It's Got To Start Some Where

National headlines today show that we as a nation are at our highest percent in debt since World War II. So how bad is Wisconsin off? Being ranked the 6th most in debt state in the US, I would say we are in big trouble. Lets break it down by the numbers. We have a bill for over $50 million owed to Minnesota for our tax reciprocity agreement that we need to still pay, we have over $3 BILLION in budget shortfall. If McDonalds was in the red by $3 billion, can you honestly say that they would be paying their employees? No way, they would file bankruptcy and go under. How did the state employees not see this coming? How did they not know that we cannot continue to pay them with money we simply do not have? How do all the services that the government of Wisconsin supply’s to their citizens continue to do so when there is not enough money to pay for it? I would like to challenge anyone to bring me any successful business model for a non-for-profit organization that is still around that operates $3 billion in the red. I can help you out and give you the answer, there are NONE. Times are financially tough, and we have enjoyed a lot of services that cost us little to nothing out of pocket. BUT what it has done is put all of us in such a bad place financially it is going to take drastic measures to avoid a local, state, and national financial meltdown.

I have said this before; the solution starts right here in our community. We can no longer expect our state to give us more money because we are further in debt, that’s the same thinking as: "I know I’ll get pregnant again to get more aid”. That is irresponsible, immature, selfish, and lazy. Funding for programs like 4K work just like that. The “profit” the supporters talk of for programs like that comes from the state giving us more money than we need to support it. That money does not exists, it hasn't for a long time, the state just borrowed from other states to cover the costs. Time for a decade of responsibility, if we want all these great programs the state currently provides, we need to pay cash for them, not IOU’s. There are obvious lines drawn in the sand and you know which side I’m on, who else will join us?

It's the Bullet Train ... to Nowhere

Why does Obama keep ramming high speed rail down our throats? This is NOT Europe.

Read this from foxnews.com

Walker won't back down from plan to remove collective bargaining rights, unions fight back

I don't think he should. Maybe he could have went about it differently. Opened negotiations publicly let the public see if the unions and I quote Marry Bell "(we) understand the situation" . When they fell apart as I believe they would have then public perception would have swayed his way. Either way this is a must to start getting us out of the hole our state government has put is in.

Here's an interesting part of the article on the average cost to each state employee:

To help offset the average 8 percent increase in costs for state employees under his plan, Walker has promised no furloughs or layoffs. He also wants to make it illegal for public employees to be forced to pay union dues, something he said would save some workers hundreds of dollars a year.

So what's the real problem here? An 8% decrease in PRE-TAX income or union brainwashing?  

Here it is from gazettextra.com

Mayor Considering Emergency Alder Meeting To Pass Contracts

It's an election year..... Coincidence????? I don't think so.


Here's the story from channel3000.com

Are Our Teachers Doing What Best For Our Kids???

Students at Stoughton High School are planning a “walk out” today. I called the school because my daughter attends there and asked what the school plans on doing about it. The clerk said, “nothing”. I asked if they would be marked absent or tardy, again she answered “No”. After calling the Principle, Vice Principle, and the Superintendent, the answer changed to, “they will marked absent as any other day”. Thank god commonsense prevailed. HOWEVER the immediate response from the clerk is a very good indicator on just how far some people may go for their own personal agenda. Teachers have an incredible amount of influence over our children and should NEVER use it for their own self interest. I can only hope our Evansville teachers do not allow themselves to go down this path. If they do and are caught, I will campaign to have them excused without pay. It is completely UNACCEPTABLE. It is an egregious abuse of power and is not in line with the moral values I want my daughter or any of my younger children to be subject to.

I know these are difficult times for all teachers and state workers, but we must not allow our emotions to influence our decision when it comes to our children. A walk out without consciences is not in the student’s best interest, it is in the teacher best interest; please do not allow these two things to be mixed. If they want to walk out, let them, but the penalty should be the same as any other day, unexcused.

I do want to emphasize that I did speak with the principle of Stoughton High School and he did ensure me that the school will not be promoting this event, and his plan was sound on how the school was going to handle it. However I am still very concerned with the first response I received and ask that we monitor this very closely. Any teacher that is using his or her influence over the student body for their own political interests should have some sort of punitive action.

Evansville Teachers see the benefits of 4K programs

So the real reason they want to do this is to make it easier on the teachers??? What don't they understand about broke? The taxpayers of Evansville cannot afford this.


Read it here.

Evansville School District piloting late-start days

While I understand the premise behind this I think it is a bad idea for multiple reasons.

1. It could be a financial burden for some unless they continue to provide the early morning activities.

2. Kids need more time in school not less. I would like to see an extended school year instead they are taking away time.

3. We already pay for 4.5 staff development days. Use that time.



Here's the story from Gina.