The State of Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Broadband heading down the wrong path?
What would the highway system look like if we had required Swift, JB Hunt, Werner Enterprises, and Schneider National to all build their own proprietary road systems to accommodate their trucks? What would the highway system look like if we had planned highways without a map? And yet, this is almost exactly how we are approaching the build out of broadband across this country.
Each broadband provider in this country is building their own proprietary broadband networks (wired and wireless), and touting their services based on the “superiority” of their networks. Nobody has a map showing where these duplicative networks lie. Few of the providers are willing to share those maps so that the government can serve those left behind by the private sector.
If the privatized model of broadband was catapulting the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world, one could make an argument for the model we have. However, we are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to broadband connectivity.
What would broadband in the U.S. look like if the government owned and operated the entire fiber backbone network or operated it jointly through a public/private partnership, and allowed the private sector to compete over that network based on the superiority of their products and services? Talk amongst yourselves.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Myth Busters Continued....
Is it too much to ask of our legislators to actually focus on solving the budget crisis with real data and facts? See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/atlas.htm#map
Retirement Flood Gate to Open Soon
I just learned that there is a two month wait to see a benefits specialist about retirement. Do people have any idea on how much talent is going to be lost when people run for the retirement door? Why would anyone who is eligible to retire stick around if their compensation is going to drop 8%. And where do you suppose that retirement income is going to be spent? As the map below illustrates, over the past ten years, Dane County and the surrounding area hasn't been very popular. So not only will the business community feel the loss of 8% in discretionary income from public workers, they will also feel the complete loss of retiree's who flee the state.
See: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ruralatlas/atlas.htm#map
Don't Confuse Me With the Facts
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Divide and Conquer
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/vital_signs/article_979fd798-385c-11e0-b233-001cc4c03286.html
All this while the majority of businesses pay no taxes? Yes, I understand that the owners of these companies pay personal income taxes, but this just isn't right. Especially in light of the fact that this governor also has no interest in raising the taxes on the wealthiest segment of the population. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton figured this out:
http://tinyurl.com/69q9pn2
People only seem to care when actions impact them. It's time to spread this pain across the board. This problem is too big to be placed on the backs of public servants and those that need medicaid programs.
There's one voice of reason in the legislature. Senator Dale Schultz want's a sunset clause placed on collective bargaining. See: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/editorial/article_2071f6c4-3c99-11e0-bc47-001cc4c03286.html
I'm not a union employee so this does nothing for me. I do wonder if there would be any reason to trust this administration in two years? However, the governor has said he is unwilling to bargain, because he has no money to bargain with. What happens when this budget crisis is solved? Is this about busting unions or solving the deficit?
This isn't about me. It isn't about the unions. It's about addressing a significant deficit fairly. That will take time. That will take leadership. Who's going to provide the leadership? Where are the moderate republicans when we need them? Are there any left? I thought this was about being "bold"?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Let me vent one more time regarding the WSJ
I was horrified to find my letter finally published in the paper the next day. It included my name and city. However, it also included my title and employer. What? Of all the editorials, including another one from one of my neighbors, I was the only one to have this information included. I went back and read the policy that was written on-line and in the paper. I fired off an e-mail that morning asking WTF? I got a call back from the paper apologizing for their actions. The explanation I got was this: "On occasion, we include information about employment when we believe it adds credibility to the editorial". My response? If that is your practice, than you need to change the wording of your policy. Furthermore, how insulting is that? Shouldn't everyone's opinions be valued in the same way in the letter to the editor section of the paper? The last time I checked, the wording of the policy on the on-line version of the WSJ has not changed.
Needless to say, my administrators were none to happy because they know that we are living in a time when people are vindictive. Yea, I know. Who needs tenure? I didn't mind that people knew who I was. I was sharing my opinion as a resident of the state, not as an employee of the University. For me, it was just another indication of what has happened to the quality of reporting. I'm going to get my reporting from other sources for a while.
What does the Wisconsin State Journal Really Think?
As a public employee, my total compensation will be going down about 8.5% as early as May 1. Since the WSJ endorsed Scott Walker and his policies, I would kindly ask you to reduce the rate of my subscription by 8.5% effective May 1, 2011. If you are unable to provide that discount, please cancel my subscription effective May 1, 2011. Thank you for your consideration, xxxxxx,xxxxxx
On 2-17 I received the following response from Wisconsin State Journal editor John Smiley:
Very sorry to learn of your decision to cancel the paper. I find it puzzling that someone who cares so passionately about this issue -- as you obviously do -- would choose to remove himself from the primary source of coverage and information about the topic. Nobody can come close to covering this issue the way we can, and we truly see the work as part of our public service.I'm not in charge of discounts for the paper but I can certainly ask for one on your behalf. I'll check with the circulation director on your request. I'm wondering, though, if you're going to ask for a refund from the Middleton school district, since your teachers there walked out on the job today. Shouldn't you, as a taxpayer, get a refund for that? Or maybe from Senate Democrats, who fled their jobs and went to Illinois today to avoid voting on the bill? Using your logic, shouldn't you get some sort of a tax refund from them, too?
I'm sorry to know that you don't see enough value in the newspaper to continue your subscription. But if it's a discount that you need to keep reading, I'll work on that for you.
Best wishes,
John Smalley
Editor
Wisconsin State Journal
"By my logic"? Are you kidding me? By my logic, Scooter Walker owes me a refund for the $800 million he sent back to Washington for the train. Or the $23 million in ARRA BTOP funds for broadband that was returned this week. By my logic, the teachers and fleeing democrats are attempting to delay the process and apply some critical thinking. The teachers don't owe me anything. They have to teach 180 days and it doesn't matter to me if that is today or at some other time. The Dems are doing the only thing they can do that does what the State Journal has asked for.....slow the process down. The point is they, and other businesses supported this man who chooses to use authority rather then show leadership. It's further damaging my buying power that forces me to make decisions about what I want and what I can afford. I can no longer afford paying for a service that simply adds to my aggravation. I think it is the WSJ that owes me a refund, because I am cancelling my subscription effective Monday. Consider writing your "Dear John" letter today.