WEALTH AND MONEY Part XXV: COMEDY WERE IT NOT TRAGEDY
“Paul Ryan was born into a well-to-do Janesville, Wisc. family, part of the so-called “Irish mafia” that’s run the city’s construction industry since the 19th century. When his lawyer father died young, sadly, the high-school aged Ryan received Social Security survivor benefits. But they didn’t go directly to supporting his family; by his own account, he banked them for college. He went to Miami University of Ohio, paying twice as much tuition as an Ohio resident would have. “After his government-subsidized out-of-state education, the pride of Janesville left ...
ON THE BOOKSHELF
ROUGHNECK GRACE (Farmer Yoga, Creeping Codgerism, Apple Golf, and other Brief Essays from on and Off the Back Forty) was written by Michael Perry.
Michael Perry is a New York Timex Bestselling Author. He lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife and daughters. He is a first responder with the local fire department. He can be found online at www.sneezingcow.com
ROUGHNECK GRACE is a collection of brief essays from his Sunday Wisconsin State Journal column, “Roughneck Grace.” He writes about everything in his life from his chickens to his book tours, from his neighbors ...
Quotations for December 19, 2016
"The Dark Side is not stronger. It is, as Yoda taught us, 'Quicker, easier, more seductive.' I still believe that love will have the victory. Let us make sure that our means, our way, our method, is as refined as the beloved community goal we espouse." –Omar Safi
“We need a new American story. What might we create in this country if we acknowledged that we are all vulnerable people — flesh and blood encasing bodies and minds and hearts that break, not infrequently?” --- Courtney Martin
"In honor of Thanksgiving, I’m going cold turkey on my rant-and-rave ...
THE COMMON FOE – THE COMMON ENDEAVOR
We are done being divided by the elites. We are done being distracted into hating one another. - - Nation of Change
My family, my wife and I, our children, their spouses, and our grandchildren over the age of 18, essentially canceled one another’s presidential votes this past election. Some voted for Clinton, some for Trump, and at least one voted for Jill Stein of the Green Party. These are all intelligent people, they all have formal education beyond high school, and they all have the same concerns. They want a better life and a brighter future for themselves and ...
STATE HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL: DANGEROUS GAMBLE?
By Kathleen Marsh of POWRS
The 2017-2019 Wisconsin state budget planning is well underway. Facing a huge financial hole due to ill-advised tax policy, Governor Walker is looking for ways to balance the budget, as is required by state law. One program he is targeting is the State Health Insurance Program which covers over 260,000 public employees. Walker’s idea? Self-insurance. Critics wonder if blowing up the current system for a roll-of-the-dice on self-insurance makes sense. Let’s look at the facts:
The Governor has talked about moving to self-insurance for ...
LOGGING THE BRULE RIVER
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
-- Aldo Leopold
“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
-- Dr. Seuss in “The Lorax”
The Brule River State Forest is going through a 15-year Master Plan review. It is also dealing with a state mandate to increase the available acreage for logging. Is this the best use of our public forests? Is it good for the health of the forest? ...
WEALTH AND MONEY PART XXIV: WEALTH AND ANTIWEALTH
“Humanity has the option to become successful on our planet if we reorient world production away from weaponry - - - - from killingry to livingry.” - - Buckminster Fuller
Fuller used the terms “livingry” and “killingry” to describe alternate paths in utilizing Earth’s physical resources and human intellect. “Livingry” supported life and planetary health while “killingry” was harmful to both. In keeping with the concepts of this “Wealth and Money” series, the terms “livingry” and “killingry” could also be called “wealth” ...
ALT-RIGHT….THE WHITE SUPREMACY GROUP BUILDING NEW CONSERVATISM
Alt-Right sounds like “all right.” But it is NOT all right. Not at all.
This movement, found in the USA as well as Europe, accuses older conservatives of selling out their countries to foreigners.
In 2008 Richard Bertrand Spencer coined the term Alternative Right, based on “white identity and the preservation of “Western Civilization.” Spencer leads the white nationalist think tank National policy Institute. Alt-Right rejects egalitarianism and universalism.
From the National Policy institute column, February 2014, “Immigration is a kind a proxy ...
QUOTATIONS….
“The only thing stronger than fear is hope.”…UN Refugee Agency
“In the big scheme of things, is the purpose of having a Christian faith primarily for gaining political power, or creating and enforcing laws, or hoarding wealth, Or living as comfortable a life as possible? Or is it ultimately about bettering and saving humanity?” Stephen Mattson
“Grit is not just having resilience in the face of failure, but also having deep commitments that you remain loyal to over many years.”—Angela Duckworth
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that ...
NORTHWOODS HUNTING HERITAGE
Minnesota's rifle hunting season is open and Wisconsin's is two weeks away. Minnesota Public Radio had a fluff piece this week on the “tradition” of the hunting camp with all its camaraderie and wholesome family bonding. The nostalgia is nice but it seems like our outdoors heritage is being replaced by a virulent gun centered paranoia. Hunting is declining in popularity while gun sales are increasing. Most of the new gun ownership is being driven by a small minority of 2nd amendment nuts.
This change is illustrated by an encounter I had last year with several ...
