Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

I’ve been reading up on astrophysics this summer. Don’t ask why.  Okay, well, since you asked, it’s because I’ve had reason to confront my own mortality more than I’d like to what with a friend and two family members passing away in the last several months. Since I’m neither religious nor spiritual this makes aContinue reading “Problems In Astrophysics”

When it comes to public art give me stuff that is beautiful, inspiring, maybe whimsical. Just don’t allow the artist to shove his political, cultural or bizarre aesthetic views down my throat. That’s what galleries are for. Bland is fine. I don’t want to have my world view challenged as I walk down the street.Continue reading “The Public Should Like Public Art”

Last week Pres. Joe Biden did what presidents do. He took a trip down to Florida to survey the hurricane damage, to say reassuring things and to promise help. The usual thing is for a state’s governor, Republican or Democrat, to show up to join the president if for no other reason than to showContinue reading “The Smallness of Ron DeSantis”

It’s Labor Day Weekend when politicians and the media will spend 72 hours missing the point. The point is that labor is not synonymous with unions, a fact that you could easily miss with all the coverage of union Labor Day picnics. Consider these facts provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics: In the longContinue reading “Unions Aren’t the Answer”

I don’t much like what the Democratic Party has become. I stick with it because I really don’t like what’s become of the Trumpy Republicans. The Democrats used to be the party of the working class. Now it’s the party of condescending snobs. Latest case in point (you can find a case in point everyContinue reading “Rich Lessons in Rich Men North of Richmond”

When Gov. Tony Evers included $290 million for the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium renovations in his proposed state budget in February I figured the chances of the team getting the taxpayers’ money were about 100%. Now, to channel Bob Uecker when he makes his attendance predictions, I’d say it’s in that, oh I don’t know, maybeContinue reading “Maybe the Brewers Won’t Get Their Handout”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court may be headed for its own constitutional crisis. Chief Justice Annette Ziegler is refusing to acknowledge the legitimacy of a new governing committee set up by the Court’s new liberal majority and she says she will advertise nationally for a new courts administrator, despite the fact that the liberals have alreadyContinue reading “Court Spirals Down”

Today is the 60th anniversary of the march on Washington during which Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech. It was a march that worked. That’s a rare thing. As a political strategy I’m not a big fan of marches and street protests. As a rule, I think these thingsContinue reading “Why Did MLK’s Dream March Succeed?”

Let’s face it. The Wisconsin Supreme Court is a hot mess.  Let’s review.  For over a decade Republicans, and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce in particular, took aim at the court, while liberals and Democrats pretty much slept in. It started in 2008 when the eminently qualified — and first Black — Justice Louis Butler wasContinue reading “Court Jesters”

How committed am I to you, loyal YSDA readers? Well, I watched the whole damn Republican debate tonight. The whole damn thing. And I did it without a cocktail. That’s how much. Ok, so let’s make this quick. Four take-aways. Vivek Ramaswamy won. He didn’t win with me, understand. I thought he came off likeContinue reading “Ramaswamy Won”