James Rowen, of The Political Environment, is doing admirable work covering the shameful and monstrous Wisconsin wolf hunt.
For more on this barbaric practice, here's some of the links:
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/feed-wolf-trap-wolf-shoot-wolf.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/ten-days-of-wi-wolf-killing-exceeds.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/blood-in-woods-wi-wolf-kill-hits-110.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/wisconsins-state-sanctioned-wolf-hunt.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/quickened-wi-wolf-kill-closing-in-on.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/q-do-wolves-take-as-many-deer-as-some.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/wi-wolf-kill-total-at-66.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/wi-wolf-kill-to-turn-50-shades-of-red.html
http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/10/eight-wi-wolves-harvested-since-tuesday.html
Showing posts with label James Rowen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label James Rowen. Show all posts
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Political Hack Boosterism
Is the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel implicitly supporting Paul Ryan and Scott Walker in their attempts at advancement within the Republican party and on the national stage? It doesn't seem a day, or at least week, goes by without some glowing article about one of these characters in the paper.
In the article, Walker Gets Strong Support At GOP Convention, they report on Scott Walker's popularity at the state Republican convention, but no mention is made of his disastrous policies and performance for Milwaukee County.
Ryan Draws Inspiration From Family, Mentors is a big warm literary hug from the Journal to Paul Ryan. It's tells of his family, previous jobs, and his economic views. They mention his work at Empower America, a right-wing lobbying group, and for Sam Brownback, an ultra conservative Kansan. Of course none of this is put in context or given any weight, in that these experiences may give insight into how Ryan wants to or would govern. He has a degree from the University of Miami Ohio in economics, so this makes him a serious economist alongside Paul Krugman, John Keynes, and Joe Stiglitz. Or at least that's how the Republican party and the Journal-Sentinel have been selling the story whenever Ryan spouts something regarding taxes or deficits.
Ryan Shines As GOP Seeks Vision is the extended version of the Journal slobbering all over Paul. At one moment the article states, "Ryan has clearly made the bet that he can offer detailed, controversial, conservative ideas (personal accounts for Social Security; vouchers for Medicare; lower tax rates for the wealthy; freezing most domestic spending) and still prosper politically, as long as voters see him as substantive, civil, inclusive and attentive." But then the story primarily goes back to patting Ryan on the back, and doesn't really delve into the fact that this is the same old party line coming from a younger face.
A whole compendium of Walker falacies, errors, and other stories can be found at The Political Environment. They also have plenty on Paul Ryan. I, too, have a previous post on Walker's ineptitude, and two previous posts on Ryan (here and here).
To me, this supposed reporting is more correctly described as boosterism. Blatant boosterism from a media organization for political figures. It's as if they are reporting GOP talking points. I hope the Journal follows suit with glowing and loving pieces about Jim Doyle and whomever may be running against Paul Ryan next.
In the article, Walker Gets Strong Support At GOP Convention, they report on Scott Walker's popularity at the state Republican convention, but no mention is made of his disastrous policies and performance for Milwaukee County.
Ryan Draws Inspiration From Family, Mentors is a big warm literary hug from the Journal to Paul Ryan. It's tells of his family, previous jobs, and his economic views. They mention his work at Empower America, a right-wing lobbying group, and for Sam Brownback, an ultra conservative Kansan. Of course none of this is put in context or given any weight, in that these experiences may give insight into how Ryan wants to or would govern. He has a degree from the University of Miami Ohio in economics, so this makes him a serious economist alongside Paul Krugman, John Keynes, and Joe Stiglitz. Or at least that's how the Republican party and the Journal-Sentinel have been selling the story whenever Ryan spouts something regarding taxes or deficits.
Ryan Shines As GOP Seeks Vision is the extended version of the Journal slobbering all over Paul. At one moment the article states, "Ryan has clearly made the bet that he can offer detailed, controversial, conservative ideas (personal accounts for Social Security; vouchers for Medicare; lower tax rates for the wealthy; freezing most domestic spending) and still prosper politically, as long as voters see him as substantive, civil, inclusive and attentive." But then the story primarily goes back to patting Ryan on the back, and doesn't really delve into the fact that this is the same old party line coming from a younger face.
A whole compendium of Walker falacies, errors, and other stories can be found at The Political Environment. They also have plenty on Paul Ryan. I, too, have a previous post on Walker's ineptitude, and two previous posts on Ryan (here and here).
To me, this supposed reporting is more correctly described as boosterism. Blatant boosterism from a media organization for political figures. It's as if they are reporting GOP talking points. I hope the Journal follows suit with glowing and loving pieces about Jim Doyle and whomever may be running against Paul Ryan next.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Down on the Farm
James Rowen, of the Political Environment, has the lastest on the disaster that is Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc.
For Further Reading:
Corporate Blackmail
Pabst Farms Mirage
Pabst Farms Pork
For Further Reading:
Corporate Blackmail
Pabst Farms Mirage
Pabst Farms Pork
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Water & Sprawl
An excellent post by James Rowen of the Political Environment on Waukesha's thirst for Milwaukee's water and it's (apparently) never-ending appetite to sprawl.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Road To Nowhere
James Rowen has rightfully been all over and against the push for more highway construction using stimulus dollars. He points the finger at the road-building lobby. More of the same wasteful, sprawl-style development.
Here's an excellent article from the Financial Times illuminating the long, misguided history of highway building.
Here's an excellent article from the Financial Times illuminating the long, misguided history of highway building.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Pabst Farms Pork
Can we end the push for Pabst Farms already? [Hat tip to James Rowen]
Kudos to Mayor Barrett for telling the state to put the kaibash on this project and use the money to repair roads and accomplish more urgent needs.
This last thing we need right now, especially in this economy, where retail sales have fallen off a cliff, is another retail wonderland.
Kudos to Mayor Barrett for telling the state to put the kaibash on this project and use the money to repair roads and accomplish more urgent needs.
This last thing we need right now, especially in this economy, where retail sales have fallen off a cliff, is another retail wonderland.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Doing Development Right
James Rowen, of the Political Environment (an excellent blog), gave kudos to John Kovari, of the Public Policy Forum for a blog he posted regarding regional development. While it's great that the Journal-Sentinel raises this issue, and that Rowen and Kovari are engaging in a discourse about such, it's seems there is much context missing from the discussion. If we really want to tackle the problems of sprawl and other urban issues we need to operate from a much bolder paradigm, rather than tinkering around the edges of a system and models that do not work.
John Kovari opines, "There has been little empirical evidence linking regional cooperation initiatives or regional governing bodies with clear economic benefits." In the Midwest region, alone, Indianapolis and Minneapolis are shining examples of regional governance done correctly. The problem isn't a lack of empirical evidence supporting regional governance, but NIMBYist parochialism and a lack of political will to put such plans into operation.
Mr. Kovari reports, "There is much economic research, based on the “public choice” theory of Charles Tiebout, that argues that local competition is more efficient than regional cooperation." Tiebout's model is based on highly restrictive assumptions, which rarely pan out in the real world. The model places much reliance on the invisible hand of the market to steer decisions, somehow, toward Pareto optimal outcomes (which are assumed the apex of outcomes, but again are based on an unreasonable framework of theoretical idealism). The model assumes that every person can move whenever and wherever they wish. It also presupposes that local government public goods provision is known and stable. All of which are highly dubious assumptions.
Kovari writes, "Strong, tangible incentives from individual municipalities (along with state tax breaks) draw the first-class corporations." This is a roundabout, and very kind way to describe our system of economic development, which is basically bribery by businesses pitting one city against another, driving up their bounty. Numerous studies by Peter Fisher, Greg LeRoy, et al have shown the inefficiency of this system.
Near the end of the posting, he states, "Regional cooperation in building specific infrastructure projects, such as public transit or intermodal freight stations, has been found consistently to raise local property values." Yet these basic infrastructure improvements, other than highways, seem to take lower priority in budgets year after year. Maintaining the public infrastructure in itself is a sound public policy for providing jobs and attracting business.
As more tax code is written which allows corporations to avoid taxes, and as more cities give exemptions and breaks to business, obviously homeowners pay more. There is a minimum standard of public goods and services people expect, this is why people (with the means to move) choose a community. If cities strangle their taxpayers pocket books to provide reduced public service provision -- due to uncollected corporate taxes, and costly and unnecessary business incentives -- this is a sure way to drive away residents.
A crucial component to solving our urban issues is federal directives ending the "war among the cities" and redistributive policies that give taxpaying homeowners a break, by removing some of the exemptions, tax breaks, and unnecessary TIFs and such littering our landscape.
John Kovari opines, "There has been little empirical evidence linking regional cooperation initiatives or regional governing bodies with clear economic benefits." In the Midwest region, alone, Indianapolis and Minneapolis are shining examples of regional governance done correctly. The problem isn't a lack of empirical evidence supporting regional governance, but NIMBYist parochialism and a lack of political will to put such plans into operation.
Mr. Kovari reports, "There is much economic research, based on the “public choice” theory of Charles Tiebout, that argues that local competition is more efficient than regional cooperation." Tiebout's model is based on highly restrictive assumptions, which rarely pan out in the real world. The model places much reliance on the invisible hand of the market to steer decisions, somehow, toward Pareto optimal outcomes (which are assumed the apex of outcomes, but again are based on an unreasonable framework of theoretical idealism). The model assumes that every person can move whenever and wherever they wish. It also presupposes that local government public goods provision is known and stable. All of which are highly dubious assumptions.
Kovari writes, "Strong, tangible incentives from individual municipalities (along with state tax breaks) draw the first-class corporations." This is a roundabout, and very kind way to describe our system of economic development, which is basically bribery by businesses pitting one city against another, driving up their bounty. Numerous studies by Peter Fisher, Greg LeRoy, et al have shown the inefficiency of this system.
Near the end of the posting, he states, "Regional cooperation in building specific infrastructure projects, such as public transit or intermodal freight stations, has been found consistently to raise local property values." Yet these basic infrastructure improvements, other than highways, seem to take lower priority in budgets year after year. Maintaining the public infrastructure in itself is a sound public policy for providing jobs and attracting business.
As more tax code is written which allows corporations to avoid taxes, and as more cities give exemptions and breaks to business, obviously homeowners pay more. There is a minimum standard of public goods and services people expect, this is why people (with the means to move) choose a community. If cities strangle their taxpayers pocket books to provide reduced public service provision -- due to uncollected corporate taxes, and costly and unnecessary business incentives -- this is a sure way to drive away residents.
A crucial component to solving our urban issues is federal directives ending the "war among the cities" and redistributive policies that give taxpaying homeowners a break, by removing some of the exemptions, tax breaks, and unnecessary TIFs and such littering our landscape.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
For Sale: Milwaukee County
No matter what the problem or the cause - cutting taxes, privatizing (or eliminating) public services, and/or eliminating programs always seems to be the Republican answer.
Redistributive policies seem to only flow upward these days (and most days). There’s never talk about controlling runaway executive pay (that’s just the “price of business”). There is no discussion of restoring equity between workers productivity and wages. Any mention of taxation, programs for improving Americans lives, money for infrastructure improvement, or what is generally regarded as investment in the public good and long-term sustainability, is immediately dismissed as socialistic and a slippery slope toward a welfare state.
When times are tough for workers…oh well, suck it up and hope for the best. When the Haves are presented with falling asset prices, measly stock returns, diminishing capital gains, or underperforming investment yields in general, then it’s time for the government to step in and spend.
If the last thirty years should have taught us anything, it’s that supply-side policies and privatization don’t work.
Scott Walker, like most Republicans, doesn’t understand this. This is why he wants to cut more Milwaukee County jobs and turn the services over to the private sector, while also selling off our airport. How convenient…more and more airlines will no doubt be facing bankruptcy due to increasing costs (fuel just being one of these). So the plan is to sell the private sector our airport, and then a few years down the line to have to bailout the private airlines, again, from the financial mess they have been creating, on and off, for many years with their mismanagement?
How often do we have to keep bailing out industry after industry before we realize they are not efficient, the market doesn’t have all the answers, and maybe, just maybe, government when run by people whom actually want to govern is a good thing? Maybe some things, like public infrastructure such as airports, are a public good and are not meant to make a profit.
James Rowen details Walker’s far-reaching incompetence regarding transit. Rowen also reports how amid all the talk of cuts and layoffs, Walker found money to give raises to some of his aides.
The problem with Walker’s shenanigans is that he won’t be the one to suffer from his policies, but his constituents in Milwaukee County will. The Republicans are a party so attached to ideology they are detached from reality.
For Further Reading:
Supply-side Economics
Redistributive policies seem to only flow upward these days (and most days). There’s never talk about controlling runaway executive pay (that’s just the “price of business”). There is no discussion of restoring equity between workers productivity and wages. Any mention of taxation, programs for improving Americans lives, money for infrastructure improvement, or what is generally regarded as investment in the public good and long-term sustainability, is immediately dismissed as socialistic and a slippery slope toward a welfare state.
When times are tough for workers…oh well, suck it up and hope for the best. When the Haves are presented with falling asset prices, measly stock returns, diminishing capital gains, or underperforming investment yields in general, then it’s time for the government to step in and spend.
If the last thirty years should have taught us anything, it’s that supply-side policies and privatization don’t work.
Scott Walker, like most Republicans, doesn’t understand this. This is why he wants to cut more Milwaukee County jobs and turn the services over to the private sector, while also selling off our airport. How convenient…more and more airlines will no doubt be facing bankruptcy due to increasing costs (fuel just being one of these). So the plan is to sell the private sector our airport, and then a few years down the line to have to bailout the private airlines, again, from the financial mess they have been creating, on and off, for many years with their mismanagement?
How often do we have to keep bailing out industry after industry before we realize they are not efficient, the market doesn’t have all the answers, and maybe, just maybe, government when run by people whom actually want to govern is a good thing? Maybe some things, like public infrastructure such as airports, are a public good and are not meant to make a profit.
James Rowen details Walker’s far-reaching incompetence regarding transit. Rowen also reports how amid all the talk of cuts and layoffs, Walker found money to give raises to some of his aides.
The problem with Walker’s shenanigans is that he won’t be the one to suffer from his policies, but his constituents in Milwaukee County will. The Republicans are a party so attached to ideology they are detached from reality.
For Further Reading:
Supply-side Economics
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