All my life I've been a believer in government and the ability of our lawmakers to pass legislation to deal with problems and make life better.
That belief has been shaken to its very core and I've come to the conclusion that we might be a whole lot better off with almost no government at all.
The most recent action that has destroyed my faith is the "special session" of the Wisconsin legislature. Gov. Scott Walker, who promised a "laser focus on jobs" called our state lawmakers into the special session to deal with jobs.
At the time I thought it was a great idea, although I had serious reservations about what kind of legislation our Republican majorities might come up with.
I needn't have worried.
They didn't do anything about jobs. They did stuff about guns and concealed carry. They spent a lot of time figuring out if guns could come into their workplace. They had intense debates about whether stores could sell liquor at 6 a.m., instead of the 8 a.m. That is the law now. They fought over butter vs. margarine.
They handled the issue of attorney fees and some nursing home stuff and kind of settled matters of redistricting and teacher discipline.
No jobs stuff.
When Walker ran for governor he promised to create 250,000 new jobs in his first four years. I doubt if he'll do it, but if he does, it looks like it's going to be in spite of the state legislature, not because of anything the did.
Because what they have done, as far as jobs go, is absolutely nothing.
With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.
He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.
This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.
Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.
