Milwaukee Point 08

Maybe not a surprise, since incumbent Feingold is a Democrat, but Hey! It’s the New York Times!

The editorial page on October 13, 2010 (page A22 in my regional edition) was titled “Uphill in Wisconsin” about the current Senate race between Mr. Feingold and Ron Johnson. It said, in part:

Mr. Feingold’s independent mind, and his refusal to follow the big-money line on issues like trade, campaign finance and Wall Street reform, should have endeared him to Tea Party members and other independents who are angry at Washington conformists. If they had taken the time to listen.

Instead, they are supporting Mr. Johnson, a wealthy plastics manufacturer unknown to them six months ago. Mr. Johnson says he had long believed government restricted business and individual liberties (we’re not clear which ones he has in mind) but decided to run for office when the health care bill was passed, claiming that President Obama was trying to create a socialist state.

My dear Tea Party Republican, Mombo, nearly had a stroke when Dad read parts of the editorial to her. You may have heard a distant wail “THEY SAID WHAAAAAAAAAT???” in the distance about 10:15 am on October 13, 2010.

My personal thoughts are:

Ron Johnson is an out-of-touch corporate rich guy who is benefiting from the new laws that allow big money to stream unlimited campaign dollars to preferred candidates. He believes that global warming is caused by sunspots. He thinks embryonic stem cell research should be banned. He opposes the health care bill on the grounds that it will cause “too much paperwork for small businesses”. He thinks his political attack ads are a free speech issue. Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” has been a driving force in his political philosophy.

In short, the guy’s a dangerous looney who couldn’t buy a clue if I gave a him a dollar and a Google map. But please, don’t take my word for anything. Make up your own mind.

The 2010 Census head count determines how many Congressmen each state gets.

In 2000, Wisconsin lost one seat. In 2010, it looks like we’ll stay the same. No thanks to the Conservative “Tea Party”.

When I was doing the census this year, some people didn’t want to cooperate. Often (usually) they were blue-collar Republican “Tea Party” conservatives who claimed exemption on constitutional grounds. This was very annoying from a census-takers view. We were obligated to go back and back and back until we got the info. It cost the government a lot of money, and in the end, worked against the them because:

1. Fewer participants means a lower headcount, which means fewer congressional seats and less money apportioned to heavily conservative districts for funds and services.
2. We can ask whatever we want because the U.S. Constitution empowers the Congress to carry out the census in “such manner as they shall by Law direct” (Article I, Section 2).

So Nyah Nyah. Glenn Beck, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Dr. Ron Paul. Good luck in the future.