Here we go, Wisconsinites. High speed rail is derailed The first act of idiocy by your idiot-elect:
"I don't see anything that would change my mind...." Scott Walker, speaking on the future of the high speed rail project between Milwaukee and Madison.
Mr. Walker's mind is firmly opposed and his pockets generously enriched by road builder and car manufacturer campaign contributions. This guy bought the election with a bunch of promises to rich old white men, whose time needs to be over if the United States expects to survive.
Walker is going to "ask" Congress to let Wisconsin keep the $810 million designated for the high speed rail project and use if for roads. If that doesn't give you a shining example of how clueless this moron is, I don't know what will.
None of the money provided to Wisconsin may be used for road or highway projects, or anything other than high-speed rail.
The high speed rail project was predicted to employ 4,732 people at its peak in 2012. So much for Idiot-Elect Walker and his promise to create jobs. The only thing Walker will create is a depressed state economy, an idle workforce, and hopefully many memorable lapses of intelligence, which I will continue to report here.
Always looking for a little bright side, and some small Erlaichda, this stupid son of a b*tch, Scott Walker, at least will be out of Milwaukee County politics soon.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Chicago and the Widening Gap Between Rich and Poor
My husband and I get out of Milwaukee as frequently as we can. We usually go to Chicago, which is a real city with a palpable vibrancy and a true identity. Alas, Milwaukee falls short on so many levels, by comparison, we don't even consider it a "real" city and we rarely spend any time or money going out on the town here. That's not to say Milwaukee doesn't have cultural offerings, it does, they are just so very limited.
This past weekend was no different; Chicago delivered on every level. Theatre was great, shopping was great, eating was beyond great. To get anywhere, we hopped on a subway. We walked for miles. In short, we had a terrific experience, as we always do in Chicago.
One of our walks took us down Oak Street, right off the Magnificent Mile. This is the street where all the high end of the high end stores are. Prada. Hermes, Chanel. I suppose it would be nice to have so much money, buying a silk scarf at Hermes that would cost you close to $1,000 would be no big deal. (I do, however, fail to see the importance of a $1,000 scarf.) Or a pair of shoes at Chanel for $895. Unless those shoes can miraculously turn you into a great dancer, I just don't get it. But there is the status thing. I assume people buy these things to show that they are different than the people who don't buy those things.
Not really. I bought a new handbag at Macy's. I'm sure someone bought the new $4,000 clutch at Chanel this weekend, too. Now, I love my handbag, which was really inexpensive compared to the handbag at Chanel. It doesn't particularly make me feel different, but it does hold all my stuff quite nicely. I asked myself how I would have felt if I had bought the large handbag at Chanel, which was so outrageously expensive it should have doubled as a studio apartment. The answer was, I'd feel sick to my stomach. Even if I could have afforded it.
There just isn't anything you can buy in a store that is worth the inflated price people pay for it. And high end, designer stores are probably one of the biggest scams perpetuated against a rich and unsuspecting public. I'm sure people go into these stores because they get the "exclusive" feel that makes them feel special and the store, by its very design, keeps out the riff raff. (Not true, I was in there this weekend.) I'm afraid that having a $1,000 Hermes scarf won't change a thing about my life, or anyone else's.....but it is the perception that people are buying here, not the actual item.
So my perception is this. There are many nice things available to purchase. There are many crappy, cheap items available to purchase, or steal, depending on your economic status. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, none of this stuff changes who you are or what you are. The reality is, some people have so much money, they don't have to think twice about dropping $6,000 on a handbag. And most have so little money, they don't need a handbag, they can carry their fortunes in their pocket.
I just find it interesting, going from Prada to the subway, the vast difference in our little consumer-driven United States. And I wonder how long the gap can exist before there is a revolution against the unfairness and unreality of it all. There is a reason why the French Revolution was one of the bloodiest, deadliest episodes in all of history. And there is a lesson to be learned, there. You won't learn it on Oak Street. I suggest taking a subway ride in your mink coat and Chanel handbag. The really rich people in this country will be imprisoned by all of their money eventually. And the meek shall inherit this earth.
This past weekend was no different; Chicago delivered on every level. Theatre was great, shopping was great, eating was beyond great. To get anywhere, we hopped on a subway. We walked for miles. In short, we had a terrific experience, as we always do in Chicago.
One of our walks took us down Oak Street, right off the Magnificent Mile. This is the street where all the high end of the high end stores are. Prada. Hermes, Chanel. I suppose it would be nice to have so much money, buying a silk scarf at Hermes that would cost you close to $1,000 would be no big deal. (I do, however, fail to see the importance of a $1,000 scarf.) Or a pair of shoes at Chanel for $895. Unless those shoes can miraculously turn you into a great dancer, I just don't get it. But there is the status thing. I assume people buy these things to show that they are different than the people who don't buy those things.
Not really. I bought a new handbag at Macy's. I'm sure someone bought the new $4,000 clutch at Chanel this weekend, too. Now, I love my handbag, which was really inexpensive compared to the handbag at Chanel. It doesn't particularly make me feel different, but it does hold all my stuff quite nicely. I asked myself how I would have felt if I had bought the large handbag at Chanel, which was so outrageously expensive it should have doubled as a studio apartment. The answer was, I'd feel sick to my stomach. Even if I could have afforded it.
There just isn't anything you can buy in a store that is worth the inflated price people pay for it. And high end, designer stores are probably one of the biggest scams perpetuated against a rich and unsuspecting public. I'm sure people go into these stores because they get the "exclusive" feel that makes them feel special and the store, by its very design, keeps out the riff raff. (Not true, I was in there this weekend.) I'm afraid that having a $1,000 Hermes scarf won't change a thing about my life, or anyone else's.....but it is the perception that people are buying here, not the actual item.
So my perception is this. There are many nice things available to purchase. There are many crappy, cheap items available to purchase, or steal, depending on your economic status. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, none of this stuff changes who you are or what you are. The reality is, some people have so much money, they don't have to think twice about dropping $6,000 on a handbag. And most have so little money, they don't need a handbag, they can carry their fortunes in their pocket.
I just find it interesting, going from Prada to the subway, the vast difference in our little consumer-driven United States. And I wonder how long the gap can exist before there is a revolution against the unfairness and unreality of it all. There is a reason why the French Revolution was one of the bloodiest, deadliest episodes in all of history. And there is a lesson to be learned, there. You won't learn it on Oak Street. I suggest taking a subway ride in your mink coat and Chanel handbag. The really rich people in this country will be imprisoned by all of their money eventually. And the meek shall inherit this earth.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Warnings
My husband warned me that I'm going to really irritate and upset the wrong people if I continue to write this blog.
Good for me! Irritating and upsetting the wrong people (at least, wrong for the job they're in) is going to be my lifelong work.
So be warned:
You can't hide from me if you're an idiot masquerading as anything else.
You can't hide from me if you're a hypocrite.
You can't hide from me if you're a liar.
You can't hide from me if you're a cheat.
You especially cannot hide from me if you're a sickening fraud.
In short, you can't hide from me or my pen/keyboard. I will find you and I will write the facts and expose the truth. If you are evil, I will do everything I can to stop you from spreading.
So, much as I understand and appreciate my husband's concerns, I have bigger concerns than who I might be annoying at any moment.
In fact, no one seems too interested in my annoyance......and I am TRULY annoyed.
Watch out.
Good for me! Irritating and upsetting the wrong people (at least, wrong for the job they're in) is going to be my lifelong work.
So be warned:
You can't hide from me if you're an idiot masquerading as anything else.
You can't hide from me if you're a hypocrite.
You can't hide from me if you're a liar.
You can't hide from me if you're a cheat.
You especially cannot hide from me if you're a sickening fraud.
In short, you can't hide from me or my pen/keyboard. I will find you and I will write the facts and expose the truth. If you are evil, I will do everything I can to stop you from spreading.
So, much as I understand and appreciate my husband's concerns, I have bigger concerns than who I might be annoying at any moment.
In fact, no one seems too interested in my annoyance......and I am TRULY annoyed.
Watch out.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Update
Light rail already suspended in State of Wisconsin.
All you people who voted in Walker and Johnson --- please go to your dentist and have a few front teeth removed, buy yourself a pick up truck and a tin of chew. Stop watching the Packers and starting watching the World Wrestling Federation.
You're officially a redneck now! Less power to ya!
All you people who voted in Walker and Johnson --- please go to your dentist and have a few front teeth removed, buy yourself a pick up truck and a tin of chew. Stop watching the Packers and starting watching the World Wrestling Federation.
You're officially a redneck now! Less power to ya!
Erlaichda -- First Things Walker Will Do As Governor
1. Get lost between the Governor's Mansion and the Capitol.
2. Try to derail the (signed) contract for light rail. (Has to keep those oil companies happy)
3. Drop the brown bag lunches. I predict Walker will get as fat as Tommy Thompson did during his governorship in the next four years; both physically and financially.
4. Begin his quest to ruin the State of Wisconsin, as thoroughly as he ruined Milwaukee County. These are politics he can understand and implement.
5. Replace competent administrators with cheap hacks, like John Chianneli. Watch the appointments!
6. Destroy Badger Care.
7. Repeal the smoking ban.
8. Piss off (and on) every state employee on the payroll.
9. Repeatedly annoy 49 other governors.
10. Get hit by a bike while crossing State Street.
2. Try to derail the (signed) contract for light rail. (Has to keep those oil companies happy)
3. Drop the brown bag lunches. I predict Walker will get as fat as Tommy Thompson did during his governorship in the next four years; both physically and financially.
4. Begin his quest to ruin the State of Wisconsin, as thoroughly as he ruined Milwaukee County. These are politics he can understand and implement.
5. Replace competent administrators with cheap hacks, like John Chianneli. Watch the appointments!
6. Destroy Badger Care.
7. Repeal the smoking ban.
8. Piss off (and on) every state employee on the payroll.
9. Repeatedly annoy 49 other governors.
10. Get hit by a bike while crossing State Street.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Election Results
I hereby change Wisconsin's motto (and license plates) from:
America's Dairyland
to
America's Dumb F*ck Land.
The people of Wisconsin have voted and elected the two worst possible candidates to the Governor's Office and the United States Senate.
The result of the stupidity of this election outcome will become very apparent in the next few years. I hope to watch this from a great distance. The Cheeseheads have melted. I don't want to be a Cheese Ass, nor do I want to be associated with Dumb F*cks. I'm out of Wisconsin at my first opportunity.
I would like to thank Senator Russ Feingold for his amazing service to Wisconsin and his exemplary career as a U.S. Senator. It is a sad day when someone like Russ Feingold can be replaced by an A**hole like Ron Johnson.
Good people of Wisconsin, you're idiots. The only good thing I can say is that you will find out just how entrenched your idiocy is with these two Republican clowns in office. I guess I can look forward to watching that! Hopefully, from a distance.
America's Dairyland
to
America's Dumb F*ck Land.
The people of Wisconsin have voted and elected the two worst possible candidates to the Governor's Office and the United States Senate.
The result of the stupidity of this election outcome will become very apparent in the next few years. I hope to watch this from a great distance. The Cheeseheads have melted. I don't want to be a Cheese Ass, nor do I want to be associated with Dumb F*cks. I'm out of Wisconsin at my first opportunity.
I would like to thank Senator Russ Feingold for his amazing service to Wisconsin and his exemplary career as a U.S. Senator. It is a sad day when someone like Russ Feingold can be replaced by an A**hole like Ron Johnson.
Good people of Wisconsin, you're idiots. The only good thing I can say is that you will find out just how entrenched your idiocy is with these two Republican clowns in office. I guess I can look forward to watching that! Hopefully, from a distance.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Election Eve
Well, here it is, mid-term election eve. I live in Wisconsin, which, although the birthplace of the GOP, has been traditionally a progressive and democratic state. Until idiots like Sarah Palin and the tea party folks came on the scene, one could count on Wisconsin to vote with a certain amount of intelligence.
But, these are chaotic times in America. Sensibility has taken a back seat to republican rhetoric. Many people base all their political viewpoints on soundbites, television commercials, and just plain lies. Americans are lazy; no one will research the issues that would give them an honest assessment, and enable them to make an informed choice. They're too busy. Too busy doing what? Being lazy, stupid, and angry that they live in a country with lots and lots of lazy, stupid and angry people, whose only talent seems to be watching extremely biased television. What's sad is that these people turn up at the polls on election day, so we get a government of lazy, stupid and angry people.
Just the thought that someone like Scott Walker, a political hack with one of the worst records in recent history, might become our governor, is overwhelmingly monstrous to me. If this happens, I will leave Wisconsin, much faster than my current five year plan to relocate. I'm going to Costa Rica in February. I may not come back. It depends what I'm coming back to. If it's Governor Walker, well frankly, I'd rather come back to a state that's been invaded and conquered by Canada.
If Ron Johnson, a millionaire who spent millions of his own money on his campaign, replaces Russ Feingold as our U.S. Senator, I will be so tremendously embarrassed by the people in this state, living with fer de lance snakes in Costa Rica will seem like not only a reasonable alternative but the smart one. Better to live with snakes for which there is anti-venom available. Ron Johnson deserves to lose the $4,000,000 he spent on his campaign. The fact that he has that kind of money to invest in a campaign based on blatant misconception and ill-conceived rhetoric should speak volumes to Wisconsin voters. The last thing America needs is more millionaires in Congress.....or freakin' anywhere, for that matter.
So the mid-term election will have a great bearing on what is actually happening in this country. A Republican win will mean most intelligent U.S. citizens, have no voice in this country. If you have no voice, why stick around? The ignorant masses will be ruled by equally ignorant and conniving con-artists. That adequately sums it up.
But it leaves the more thoughtful people in this country up shit creek, which will only get more full of shit once the republicans repeal all the environmental regulations.
Here's hoping intelligence prevails.......but in a country like this, i.e., one that would elect George W. Bush twice, (well, okay, he did steal one of those elections) I'm not at all sure of anything. Except, America isn't what it purports to be, and as collective fools, we're sitting ducks for societies wiser than we are to take it all away.
Anyhow, maybe living closer to the equator will fry my brain a little and I won't get so freaked out, upset, livid, and mortified by what is happening in my country. As it continues to happen, though, being an ex-patriot seems the only intelligent choice I can make. I want America back, but I'm afraid it's going to take a revolution. And maybe that's not a bad idea.
But, these are chaotic times in America. Sensibility has taken a back seat to republican rhetoric. Many people base all their political viewpoints on soundbites, television commercials, and just plain lies. Americans are lazy; no one will research the issues that would give them an honest assessment, and enable them to make an informed choice. They're too busy. Too busy doing what? Being lazy, stupid, and angry that they live in a country with lots and lots of lazy, stupid and angry people, whose only talent seems to be watching extremely biased television. What's sad is that these people turn up at the polls on election day, so we get a government of lazy, stupid and angry people.
Just the thought that someone like Scott Walker, a political hack with one of the worst records in recent history, might become our governor, is overwhelmingly monstrous to me. If this happens, I will leave Wisconsin, much faster than my current five year plan to relocate. I'm going to Costa Rica in February. I may not come back. It depends what I'm coming back to. If it's Governor Walker, well frankly, I'd rather come back to a state that's been invaded and conquered by Canada.
If Ron Johnson, a millionaire who spent millions of his own money on his campaign, replaces Russ Feingold as our U.S. Senator, I will be so tremendously embarrassed by the people in this state, living with fer de lance snakes in Costa Rica will seem like not only a reasonable alternative but the smart one. Better to live with snakes for which there is anti-venom available. Ron Johnson deserves to lose the $4,000,000 he spent on his campaign. The fact that he has that kind of money to invest in a campaign based on blatant misconception and ill-conceived rhetoric should speak volumes to Wisconsin voters. The last thing America needs is more millionaires in Congress.....or freakin' anywhere, for that matter.
So the mid-term election will have a great bearing on what is actually happening in this country. A Republican win will mean most intelligent U.S. citizens, have no voice in this country. If you have no voice, why stick around? The ignorant masses will be ruled by equally ignorant and conniving con-artists. That adequately sums it up.
But it leaves the more thoughtful people in this country up shit creek, which will only get more full of shit once the republicans repeal all the environmental regulations.
Here's hoping intelligence prevails.......but in a country like this, i.e., one that would elect George W. Bush twice, (well, okay, he did steal one of those elections) I'm not at all sure of anything. Except, America isn't what it purports to be, and as collective fools, we're sitting ducks for societies wiser than we are to take it all away.
Anyhow, maybe living closer to the equator will fry my brain a little and I won't get so freaked out, upset, livid, and mortified by what is happening in my country. As it continues to happen, though, being an ex-patriot seems the only intelligent choice I can make. I want America back, but I'm afraid it's going to take a revolution. And maybe that's not a bad idea.
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