Economics
Wisconsin Forests at Risk
“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues. Dr. Seuss in the children's book “The Lorax”
Wisconsin Green Fire recently published a report that speaks for trees and all the other organisms in Wisconsin's forests. “Wisconsin Forests at Risk: Engaging Wisconsinites in Another Century of Forest Conservation” is a warning about the declining health of forests across the state. They say, “Wisconsin’s forests have long enriched our state’s economy and quality of life. Yet, just when we need healthy, diverse, and ...
The Age of Plastics
“Welcome to the Plasticene. If you’re under age 70, it’s possible you’ve lived in the Plasticene for your entire life. It’s a new geologic age some scientists have proposed to mark the near-universal spread of plastic around Earth. Since the 1950s, researchers say, we’ve been living in the Age of Plastics.” Kristen Minogue, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
Geologists have divided the 4.5 billion years of earth's history into a geologic time scale. These divisions, or “geochronologic units,” include eons, eras, periods, epochs and ages. We ...
The Myth of Recycling Plastic
“The idea that recycling can solve the problem of plastic waste has always been a fraud, and it's always been a way for the industry to sell more plastic,” Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity.
As I wrote about recently, the use of plastic has increased enormously, creating a huge worldwide problem with plastic trash (“The age of plastics,” December 19, 2024). Much of this plastic is for single use products like packaging and shopping bags. Recycling is suppose to mitigate these problems. But for many reasons, recycling plastic simply ...
RETURN OF THE ROBBER BARONS
“We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a
few, but we can’t have both.” - Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis
Born in 1856, Brandeis lived through the “Gilded Age” and the “Roaring 20’s.” He saw the unethical
practices, the exploitation of working people, and the corruption of politicians brought on by the
fabulously wealthy, the “Robber Barons” of that age. Brandeis saw how democracy was destroyed by
gross inequality, he saw how the rich were able to buy and sell “elected” officia...
Community Outreach Task Force
Outreach Fundraiser
Hello all, We need your help. Please donate. (Links below) We’re gearing up for the winter season. Over the last 5 years we have been making a positive difference for those in need in the community, helping them to survive in the harsh winter elements. We are the only 100% volunteer-based outreach group in the community. Even though we receive a good amount of physical donations, sometimes it isn’t enough, and we need to rely on raised funds to purchase supplies. In the last 2 years we’ve gone from serving 30 people to over 60 on ...
Vote for the Climate and Against Ignorance
This month, the Southeast has faced two devastating hurricanes. Not only are families forced into shelters, but entire communities have been wiped from the map. And the road to recovery will be long, arduous, and uncertain. Our hearts should go out to all the victims.
Yet the science is clear, that human-caused climate change is making these storms more severe. We experience stronger, longer, and deadlier weather phenomena than ever before, even here in Wisconsin with more extreme flooding, drought, wildfire smoke, and inconsistent snowfall. This has a bona fide ...
We Need a Serious Leader Like Kyle Kilbourn
Those of us who live in northwestern Wisconsin desperately need a serious leader who understands the challenges we face in the 7th Congressional District. We need a leader who will bring fresh, energetic leadership to Congress.
Kyle Kilbourn will be that serious leader. He is the candidate we need to elect this November.
Kyle Kilbourn will work to keep our air and water clean. The incumbent representative, Tom Tiffany, does the opposite. He consistently opposes conservation measures and environmental protections. For example, he has voted to cut spending for ...
When Someone Shows You Who They Are, Believe Them (and Vote Accordingly)
Are we suffering from amnesia? Our climate is rapidly getting more perilous. Just look at last winter, when local economies had to grapple with lower-than-ever snowfall and higher-than-ever temperatures. And yet, Wisconsin is a dead heat in this year’s presidential election.
We need to remember. During his first year in office, then-President Trump withdrew America from the Paris Climate Agreement, joining Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries to not ratify it. Two years later, Trump approved the Keystone XL Pipeline and approved rollbacks of offshore drilling ...
Creating the Greatest Economy Ever?
Donald Trump boasts of creating the greatest economy in America’s history. Yes, the economy was strong during his first three years as president, but doesn’t credit belong more to the strong economy Trump inherited from President Obama than his actions in office?
Remember that, after rescuing us from Bush’s financial crisis, Obama’s first term saw a stunning economic recovery that continued for a decade, with steady employment and wage growth, and inflation that never exceeded the Fed’s 2.0% goal. When Trump took office, inflation was a mere ...
The Inflation Reduction Act Helps Wisconsin
Look, it’s hard to blame folks who feel Washington, D.C. is disconnected and worlds away from Wisconsin. The decisions made across the country, or lack thereof, sometimes seem pointless and detached from reality. But every so often, legislation is passed that has a profoundly positive impact in the Badger State – the Inflation Reduction Act is such a moment.
We have reaped the benefits of this law. This year, Wisconsin became the first state to launch programs aimed at providing discounts for improving energy efficiency in homes. The Urban League of Greater Madison ...