A Crazy Idea

Back in May I decided to once again take the summer off to focus on book writing projects. But I added one fateful caveat: I would occasionally write about the Wisconsin governor’s race. How was I to know that the Democrats would turn their primary into a demolition derby? I couldn’t look away.

Now that the dust has settled on all that, my plan is to spend what’s left of the summer in peace and quiet. But before I leave you for a month or so, let me toss out one more insane notion.

What if the fall campaign were about issues?

No, seriously. When you think about it, the latest stupid thing Donald Trump has said or the details of the Democratic Socialist agenda (now that the Democratic nominee is not a Democratic Socialist) aren’t at all relevant to the lives of Wisconsinites. I’m sure you can think of more, but here are some actual issues that I’d like to hear discussed before November.

What are we going to do with the surplus? The state has $2 billion burning a hole in its pocket. Gov. Tony Evers and the Republican legislative leadership — all on their way to retirement — came up with a plan to spend it. All the candidates blasted it primarily because it created a long-term structural deficit — and also maybe because they envisioned themselves spending the money. Okay, fine. So, what’s their plan now?

How are we going to lower or restrain property taxes? School property tax referenda have been adding up and now even cities are going to the polls to ask taxpayers for more money. We have a housing affordability problem that is exacerbated by high property taxes. What are we going to do about it?

How can we make housing more affordable? Getting some costs off the property tax is one way, but what else might be done? There is something real behind the populist movements on left and right and maybe at the root of it is the difficulty young people are having in building wealth through home ownership. The average age of a first home purchase now is 41.

What are we going to do about pre-K to college education? Our public schools are producing mediocre test scores despite the passage of so many spending and taxing referenda. Meanwhile, the UW has shut down several two-year campuses and some of the four-year institutions are in financial trouble while the Madison campus continues to move into elite territory. Small private liberal arts colleges have been shutting down. The teachers unions continue to harp on the state’s voucher programs as if those were the root of all evil. Lots of issues here to sort out.

What are we going to do about the brain drain? Related to the education issue, a recent report found that Wisconsin is second only to North Dakota in losing bright young people to other states. And we’re an aging population to begin with. What can we do to keep them here or to attract more young people from other states? Could Wisconsin become a climate haven, given our relative insulation from the worst impacts of climate change?

What are we going to do about data centers? Some want a statewide moratorium. Is that a good idea — given the energy, water and land use impacts — or should we let local governments decide if they would rather have the property tax base growth?

After decades, the Stewardship Fund land conservation program was allowed to lapse this summer. Should it be reinstated and, if so, for how much? Should it continue to be primarily a land acquisition program or should we switch the emphasis to habitat restoration and park and trail improvements?

There are lots of interesting, substantive issues that could feed the discussion for the next 80 days or so and the public would be well-served by it.

But you and I would be best served by my taking the rest of the summer off. Which I now plan to do. See you sometime in September.