When people go looking for a job, they’re often asked to provide a resume. For more demanding and higher-paying jobs, it’s a standard practice across America. (America: a vast continental republic of over three-hundred million people.) Wisconsin’s part of America (at last check), but there’s different standard for one highly-placed member of the Doyle administration.…
Politics
Politics, Press
The Real Surprise in the U.S. News and World Report Poll on Sarah Palin
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a U.S. News and World Report poll about Sarah Palin, asking what readers think of her. It’s not surprising that newspapers and websites have polls about Palin, as she’s well-known, and typically evokes an opinion from readers. My point here isn’t about Palin, but about the website that offers the poll. What’s surprising is…
Government Spending, Laws/Regulations, Politics
Wisconsin’s Criminals Find Work as Lobbyists
by JOHN ADAMS •
Politics
Nick Gillespie on Congressional Conflicts of Interest
by JOHN ADAMS •
On CNBC, libertarian Nick Gillepie argues against financial conflict of interest reporting requirements. He contends that the resulting information is confusing to voters, and that those politicians without interests in the fields they regulate are often ignorant of the underlying subject matter. I’m not persuaded that we should abandon reporting requirements. I am persuaded of…
Law, Laws/Regulations, Liberty, Politics
Institute for Justice: Protecting Grassroots Activism
by JOHN ADAMS •
Freedom of speech and assembly are rights the United States Constitution, and the Wisconsin Constitution, readily recognize. Activism — persuading someone to a cause — should be free in a free society. Better put, we could not be a free society if conditions were otherwise. And yet, that simple truth runs against the schemes of…
Government Spending, Politics
Reason.tv: Is Hillary Clinton Right That The Rich Don’t Pay “Their Fair Share” in Taxes?
by JOHN ADAMS •
Secretary of State Clinton recently said that productive Americans, among others in the developed world, don’t pay their fair share of taxes. (Clinton offered that observation at the Brookings Institution earlier this week. Clinton was quick to say that she was not speaking for the administration of which she is, after all, a Senate-confirmed cabinet…
City, Free Markets, Planning, Politics
Whitewater Local Government’s Favoritism of Some Local Businesses Over Others
by JOHN ADAMS •
In towns across America, private businesses and groups compete for support. This is to be expected and defended in a free society. That competition for support need not — and should not — receive a preferential boost from local government. It’s only in a community where bureaucrats are confused about the limits of government that…
Politics
WI Gov Poll: Dead Heat In Badger State
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here are data from Rasmussen on the Wisconsin governor’s race, via Real Clear Politics: Rasmussen’s latest survey in Wisconsin (500 LVs, 4/20, MoE +/- 4.5%) shows a tight battle in the open-seat race. General Election Matchups Neumann (R) 46 (unch vs. last poll, 3/16) Barrett (D) 46 (+4) Und 5 (-3) Walker (R) 46 (-2)…
Politics
Rushed Meetings in the Wisconsin Assembly
by JOHN ADAMS •
I seldom write about Wisconsin’s Assembly, the exception being a recent series of posts on Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville, who managed to embarrass his caucus, and the state, more ways that one. Over the weekend, though, the Associated Press wrote an analysis of Assembly deliberations on how to punish serial-offender assemblyman Jeff Wood…
Politics
Wisconsin State Journal: Sheridan and lobbyist attended ritzy conference together; campaign spending questioned
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a new story at the Wisconsin State Journal revealing that Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Sheridan attended a ritzy resort with the payday loan industry lobbyist that he was dating while his caucus drafted legislation about that industry. Sheridan’s also not been living in his district, and has kept shoddy records of his travel expenses. In…
Libertarians, Politics
Left and Right Worth Reading
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’m a libertarian — neither Republican nor Democrat, conservative nor progressive. That doesn’t mean that I don’t read from among advocates of left and right. I am quite sure that I read more from those who are of either view than I do of libertarians. It would be foolish to avoid so many clever people…
Politics
Wisconsin State Journal: Sheridan hasn’t answered questions about travel expenses
by JOHN ADAMS •
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan faces increasing questions about his conduct while in office. The Janesville resident, representing a city with high unemployment, has been dating a lobbyist for an industry his caucus is seeking to regulate, has moved out of his assembly district, and has filed a vague travel expense report that’s inadequate under…