Author Archives: dave cieslewicz

The other day — well, okay it took me two days — I built a display case for my collection of logo golf balls. It is one of my proudest accomplishments. Because I play golf the way everybody plays golf — which is to say, badly — I need to do something else while outContinue reading “My Purpose”

I can’t say that I’m proud of the snark that often graces these digital pages. I just write what I think and it turns out that sarcasm is often caught up in my authentic self. I am who I am. But I also like to think that back when I held a responsible adult jobContinue reading “Any Adults Around?”

Liberal democracy isn’t done. But it’s also far from safe. This is going to be a long fight. That’s the lesson I take from the last year or so of election results around the globe. Trump returned to office and he’s now doubling down in his effort to destroy any semblance of democracy or humanContinue reading “The Long Struggle”

Not taxing tips is a really stupid idea. Let me offer a half dozen arguments against this. It’s just rank pandering for votes in Nevada. It’s almost certain that a tax exemption on tips will soon become law. It’s part of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” and even the Democrats support it. That’s not because it’sContinue reading “Tax Those Tips”

Next year Madison’s school district will spend 8% more than it did the year before. That will be $20,300 per student or 15% more than the average district spends on a per student basis. School taxes on the average Madison home will go up by $834. And what will we get for all that money?Continue reading “MMSD: More $, No Accountability”

This week’s quote comes to us from none other than our own Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who said: “I’m just as prone as everyone else to go, ‘Well, that’s wacko. That’s a conspiracy.’ But then you start getting the information and you start going, ‘Wow, is that weird.’ And as we find out, in soContinue reading “The Q&Q For 5/31/25”

Long time readers of YSDA will know that I’m somewhat spirited in my opposition to forgiving college debt. I’ve got a dozen or so reasons for that, but the primary one is that people should keep their promises, not to mention their legal obligations. You took out a loan. You promised to pay it back.Continue reading “Tax Me”

I’m glad to see early talk among Democrats of nominating a moderate for president in 2028. I’m just not sure I like Rahm Emanuel for the job. In a recent piece in the Wall Street Journal, Emanuel talks more or less openly about his ambitions in that regard. I like a lot of what heContinue reading “Rahm in ’28? Meh.”

This last weekend marked the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. It’s a lesson in how the hard-left hurts its own causes. Floyd didn’t deserve to be blamed for his own death, as the hard-right is trying to do right now, or canonized, as the hard-left has done ever since his death. The truth aboutContinue reading “Squandering Floyd’s Legacy”

It’s Memorial Day, so let’s do some reflecting on war. Here’s my key reflection: the most dangerous thing we face right now may be the passing of the WW II generation. Here’s why. Let’s start with some good news. Despite the awful things happening in Gaza and Ukraine, overall since WW II we have livedContinue reading “The Future of War”