May 31, 2003
We elected them?
Watching the Republican "leaders" fumble this budget makes me wonder why we test teachers, firefighters, cops, and schoolchildren when we do not test legislative candidates. Like police officers and firefighters, they are dealing with life and death issues. But am I the only one who is reminded of "Lord of the Flies"? If you haven't read Golding's book recently, check it out of the library--if the libraries remain open after this crowd is finished.
The reason for the I.Q. test idea for legislators came to me while reading the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Saturday morning. It is quite apparent these right-wingers do not understand the basic role of government in our society. They see it only as a platform for gimmicks and nonsense. Dean Kaufert, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, said, "We're going to make cuts so that state government doesn't grow." Then he announced that he and his right-wing pals would cut state government by another $100 million and then freeze state expenditures for three years. What is he talking about? No more roads for three years? People should stop having children until 2006? The Department of Commerce should keep new companies out if they might be a burden on taxpayers? Hold off on going to technical college or the University of Wisconsin for three years? This is nuts.
Not to be outdone, Alberta Darling also spoke the other day. She does not want to "de-equalize" taxes, whatever that means. Then she is quoted saying, "We have to lead by example. If we continue to have fiscal disarray and sloppy fiscal irresponsibility, we can't get there." According to Alberta, we are in the midst of "sloppy fiscal irresponsibility." Words to live by.
And we thought the Reimer/Doyle budget was awful. Wait until these Republicans, who seem hell-bent on the destruction of state government, get their budget out there for inspection.
Time for a part-time Legislature and a qualification test before running.
post a letter about this blog »
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003