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.

Abele Crticizes Stone over Budget Repair Bill Vote

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/116946583.html?page=1&rememberMe=y

I have to say I find it hard not to laugh about this one.

The guy who has never held a real job in his life, stands on the side of workers.
Well lets give him the benefit of the doubt maybe he went and talked to his gardener who told him Walkers plan would be bad.

Why Elect Them?

Why do we elect the people we do? Is it because they are the only ones running?

Did you watch the democrats filibuster this week? Screw the legislation I mean seriously we have elected some real morons to run this state. People were sleeping, picking their noses, pushing amendments onto our states capitol floor like, "I would like to see an amendment allowing cows to fornicate in the rotunda with the decapitated heads of Barbie dolls" I'm not even going to make this a partisan issue we have idiots running rampant through our states determining how we live our lives.

We have gone from Nathan Hale "I regret that I have but one life to give for my country to" To Jeff Wood, "can we get some weed and hookers before this next vote" (remember he's the guy the Dem''s got out of jail to vote on a Doyle bill) Hard to imagine why the people of this state have little faith in the electorate.

Its not just Wisconsin either, Marion Barry was caught smoking crack ON CAMERA and in DC the re-elected him mayor. Jebus Keerist, Imagine the campaign slogans, "I will not rest in my efforts to serve the people!!, Seriously I mean it, you cant sleep behind this damn crack, I haven't slept in 3 weeks."

Its gotten so bad in Tennessee the elected a dead guy Mayor, Carl Robin Geary was DEAD when they elected him and I dont mean like he died the day before the election dude was dead for weeks and they still elected him. How f&^%$d up is your campaign if you lose to the dead guy? We now have corpses actually getting into office"Can someone place Carls hand on the bible, its time for the swearing in ceremony"

Now I know what your thinking, Strom Thurmon was dead for 6 years before he was finally replaced, but he was an incumbent so thats different.

I have pretty much decided to just write in anybody and it wont be any different, dont be surprised after the next election and find a write in for "Drooling Homeless Guy Who Smells Like Piss" in the results.

Janesville schools official wants to set example if bill passes

School officials all across the state need to follow her lead.

from gazettextra.com

Charles Woodson to Move to Safety?

Time for some Packers News.

From Will Brinson at cbssports.com

Charles Woodson's a pretty darn good cornerback, in case you didn't know. But he's apparently a better teammate, because he recently said that he'd be willing to switch to safety if the Packers could land Nnamdi Asomugha (and it was the best thing for the team). Woodson's already got his title and his Heisman and his NFL DPOY, but apparently none of that matters if he can keep doing what he needs to do in order to help his team win. Pretty awesome, really.

Protesters Set Up Family Space Inside Capitol

While I by no stretch agree with their politics I do appreciate the ability for all Americans to protest. However,  they are turning our Capitol into a shithole. Pitch a tent outside. Just look around during this minute video a family area, food station and a medical station. The Capitols hours are 8:00 to 6:00 weekdays and until 4:00 weekends. It is past time to enforce this. Time to shut it down.



From channel3000.com

Chasin: Prank call proves billionaire David Koch owns Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the GOP

Please show me where in this conversation David Koch OWNS Scott Walker.


Here's the link.

Did Scott Walker Get Crank-Called? (AUDIO) UPDATE: YES

Have you seen this? Nothing to it really everything said in the conversation has been said publicly.

Check it out here from motherjones.com

Labor group calls for general strike if budget bill is approved

Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable.

While a strong supporter of unions in general, FDR apparently wouldn't have stood for this "sick-out" in Wisconsin.. In fact he wouldn't have supported granting public unions collective bargaining abilities in the first place.

from madison.com

In Wisconsin, A Sense of Entitlement Imperils Nation

Great post from Michael Goodwin.

School Officials Asked To Approve Layoff Notices

This is what the Unions want? Lay offs instead of everyone sharing in the pain? Way to go.

From channel3000.com

Know Your Facts

Check out PolitiFact Wisconsin and separate the truth from the rhetoric.

Click here: http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/

Democrats on the Run.....

Another tough issue and the Democrats run again. This time in Indiana.

Here's it is from cbsnews.com

If Wisconsin's governor cuts perquisites as much as he plans to do, "it would still leave (workers) better off than their private sector" counterparts.

From politifact.com

Time to Clean Out the Capitol?

No, I am not talking about our Governor or our Legislators. I am talking about the 1000 or so squatters that have been making a home there since the protests started. Reports have indicated posters taped to the walls, writing on the bathroom walls let alone the sink baths and other messes left by the squatters. The Capitol is open to the public from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm weekdays and 8:00 am to 4:00 pm weekends. This is plenty of time for the protesters to make their point. It is time to send these people home and clean up the mess they have left behind.

Here's a link from the isthmus with a great picture of a dirty hippie.

I Need A Little Help

Would anyone like to explain to why are teachers forced into membership and paying union dues? Why are they not given a choice whether or not they would like to be a member? Where are the rights of those teachers that do not want to pay the dues? And lastly, if money had nothing to do with the protesting, where is the AFL-CIO labor federation getting the $30 million they earmarked to help with the anti-budget repair bill here in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's 'Phony' Budget Crisis

You cannot argue the facts. If you listen to the unions or Rachel Maddow you may believe there is a budget surplus. There is not! Now is the time for putting an end to spending money we do not have. EVERYONE needs to pitch in. If you have been listening Gov. Walker will take away the CBA so our cities and schools have the tools needed when shared drops about 10%. We here in Evansville have been lucky to have a fiscally conservative city council. NO tax increases in the last 3 years. the same cannot be said for the school district. Hopefully now with these tools in hand they to will be able to tow the line on home owners.

Here's the link from fox business

The Stoner Vs. Stone

The Milwaukee County Exec. race is down to the final two candidates. Jeff Stone and Chris Abele.

Jeff Stone is a Republican and Chris Abele is a Democrat.

Truth be told I'm not a fan of either one of these guys, Abele is the son of a Billionaire and head of his families philanthropic organization. Seriously this guy has never held a a real job in his life and now he wants to be County Exec.
Stone is a career politician  who does not have a leadership bone in his body. From what I have seen so far he follows whatever hes been told to do by the party. That could just be my early take since he was pretty mch laying low the whole campaign.
Abele spent something like 700 thousand dollars just to get through the primary. Stone spent I think it was a buck fifty he found in the cup holder of his car and still ran away with the primary.
Stone is in the mold of former Exec. ad current Gov. Scott Walker, fiscally conservative dead sent against taxes. If he shows some backbone in this Liberal city we may actually progress.
I dont know what the hell Abele thinks hes doing, if not for cash this guy wouldnt have had a chance in the race. Then again he was running against Holloway who biggest accomplishment lately was managing to get multiple court dates for his slum housing and having one of his security guards attack one of his tenants. Ieshuh Griffin a paralegal was running with no money, no platform, no ideas and no votes to go along with her candidacy I think she managed a total of 400 votes in the primary. Former Sen. Jim Sullivan ran but he was on fewer peoples radar than Kirstie Alleys career.
So I guess no big surprise Abele advanced especially since with all of the money he was spending he was on TV more often than the Egyptian protests.

If I had to pick one Stone is the easy choice, hes got proven Conservative credentials and not a new idea in his head at least not that I have heard so far. The other side of the coin though is Abele who hasnt done anything his whole life except give away his parents money. I did hear he might know where to score the primo weed so that might sway a few votes.
Be happy though we could have had a slum lord who thought his interm appointment to the County Exec. spot was akin to being named Supreme Ruler of the Universe, complete with a 34 person transition committe for a job he didnt even have and multiple press conferences for a temp job he held for 30 days or Ieshuh Griffin who famously tried to have the synopsis on her ballot read "Not The White-man's Bitch"

Id like to see a viable Indy or Libertarian run here....no really I mean it

Civics Lessons for the kids.

I fully encourage teachers to discuss with students when they return to class all of the issues that surrounded the past weeks protests in Madison.

I would like them to discuss why they think they need a union and who are they being protected from.

I would like them to discuss what would be lost if they did not have the CBA.

I would like them to explain how the state spends on average 12 thousand dollars per student per year  and explain where all of that money is going.

I would like them to explain why the largest public school area in the entire state (Milwaukee) has a 50 % drop out rate and some of the worst standardized testing scores in the entire country.

I would like them to explain why they said teacher evaluations were unnecessary (ironic for people who hand our report cards) and why removal of bad teachers from teaching positions was secondary to senority.

I would like them to explain why they sued to keep Viagra as part of their health plan.

I would like them to explain why they feel they should have better pay and benefits than their private sector counter parts.

I would like them to explain what their advise would be if a student came in and said " I found a doctor doing medical evaluations on the street and handing out diagnosis, do you think I should keep seeing them?

I would like them to explain to these kids why they think the childrens parents should be paying for salary and benefits that the parents cannot even get.