Wasting time in Madison
I am convinced that our state legislature has nothing to do, or at least suffers from ADD, because they can't seem to focus on what their job needs to be.
Last week, a former student who charges that he suffered bullying and racist remarks while attending Mukwonago High School (home of the Indians, at least for now) was due to the school's mascot, and lawmakers were all ears.
While I don't doubt the young man's claims, I wonder if his expression as a Native American would have drawn similar comments if he went to Franklin, Whitnall or other culturally-neutral schools. In other words, is it the mascot (which is drawn respectfully and not like a cartoon charicature), or is the fact that high school students in general are culturally insensitive? If it's the latter, then removing the mascot and the name not only doesn't address the real problem of racism, it only serves to remove the presence of the culture, which the city is obviously very proud to promote?
This comes while the state is telling us all yes of COURSE we need high speed rail, even though we're relegated to girding our bridges with nets so the chunks of concrete that are falling off of them won't hit your Honda and take off your head.
The question I've had is 'isn't there something IMPORTANT lawmakers should be doing instead?"
Oh, yeah....
Federal law requires states to provide ballots to military and overseas voters at least 45 days before the Nov. 2 election. The deadline to do that is just four days after Wisconsin's Sept. 14 primary, but it takes about two weeks to finalize that vote. Which means that our primary is 10 days too late. Apparently no one in Madison has a calendar, and now that Wisconsin has been denied a waiver regarding this requirement, active military may lose their right to vote in an election that includes key races for governor as well as the U.S.Senate.
I don't care if I have to vote September 4th, however I understand the logistical nightmare it would be to put an election on the Saturday of a holiday weekend. What should have been discussed many months ago is placing the primary in early June, as many states do. It would have allowed for the candidates more time to debate and campaign, and oh yeah - the very people who put their lives on the line to ensure our freedom to cast a ballot could have voted, too.
I'm hoping there still is a solution, but in the meantime, I hope we all make our votes count and are heard in Madison, where apparently they have their priorities screwed up.
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