301 results for author: Phil Anderson

Bottom Up Economic Development

My wife tells me I should be more positive with my articles. I should write more about good things that are happening. Being a cranky curmudgeon this is not easy to do. Plus the current political situation provides a continuous stream of great negative topics. The Foxconn giveaway in Wisconsin is an example. But economic development doesn't require huge tax expenditures to create jobs. There are other ways to create jobs and build economic security. There are many positive stories about local people across the country finding local solutions. These stories show alternatives are possible. In past articles I have suggested that investing in people ...

On Tolerance

“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” President John F. Kennedy “Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.” Robert G. Ingersoll I recently had a discussion with a person about GLBT rights. This person asserted that she was a “Christian” and didn't “believe” in homosexuality. Therefore she could not “support” public events like the Duluth-Superior Pride parade and festivities. But as President John Kennedy said, allowing others to have their own beliefs or lifestyles does not imply you agree with or ...

Ban the Bomb

Seventy two years ago, the United States became the first and only country to use nuclear weapons on civilians. On August 6 and 9, 1945 we bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people. We tell ourselves it was necessary. It was to save lives and end the war. We tell ourselves that nuclear weapons kept us safe during the Cold War and are necessary for our “defense” today. But these rationalizations ring hollow when examined closely. There were alternatives in 1945, and there are alternatives today to perpetuating the threat of a nuclear holocaust. On July 7th the United Nations finalized a treaty to ban ...

Ruminations on Foxconn

The giant electronics manufacturer Foxconn has announced it will locate in Wisconsin. It supposedly plans to spend $10 billion to create a “campus” to build LCD panels. The politicians were, of course, tripping over themselves to get in on the photo op. But I wonder if the old adage applies: “If it sounds too good to be true...it probably is.” The announcement was held at the White House. Foxconn CEO Terry Gou, President Trump, Governor Walker, and House Speaker Paul Ryan were in attendance. Trump, with typical arrogance, said it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been elected President. Walker said the deal would transform Wisconsin. This ...

Cuba: Some Historic Perspective

“Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past.” Tryon Edwards, 19th century American theologian Normalizing relations with Cuba is long overdue. For over 50 years we have tried to change the government and social structure of this small, poor nation. Our animosity toward Cuba has been irrational, unnecessary, and contrary to our founding principles of liberty and democracy. President Obama's move toward normal relations was just the beginning. American involvement in Cuba began long before Castro and the current socialist government. To understand the harm our government's actions have brought to the ...

Cuba: A Recipe For Failure

"With God's help, a free Cuba is what we will soon achieve," President Trump “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein President Trump recently said “Effective immediately, I am canceling the last administration’s completely one-sided deal with Cuba." With all his usual bombast and inaccuracy, Trump described Obama's normalization of diplomatic relations, and small steps toward normal economic relations, as “terrible and misguided.” Trump said his “historic“ actions to reverse these changes would “free” the Cuban people. But his “new“ policy is a return to the ...

One Veteran’s Perspective on the Vietnam Memorial Wall

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was in Superior July 20-23rd. The 250 foot, half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has more than 58,000 names of those American service members who were killed in Vietnam. It was billed as “The Wall That Heals.” The wall in Washington, D.C. is one of the most visited monuments in the capitol. For many visitors the physical act of touching the name of a loved one, relative, or a buddy served with, helps heal the sorrow, guilt, PTSD, and memories of the war. But is the wall about “healing?” Or is it another effort to justify the war? Our government is engaged in a campaign to refurbish the ...

Ruminations on Mowing Grass

  “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Mathew 6:28 & 29 I thought of this the other day when I was mowing grass. The wood violets were in full bloom all over the yard. I paused to “consider” the wild flowers of the field. They don't have to toil. They just come up with the spring rains. Neither did I have to buy them, plant them, weed them, or all the rest of the work of making a garden. I had just helped my wife plant flowers in her flower beds. This (and a couple of beers) got me rumina...

Constitutional Roulette

The far right efforts to re-write the U.S. Constitution moved closer to happening this week. The Wisconsin Assembly passed several resolutions calling for a national constitutional convention. This highly risky proposal is unnecessary. It is a dangerous gamble with our democracy and current political system. And it is a con job designed to achieve an objective very different than claimed by its supporters. Article V of the U.S. Constitution allows a convention for proposing amendments if two-thirds of the states (34) call for one. Amendments and other changes must be approved by three-quarters (38) of the state legislatures. If passed by the state ...

Wisconsin in the News

The current wrecking crew in Madison offers a potpourri of bad policy, goofiness, and recipes for future problems. The only good news out of Madison is that the Governor and Legislature are no longer always unified. There is division among the faithful. Here is a short list of issues in the news. Clean Water On June 1, Walker signed a bill that weakens regulation of high capacity wells. Senate Bill 76 eliminates DNR review of existing permits for high capacity wells when they are repaired, replaced, or sold in a real estate transaction. High capacity wells pump 100,000 gallons or more a day. Users include large farms, concentrated feeding ...