I’ve written that a New Whitewater is inevitable, that we have passed The End of The Beginning, and are now in a Middle Time between one way of life and another. When these changes will be wholly manifest depends on where we are in time, now, so to speak: ’35, ’55, or ’65. If we…
Politics
Politics
Even Smaller Government Can Be Intoxicating for the Vain
by JOHN ADAMS •
City, Culture, New Whitewater, Politics
The Absence of Equilibrium
by JOHN ADAMS •
Later this week, I’ll check to see how I did on my predictions for 2014, and make some new ones for 2015. The week of January 6th, I’ll elaborate on themes from the predictions for 2015. Here’s an observation, however, that I think describes Whitewater’s politics and culture, generally: there is an absence of equilibrium,…
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…
City, Elections, Politics, School District
Thoughts on the 11.4.14 Election
by JOHN ADAMS •
Whitewater will not see an election so big as last night’s for another two years’ time. There’s much to consider about the results. A few remarks appear below, along with a table using preliminary, unofficial data from Walworth, Rock, and Jefferson Counties with results for the referendum and gubernatorial questions. COUNTY COMMUNITY REFERENDUM YES REFERENDUM…
City, Elections, Politics, Wisconsin
Signs on Election Night
by JOHN ADAMS •
There are both statewide and local signs for how election races are going. Statewide, Jake of Jake’s Economic TA Funhouse (blogs often have inventive names) is right that, short of an improbable collapse for the major-parties’ strongholds, the areas to watch are the counties that have supported both Walker (’10, ’12) and Obama (’08, ’12). …
Freedom of Speech, Libertarians, Liberty, New Media, Politics
Message Independence
by JOHN ADAMS •
Look at Whitewater, and one sees scores of groups with press releases, community announcements, or political viewpoints to publicize. Even much smaller communities have similar conditions: a dozen people are likely to have more than a dozen views. Each day, and especially in an election year, it helps to have the independence to offer views…
Politics
Clash is a good thing, not a bad thing, for policy debates
by JOHN ADAMS •
In debating, clash is neither a hostile encounter nor an English punk group. Anyone who was ever a high-school or college debater knows that debaters define clash between two sides as adversaries’ discussion of the same claims or topics, simply from opposing points of view. That means clash is a good thing: both sides are…
Politics, Press
The Last Newspaper Gubernatorial Endorsements You’ll Notice
by JOHN ADAMS •
We’ve eight days until this gubernatorial election, and it’s been quite the battle. However happy or sad you’ve been with ’14, here’s one thing you likely won’t notice in ’18: newspapers’ political endorsements. That’s because print newspapers either won’t be around by ’18, they won’t be making endorsements by ’18, or their few remaining readers…
Corporate Welfare, Development, Local Government, Planning, Politics
Will the last one to leave please turn out the lights?
by JOHN ADAMS •
JANESVILLE—The city of Janesville is losing its second economic development staff member in as many months. Ryan Garcia, the city’s economic development coordinator announced his resignation effective Nov. 15, according to a city release Wednesday… Via (subscription req’d) Janesville economic development coordinator resigning @ Janesville Gazette. Perhaps the economy-meddling, big-government conservatives at the Gazette will…
Humor, Libertarians, Politics
That’s Pretty Darn Funny, Actually
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve heard that some Republicans, including radio host Charlie Sykes, are upset that a few Democrats tweeted suggestions for good things Mary Burke might have said about Scott Walker in the first gubernatorial debate. Among those tweets was a suggestion from Lori Compas, formerly a state senate candidate, and currently a photographer and leader of…
Politics, Weird Tales
For Rock County, the (Grand Old) Party’s Over
by JOHN ADAMS •
What happens when a political party slips into a permanent minority within a community? For Rock County, it means that the party – no matter how strong statewide – runs bottom-tier candidates. The WISGOP dominates state government, but in nearby Rock County, a blue-tinted electorate means they’re stuck with few candidates who can win. Only…
Elections, Gubernatorial Race 2014, Politics, Poll
The Marquette Poll for 10.1.14
by JOHN ADAMS •
The latest Marquette Law School Poll is out today, with just over a month before the gubernatorial election. The last poll was 9.17.14. The 10.1.14 poll has Walker 50, Burke 45 with likely voters, and 46-45 to Walker’s favor among registered voters. The race is now just outside the poll’s statistical margin of error. I’ve…
Business, Marketing, Politics
Roger Goodell could swing a gig in Wisconsin
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at Esquire, Ben Collins writes (accurately) about Roger Goodell as “a visual representation of everything wrong with corporate America squeezed into one empty suit made of blood and money.” See, Roger Goodell, World Class Client of Crisis Communications Experts, Still Needs to Resign.” Collins can be confident because he saw Goodell’s 9.19.14 news conference. …