Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sen. Elizabeth Warren likes to say that we need “big, bold systemic change.” Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about a “political revolution.” Trumpy hard-right folks just want to blow everything to smithereens and see what happens next. Here at YSDA we champion small, timid puttering around the edges. It’s the way to go. And now someoneContinue reading “For Small, Timid Change”

It’s Sunday morning, so maybe you don’t feel like getting your geek on. No problem. We’re here to nerd out for you. The Wisconsin State Journal ran a long, dense and wonderful story today about the Republicans’ flat tax proposal. Don’t feel like pawing through all those numbers? Let me summarize it in four simpleContinue reading “A Middle Ground on Taxes”

Let me stipulate upfront that I’m no fan of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He’s much too conservative for my tastes, he’s flirted with various conspiracy theories and he’s a political opportunist of the highest order. And for reasons of political opportunism he’s decided to cast himself as the leading opponent of a constellation of badContinue reading “DeSantis Is Right About Woke”

In December of 2021 Darrell Brooks plowed his SUV into a crowd at a holiday parade in Waukesha. He killed six people and injured dozens more. A habitual criminal, Brooks was free on only $1,000 bail. His actions that day didn’t just end six lives. It also ended any serious discussion of reducing or eliminatingContinue reading “Unwise”

My priorities are all messed up. Until a few days ago I hadn’t realized that for an entire year my beloved M&M’s candies were undermining the social order. For the past year I’ve been obsessing over trivia: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, inflation and the concern about recession, crime, the Madison schools and junk like that.Continue reading “The Candy Wars”

Christopher Hitchens didn’t take many prisoners. The day after the Rev. Jerry Falwell died he went on Fox news to declare, “If you gave Falwell an enema he could be buried in a matchbox.” Hitchens himself was buried, probably in something larger than a matchbox, in 2011 at age 62, the victim of cancer. He leftContinue reading “There’s Only One Hitch”

House Democrats are forming the Heartland Caucus. That’s good, but it needs to be just the first step. Led by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan), a group of Democrats from the Midwest has formed the caucus. They hope to grow the group to around 40 members, but it already includes prominent members like Rep. Ilhan OmarContinue reading “Midwest: Heartland Caucus Is a Good Start”

A Florida Gators booster group offered a hot quarterback prospect $13 million in advertising contracts (called Name, Image and Likeness or NIL) to sign with the team. That was a wonderful thing. It was the free market at work and it meant that a player was finally being paid something close to what he wasContinue reading “The Pretentious Hypocrisy of the Varsity Collective”

Here’s the way it’s supposed to work. A candidate for a judicial seat is asked a direct question about how she would rule on a hot button issue. The candidate demurs, instead talking in general terms about how her personal views will not impact her decisions. At the same time she winks and nods atContinue reading “Honesty and the Court”

Since the fall elections a strange thing has been happening in Wisconsin politics. Gov. Tony Evers and Speaker Robin Vos have sought a reset on their relationship. Evers met with Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LaMehieu shortly after the election and Vos has talked about working more cooperatively with the Democratic governor. It’s notContinue reading “Promise of Progress”