep that industry strong. Sorry Madisonites, your views and beliefs DO NOT reflect the rest of the state’s majority, because we have been carrying you for so long you have forgot we exist. BUT here is your wake up call, Say Hello to a conservative Govenor and a conservative Senate, they are here to tell you how the rest of us feel. Dont ever under estimate the power of your vote.