Later this spring, the State Legislature is going to consider a bill that would place new rules on the secret recording of operations at Wisconsin farms. Representative Lee Nerison of Westby is working on legislation that would require anyone who records or photographs suspected abuse of animals to turn that footage over to law enforcement immediately--as it could be considered evidence of a crime.
But the activist groups that send these undercover operatives to the farms are vehemently opposed to this proposed law. You would think that anyone who claims to "care about the animals" would want anyone who abuses them to be brought to justice swiftly. But giving up the footage or the pictures would no longer allow these groups to "control the narrative".
As things stand right now, the groups can shoot hundreds of hours of undercover footage and spend weeks carefully editing that down to just a few minutes of the worst animal treatment that they can find. Then they work on carefully crafting press releases insinuating that the cows or other animals are treated like this on a regular basis at the farm. Then they hold a press conference--looping the footage behind them over and over again--while providing the local TV stations with DVD copies of the carefully-edited footage. Then it is posted on their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and blog pages before it is finally turned over to law enforcement for "further investigation". We talk to the cops, they say that they are "looking into the matter", the farm operator has "no comment" on the investigation" and the activist group rolls out of town looking like whistleblowing heroes. Maybe a month or so later, prosecutors decide there isn't enough evidence to file any charges--or a couple of farmhands get hit with misdemeanors and pay small fines--but the operation is remembered as being "animal abusers".
Now consider what the process will be like if the requirement to go to law enforcement first goes into effect. Investigators will want to see all of the videotape so that whatever incidents that are captured can be put into proper prospective. And because the film becomes evidence in a criminal investigation, it will not be released to the media until formal charges are filed--if they ever are. Those accused of the abuse will be questioned--with lawyers present if they so choose--and challenges could be made to the admissibility of that footage in a court of law--all of which prosecutors will have to weigh before choosing to file any charges. And if no charges are filed, the groups can still release the tapes--but then we reporters can go to the DA and he can explain right away why no charges will be filed--and the farm operator can issue a statement of relief that no criminal activity was found. The activists don't look like such "heroes" in that scenario, do they?
Groups that "uncover abuse" at large-scale dairy operations and slaughterhouses don't want their cases tried in courts of law. They prefer to try "offenders" in the court of public opinion--where the burdens of proof--and rules on admissibility of evidence are far less stringent. Remember, it's "all about the animals".
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Monday, March 9, 2015
Madison's Good Timing
They say that in life, timing is everything. That will likely prove true for the city of Madison as it deals with the shooting of an unarmed, black teenager by a white police officer last week. Had this incident happened three months ago during the height of the tensions in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City, all of the news networks would have been broadcasting live all weekend from Madison. There would have been cameras trained on the streets waiting for rioters to start looting stores and for armored police to start shooting tear gas canisters into the surging crowd.
But because the 24-hour news cycle has moved on, Madison will be spared from having that type of drama playing out on a national stage. Even MSNBC is focusing on more important things now--like whether Scott Walker thinks President Obama is a Christian--and CNN is probing deeply into Hillary Clinton's email practices. Even on the day when Attorney General Eric Holder was forced to admit that there was no evidence to refute the story presented by Ferguson Police in that shooting--and that no charges would be filed against the officer involved--the news channels were distracted by pictures of a weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker.
So that means Madison Mayor Paul Soglin won't be made to answer repeated questions about why African Americans living in his city face greater income inequality than anywhere else in the state. (His guaranteed answer: "It's Scott Walker's fault") Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Madison School Board member Mary Burke won't be grilled as to why students of color perform worse in her schools than they do in Milwaukee schools. (Her guaranteed answer: "It's Scott Walker's fault").
Madison also caught a break in that everyone who uses racial issues to get in front of TV cameras was in Selma, Alabama this weekend for the 50th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" march--so they couldn't be in Wisconsin to lead marches, give speeches on the Capitol steps and demand the immediate arrest, conviction and sentencing of the officer involved. Perhaps they may show up later on this week--but that will only happen if the TV cameras are going to be there as well.
But the cameras and satellite trucks likely aren't going to come. Because the folks in New York and Atlanta already know how this is going to play out. The internal police investigation will find the officer acted in accordance with his training. The state Department of Criminal Investigation will find no grounds for criminal charges and the federal Department of Justice (if the new Attorney General wants to follow the pattern of her predecessor and conduct an investigation into every incident like this across the country) will find that the officer did not violate the victim's civil rights--even though they really, really wish they could have.
But because the 24-hour news cycle has moved on, Madison will be spared from having that type of drama playing out on a national stage. Even MSNBC is focusing on more important things now--like whether Scott Walker thinks President Obama is a Christian--and CNN is probing deeply into Hillary Clinton's email practices. Even on the day when Attorney General Eric Holder was forced to admit that there was no evidence to refute the story presented by Ferguson Police in that shooting--and that no charges would be filed against the officer involved--the news channels were distracted by pictures of a weasel riding on the back of a woodpecker.
So that means Madison Mayor Paul Soglin won't be made to answer repeated questions about why African Americans living in his city face greater income inequality than anywhere else in the state. (His guaranteed answer: "It's Scott Walker's fault") Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Madison School Board member Mary Burke won't be grilled as to why students of color perform worse in her schools than they do in Milwaukee schools. (Her guaranteed answer: "It's Scott Walker's fault").
Madison also caught a break in that everyone who uses racial issues to get in front of TV cameras was in Selma, Alabama this weekend for the 50th anniversary of the "Bloody Sunday" march--so they couldn't be in Wisconsin to lead marches, give speeches on the Capitol steps and demand the immediate arrest, conviction and sentencing of the officer involved. Perhaps they may show up later on this week--but that will only happen if the TV cameras are going to be there as well.
But the cameras and satellite trucks likely aren't going to come. Because the folks in New York and Atlanta already know how this is going to play out. The internal police investigation will find the officer acted in accordance with his training. The state Department of Criminal Investigation will find no grounds for criminal charges and the federal Department of Justice (if the new Attorney General wants to follow the pattern of her predecessor and conduct an investigation into every incident like this across the country) will find that the officer did not violate the victim's civil rights--even though they really, really wish they could have.
Friday, March 6, 2015
The Champ Is Here!!
Some of us who have reached a certain age can recall a time when the most famous athlete in the world was the Heavyweight Boxing Champion. The list of titleholders reads like a Who's Who of sports legends: John Sullivan, James Corbett, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
But could you name the current Heavyweight Champion(s)?
I could give you a year to answer that and unless you go to the internet, you aren't going to get it. (It's either Ruslan Chagaev or Deontay Wilder--depending on which rankings you use.) When was the last time you watched a heavyweight match? Back in the day, a title fight was a primetime network television event--and was even carried across the country on radio--and it was must watch television.
But somewhere along the line, greed got the better of the sport and the biggest fights moved exclusively to pay cable channels and pay-per-view. The audience for boxing shrank smaller and smaller--as the opportunities to tune in became less and less. I'm not even sure if the fights that gave Chagaev and Wilder their titles were even televised anywhere here in the US.
But NBC Television believes that it can bring back boxing. Their new Saturday night fights series starts this weekend. Five times this year NBC will feature title fights on regular TV--just like we used to get in the "good old days".
Critics predict the venture will be a colossal failure--as nobody wants to watch boxing anymore. We've "moved on" they say--pointing out that such a violent sport no longer appeals to anyone--especially with our new hyper-concern about head injuries and concussions. America will tune in and "be disgusted" by what they see.
How then do you explain the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts? That's even more brutal than boxing has been since the bareknuckled, unlimited rounds days of the early 20th century. And what has been the hottest topic in sports this week? Rhonda Rousey's 14-second submission victory over her latest UFC opponent.
There will always be an interest in boxing--if for no other reason than it is one of our most primal sports. It's one man versus another in a mix of strength, agility and will. Hopefully, the ability to watch it (for free) on a regular basis might bring back some of that popularity--and hearing about who wears the belt doesn't elicit the response of "Who?"
But could you name the current Heavyweight Champion(s)?
I could give you a year to answer that and unless you go to the internet, you aren't going to get it. (It's either Ruslan Chagaev or Deontay Wilder--depending on which rankings you use.) When was the last time you watched a heavyweight match? Back in the day, a title fight was a primetime network television event--and was even carried across the country on radio--and it was must watch television.
But somewhere along the line, greed got the better of the sport and the biggest fights moved exclusively to pay cable channels and pay-per-view. The audience for boxing shrank smaller and smaller--as the opportunities to tune in became less and less. I'm not even sure if the fights that gave Chagaev and Wilder their titles were even televised anywhere here in the US.
But NBC Television believes that it can bring back boxing. Their new Saturday night fights series starts this weekend. Five times this year NBC will feature title fights on regular TV--just like we used to get in the "good old days".
Critics predict the venture will be a colossal failure--as nobody wants to watch boxing anymore. We've "moved on" they say--pointing out that such a violent sport no longer appeals to anyone--especially with our new hyper-concern about head injuries and concussions. America will tune in and "be disgusted" by what they see.
How then do you explain the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts? That's even more brutal than boxing has been since the bareknuckled, unlimited rounds days of the early 20th century. And what has been the hottest topic in sports this week? Rhonda Rousey's 14-second submission victory over her latest UFC opponent.
There will always be an interest in boxing--if for no other reason than it is one of our most primal sports. It's one man versus another in a mix of strength, agility and will. Hopefully, the ability to watch it (for free) on a regular basis might bring back some of that popularity--and hearing about who wears the belt doesn't elicit the response of "Who?"
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Sell It!!
Whenever the YMCA or other health clubs are looking for new members, they take to the airwaves and advertise. Their commercials extoll the benefits of membership--better health, a stronger body, fun programs, activities for kids, etc, etc. The same goes for any business that sells a product or a service--you tell people how what you provide can fix their problems and they ultimately choose to do business with you.
So let me be the first to invite our brothers and sisters in organized labor to do the same thing after the passage of Right To Work legislation here in Wisconsin. With forced membership heading out the window, you are going to need to be responsive and more aggressive in getting your message out if you are going to compete with the alternative: non-union membership.
So save all of the impassioned speeches that were presented to State Senate and Assembly committees the past few weeks--those aren't the people you are trying to recruit for membership anyway. Be ready to argue that union members make more money, are hurt less on the job, get better benefits packages and retire earlier. Those should be great selling points that workers will jump at the opportunity to enjoy.
Get prominent union members to do testimonials for your organizations. Studies show that hearing from satisfied customers is very persuasive for potential customers. Round up all of those workers who rallied in Madison and put them in front of cameras and microphones to tell their stories. (Although, you may want to pass on having the teachers who were re-instated to their jobs after being fired for watching porn in the classroom because the district failed to properly follow the grievance and termination procedures--they might not be so persuasive.)
We know that you have the money for these advertising campaigns. We see your groups listed in the small print of the political attack ads every two years. So instead of telling people to call Governor Scott Walker to tell him that he sucks, you can have people call your offices to find out how to join the union at their workplace.
Of course, the key to a successful advertising campaign is to actually deliver on what you promise. If people don't see the value in the service that they purchase from you, you can make all the claims you want, but no one will be buying. And maybe that is why organized labor fears open competition so much--because they can't deliver the goods.
So let me be the first to invite our brothers and sisters in organized labor to do the same thing after the passage of Right To Work legislation here in Wisconsin. With forced membership heading out the window, you are going to need to be responsive and more aggressive in getting your message out if you are going to compete with the alternative: non-union membership.
So save all of the impassioned speeches that were presented to State Senate and Assembly committees the past few weeks--those aren't the people you are trying to recruit for membership anyway. Be ready to argue that union members make more money, are hurt less on the job, get better benefits packages and retire earlier. Those should be great selling points that workers will jump at the opportunity to enjoy.
Get prominent union members to do testimonials for your organizations. Studies show that hearing from satisfied customers is very persuasive for potential customers. Round up all of those workers who rallied in Madison and put them in front of cameras and microphones to tell their stories. (Although, you may want to pass on having the teachers who were re-instated to their jobs after being fired for watching porn in the classroom because the district failed to properly follow the grievance and termination procedures--they might not be so persuasive.)
We know that you have the money for these advertising campaigns. We see your groups listed in the small print of the political attack ads every two years. So instead of telling people to call Governor Scott Walker to tell him that he sucks, you can have people call your offices to find out how to join the union at their workplace.
Of course, the key to a successful advertising campaign is to actually deliver on what you promise. If people don't see the value in the service that they purchase from you, you can make all the claims you want, but no one will be buying. And maybe that is why organized labor fears open competition so much--because they can't deliver the goods.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Paying More For Less
On our way to out to Hawaii last month, my wife and I spent a day and a half in San Francisco. The City By the Bay is one of those that has a voter-approved, higher-than-the-national minimum wage--currently $11.05 an hour. That will increase every year until it reaches $15 an hour by 2018. Please keep that little factoid in mind as I share our story.
We decided to end one of our nights in San Fran by grabbing some dessert at a well-known chocolatier. Being a Friday night--and beautiful weather by Northern California standards--the place was very busy. After placing our order at the counter (which featured a sign saying the price of the treats included a 4% surcharge for "San Francisco Health Initiatives"--more on that later) we tried to find a table in the dining area. After a few minutes, a group left a table and my wife and I moved over there to claim it.
The group left quite the mess--with melted ice cream on the table and soiled menus as well. After a few awkward minutes of standing by the dirty table the busboy finally came along to clear the dishes. He set his tray on the table and then grabbed one glass and slowly placed it on the tray. Then he grabbed one spoon and slowly placed that on the tray. Then he grabbed one dirty napkin and slowly placed that on the tray. Then he grabbed another dirty glass and slowly placed that on the tray. At the pace he was going, we would have finished our sundae and been out the door before he finished clearing the dishes from the previous customers.
After finally getting all of the dishes off the table, our busboy walked off--leaving us with an ice cream and fudge-covered table top--which prevented us from touching the surface without becoming a gooey mess ourselves. After a few more minutes, the same busboy returned with a wet rag and slowly began to push the slop around the tabletop--causing some to drip over the side. The almost 15-minute cleanup process was completed just in time for our much-smaller-than-expected $10 hot fudge sundae to arrive at the table.
Now I'm going on the assumption that our less-than-expedient busser was making that minimum wage of $11.05 an hour--meaning that he was getting about 40% better pay than the busboys who work quicker and better at say, Two Brothers here in Oshkosh. And without having to work any faster or to do a better job of cleaning his assigned tables, that same guy is looking at a raise next year, and in 2017 and in 2018 as well--until he is making double what those better same skillset workers are making here in Wisconsin.
And is Slow Busboy "earning" those pay increases? Is the famous chocolatier saying "Wow, you are really busting your hump out there--you deserve a raise"? No. His "economic value" is increasing only because a bunch of voters (many of whom are NOT going anywhere near said chocolatier anytime soon) decided at the ballot box that he "deserves" more money--even if he isn't doing any more (or better) work.
And as for the 4% surcharge for "San Francisco Health Initiatives" that was added on to our sundae? I can only guess that money is used to purchase the "medicinal" marijuana that every panhandler was smoking or reeked of having smoked near every bus stop and tourist attraction we stopped at during our visit to America's "Most Progressive" city.
I think we will skip what will likely be the $15 sundae the next time we visit.
We decided to end one of our nights in San Fran by grabbing some dessert at a well-known chocolatier. Being a Friday night--and beautiful weather by Northern California standards--the place was very busy. After placing our order at the counter (which featured a sign saying the price of the treats included a 4% surcharge for "San Francisco Health Initiatives"--more on that later) we tried to find a table in the dining area. After a few minutes, a group left a table and my wife and I moved over there to claim it.
The group left quite the mess--with melted ice cream on the table and soiled menus as well. After a few awkward minutes of standing by the dirty table the busboy finally came along to clear the dishes. He set his tray on the table and then grabbed one glass and slowly placed it on the tray. Then he grabbed one spoon and slowly placed that on the tray. Then he grabbed one dirty napkin and slowly placed that on the tray. Then he grabbed another dirty glass and slowly placed that on the tray. At the pace he was going, we would have finished our sundae and been out the door before he finished clearing the dishes from the previous customers.
After finally getting all of the dishes off the table, our busboy walked off--leaving us with an ice cream and fudge-covered table top--which prevented us from touching the surface without becoming a gooey mess ourselves. After a few more minutes, the same busboy returned with a wet rag and slowly began to push the slop around the tabletop--causing some to drip over the side. The almost 15-minute cleanup process was completed just in time for our much-smaller-than-expected $10 hot fudge sundae to arrive at the table.
Now I'm going on the assumption that our less-than-expedient busser was making that minimum wage of $11.05 an hour--meaning that he was getting about 40% better pay than the busboys who work quicker and better at say, Two Brothers here in Oshkosh. And without having to work any faster or to do a better job of cleaning his assigned tables, that same guy is looking at a raise next year, and in 2017 and in 2018 as well--until he is making double what those better same skillset workers are making here in Wisconsin.
And is Slow Busboy "earning" those pay increases? Is the famous chocolatier saying "Wow, you are really busting your hump out there--you deserve a raise"? No. His "economic value" is increasing only because a bunch of voters (many of whom are NOT going anywhere near said chocolatier anytime soon) decided at the ballot box that he "deserves" more money--even if he isn't doing any more (or better) work.
And as for the 4% surcharge for "San Francisco Health Initiatives" that was added on to our sundae? I can only guess that money is used to purchase the "medicinal" marijuana that every panhandler was smoking or reeked of having smoked near every bus stop and tourist attraction we stopped at during our visit to America's "Most Progressive" city.
I think we will skip what will likely be the $15 sundae the next time we visit.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Oh How We Have Missed the Clintons
Monday will not go down as a banner day for the power couple of Bill and Hillary Clinton. First, the Former President's official portrait was unveiled to the public and the artist admitted to the media that the shadow that appears to fall upon the mantle is in fact that of a "blue dress". I likely would have to explain what that means to our younger listeners--since Common Core History assuredly teaches that the impeachment of President Clinton was strictly a "Republican Witch Hunt to destroy the credibility of one of America's most popular Democratic Presidents" and not about lying under oath during a sexual harassment lawsuit deposition.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of the "dress shadow" is really a low blow. If I was Bill Clinton, I'd call a press conference to put my foot through the portrait and then tell the painter "That's what I think about your 'artistic statement', jerk." (As an aside, we've had photography for more than 150-years now--why do we still need "official portraits" of Presidents?)
Former First Lady/Senator/Secretary of State/Democratic Candidate for President Hillary Clinton found herself under greater scrutiny last night after the New York Times reported that while serving as Secretary of State, Clinton never established a government email account to do her business while in that office. What's more, her private email transmissions were never saved to any government servers--meaning that all business Clinton transacted while Secretary could remain off-limits to the prying eyes of the press, other branches of Government and the rest of the public--unless of course, we want to take her to court to find out.
You cannot help but wonder what the impetus was for that decision? Perhaps it was something as innocuous as the aging Former First Lady fearing she wouldn't be able to remember those outrageous government email addresses: madame.secretary.hillary.rodham-clinton@state.department.us.gov/business. Or maybe she wasn't allowed to make "bluedress95" her password--since there's no way she would ever forget that one.
The more likely scenario is that Mrs. Clinton wanted to make sure that nobody would ever know who else was being provided the information contained in top secret correspondences from State Department Officials, the White House and other world leaders. What Former President might have been blind carbon copied on negotiations, official statements and internal discussions? And what think tanks may have provided "politically prudent" recommendations to Secretary Clinton to give her the appearance of being "qualified on foreign affairs when the time came to make the official announcement of her 2016 run for the White House? Without those emails being in the public record, we may never know. Unless Hillary and Bill leave the White House "flat broke" again--and need something juicy for the next ten-million dollar book advance.
Nevertheless, the inclusion of the "dress shadow" is really a low blow. If I was Bill Clinton, I'd call a press conference to put my foot through the portrait and then tell the painter "That's what I think about your 'artistic statement', jerk." (As an aside, we've had photography for more than 150-years now--why do we still need "official portraits" of Presidents?)
Former First Lady/Senator/Secretary of State/Democratic Candidate for President Hillary Clinton found herself under greater scrutiny last night after the New York Times reported that while serving as Secretary of State, Clinton never established a government email account to do her business while in that office. What's more, her private email transmissions were never saved to any government servers--meaning that all business Clinton transacted while Secretary could remain off-limits to the prying eyes of the press, other branches of Government and the rest of the public--unless of course, we want to take her to court to find out.
You cannot help but wonder what the impetus was for that decision? Perhaps it was something as innocuous as the aging Former First Lady fearing she wouldn't be able to remember those outrageous government email addresses: madame.secretary.hillary.rodham-clinton@state.department.us.gov/business. Or maybe she wasn't allowed to make "bluedress95" her password--since there's no way she would ever forget that one.
The more likely scenario is that Mrs. Clinton wanted to make sure that nobody would ever know who else was being provided the information contained in top secret correspondences from State Department Officials, the White House and other world leaders. What Former President might have been blind carbon copied on negotiations, official statements and internal discussions? And what think tanks may have provided "politically prudent" recommendations to Secretary Clinton to give her the appearance of being "qualified on foreign affairs when the time came to make the official announcement of her 2016 run for the White House? Without those emails being in the public record, we may never know. Unless Hillary and Bill leave the White House "flat broke" again--and need something juicy for the next ten-million dollar book advance.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Sure It's Paradise, But................
Against our better judgements, my wife and I have returned from our two week trip to Hawaii to the dark cold of Wisconsin. I could regale you this morning with stories of spending time on tropical beaches, or the rounds of golf I played in the warm sunshine or getting about ten feet away from humpback whales during our sunset cruise off of Maui. But to make you feel better I will tell you about the few things that aren't quite perfect about "paradise".
- Milk and dairy products are insanely expensive. There is nothing cheap anywhere in Hawaii (even locally grown produce) but the grocery store where we shopped in Koloa Town on Kauai was selling whole milk for $10.57 A GALLON!! That was more than three times the price of gas on the island! Needless to say, I bought my milk at Costco the rest of the trip--and even that was over $5.50 a gallon for 2%. It was also difficult to find a decent selection of cheese slices in most grocery stores over there.
- They now have roundabouts over there too. On our way to Costco on Kauai we traveled a brand-new stretch of highway featuring a brand-new roundabout--the first on the island. A quick conversation with a local found that they hate them as much over there as we do over here. Fortunately, it's just a single-lane roundabout--and not a two or three-lane--so the learning curve should be slightly shorter for those drivers. Of course with mostly tourists--it will likely still be a disaster.
- Everybody is a tourist. One of the neat things about traveling to "exotic" locales is the chance to mingle with people of a different culture and background. Unfortunately, that is almost impossible to find in Hawaii anymore--as every place you go is filled with people from another state--or who just moved there from another state. It's hard to find "local flavor" anywhere anymore. In addition, the businesses are important the vast majority of their employees now--with most from the Philippines, China or Southeast Asia. Of course that may be a good thing because......
- The locals aren't all that friendly. "The Spirit of Aloha" is a popular catchphrase in Hawaii. Tour buses are driven with it. Stores sell it. Airlines deliver it as soon as you board the plane. But if you decide to leave the beaten path and explore the "real Hawaii"--don't expect much "Aloha". Walking back to our Jeep from a North Shore beach on Oahu, a beat up pickup truck drove within inches of us and the locals inside shouted something we couldn't understand before speeding off. They also enjoy leaving you as little room as possible when driving on rural roads in Kauai and Maui. And we witnessed another beat up old truck revving its engine for 15-seconds while tailgating within inches of a rental car in downtown Lahaina--because the tourist was going a few miles under the speed limit. I don't think the native people are so enamored with the big bucks the millions of visitors are bringing to their state.
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