Badger InstituteBadger Institute
  • Home
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Federalism
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
  • Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Contact Us

Subscribe for Updates

Get the latest news and updates from Badger Institute.

What's New

Why should food stamps be forever stamps?

March 30, 2023

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

March 23, 2023

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
TRENDING:
  • Why should food stamps be forever stamps?
  • Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble
  • Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband
  • The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling
  • Foreseeing the Future of Wisconsin’s Flat Tax
  • Wisconsin voters will be asked about welfare work requirements
  • A state without convictions
  • Why Wisconsin Needs a Flat Tax and Education Reform
  • Donate
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn Instagram
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
  • Issues
    • Taxes
    • Education
    • Crime & Justice
    • Spending & Accountability
    • Economy & Infrastructure
    • Federalism
    • Licensing
    • Healthcare
    • Civil Society
  • Mandate for Madison
  • Research
  • Magazines
    • Diggings
    • Wisconsin Interest
  • Events
  • Media
    • Podcast
    • Fact Sheets
    • Viewpoints
    • Press Releases
    • Badger in the News
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Testimony
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Visiting Fellows
    • America’s Future
    • Careers
Facebook Twitter YouTube LinkedIn
DONATE
Badger InstituteBadger Institute
Home » Editor’s Note
Badger News

Editor’s Note

By Mike NicholsApril 30, 2018
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest

Digging into the decline of marriage, fire department staffing, overused TIFs and driverless transit

I wasn’t personally surprised by Paul Ryan’s decision, but I know why so many others were.

The House speaker did two things many Americans consider lunacy. He gave up a government job, and he made a public commitment to his family.

Two of our stories in this issue of Diggings chronicle just how ardently many Wisconsinites avoid doing either nowadays.  

Marie Rohde and Michael Jahr look at the disintegration of marriage — and even the language that we use to talk about it.

Dave Daley takes a look at the misnomer that is still known as the local “Fire Department.” You’ll be stunned at just how few fires that firefighters actually fight nowadays compared to decades past — although most firefighters remain on the government payroll doing other things.

Two other stories in this issue demonstrate how, once set in motion, government programs and laws and spending almost invariably expand in size and scope over time.   

Ken Wysocky chronicles the changes in how tax incremental financing districts are used — or abused — 43 years after they were first created by Wisconsin statute to help alleviate urban blight by giving developers financial assistance.

And Baruch Feigenbaum looks at why the thing that’s all the rage among some progressives in Milwaukee this spring — a new downtown streetcar — is actually an incredibly shortsighted investment that will appear hopelessly outdated in no time at all. Milwaukee, he points out, has had streetcars before. They were torn out years ago. They’re back at the same time that the really chic cities are starting to ponder driverless transit.

All, though, is not lost. Emily Jashinsky’s piece on what it’s like to be young and female and conservative will restore your faith. And Betsy Thatcher’s profile of Badger Mining Corp. tells a tale of ingenuity and determination and smarts that illustrates what’s still possible in the heartland of America.

Paul Ryan is not the only one we should admire.

Mike@BadgerInstitute.org

Read the entire issue of Diggings Spring 2018 here.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email
Mike Nichols

Related Posts

Assembly Speaker calls for tolling to fund Wisconsin infrastructure

March 2, 2023

Those who pay for pavement set the width

January 26, 2023

Economic Trends Fact Sheet

January 23, 2023
Categories
Top Posts

Local pols filling old budget holes with massive COVID aid

December 8, 20221,455

This is not four years ago

November 10, 20221,288

A state without convictions

January 12, 2023647

Billions in federal spending in Wisconsin unaudited; results never measured

November 9, 2022493
Archives

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

Connect with Badger Institute
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
About Us
About Us

The Badger Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit institute established in 1987 working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, growth and prosperity.

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Sign Up for Top Picks

Our weekly e-Newsletter with the latest items and updates

What’s New

Why should food stamps be forever stamps?

March 30, 2023

Latest crime figures show a Milwaukee in trouble

March 23, 2023

Wisconsin lawmakers in the dark on broadband

March 16, 2023

The underfunded part of Wisconsin public schooling

March 16, 2023
© 2023 Badger Institute | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience.

Privacy settings

Privacy Settings

This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit.

NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using.

CRM Software

Customer Relationship Management Software

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.

You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity.

For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en

Powered by Cookie Information