I AM THE FORCE

Yesterday's vote to repeal gas tax indexing demonstrates a couple of very interesting things about the Wisconsin Legislature. The most obvious is that real people still have the power to control their government, when they choose to do so. The special interests will always control the agenda when the public is not aroused or paying attention. The thing that all legislators fear above all else is pissed-off constituents. And when a couple of hundred calls or emails come into a Senator's office quickly, they will scramble to get on the right side of the issue. Many senators who had publicly committed to support the roadbuilders and the operating engineers were forced to backpedal by the strength of an aroused public.

The other inescapable conclusion is that the leaders of the Wisconsin Legislature in 2005 are the most pathetic in memory. Dale Schultz, Judy Robson, Silent Jim Kreuser, and John Gard are worse than incompetent. They all mindlessly fought the public on this one from the beginning, and did nothing to manage the issue intelligently. From Schultz's arrogant lecturing on rural roads to Gard's disastrous appearances on Milwaukee talk radio and Judy Robson's lame claims of imperiled parents, the entire thing has been disastrous to their reputations. Of course, no one thought to highly of any of them before, but this saga should help people see that the idiots have taken over the asylum. You have to think that a Tim Cullen or a Scott Jensen might have managed things more intelligently.

So, congratulations to real people, especially the ones that happen to be taxpayers, for stepping up and taking responsibility for a change. If people can remember that they have this power, perhaps they will begin using it on a more regular basis. That would be a shock to the system of the current leadership and Governor, and might some day result in a Wisconsin Legislature that legitimately makes us proud. but right now, they just suck.