Conservatively Speaking - All Comments

re: Audit finds state can’t collect damages for Social Security mess

fvkeller — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:21:46 GMT

Thanks for reporting this and laying out the fixes and the potential $616,500 savings to tax payers based on LAB's calculations if state staff filled all print and mail positions currently filled by contract staff. I have two questions I'd like you to answer:

1. What action do you plann to take to prevent future blunders like this?

2. What action are you planning to take for realizing this $616,500 tax payer saving?

I look forward to hearing from you via email

Fred Keller

Franklin, WI

fvkeller1@yahoo.com

Audit finds state can’t collect damages for Social Security mess

Conservatively Speaking — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:44:01 GMT

Between December 2006 and January 2008, state government suffered three breaches of privacy when Social

Audit finds state can’t collect damages for Social Security mess

Conservatively Speaking — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:43:59 GMT

Between December 2006 and January 2008, state government suffered three breaches of privacy when Social

More want to vote early

Conservatively Speaking — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:31:54 GMT

I blogged during May about the trend of voting via the Post Office. As one election official put it,

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

Beverly Thomas — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:26:58 GMT

That roundabout works just fine. It's the people who are afraid of change that don't work just fine.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

RickKG — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:51:55 GMT

To Luke,

I agree with your comments but where I disagree about the roundabout is that it was not a bad idea, the problem at that particular area was that they only have one exit for the Ridge Cinema they really should have planned more exits to disperse the traffic better.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

luke — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:29:02 GMT

Maybe it is designed perfectly, but the fact is that most WI drivers don't know how to drive in a roundabout so putting one in a busy intersection for them to get used to it is not the brightest idea.

While fatal traffic accidents are down, injury accidents are down, etc. what is the rate of property damage to vehicles due to fender benders or side swipes?

I think the roundabout looks nice but is not practical in that area.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

RickKG — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:19:00 GMT

The roundabout in New Berlin is designed perfectly, people just do not understand how to use it.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

JoeBlow — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:37:16 GMT

I finally agree with something Ralph Heun says ... I hate to miss the rare opportunity to agree with him.

The roundabout in NB at the Ridge Theater is stupid and poorly designed. Anyone can see that. (Even Ralph).

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

fvkeller — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:20:58 GMT

Sen. Lazich:

On another topic, please read my recent blog post:

fvkeller.squarespace.com/.../is-alderman-steve-olson-grandstanding-again.html

I was inspired to write this post after reading the following post by your aide Kevin Fischer:

blogs.franklinnow.com/.../ordinance9_2F00_21_2F00_08.aspx

And particlarly by these comments:

"This proposal makes perfect sense. In these tough budget times, why should the city taxpayers fund gas mileage, dining, or any other expenses for the mayor and aldermen? If they wish to travel out of town to attend a government-related seminar or conference, let them pay out of their own pockets.

If any alderman plans to vote against this proposal, I would dearly love to hear that alderman explain his/her opposition to city taxpayers."

Can your constituents count on your support for reducing state spending when it comes to travel and entertainment in both the executive and legislative branches of Wisconsin state government?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Fred V. Keller

Franklin, WI

fvkeller1@yahoo.com

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

RickKG — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:37:00 GMT

The reason people don't like roundabouts is because it interrupts them from using their cell phones! That's why we need more roundabouts.

Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:39:56 GMT

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How does the government know how much I’m driving? « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:30:28 GMT

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Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:39:39 GMT

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re: Slowing down on roundabouts

Mark Musselman — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 03:47:08 GMT

Time Magazine claims that drivers’ “heightened anxiety” while using roundabouts results in more careful driving. Pedestrians crossing where a car is leaving the circle must take a leap of faith that the anxious driver, who is watching for other anxious drivers, will see and yield to them. Additionally, pedestrians in the crosswalk median do not know if an approaching car will continue around or turn out of the circle until the last second.

There are many advantages to roundabouts, but this design is simply not perfected. Perhaps the outer lanes can be widened to accommodate tractor-trailers and bicycles. In the DOT literature, trucks use both lanes as they maneuver the circle from the outside lane and cars must “give them plenty of space”. The DOT advises bicyclists to “assert their position” to use a full lane. Only a fool would do so in busy traffic.

The DOT claims that fewer accidents occur in round about intersections. Perhaps part of the reason is that some drivers simply avoid them.

Another alarming aspect is the arrogant attitude of the designers. They won’t change it, even if the people and the city council oppose it. We are the owners – and yet we are told to get used to it. If you support a moratorium until such issues are resolved, let your elected state officials know now. They are the most likely people to successfully intervene for you.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

Paul Nelson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:37:04 GMT

If people wouldn't be so afraid of change and learn how to approach and enter roundabouts, they'd find them much safer and more efficient that stoplights or, worse, 4-way stop-sign intersections.

re: Slowing down on roundabouts

Ralph Heun — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:30:20 GMT

This exactly the concerns that I and NBCRG expressed to the DOT last year.

I was accused of knowing more than safety engineers and therefore my comments were wrong. The Moorland/I43 intersections are the biggest in the state and the DOT has not given it proper study to see if it works as expected.

I suggested to the DOT meeting at New Berlin City Hall on Tuesday that the pipes blocking the left lane in the South Roundabout on Moorland, be removed in effort to facilitate traffic movement and the next day I heard from the DOT that they did not think removing the pipes could be done before the end of construction after November 15.

As you are well aware, anytime Government initiates projects there is absolutely no stopping it. Examples are: Computer systems that never work, Voter registration lists that are years behind in implementing and others too numerous to mention.

Ralph Heun

Clarifying the Move Over Law

Conservatively Speaking — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:22:51 GMT

On January 24, 2007, I blogged about Wisconsin’s new Move Over Law. “Wisconsin has a Move Over Law that

re: The Obama tax shift

Disappointed Constituent — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:34:09 GMT

Although Republican John McCain claims that Obama would raise taxes, the independent Tax Policy Center and other groups conclude that four out of five U.S. households would receive tax cuts under Obama's proposals. Let's be honest with your consitutuents. I know you have partisan blood running in your veins, but the majority of Wisconsin residents just want the untainted facts.

Deer hunting begins Saturday

Conservatively Speaking — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:20:42 GMT

As hard as it is to believe, deer hunting season in Wisconsin begins this weekend. Here are the season