Curmudgeon's Corner

Madison Mayhem

Posted by Al Campbell on April 13, 2010

Political, Quality of Life, Taxes, Wisconsin

Madison mayhem seems to rein every time we foolishly give one party full control of the Assembly, the Senate and the Governor’s mansion.

The Democrats have had that power for some time now.  They see writing on walls and realize this is likely the last time for a few years during which they’ll be able to sock it to us taxpayers in even greater degree than has become usual.

Politicians refer to this as the “silly season” but it is anything but silly.  It is during this time that all kind of garbage is foisted upon us taxpayers.  We have voter laws being changed so one party can gain even more invalid votes.  We have special deals being worked behind closed doors that will turn over control of the Milwaukee Public Schools system to the special interests that support the Dems.

Every crackpot idea that has not been passed yet is now being queued up during these final two weeks.  There is one more three day session after the two final weeks end and no one is being told what is being planned for that special three day session.  So, we have another surprise or set of surprises in store even after we thought the sessions would end.

It is unfortunate but neither of the two major parties appears to be immune from this disease.

The bottom line is this:

We citizens, us taxpayers, always suffer as the result of these stacked deals.  We lose control of things to an even greater degree, and it always costs us money we don’t have.  It seems, too, that no one in political power gives any thought to us; it is always about them and their power grabs.  It is always about ‘getting even’.

You may sense my disgust at this perversion of our democracy.  How do we possibly regain the control we ceded to our political class oh so long ago?  We vote them out of office…that is how we regain control.  We let them know in no uncertain terms whom they work for and we do that by occasionally firing them.  We do that by showing that we’re interested in what they’re doing.  We do that by being more involved.  For the vast majority of our citizens, even one contact with an elected official per year would be a huge increase.

This has happened over several generations and won’t be changed overnight…if ever.  Take a look at the sorry states of New Jersey and California.  That is where our beloved Wisconsin is headed given the out-of-control spending and the crass politics that we’ve permitted to bloom behind the closed doors.

We are, in the final analysis, getting exactly the government we asked for by voting as we did…and voting as we do.  If we don’t get our heads screwed on straight, we’ll not see any change except for the worse.

I had a meeting with a gentleman yesterday who asked a simple question.  “Are there any politicians who are honest any more?”  And he was serious.  And that is a pathetic statement.

Those of you politicians who are honest had better get crackin’ so that we see that you are willing to buck the ‘good ole boy & girl system’.  It may be unfair to paint with such a broad brush, but it would be nice to see someone do something more than pose for ‘holy pictures’.  I know there are some of you out there in the wilderness.

Please be part of the solution and not part of the problem!