I’ve added a reading list to the right side of my website. I have three books on my list – Liberal Fascism (finished), The Improving State of the World (now reading), and Nobodies (next in line).
The list is a website plug in called ‘Now Reading’ and is the work of a college student from England. (Finding the plug in would not have been possible without a global economy – a clever person in England can offer programs for a donation from people he would otherwise never meet.)
I have a brief review of Liberal Fascism, Jonah Goldberg’s indictment of the American progressive movement, and its left-leaning progeny, as a fascism of the left. Clicking the link for Liberal Fascism on the right side of this page leads to more information about the book, and my brief review.
There is a Common Council meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. Published agenda topics include the following:
Amending the municipal code to allow three cars to part in the front or side yard of a home (instead of two cars as currently),
Amending the municipal code concerning limitations on the the number of residents in a non-family household.
The National Weather Service predicts that today will bring a fifty percent chance of thunderstorms with a high of 65 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac says that today will be fair and pleasant.
The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this date in 1911, Ellen Corby, TV’s Grandma Walton, was born.
She was born in Racine, Wisconsin, and was best known for her role in the Waltons. Decades earlier, though, she was nominated for (but did not win) a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in 1948’s I Remember Mama.
I’ve pondered before why progressives in Whitewater do well in big-issues elections (president, governor, referenda), but show no similar strength at the local level. Someone wrote back and suggested that at the local level, perhaps maintaining incumbency meant more to most politicians than ideology.
That may well be the reason, but if so, then it suggests a limit to progressives’ gains in Whitewater. They may win on national and state votes (as I am sure they will this fall when Whitewater will choose Sen. Obama over Sen. McCain), but their views have less local traction.
What does it say, too, about progressives’ views that in purely local matters, they look like any other self-preserving office holder? In the end, if they aren’t expressing a local alternative, is being on the left in Whitewater little more than voting on CNN headline issues (however important), and offering no distinctive, local political position?
(The same could be said in Whitewater if, for example, ‘opportunity conservatives’ — those in the tradition of former U.S. representative and VP nominee Jack Kemp — were ascendant. They’re not, and more traditional, less growth-oriented conservatives have eclipsed in them in GOP. Progressives are the more relevant case simply because they’ve had a string of successes carrying Whitewater on state and national races.)
If one were to look at local officeholders who would describe themselves as liberals or progressives, I don’t think one would see a different, substantive take on local policy. More likely, I think they’d seem like other office holders on the center or right. If ‘think globally, but act locally’ is a progressive saying, then I’m not sure it’s distinctive in town.
There are three municipal public meetings scheduled in the city today. At noon, there will be a Seniors in the Park senior forum at 504 W. Starin. At 5 p.m., there will be a Park and Rec Board meeting. Later, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Hispanic Outreach Information Seminar at the Cravath Lakefront Building. Published agenda topics include the following:
City of Whitewater new parking permits, City of Whitewater events and services, consequences for driving without a Wisconsin driver’s license, what to do if the police stop you, domestic violence, information to aid with the guidance of your children, session for questions, suggestions and answers.
It is a singular choice of topics.
The National Weather Service predicts that today will mostly sunny with a high of 83 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac says that today will be fair and pleasant. That’s a vague prediction from a long-range plan that could easily have been written over a few beers at 2 a.m.
The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this date in 1911, Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Edward G Ryan was honored. This must be a slow day in our history, because Ryan’s biography is unimpressive, including the observation that he was “irascible and over-sensitive” and “frequently at odds with his colleagues.”
At our most recent school board meeting, a parent mentioned concerns with nutrition and (as a possible aspect of health and wellness) presentation of movies rated PG-13, for example, to younger children. In the case of nutrition, on some occasions, students may receive candy as reward when parents would not, themselves, reward their own children with candy.
Very few parents who have worked hard to guide a child’s eating habits would wish that he descend into a daytime Augustus Gloop.
It’s understandable that parent would not want a different standard at school from the one he or she is working to establish at home. At the very least, a school should accommodate a parent’s approach without stigmatizing a child whose family has a specific nutritional standard. The state should not presume to override, or ignore, parental authority about diet.
This a challenge that a public school program — that may fall into a one-size-fits-all approach — may have. It can, however, be avoided — if only there would more choice offered with a public program.
I have contended previously that we would have a better public system if we had a successful private school in town — I think the presence of the private alternative would be a spur to better public efforts. We don’t have that option, of course, and we’re not about it get one. Still, a public program can offer more choices for students and parents within a grade level, or between schools, and thereby offer some of the benefits that choice and competition provide.
If parents had more information about a teacher’s method, professional outlook, and practices, had the opportunity to review these points in advance for the year ahead, and then could request accordingly, some of these issues might be solved. That level of selection surely seems outside the norm for some, but it’s not unknown. Many public districts have specialized schools and classes — it would help us to offer more information as a standard practice, and give parents more selection.
Successful methods could be emulated by other teachers. Academically competitive approaches would be encouraged. Less successful ones would, by lack of interest, fade away. Also, several different approaches — announced as such, and communicated to parents — could co-exist. We can do better than a leveling approach that lumps everyone into the same practices, sometimes against parental standards, and is often a race to the bottom.
Differences in teaching method, more unique approaches offered at the high school, standards for nutrition, a teacher’s views on acceptable film ratings, could be communicated openly for each teacher at the end of a year, so that parents could select among alternatives for the year ahead. more >>
The National Weather Service predicts that today will be have a 90% chance of severe thunderstorms with a high of 78 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac says — that it will remain unsettled, especially in the Great Lakes. Today is a day when a vague word like unsettled works — it’s such a broad term, that many will assume that it includes conditions like a thunderstorm. A horoscope has the same advantage when it tells readers that they’ll meet ‘someone interesting today’: interesting is a broad description. It’s the kind of prediction that succeeds — such as it does — for being general.
On this date in 1860, the first street cars ran in Milwaukee. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, they were called the “River & Lake Shore Street Railway.” It all sounds very modern, until one learns that they were pulled by four horses.
Downtown Whitewater, Inc. has issued a press release highlighting success as a Main Street Community. Whitewater’s turnout for the Main Street awards program was higher than most other communities participating.
Several Main Street Communities gathered in Downtown Madison on Thursday, May 22, 2008 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Main Street Downtown Revitalization Program. Downtown Whitewater, Inc. continues to show the efforts of the community by taking home several awards for the second year in a row. “Communities rarely experience this much excitement so soon in the Main Street Program. It normally takes 6 to 7 years to have the investments made and to receive the recognition that Whitewater has. It is truly amazing and this will certainly help to put Whitewater on the map for entrepreneurs,” stated Executive Director Tamara Brodnicki.
Whitewater Group Photograph
After completing their second year as a Main Street community Whitewater comes home with more awards. Some areas may be showing signs of a slow economy but in Whitewater investments continue to be made to revitalize their downtown. In the last few years close to $8 million has been spent and it is paying off. The downtown is something to look at and is looking for businesses to expand or to relocate there.
Ryan Hughes received an award for Best Façade Rehabilitation over $7,500 for his major project located at 200 – 214 West Whitewater Street. These prominent buildings, which had become a major downtown eyesore, have been restored through cleaning of building brick façades, reconstructed lintels and fascia and tasteful repainting of the building’s wood trim. The historic restoration of these buildings along with the adjacent Whitewater Hotel (Restored in 2006) has really improved the appearance of West Whitewater Street. Two new commercial businesses have opened in these buildings since the restoration was completed and the buildings have outstanding potential for higher and better commercial uses in the future due to the care and attention that was paid to the exterior façade improvements.
Ryan and Jodie Hughes
Ginny Coburn and The City of Whitewater received an award for Best Public/Private Partnership for the Stone Stable project. The reconstruction of the 150-year-old stone stable was accomplished in 2007 as a public-private partnership between the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater Historical Society, the Whitewater Community Foundation, Downtown Whitewater, Inc, local citizen activists, over 190 donors, and numerous volunteers. At the dedication ceremony on November 17, the stable was officially turned over to its new owner, the City of Whitewater, who in turn will formalize an agreement with the Whitewater Historical Society, with plans to use the stable for programs and exhibits. It enhances and beautifies our downtown “civic core,” where the Depot Museum, City Hall, the Fire and Police Building, and the Cravath Lakefront Park are located. A main goal of the revitalization of downtown has been to preserve its historic features. The stone stable project is both a vivid expression of that goal and an encouragement to other downtown property owners.
Dawn Hunter, Ginny Coburn, Bruce Parker, Kevin Brunner
Dan Malone received an honorable mention for Best New Business for Dan’s Meat Market. Their customer service is outstanding, there is no order too large or too small and they are happy to honor custom requests. Dan is an astute listener, giving people what they want as is evidenced by his hours of operation till 7:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday and even 10 am – 2 pm on Sunday. He is working with local restaurants to provide them with products they need, including the Double Dip Deli, Coyote Grill and others. They sell a full range of meat products and cheeses from Bledsoe Cheese to Chippewa Valley Cheese both in northern Wisconsin. Heather raises farm fresh chickens and has a recipe corner in the store to provide ideas for the customers. Offerings also include farm fresh organic eggs, spices and seasoning blends, venison processing and back yard smokers. Value added products include many types of sausage as well as Chicken Cordon Bleu, Chicken Parmesan, and various stuffed and marinated meats.
Dan and Kristy Malone
Lastly Downtown Whitewater, Inc. was able to recognize Dr. John Patterson as Volunteer of the year and Bill Bowen as Honorary Board Member. Both of these volunteers have been tireless advocates for improving downtown Whitewater and have contributed significantly as current Board members. Both have a passion for the downtown revitalization efforts and that makes them a tremendous asset to our downtown program.
We are very fortunate to have folks like Ryan, Ginny, Dan, John, Bill, The City of Whitewater and so many others working so diligently for our community and our downtown revitalization efforts.
For more information on this or any other project that is going on with Downtown Whitewater, Inc. please feel to contact Downtown Whitewater, Inc. at 262-473-2200.
There are two municipal public meetings scheduled in the city today. At 11:30 a.m., U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin will hold a listening session at the Municipal Building’s Community Room. Later at, 4 p.m., there will be a public information meeting on the Moraine View Park master plan held at the municipal building.
The National Weather Service predicts that today will be have a 30% chance of thunderstorms with a high of 67 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac says — like yesterday, as they stick to the same forecast for three days in a row — that it will turn unsettled, especially in the Great Lakes. Unsettled is an odd description. I have yet to see them define days as hesitant, moody, or perplexed. The year’s not over, so there’s time.
In our schools, there will be a 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 5th Grade band concert at Washington School.
The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this date in 1848, Wisconsin entered the Union, becoming America’s 30th state. At the time of our admission, we apparently comprised about 1/56 of the land area of the United States.
Bob Barr, former GOP congressman from Georgia, and a member of the Libertarian Party since 2006, is now the LP nominee for president.
He has four main political positions:
(1) Significantly reduce the size of government, (2) promote individual liberty, (3) a national defense based on non-intervention, and (4) ‘securing’ our borders (point 4 being a deliberately vague statement that leads to an anti-immigration interpretation.)
(There would have been a time when it would have been clear to a libertarian that free labor markets were America’s best course, and that immigration should be as free as possible. Those days have passed for the LP, and more so for many Republicans and Democrats. We’re a country in the thrall of a new version of mid-nineteenth century Know-Nothing rhetoric. There is little advocacy for liberalized immigration these days. There will be yet again, and when that time comes, those who have held fast to the principle of a free labor market will have been vindicated.)
Barr leads a party that has never won more than 1% of the vote in a presidential election. In the last few presidential races, the LP has fared far worse, winning only a few hundred thousand votes nationally, while Ralph Nader — as the Green Party nominee — has won more votes. (Even Pat Buchanan in 2000 won more votes than the LP nominee that year.)
A majority of LP delegates, and some party officials, think that Barr will bring more votes to the party than ever before. They’d like to see him double the party’s historic 1980 showing. If Barr does so, then he’ll be close to two million votes nationally.
(I know Barr says he’s in the race to win, but many in the LP would consider two million votes the very definition of victory.)
Barr won’t be a factor in Whitewater’s totals. Obama, or even Hillary Clinton, will carry Whitewater over McCain. Barr won’t change that result; even if Barr were to drain votes from the GOP, he would be draining votes from an already-losing local effort.
This is not the town, and surely not the year, for the GOP to expect a local majority to support the Republican presidential nominee.
Barr may change the result somewhere (and in many places if he receives two-million votes), just not Whitewater, Wisconsin.
There are no municipal public meetings scheduled in the city today.
The National Weather Service predicts that today will be mostly sunny with a high of 66 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac says that it will turn unsettled, especially in the Great Lakes.
In our schools, there is a 6:30 p.m. PTA meeting at Lakeview School. At 7:30 p.m., it’s scholarship night at the high school.
The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that on this date in 1837, Milwaukee received its first visit from a steamer, the James Madison.
Wisconsin touts itself as America’s Dairyland, and our production of milk is impressive. The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that Wisconsin’s milk production has been rising, with over two billion pounds of milk produced in March, from over 1.25 million cows.
That’s a lot of milk, and one might imagine that it would bring the flexibility to sell milk as farmers might wish. It doesn’t. The FDA bans sales of raw (unpasteurized) milk across state lines, among other restrictions.
Though [raw milk producers], and their loyal customers’ devotion to raw milk may seem eccentric to some, the consumption of raw fish in sushi or uncooked meat in beef carpaccio is equally strange to others. And with consumer freedom increasingly under attack from busybodies on the left and right, it’s hard not to admire their rebelliousness and their resolution to drink milk in its freshest form. Though there is certainly a place for reasonable food safety laws, any regulation that leads to otherwise law-abiding farmers being shutdown or arrested has gone too far. With a growing movement of consumers demanding raw milk, the time has come for the government to get out of their way.
For those who want raw milk, there’s a clever, if cumbersome, workaround — purchase shares in a cow, and the milk’s yours, and you can drink it as you wish.
It’s unfortunate that even here, in a milk-producing powerhouse, the federal government restricts and limits what’s available for consumers.
There is one municipal public meeting scheduled in the city today — a Community Development Authority Board of Directors meeting at 4:30 p.m.
The National Weather Service — a government agency that offers predictions with flexibility — calls for a high of 57 degrees and partly sunny. The Farmers’ Almanac — a private publication that predicts inflexibly a year in advance — says that it will be mostly fair.
In our school district, there will be a school board meeting at 7:00 p.m.
In Wisconsin history, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society, on this day in 1673, explorers and missionaries Marquette and Joliet reached Green Bay. The Wisconsin Historical Society offers entries from the diaries of Joliet and Marquette at its website.
