Politics

A State Of Incorporation - - Welcome to Wisconsin, Inc.

October 4, 2011 by The Political E...

If you examine the Walker/Fitzgeralds' agenda and accomplishments [sic] to date- - the Voter ID bill locking in Republican advantages, a parade of business tax breaks, the shift of agency rule-making to the Governor's office, the management of the DNR with a "chamber of commerce mentality," the easing of mining approvals and wetlands protections, the boosting of private school choice, the crippling of public employee unions and members' collective bargaining rights, the starving of local bus systems, outright killing of both a Madison-to-Milwaukee Amtrak extension and separate SE Wisconsin commuter train, and more - - there's only one way to interpret it:

The far right, with Walker as the front-man CEO, is re-shaping Wisconsin as a subsidiary of the private sector run by the Class "A," preferred shareholders - - the WMC, major conservative donors and Americans for Prosperity-type advocacy groups, and ALEC, which provides secretive, members-only ideological and technical guidance.

That group is rewarding itself with dividends guaranteed, across the board, by Walker, the Fitzgeralds and other compliant legislative/managers on behalf of the majority, controlling Class "A" shareholders.

Little in the Governor’s “Jobs Package” Deals with Jobs

October 4, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

When I heard the Governor had convened a “Special Session on Jobs” I was anxious to take look at the proposals.

Business owners tell me they need access to capital, lower health insurance costs and a skilled workforce. Just last week the Eau Claire Leader Telegram headline read Employers: Jobs are there, Skills are not.

 

Being from the country, I like to kick the tires and lift up the hood before I buy anything. Was anything that small business owners needed on the list?

This weekend, I got down to the tire kicking level. Amazingly, I found something besides ‘jobs’ on the agenda.

There are a few bills that help make it easier for businesses to get loans. One bill would make credit for farmers easier to obtain by expanding state loan guarantees; another bill increases the cap on loan guarantees for small businesses. There are several bills that create tax credits for investments.

Nothing on the list deals with rising health costs. Very little addresses the lack of skilled workers.

And who would have guessed a bill to protect drug companies and medical device companies from lawsuits if their product had FDA approval would bring jobs to Wisconsin?

More Proof That US Selling Out To Tar Sand Oil Interests

October 4, 2011 by The Political E...

Another document dump - - the second in the last few weeks - - shows cozy relationship among the players, including American regulators now reviewing whether a major new pipeline from Canada to Texas should be approved.

With most of the oil ticketed for export via Houston, and not for domestic usage.

Not a good development for the White House and the public interest.

Tommy Thompson And The Politics Of Exhaustion

October 4, 2011 by The Political E...

I went out of my way Tuesday afternoon to listen to John Mercure on WTMJ-AM radio interview apparent US Senate candidate Tommy Thompson, and frankly, Tommy brought nothing to the conversation.

Short answers.

No pep.

No snappy three-point program, no fresh pitch to listeners and voters who may have little information about a who last held office in Wisconsin 11 years ago.

And even his offering up a contemporary conservative talking point to prove he could speak in modern Tea Party lingo about taking the country back and denying Barack Obama a second term had theh inspirational content of used Cliff Notes and the energy of a batting practice toss.

There wasn't anything worthy of writing down and quoting.

His campaign hasn't even started formally, the election is a year away and already Tommy sounds weary.