A Discussion Of Technology and Telecom Issues in Wisconsin
In the 18th century, we the people of the fledgling United States were fodder for the voracious tax appetite of Parliament. We were also subject to the capricious will of a sovereign monarch who was not constrained either by precedent or the Rule of Law. Then we had a revolution, followed by almost 290 years of a democratically-elected representative republic anchored by a seemingly bullet-proof Constitution.
The following guest posting is a copy of a letter from Jonathan Barry to his state representatives. Jonathan is the owner of a small ski hill in Wisconsin, and he is commenting on the proposed “joint and several liability law” that many believe is payback to Governor Doyle for the trial lawyers’ support during the last election. The fact that this liability change was buried in the budget act, and would not be debated on its merits, would seem to support that view.
Wisconsin has regulations directing all aspects of our childrens’ education. In particular, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) tells local school districts what to pay their teachers, which types of students must be in their classes, and generally what type of learning resources should be available to these students. But amidst all this chaff, they do not insist that the students actually learn critical thinking skills that would help them evaluate the credibility of what they read, the veracity what they hear from our leaders, and the authenticity of what they see on TV.
Most of us remember the scene in Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” where the ghost of Christmas future opens his robes to reveal a neglected boy and a malnourished girl who represent, respectively, “Ignorance and Want”. The ghost warns: “Beware them both, but most of all, beware this boy.” In Wisconsin education, this tableau has been played out countless times, but with the scenario turned on its head and the children’s roles redefined as “Knowledge Denied” and “Opportunities Lost”.
The Governor’s Club restaurant in the Concourse Hotel is Wisconsin’s version of New York’s Algonquin Hotel circa 1940 to 1960. Journalists’ and lobbyists’ conversations spill from one table to the next, news is made and overheard, and strategies are evolved to tap and divert power, influence and public revenue streams.
For those of you who have never learned to navigate the Wisconsin and national bureaucratic mind, we are providing a short guide to politicospeak as a public service.
Have you looked at your cable-TV bill recently? If you are experiencing the same frustrations as many of your peers, it went up at least 10% over the last few months, and some of your favorite channels may have been moved to a higher and more expensive tier. And guess what - are you ready for this surprise? The State of Wisconsin is to blame.
In many cases, there is nothing wrong with your phone, only with the wrong-headed regulatory authorities who would not approve a sufficient number of towers to provide seamless coverage.