Because people are people, they get more excited by a hint of scandal than by trends that develop over a long period of time. So Gov. Scott Walker's brush with what John Doe prosecutors call a "criminal scheme" has been generating all the heat.
But a more important story is Wisconsin's continuing anemic economic performance, and not just because Walker appears unlikely to hit even the half way mark on his pledge to create 250,000 private sector jobs during his first term in office. We've noted before that making that promise wasn't Walker's smartest move, because truth is Wisconsin has been an under performer for many years. The state's economy performed below the national average during most of Gov. Jim Doyle's term, as it has during all of Walker's three years in office. Wisconsin's standing among the 50 states has continued to drop, to 37th overall in job creation. The state is creating jobs at a rate about half the national average. Wisconsin ranks at the bottom among other Midwest states. This is not anecdotal. This is not just Doyle's fault or Walker's fault. It's not just political when even Illinois is whipping Wisconsin's performance.
This is a deep systemic trend for Wisconsin. It needs to be acknowledged by both political parties in the public sector and by the business community. Simply using chronic failure to score political points is a disservice to Wisconsin's future. If anything needs to be tackled in a bipartisan way, it's Wisconsin's inability to keep up with the rest of the country and neighboring states. On this one, the hostility and partisan divide just make everything worse.
Astonishingly, polls show one's partisan preferences color whether economic reality is believed or disbelieved. Democrats and Walker critics overwhelmingly believe the economic figures and accept that Wisconsin is under performing the nation and neighboring states. Of course, they embrace the numbers so they can blame it all on Walker http://www.mmtmtech.com/fake-breitling-uk-hot-sale.html, conveniently forgetting the trend already was evident when Jim Doyle was in office.
Meanwhile, a strong majority of those identifying in polls as Republicans and Walker supporters simply reject the numbers. Pollsters find they believe Wisconsin is creating jobs faster than most of its neighboring states. They believe Wisconsin is out performing the national economy. They believe comparative job growth is accelerating when in fact the state's ranking among the 50 states' rate of creation the past three years has gone from 35th to 36th to 37th. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts."
We've always believed the first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge it exists, in full, without spin and twist. Whether it's Walker backers on this score or Obama backers on a host of issues from Benghazi to IRS emails, political partisans cannot be trusted to accurately portray the issues. People need to see through that, accept the real facts, and demand solutions not the usual unproductive in fighting from those who call themselves our leaders.
Having said that, it is stunning that the full force of the federal government has been dropped into the fray. Patent and Trademark Office has withdrawn the Washington Redskins trademark because the agency now says the name is an insult to Native Americans. Never mind the team, the name and the trademark have been around for decades. Loss of trademark protection could be financially harmful through licensing, sponsorships and merchandising.
Yes, the team name is a social issue. But now it's also a free speech issue. Federal officials have violated the spirit of the First Amendment replica versace uk, if not the letter http://www.mmtmtech.com/fake-rolex-uk-hot-sale.html, and that kind of government overreach should offend all Americans.
Pro golfer Steve Stricker, who once called Rock County home, has been to the mountain, working his way into the Top Ten ranked golfers in the world. No, he wasn't quite at Tiger Woods' level of excellence, but he has been in that conversation. Getting there, however Fake Vacheron Constantin Watches UK Surprisingly Cheap, put Stricker on the road for long stretches of time. Too long, apparently. He significantly pared down his schedule the past couple of years and is skipping some of the biggest tournaments to spend more time with his family.
Admittedly replica breitling chronomat, when you've made millions of dollars, there's a certain luxury to make such decisions. But Stricker who has made charity appearances at Beloit's Pro Am to benefit the hospital is in keeping with the character he's always demonstrated as he makes this decision. He has always been low key, not needing attention, polite, humble, soft spoken and respectful of everyone he meets.
But a more important story is Wisconsin's continuing anemic economic performance, and not just because Walker appears unlikely to hit even the half way mark on his pledge to create 250,000 private sector jobs during his first term in office. We've noted before that making that promise wasn't Walker's smartest move, because truth is Wisconsin has been an under performer for many years. The state's economy performed below the national average during most of Gov. Jim Doyle's term, as it has during all of Walker's three years in office. Wisconsin's standing among the 50 states has continued to drop, to 37th overall in job creation. The state is creating jobs at a rate about half the national average. Wisconsin ranks at the bottom among other Midwest states. This is not anecdotal. This is not just Doyle's fault or Walker's fault. It's not just political when even Illinois is whipping Wisconsin's performance.
This is a deep systemic trend for Wisconsin. It needs to be acknowledged by both political parties in the public sector and by the business community. Simply using chronic failure to score political points is a disservice to Wisconsin's future. If anything needs to be tackled in a bipartisan way, it's Wisconsin's inability to keep up with the rest of the country and neighboring states. On this one, the hostility and partisan divide just make everything worse.
Astonishingly, polls show one's partisan preferences color whether economic reality is believed or disbelieved. Democrats and Walker critics overwhelmingly believe the economic figures and accept that Wisconsin is under performing the nation and neighboring states. Of course, they embrace the numbers so they can blame it all on Walker http://www.mmtmtech.com/fake-breitling-uk-hot-sale.html, conveniently forgetting the trend already was evident when Jim Doyle was in office.
Meanwhile, a strong majority of those identifying in polls as Republicans and Walker supporters simply reject the numbers. Pollsters find they believe Wisconsin is creating jobs faster than most of its neighboring states. They believe Wisconsin is out performing the national economy. They believe comparative job growth is accelerating when in fact the state's ranking among the 50 states' rate of creation the past three years has gone from 35th to 36th to 37th. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously said, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts."
We've always believed the first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge it exists, in full, without spin and twist. Whether it's Walker backers on this score or Obama backers on a host of issues from Benghazi to IRS emails, political partisans cannot be trusted to accurately portray the issues. People need to see through that, accept the real facts, and demand solutions not the usual unproductive in fighting from those who call themselves our leaders.
Having said that, it is stunning that the full force of the federal government has been dropped into the fray. Patent and Trademark Office has withdrawn the Washington Redskins trademark because the agency now says the name is an insult to Native Americans. Never mind the team, the name and the trademark have been around for decades. Loss of trademark protection could be financially harmful through licensing, sponsorships and merchandising.
Yes, the team name is a social issue. But now it's also a free speech issue. Federal officials have violated the spirit of the First Amendment replica versace uk, if not the letter http://www.mmtmtech.com/fake-rolex-uk-hot-sale.html, and that kind of government overreach should offend all Americans.
Pro golfer Steve Stricker, who once called Rock County home, has been to the mountain, working his way into the Top Ten ranked golfers in the world. No, he wasn't quite at Tiger Woods' level of excellence, but he has been in that conversation. Getting there, however Fake Vacheron Constantin Watches UK Surprisingly Cheap, put Stricker on the road for long stretches of time. Too long, apparently. He significantly pared down his schedule the past couple of years and is skipping some of the biggest tournaments to spend more time with his family.
Admittedly replica breitling chronomat, when you've made millions of dollars, there's a certain luxury to make such decisions. But Stricker who has made charity appearances at Beloit's Pro Am to benefit the hospital is in keeping with the character he's always demonstrated as he makes this decision. He has always been low key, not needing attention, polite, humble, soft spoken and respectful of everyone he meets.