345 results for author: Phil Anderson

Other News Stories

“I think the person running the country should be smarter than I am. We’ve just lived through the alternative, and it was only good for the liquor industry.” Andy Borowitz, political satirist, in his 2022 book “Profiles in Ignorance: How America's Politicians Got Dumb and Dumber.“   Mr. Borowitz was talking about President Trump in his first term. Now we are living through another round of incompetent, fact-free, ego driven mismanagement. Only this time the damage being done is much more severe and comprehensive.   We can get overwhelmed and numbed by the constant flood of ridiculous bluster, outrageous lies and bad ...

Are You Outraged?

"If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." Comedian Lily Tomlin We all should be outraged at the blitzkrieg of illegal, unconstitutional, dictatorial and simply stupid actions of the Trump administration. This article is about two of their outrageous actions that are blatantly immoral as well. One is the continuing, shameful support for genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. The other is the shameful abandoning of the Afghan refugees who were our friends and allies in our country's longest war. Mike Huckabee. Trump's Ambassador to Israel, says he is “outraged.” But he is not outraged that the United States is facilitating and ...

Budget Chaos in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson is concerned about the impact on Wisconsin's state budget from Trump's cuts to federal funding. The cuts being implemented at the federal level will create havoc with the Wisconsin state budget. Senator Larson has introduced emergency legislation – the Frozen Federal Funds Emergency Act – to help deal with this problem.   The proposed bill requires the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if the Trump funding cuts are implemented. The extraordinary session would “consider” providing money from the “budget stabilization fund to state agencies, eligible local governmental units and eligible ...

Peace is Possible and Patriotic

“..I know a great deal of the horrors and tragedies of war...The cost of war in human lives...I am deeply moved to find some means or method of avoiding another calamity of war...” Gen. George C. Marshall   We often think of military veterans as aggressive warriors and super-patriots who believe war is necessary to protect our country. But throughout history, there have been many soldiers who  advocated for peaceful solutions to conflicts. Having experienced war, they understood that war was not worth the costs.   Sun Tzu (544-496 BC), the Chinese general and author of “The Art of War,” wrote, “There is no instance of ...

A Budget for Real People

“The most frustrating part for me as governor is that Republicans consistently reject basic, commonsense proposals that can help kids, families, farmers, seniors and Wisconsinites across our state...” Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers   “Unfortunately, [Evers] sends us an executive budget that’s just piles full of stuff that doesn’t make sense and spends recklessly and raises taxes and has way too much policy.” Wisconsin Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee.   Are these two contrasting views on the Wisconsin budgeting process another example both sides being unwilling to compromise ...

Wisconsin’s Budget

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has released his proposed 2025-2027 budget. In what has become a legislative tradition, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos declared Evers’ proposal “dead on arrival.” The next step in the biennial battle is for the Republican controlled Joint Finance Committee to write their own budget ignoring most of Evers' work.   Gov. Evers' budget proposes a $119 billion plan for investments in education, healthcare, public health, cleaning up environmental problems and tax relief for the lower tax brackets. There are a number of improvements for social services and policy issues that will be good for most Wisconsinites. &n...

The Environmental Cost of Computers

There is an old saying, “Whenever you light a candle you also cast a shadow.” There are always downsides to any choices, changes or innovations. Computer chip technology, computers and the Internet have transformed everything and improved many things. But are we looking at the inevitable shadows? The Minnesota Center for Environment Advocacy (MCEA) recently had a webinar on the environmental impact of data centers which run the online world. They explain the environmental shadows many of us are not seeing. You can watch the MCRA webinar, or read a transcript, by searching for “Minnesota’s Digital Dilemma: examining the environmental costs ...

Budget Chaos in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Senator Chris Larson is concerned about the impact on Wisconsin's state budget from Trump's cuts to federal funding. The cuts being implemented at the federal level will create havoc with the Wisconsin state budget. Senator Larson has introduced emergency legislation – the Frozen Federal Funds Emergency Act – to help deal with this problem.   The proposed bill requires the legislature to convene an extraordinary session if the Trump funding cuts are implemented. The extraordinary session would “consider” providing money from the “budget stabilization fund to state agencies, eligible local governmental units and eligible ...

Economic Conundrums

“There is always enough for the needy, there is never enough for the greedy.” Mahatma Gandhi “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.” Edward Abbey environmentalist and author Most of us would be better off if we spent less, spent more wisely, and saved more. But what happens to an economy based on consumer spending when consumers don't spend? If we all do what is good for our personal situation will the economy crash? American consumer capitalism is full of conundrums. Consumer spending drives the economy but is often not good for consumers. Competition drives innovation but cooperation is essential to everyon...

YOUR TAX RECEIPT

People like to complain about taxes. Polls tell us most people think the tax system is unfair and they pay too much. But what most people think is rarely reality. There are many false beliefs about who pays, how much we pay and where it all goes. “Most conservative criticisms about the ill effects of taxes are exaggerated or untrue. Taxes are in fact good -- they are dues we pay to enjoy the numerous vital benefits that government provides for our society” This quote is from Dr. Douglas J. Amy, Professor Emeritus of Politics at Mount Holyoke College and author of “Government is Good - An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital institution” (a ...