Next year is our year

That could be the rallying cry for fans of the Milwaukee Brewers (myself included), as they kept us entertained until the penultimate game of the season, wondering if they could somehow sneak into the playoffs in a rebuilding year, in which “the e

Freedom and liberty: Liberals and conservatives have vastly different ideas

A few years ago, when I started trying to understand public policy and politics, one thing I tried to do was identify key differences between liberal and conservative thinking. I read a lot and wrote a bit.

Election reform is about more than fraud

A dozen years ago, the preface to a report on federal election reform began with these words: “Polls indicate that many Americans lack confidence in the electoral system, but the political parties are so divided that serious electoral reform is un

Your local newspaper: The real deal

While no one should ever say “I know it’s real because I saw it on the internet,” everyone should be able to say, “I know it’s real. I read it in the newspaper.”

Real newspapers, real news

“Real Newspapers, Real News” is the theme of this year’s National Newspaper Week (Oct. 1-7.) Indeed, there’s always been lots of “real” at newspapers.

Scary, isn’t it?

We tried to make a statement on our front page this week, to get the community—and ourselves—thinking about what life would be like without a local newspaper.

Opinions

The Debt ceiling vs. The Budget

It’s a Chicken or Egg Thing! Lee Hamilton’s commentary in the July 5 Graphic was an attempt to explain “Why we need to scrap the debt ceiling.” With this article I am offering a contrasting viewpoint about the debt ceiling, which I like to call our country’s “approved line of credit.” Hamilton’s...

Build that wall

Not that wall. The wall I am talking about is much closer to home, and more imaginary than brick and mortar. I am thinking about the bustle and excitement around the Lake Mills area the past several weeks, and how we can keep that going in perpetuity. The Wall, would help us keep more dollars in...

How to save money while welcoming a new pet to your home

Whether it’s a dog, cat or another furry (or scaly) friend, many people have pets who are more than just animals—they’re part of the family. Pets can be friends, they can offer nonjudgmental companionship when you’re feeling down and they can put a smile on your face. To provide the best care for...

How to purposefully and successfully transition to a single income

Many parents face the same difficult question when raising a child. Should one of you stay at home while the other works? It’s not a question to take lightly. The decision can have emotional and financial consequences and may have a long-term impact on the stay-at-home parent’s career opportunities...

Encourage good media

I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to journalism, I’m a traditionalist. Old-fashioned, even. But I don’t think it’s a coincidence that even while confidence in the media drops to new lows and Time magazine feels moved to wonder “Is Truth Dead?” on its cover, huge numbers of Americans...

Sporting events on a budget—it’s possible with a plan

Season ticket holder or first timer, watching your team take the field or visiting new teams in a different venue, gripping your seat tightly during the finger-biting last minutes of a close game or cheering on a decisive win—sports can certainly be some of the best entertainment possible. Whether...

Why we need to scrap the debt ceiling

Back when I was in Congress, I got a call from a constituent one day. I’d recently voted to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, and the man was more than irate. “Don’t you understand that we’ve got a serious spending and debt problem in this country?” he asked. “Why did you cast this idiotic vote?”...

Welcome

It is that time of year once again, July Jubilee is happening this weekend. The weekend provides a time for citizens to not only step out of their routines, but have a little fun. While it provides a welcome respite from the summer doldrums to people living in the community, the weekend also is...

Reports that can save your company money

Cash flow issues are one of the big reasons small businesses fail. And these types of problems are directly related to an owner not staying on top of the numbers and having poor accounting practices. The good news is you don’t need a crystal ball to forecast what lies ahead for your company. By...

Stuff

If you are anything like me, and my family, you find that you have a lot of “stuff,” when you take a moment to inventory the possessions in your home. I guess I have always known that, but it was really driven home this past year, as we have been cleaning out “stuff” from two houses, representing...