This week Madison, Wisconsin is involved in a debate that has gone sour. In an effort to cap spending, our new Governor, Scott Walker, has floated the idea that collective bargaining be restrained. It is important to point out that no bill has been yet sent to the floor of our congress. In fact, the Dems are still meeting with the Guv, and some changes have already been made.

If you routinely follow politics you'll know that there is always a lot of posturing, more bluster than necessay and final vote is always pale by comparison. However, this has not stopped the ignorant rabblerousers who have been dancing around The Capitol Building for several days this week.

I negotiated financial matters in my "adult job" and it was my bike club that spearheaded the repeal of Wisconsin's helmet law. I am no newb when it comes to confrontational politics. However, my wife is a teacher and a member of the WEAC Union, and she's getting caught up in the idiocy.

She just left for today's rally. My wife. A usually clear-headed 57 year old woman. Elbow to elbow with brain-dead inbreds that don't know the The Constitution from a roll of Saran Wrap. I gave her my love, my warnings, I told her to wear shoes for running, and carry only a wallet with bail monney. I offered a Spyderco Michael Walker and SureFire E1E which she declined. Yikes, a suburban girl...always has been, always will be...

When bikers are smarter than suburban citizens and know more about The Constitution than our reps and The President, then our country is in trouble.

From what I've read that new gov up there is a douche...and are unions really that bad? I kinda think they are part of the reason we ain't still third world in the US...no?

I mean, personally, I don't care about a persons politics - to each their own...but when you feel you have to threaten the National Guard on people protesting?!? Not sure what that's about...

At any rate, I hope your wife is safe - for sure...

Sounds like your paper is reporting the same stuff our communist newspaper is printing.

First, this "national guard" urban legend involves a Wisconsin policy (under both Dem and Rep governors) to send troops to guard prisons in the event of a wildcat strike. That's all. How that fact got twisted into 'firing on citizens' is a flight of fancy.

Another thing about Wisconsin unions, they have bilked our state out of more money with featherbedding and using tax money to underwrite their pensions for Doyle's full terms. They're fighting caps on collective bargaining only because Doyle caved into every arbitration tactic they used. They are used to winning "all" so they are scaring the public into believing Walker will give them "nothing."

It's important to realize that Walker won the election because we were sliding the way of piling up debts akin to California. Believe it or not, Doyle wanted to build one of those 'super trains' in our state. He claimed that 800 million was "free money." Those millions came from taxes, and Wisconsin would have had to swallow all of the maintenance costs. Oh, and BTW, Wisconsin law does not allow trains to run over 79 MPH.

I think Doyle got kicked out just on that boondoggle alone. Either that or a hostile attitude towards Harley-Davidson, one of their assembly facilities almost left the state.

(My wife called during lunch. She's on her way home.)

My wife and I had a very candid and on-point discussion last night about the lunacy in our Wisconsin politics. Even our commie rag newspaper believes the Dems are out of line.

So, my wife and I did the same thing we always do in times of potential crisis--we plotted our financial needs as balanced by our long term goals. It appears that there is no financial advantage in staying.

Her pension is figured by a formula of years-in-service as applied to her top three earning years. She hit the 'top end' on that chart years ago. Additionally, her union is offering a one-time cash pay-out of 50K to any teacher who voluntarily retires this year. My wife has until February 24th to decide.

Obviously, I don't give a crap about politics when it involves my wife. If I can get her out safely they can burn down the Capitol Building at this point. Get this, all of the Wisconsin Dem representatives fled to Illinois yesterday to deny our government a quorum. If they don't want to fight it out, why should my wife?

I'm calling our money guys today, and once the retirement figures are confirmed I'll be telling my wife to retire. I retired early also over a stress issue. I think it's time for her to do the same.

When did cowardice become a virtue? The very people we elected to protect us now feel that whining onto disruption is a debating point...

I agree...I, for one, feel is someone WANTS to be a politician, they should be disqualified from ever running...ALL of it's corrupt regardless of what side of the aisle and I hope you don't think there's not something financial in it for your guv...that might be an underestimation.

At any rate, glad the wife is okay...best of luck to ya....

Her best friend is also a teacher who already took retirement. They have flirted with the idea of becoming wedding planners, something they enjoy doing for our relatives. (And stashing a 1911 under a form fitting tailored tux is no mean feat, let me tell ya! LOL.)

Seriously, the two girls and her husband, an area banker, were driving home tonight and the subject came up again. The two girls had done the daughter's wedding. The husband told them to go ahead, he would find the money. Looks like my wife has a new job.

We figure my wife has about 75 days until the end of the school year. We both think that living a bit "smaller" might be a good idea. I told her that the Sportster worked for me...

Well, if Wisconsin did one thing for America, we can say we made the nation safe for democracy. The news last night showed Jesse Jackson has arrived, and at least the rest of the country will enjoy a respite while he mucks it up here.

I don't like these opportunists. Not only does this apply to a "Man of Spiel" like Jackson, but also to bottom-feeders like Gloria Allred. My wife is currrently making choices that effect the rest of her life and Jackson is photographed grinning like he just humped the neighbor's cat.

My first thought was that I wished it was summer. Not just for me to ride personally, but fantasizing that The Patriot Riders might visit our state's Capitol Building. The rabblerousers have made their point and it's time for them to go home and STFU. Or at least go back to work educating the kids, or returning from Illinois to craft meaningful legislation.

I also heard a rumor that Sarah Palin and The Tea Party are headed this way. And while her politics mirrors mine (I am a strict constructionist), Ms. Palin's dialog is more to our cause as a nation. We are essentially debating a States Rights issue on collective bargaining. We have a politcal spokesman--duely elected Governor Scott Walker. I regret that my state is now a three-ring circus.

The country is going to hell in a hand bag quicker then folks can realize its happening.

There was a recent article about the NYSI merging with a German firm...666 is gaining ground...one world currency one world government.....

Many times I feel myself torn on major issues. The problem is that I have a "horse in this race." My wife. I find myself trying to balance the issues, but held down by the fact that my wife's health and safety are also on the chopping block.

For example, losing one's job--in this case by voluntary retirement--is one of the top five stress producers in the human experience. Others are things like death, marriage and moving, as odd as that might sound.

The violence is coming and the anger is still brewing. There have been pushing and shoving matches reported, the doctors who wrote excuses are being criticized, and the Dem representatives are still in Illinois trying to shut down our state government. As a citizen, your first inclination is try and solve the problem--either by contacting your local representative, writing letters to the editor, or marching yourself (pro or con).

However once my wife decided to fully retire my ire dropped and seemingly so did my "community involvement. A full blown riot could break out, pile up injuries, the National Guard could called in resulting in numerous arrests.

But my wife and I are safety 12 miles away. I'm starting to feel a "who cares" attitude. She's safe, let the gladiator games begin.

That is why I have always efforted to live in the country and with land and near a pond,river, no neighbors for miles..most of my life. If and when the shat hits the fan the inner cities are gonna be a tangled mess. Highways and byways congested, food supplies depleted, just massive carnage of epic and biblical proportions. Living in the country won't keep you impervious but will buy you time and give you options?

Thank God I'm a country boy!