The defendant also wanted a refund on a portion of the phony bail money he posted.
Comment Forum
Friday Open Comments Forum: Liberty-Themed Music
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the Friday open comments post.
Today’s suggested topic is ‘liberty-themed music.’ What favorite songs of yours have liberty-oriented themes. For readers looking for a refresher of possible choices, the Libertarian Music Archive might be a good resource.
Last week, I asked if it might be a good idea to allow endangered species to be farmed privately and eaten, to boost their overall numbers. (The topic came from something I read about a restaurant that served lion burgers.)
I’ll start off a music choice with something lion-themed and liberty-themed this week: Born Free, from the 1966 film of that same name. It’s not my preferred music by style, but it is liberty-oriented, and follows last week’s lion theme nicely.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZHaQ3C3xQo
The use of pseudonyms and anonymous postings will be fine.
Although the comments template has a space for a name, email address, and website, those who want to leave a field blank can do so. Comments will be moderated, against profanity or trolls. Otherwise, have at it.
I’ll keep the post open through Sunday afternoon. more >>
Free Markets
A CEO on Speaking Up for American Capitalism
by JOHN ADAMS •
In Speaking Up for American Capitalism CEO Gregg Sherrill discusses the torrent of calumnies directed against free markets, but notes that most Americans see through this rhetoric:
Because the financial crisis and resulting recession caused so much pain, a bashing of our entire free enterprise system may have been inevitable. My fear is that by remaining quiet in the face of this onslaught, we have allowed it to intensify. In fact, other than those companies that were a part of the system of easy credit and disguised risk that so spectacularly collapsed, American business as a whole has nothing whatsoever to apologize for.
The good news is that despite the political cacophony, and our silence, most Americans still instinctively understand this.
According to a recent analysis in The Economist magazine, the overwhelming majority of Americans say they prefer the free enterprise system to any collectivist alternative. In one such poll, as the Economist reports in a feature titled “The 70-30 Nation,” the Pew Research Center asked respondents whether they were better off in a free market rather than a socialist economy “even though there may be severe ups and downs from time to time.”
Seventy percent said yes.
Sherrill observes why a defense of free enterprise — the entire set of arrangements, not simply particular businesses — is so important to Americans’ well-being:
The free enterprise system, hard-wired into this country’s DNA, has created more wealth and lifted more people out of poverty than any other system ever devised by human beings. For the entire history of our nation, people from all over the world have come here for the opportunity to succeed on their own merits.
It would be a profound mistake to grow government’s size in a way that would fundamentally shift its level of involvement in our overall economy. Other countries have tried this strategy in various ways, especially over the last century. The results have often been negative, and at times disastrous. None has come close to the levels of growth and individual prosperity driven by the American free enterprise system.
The truth is that when it comes to the things that define our society like energy, mobility and shelter, government can do nothing without the cooperation of business and industry….
Well said.
City, Planning, Politics, Uncategorized
Persistence in the Wrong Course
by JOHN ADAMS •
At the conservative Commentary, Peter Wehner offers a critical assessment of the federal administration that I think would be more apt for the municipal administration of Whitewater, Wisconsin:
Its policies are failing, its popularity is sinking, its excuses aren’t working, and its incompetence is showing. Yet the administration appears incapable of admitting – even to itself, even in quiet moments – that it has made mistakes, that it may be wrong, that it may be on the wrong track.
In cities and towns, I’d guess this kind of obstinacy is common — it requires considerable self-reflection, humility, and honesty to acknowledge a bad course.
(Nationally, Bill Clinton did so after the 1994 elections, and won re-election easily. Locally, there’s much too much rigidity and self-deception among bureaucrats and politicians for Clinton’s kind of reasonable response.)
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for Whitewater, Wisconsin: 7-16-10
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning,
Today’s forecast calls for a sunny day, with a high of ninety degrees.
The Wisconsin Historical Society recalls that on this date in 1941, the
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge [was] Established
On this date the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge was established after a 20 year struggle by conservationists. The refuge is over 21,000 acres, encompasses the Horicon Marsh, the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, and is home to over 223 species of birds and other wildlife. [Source: History Just Ahead: A Guide to Wisconsin’s Historical Markers edited by Sarah Davis McBride, p. 6 and Horicon National Wildlife Refuge].
The Refuge has a downloadable brochure with more information about the area.
Photo of Purple Martin at Horicon Marsh from Dori
Eleven Fifty-Nine
Eleven Fifty-Nine for 7-15-10
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good evening,
It’s a dry and clear evening, with an overnight low in Whitewater in the mid-sixties.
I visit the Huffington Post every so often, and there’s usually a treat waiting, because that website covers all manner of topics, and far more than politics. I wasn’t disappointed earlier tonight, when during a visit I found a post entitled, “Chupacabra, Mysterious Animal, Allegedly SPOTTED In Texas (VIDEO, PICTURES, POLL).” It takes a confident website, with a sense of humor, to publish a post like that. Here’s an excerpt:
Chupacabras, literally “goat suckers,” are legendary creatures said to roam Mexico, Puerto Rico and parts of the United States….
Apparent chupacabra sightings spread fear in South Florida in 1996 and Texas in 2008. The chupacabras are in the news again after two strange animals were killed in North Texas.
Animal Control Office Frank Hackett described the animal involved in the most recent sightings: “All I know is, it wasn’t normal. It was ugly, real ugly. I’m not going to tell no lie on that one.”
I first heard of chupacabras from an episode of the X FIles. I’d guess there are many Americans who first heard of a legend or two while watching Mulder and Scully investigate bizarre tales.
Here’s the Huffington Post‘s embedded video, from a supposed 2006 encounter:
Too funny.
(I took the accompanying poll, by the way, and voted that it looked liked a chupacabra to me.)
I’ve yet to see a video like this with a chupacabra of Whitewater, Wisconsin, but I’d love to find one. more >>
Economy, Government Spending
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Lost 1,000 Private Sector Jobs in June
by JOHN ADAMS •
There can be no true recovery in which aggregate private sector jobs are lost. Yet, Wisconsin lost 1,000 private sector jobs last month.
The answer to private sector struggles is a reduction of the public policies of taxing, spending, and regulating.
See, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Lost 1,000 Private Sector Jobs in June
Freedom of Speech, University
Tonight on Stossel: Campus Speech Codes
by JOHN ADAMS •
If you’ve not seen Stossel, the eponymous program of libertarian John Stossel on the Fox Business Channel, you’re missing a great program. Stossel’s program airs on the Fox Business Channel (rather than Fox News) on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. central time.
On tonight’s episode, Stossel considers the FIRE.
In communities across America, public schools, public universities, and municipal governments are busy deciding what’s appropriate and acceptable speech, in violation of United States and (typically) state constitutional free speech protections.
FIRE’s website has a long list of cases — concerning both the right and left — they’ve taken to defend Americans’ exercise of their speech rights.
It’s sure to be a good show tonight.
Uncategorized
Not Even Porky Pig is Safe Anymore
by JOHN ADAMS •
The La Crosse Tribune has a story about how a theme park worker dressed as Porky Pig was allegedly beaten by two off-duty colleagues. The attack occurred at the Great America theme park in northern Illinois.
The woman portraying Porky Pig received only minor injuries, but the episode shows that no one is safe from crime.
Government Spending, Politics
Amity Shlaes on Government’s Arrogance
by JOHN ADAMS •
In a essay at Bloomberg, Amity Shlaes, fellow in history at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes that Arrogance Surplus Leads to Government Excesses: Commentary by Amity Shlaes. She describes the arrogance of lawmakers and planners in Washington, D.C. (and what she writes would apply just as accurately to state and local governments):
The problem for all is that business isn’t an identifiable person, group or company. Good policy is what might be called humble policy. It starts with admitting what we don’t know. That includes who will lead growth in 2011 or 2012, where that person lives, and how he or she will get capital. Humble policy then goes on to concentrate on trying to let our economy become that broad space that future businesses and industries still unknown, might find inviting.
Humble policy is, of course, hard for a U.S. Congress to get its head around. Policy, in lawmakers’ minds, is all about knowing and crafting smarter law. Lawmakers are arrogant in their certainty that voters will never accept policy that doesn’t reward voters like Pavlov’s dogs. Lawmakers are also certain that they shouldn’t be seen to write law that will help the rich in the future. But again, there is that mistake: they are assuming they know who the rich will be.
Shlaes suggests permanent tax rate reductions, an end to government preferences for specific, favored businesses, abandoning a healthcare mandate, the end of stimulus spending, and encouraging reduced expectations about government entitlement programs.
Sensible suggestions, all.
City, Planning
Whitewater’s Planning Commission Meeting for 7-12-10 (Live Blogging)
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s the format I will be using for live blogging tonight’s Planning Commission meeting. I wouldn’t expect anyone to read my comments live; instead, I’m interested in experimenting with live blogging to produce commentary more quickly. (My comments will remain after the meeting for later viewing.)
The window will become live just before 6 PM, and comments will appear with the newest remarks at the top of the window. (Update: For replay, comments will appear from top to bottom, first to last.)
I’ve bumped up a post from Monday night on Whitewater’s July Planning Commission meeting. I live blogged the event, and here are a few additional remarks.
Walmart’s Proposed Expansion, Generally. Walmart wants to expand. Good for them, I think more offerings would be of benefit to Whitewater, Wisconsin. I’ve no bias against, or for, chain stores. I’m sure we will have an expanded Walmart, in somewhat more than a year.
The Rush to Build. Walmart’s attorney, speaking before the Planning Commission, talked a mile-a-minute, but could not have thought that approval would come with so many loose ends. Favoring more private investment does not mean that a corporation that presents ideas only at the last minute should get what the approval it wants without careful deliberation.
If it mattered more, Walmart would have found a way to contact local officials sooner. Walmart’s representatives can talk all they want about how much they appreciate Whitewater’s bureaucrats and consultants, but Walmart’s failure to discuss sooner with them shows a lack of respect.
Third-Party Transactions. There may be separate transactions between Walmart and third-party landowners near the Walmart location, to expand the size of the lot, but no third party is obligated to any deal, and whether one happens isn’t as important as agreements between the City of Whitewater and Walmart directly.
An R-O Zoning Ordinance for Whitewater. It won’t work, and in a few years the neighbors in the so-called Historic Starin Neighborhood will be complaining about failed enforcement.
Enforcement Failures in Search of a Zoning Solution. A reduction in the permissible number of unrelated persons lving in a residence from three to two won’t solve the nuisance issues of which these neighbors complain. I do, though, have a suggestion for a way to solve problems with unruly residents….
Introducing…R-NONE Zoning. The best way to make sure that there are no nuisances in a residential neighborhood is to make sure that no one lives there. When R-O zoning fails to curb the problems of which these residents complain, someone will need a backup plan.
I have it, and I will happily propose it, free of charge: Create a zoning ordinance that bans all human inhabitants from a residential district.
Admittedly, there will still be a problem of enforcement, as some people might sneak into the area at night to live in the then-vacant homes. I can fix that problem, too. Purchase a few dobermans, feed them as little as possible, and set them loose in the area each night.
Those starving canines will be able to sniff out any people foolish enough to spoil the beauty of the Historic Starin neighborhood by actually living there.
Problem solved.
Living There. There’s a great deal of maudlin talk about how residents favoring more restrictive zoning live in the neighborhood, they live there. Yes, of course. All the tenants in the neighborhood live there, too.
If someone is prepared to prose that those who really count should own property, rather than rent, have at it. I own property, yet I would oppose such a distinction (and the law wouldn’t allow it). If some residents want a property-ownership-matters-more standard, let them apply it to city employees and politicians first, before stigmatizing tenants in a neighborhood.
Living There, Part 2. ‘There’ is next to a college campus. No one should be surprised that the area is a likely prospect for rental housing.
It would still be unlawful.
Expanding the Overlay to Other Parts of the City. Too funny — if the overlay works, there will be a shortage of rental housing. If it doesn’t (as I think it won’t), there will be other frustrated neighborhoods.
Update: 7-18-10:
Here’s a video recording of the 7-12 meeting. It’s long, but for those who’d like to see what was said, this video is your opportunity. I very much favor recordings, as it lets people check the actual words of commission members against what others report. (Checking includes seeing how reporters ‘clean up’ officials statements to make those they favor seem more articulate or knowledgeable than they actually are.)
Press Release
Walworth County Genealogical Society Ice Cream Social: August 3rd, 6:30 p.m.
by JOHN ADAMS •
I received the following press release that I am happy to post:
The Walworth County Genealogical Society is holding their Annual Ice Cream Social along with an Obituary Writing Class at the Community Centre, 826 E. Geneva Street, Delavan on Tuesday, August 3 at 6:30 PM.
The Society will furnish the ice cream and beverages. Members are to bring a topping or a snack to go with the ice cream. In addition to the Ice Cream Social, the participants will learn how to compose an obituary. The instructor will be R. Gray Betzer, director and owner of Betzer Funeral Home, Delavan. His subject will be “How to Write Your Own Obituary and Make It an Outstanding Final Account of Your Life.”
Betzer, a popular speaker at the Society, makes a return visit to instruct genealogists how to properly compose an obituary with important information that can be gathered ahead time. The event is open to the public.
For additional information, please call 262-275-2426
Daily Bread
Daily Bread for Whitewater, Wisconsin: 7-15-10
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good morning,
Whitewater looks forward to a hot day, with highs in the upper eighties, and a chance of thunderstorms.
In Madison, state capital of America’s Dairyland, it’s not cows, but geese, that are on the minds of city officials. The Wisconsin State Journal reports, in a story entitled, “City Taking a New, More Scientific Approach to Geese Problem,” that this is
….part of an effort by the city to better understand its goose problem. A more deliberative approach was adopted mostly because of the furor that was raised earlier this year when word of a city plan to kill the geese in Warner Park resulted in contentious public meetings and a vote by the Parks Commission to forestall the roundup in favor of more research. The roundup had been approved by the Parks Commission because of a request from officials with the Dane County Regional Airport, who are concerned about geese colliding with aircraft.
The story includes a link to a video about the geese in Madison parks.
There’s no prediction in the story of what will come of the study, but observation before action is the very least one should expect of city officials, so careful observations make sense. The story notes that there are possibilities following on other communities’ efforts:
Included in the information being gathered by Hefty this summer will be approaches taken by other communities. On June 30, for example, workers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture rounded up geese on Delavan Lake near Lake Geneva and hauled them away for processing; the meat will be donated to food pantries. The USDA reports that it conducted more than 30 such roundups in Wisconsin in 2009.
But elsewhere, according to the state Department of Natural Resources, communities are using non-lethal methods of keeping geese away from public areas, including no-feeding ordinances, fence barriers, noisemaking devices, repellants or population-control approaches such as oiling eggs so chicks don’t hatch.
Public Meetings
Walworth County Genealogical Society Ice Cream Social: August 3rd, 6:30 p.m.
by JOHN ADAMS •
The Walworth County Genealogical Society is holding their Annual Ice Cream Social along with an Obituary Writing Class at the Community Centre, 826 E. Geneva Street, Delavan on Tuesday, August 3 at 6:30 PM.
The Society will furnish the ice cream and beverages. Members are to bring a topping or a snack to go with the ice cream. In addition to the Ice Cream Social, the participants will learn how to compose an obituary. The instructor will be R. Gray Betzer, director and owner of Betzer Funeral Home, Delavan. His subject will be “How to Write Your Own Obituary and Make It an Outstanding Final Account of Your Life.”
Betzer, a popular speaker at the Society, makes a return visit to instruct genealogists how to properly compose an obituary with important information that can be gathered ahead time. The event is open to the public.
For additional information, please call 262-275-2426