I’ve been reading, with a mix of humor and consternation, many of the blogger posts (Miles2Go and others) on the Rivermill sidewalk issue.
“Wealthy elite”, “wealthy entitled group”, “snobs” These are just a few of the adjectives used to describe the residents of the Rivermill area. What a load of crap! Wealthy elite my ass, these are folks who work at the university, school teachers and local business people. So if you get an education, work hard and earn a decent salary somehow or another you deserve to be scorned and ridiculed for your opinions? Yes, they have a vested interest in the sidewalks that were installed in the subdivision. And yes, despite their vested interest in the sidewalks it is an exceedingly dumb project to be tying up the city council with considering all the other issues that have faced the city in the last year.
The way some of the postings are vilifying the Rivermill residents I am half expecting marchers carry torches shouting “death to the bourgeoisie and long live the proletariat” traipsing up and down the blessed sidewalks!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Could This Happen Here
This was brought up this morning by a fellow faculty member; the UW financial aid office contacting students to rally for Gov Doyle's budget. This is at WTMJ's website http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes#Scene_1
I would hope, but I'm not confident, that this couldn't happen here (how about that US Bank deal). Regardless of one's stance on Doyle or the budget (which needs to get settled)it is patently wrong of a staff member to glean students for a press conference. What is next? Do we as faculty members get a request to troll for our students, too?
When we as a university start asking students to do something i.e. support a political budget we are abdicating our responsibilities as educators. To a student, getting an email such as one that went out at UW, there is an undercurrent of 'do this or else'. We are here to educate students in their chosen fields and we can educate them on the political process and not suggest that they participate on one side or the other. Students learn and discover what is right and wrong according to their own political leanings.
That memo shouldn't have gone out and I hope it doesn't happen here.
I would hope, but I'm not confident, that this couldn't happen here (how about that US Bank deal). Regardless of one's stance on Doyle or the budget (which needs to get settled)it is patently wrong of a staff member to glean students for a press conference. What is next? Do we as faculty members get a request to troll for our students, too?
When we as a university start asking students to do something i.e. support a political budget we are abdicating our responsibilities as educators. To a student, getting an email such as one that went out at UW, there is an undercurrent of 'do this or else'. We are here to educate students in their chosen fields and we can educate them on the political process and not suggest that they participate on one side or the other. Students learn and discover what is right and wrong according to their own political leanings.
That memo shouldn't have gone out and I hope it doesn't happen here.
Friday, October 5, 2007
You’ve Got to be Kidding Me!
What a bill! Check it out here: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=671251
Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) is proposing to limit public access to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Project internet search site. What happened to the ‘public’ in public records?
No one, other than Schneider and the bill’s co-sponsors, seems to be cheering this blatant attempt to limit public access to public records. The argument from one of the co-sponsors that public access unfairly allows criminal convictions to haunt individuals convicted of crimes is laughable. The fact that they were convicted of the crime haunts the criminal not the fact that there is public access to said conviction. What would be next under this type of scenario of closing public access? Closing trials to the public and banning media reports of criminal cases?
The records through this website include traffic, probate, family court, civil and criminal and the bill proposal comes forth under the proviso to protect those convicted of crimes? In California, for a small fee you can get entire case pleadings on line.
The records are public, the internet is a means of accessing the records. Anyone can go to a courthouse and get court records as they are public. For a lawmaker to propose to make it more cumbersome for the access of public records is a very, very scary proposition.
Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) is proposing to limit public access to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Project internet search site. What happened to the ‘public’ in public records?
No one, other than Schneider and the bill’s co-sponsors, seems to be cheering this blatant attempt to limit public access to public records. The argument from one of the co-sponsors that public access unfairly allows criminal convictions to haunt individuals convicted of crimes is laughable. The fact that they were convicted of the crime haunts the criminal not the fact that there is public access to said conviction. What would be next under this type of scenario of closing public access? Closing trials to the public and banning media reports of criminal cases?
The records through this website include traffic, probate, family court, civil and criminal and the bill proposal comes forth under the proviso to protect those convicted of crimes? In California, for a small fee you can get entire case pleadings on line.
The records are public, the internet is a means of accessing the records. Anyone can go to a courthouse and get court records as they are public. For a lawmaker to propose to make it more cumbersome for the access of public records is a very, very scary proposition.
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