Neil Heinen is the editorial director of WISC-TV in Madison. I have little idea of his politics; we’ve never met. I do know, however, that his station’s position on how universities should address allegations of sexual assault is better – ethically and practically – than the approach that UW-Whitewater has adopted. Heinen is entirely right:…
Local Government
City, Elections, Local Government, School District
The April 7th Election Results
by JOHN ADAMS •
A quick summary of results across the state and near Whitewater suggests that while voters may be concerned, or even worried, they’re not angry. If voters were angry, more incumbents would have been defeated. That didn’t happen. The same state that re-elected Gov. Walker last year re-elected Justice Bradley last night. Those two have little…
Elections, Local Government, School District
Tomorrow’s Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
In the city and the state, there are important races on the ballot tomorrow. These are challenging times for Wisconsin and for Whitewater, and the choices we make will influence how smooth or difficult is the work ahead. For our school board, particularly, we’ll need a combination of energy, diligence, thoughtful analysis, contemporary-thinking, and a…
Local Government, Marketing, Politics, Science/Nature
The Cold Fusion Problem
by JOHN ADAMS •
In the late 1980s, scientists Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons told the world that they had a device that demonstrated the energy-producing consequences of a nuclear reaction, but at room temperatures. Since humanity had produced energy from nuclear reactions only at very high temperatures, this sort of fusion would have been cold (and more easily-produced)…
Assault Awareness & Prevention, City, Culture, Education, Elections, Law, Local Government, Politics, School District, University, Waste Digesters
Policy Topics for the Spring
by JOHN ADAMS •
In October 2014, I wrote about Four Public Topics for the Fall. They seemed to be the city’s prominent public policy questions, looking ahead from 10.20.14. Those topics were (1) the 2015 City of Whitewater budget, (2) Whitewater Schools referendum, (3) UW-Whitewater’s social relations, and the (4) City of Whitewater’s waste digester proposal. Now, as…
City, Local Government, State Government
The Tiny Benefit of Proposed Cuts to UW-Whitewater and the Whitewater Schools
by JOHN ADAMS •
For years, local conservative insiders (often big public spenders, always big talkers) have walked around this town like they owned all the city. Along the way, they’ve told anyone who would listen that they’re men of influence, movers and shakers, and people of particular importance. Gov. Walker has now proposed his latest biennial budget, and both…
City, Local Government, School District, University
The Power of Evaluating Simply
by JOHN ADAMS •
A woman walks into a retailer, to buy a new computer. She’s an architect, and her needs are like any capable member of that uncommon profession. Her computer should be able to manage large files and demanding software, with a few accessories she already has in mind. Those needs are specific to an architect’s work,…
Corporate Welfare, Education, Gov. Walker, Government Spending, Innovation Center/Tech Park, Labor, Liberty, Local Government, School District, University, WEDC, Wisconsin
Education: Substance & Spending
by JOHN ADAMS •
Following comments to yesterday’s post on proposed cuts to the UW System schools (Caution arrives late, doesn’t recognize its surroundings), here are nine quick comments about education. 1. Act 10 as a budgetary tool. This centrally-planned idea didn’t work. Reductions in public-union bargaining powers in exchange for the ‘tools’ to balance school and other public…
City, Culture, Local Government, New Whitewater, Politics, School District, University
Whitewater’s Near Future Depends on What Year It Is Now
by JOHN ADAMS •
Business, City, Cycling, Gov. Walker, Government Spending, Health, Hip & Prosperous, Local Government, Planning
The Common Council Session for 1.20.15: Complete Streets
by JOHN ADAMS •
I posted briefly yesterday on Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, and in that post mentioned that I would look a bit more at some of the remarks for, or against, the Complete Streets ordinance that passed Tuesday night. (I supported the ordinance.) Council discussed this issue previously, on December 16th. See, Common Council 12/16/2014. I’ve included…
City, Hip & Prosperous, Lifestyle, Local Government, Planning
The Common Council Session for 1.20.15
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve two quick remarks about last night’s Council session. On an appointment to the Third District seat until April, I’d say Brienne Diebolt-Brown was a solid choice. Three residents were willing to be appointed, two of whom (Ken Kienbaum, Christopher Grady) are running in the spring general election. Ms. Diebolt-Brown doesn’t plan to run in…
Federal Government, Local Government, State Government
The Public-Sector Public-Relations Problem
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s almost no part of government, down to the smallest unit, that doesn’t approach the public as though a salesperson, as a matter of persuasion through public or media relations. Consider how odd, how ironic, this situation is: government, whose authority derives in a free society only from the public, uses public resources to present…
Local Government, School District
Mediocrity’s Overweening Sense of Entitlement
by JOHN ADAMS •
Officials, candidates, and political parties are – and should be – free to choose and act accordingly. What they shouldn’t be – and in Whitewater will not be – is free to act merely on their own terms, without question or comment. Want to run for office? Good luck. Want to hold office? Best wishes.…
Federal Government, Local Government, Politics
Public Choice Theory Inoculates People from Poor Policy
by JOHN ADAMS •
In places big and small, one of the many questions for residents is this: is holding government office, whether elected or appointed, a more virtuous way of life than private activity? If it should prove more virtuous, then one can reasonably contend that long-tenured government officials are, themselves, more virtuous than private citizens. One could…