316 results for author: Phil Anderson

Wisconsin’s Budget

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has released his proposed 2025-2027 budget. In what has become a legislative tradition, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos declared Evers’ proposal “dead on arrival.” The next step in the biennial battle is for the Republican controlled Joint Finance Committee to write their own budget ignoring most of Evers' work.   Gov. Evers' budget proposes a $119 billion plan for investments in education, healthcare, public health, cleaning up environmental problems and tax relief for the lower tax brackets. There are a number of improvements for social services and policy issues that will be good for most Wisconsinites. &n...

The Environmental Cost of Computers

There is an old saying, “Whenever you light a candle you also cast a shadow.” There are always downsides to any choices, changes or innovations. Computer chip technology, computers and the Internet have transformed everything and improved many things. But are we looking at the inevitable shadows? The Minnesota Center for Environment Advocacy (MCEA) recently had a webinar on the environmental impact of data centers which run the online world. They explain the environmental shadows many of us are not seeing. You can watch the MCRA webinar, or read a transcript, by searching for “Minnesota’s Digital Dilemma: examining the environmental costs ...

Budget Chaos in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson is concerned about the impact on Wisconsin's state budget from Trump's cuts to federal funding. The cuts being implemented at the federal level will create havoc with the Wisconsin state budget. Senator Larson has introduced emergency legislation – the Frozen Federal Funds Emergency Act – to help deal with this problem.   The proposed bill requires the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if the Trump funding cuts are implemented. The extraordinary session would “consider” providing money from the “budget stabilization fund to state agencies, eligible local governmental units and eligible ...

Economic Conundrums

“There is always enough for the needy, there is never enough for the greedy.” Mahatma Gandhi “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” Edward Abbey environmentalist and author Most of us would be better off if we spent less, spent more wisely, and saved more. But what happens to an economy based on consumer spending when consumers don't spend? If we all do what is good for our personal situation will the economy crash? American consumer capitalism is full of conundrums. Consumer spending drives the economy but is often not good for consumers. Competition drives innovation but cooperation is essential to everyon...

YOUR TAX RECEIPT

People like to complain about taxes. Polls tell us most people think the tax system is unfair and they pay too much. But what most people think is rarely reality. There are many false beliefs about who pays, how much we pay and where it all goes. “Most conservative criticisms about the ill effects of taxes are exaggerated or untrue. Taxes are in fact good -- they are dues we pay to enjoy the numerous vital benefits that government provides for our society” This quote is from Dr. Douglas J. Amy, Professor Emeritus of Politics at Mount Holyoke College and author of “Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital institution” (a ...

Costs of Foolishness

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” Bertrand Russell (1872 –1970), British philosopher The fools and fanatics currently in control of our country have no understanding of what government is about, how it operates, or the importance it has for people and society. But they are “certain of themselves” and their anti-government ideology. Many people are going to be hurt, and many will literally die from their ignorant, mean spirited, shortsighted actions. John Adams explained the purpose of government 250 years ago. He wrote, “Government is ...

A Supreme Court rerun in Wisconsin

If you are feeling deja vu about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election you are not imagining things. You have seen this movie before. The election on Tuesday, April 1st  is a rerun of the 2020 and 2023 contests. The names have changed but the issues are the same.   In 2020 and 2023 Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz, both liberal jurists, won their elections defeating conservative Dan Kelly. Kelly had been appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016 by Gov. Scott Walker. The victory of Protasiewicz created a liberal majority on the court after many years of conservative control.   These were both record breaking battles between ...

Wisconsin April 1st Election

The Wisconsin election happening on Tuesday April 1st has three important items on the ballot. A Supreme Court justice will be elected (which I talked about last week). Another is a  constitutional amendment – this one on voting rights. Voters will also choose a Secretary for the Department of Public Instruction.   I suggested last week that this election has an element of deja vu because the issues and impact on Wisconsinites are a repeat of other recent elections. The candidates and details are different, but the basic contest is whether Wisconsin will move forward with progressive leadership and policies or backward with conservatives ...

Gaza Absurdity

“If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged.” Noam Chomsky In this statement, Professor Chomsky (author, political activist and social critic) was referring to the legal principles used to prosecute the Nazi war criminals after WW2. This statement certainly is appropriate for the Biden administration's support for the genocide in Gaza. Biden's shameful and illegal funding, supplying and enabling of Israel's war crimes in Gaza are the most egregious of the many war crimes committed by our country. Donald Trump is continuing this tradition and is setting new lows for shameful, criminal ...

Destroying America

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” President Abraham Lincoln “If President Trump wants to change our nation’s laws, he has the right to ask Congress to change them. He does not have the right to violate the United States Constitution. He is not a king.” Senator Bernie Sanders. Our country is in crisis. Our government has been seized by a dictator wannabee and a cabal of super-wealthy, authoritarian extremists who want to destroy all the social progress of the last 150 years. They want to return to a time when wealth and big business ruled ...