Here are the responses from the chiefs in alphabetical order.  Brown Deer & River Hills have not responded yet, but in all fairness the request was only recently made.

BAYSIDE

David, we do allow telephone calls in almost all instances before transport to other facilities.  We find it extremely beneficial if family and friends know the whereabouts of their loved ones.  This facilitates appropriate representation, bail, etc.

Generally the only arrestees not allowed access to a phone are those that have been uncooperative and/or pose some type of security threat.

If you need any further information please let me know.

Chief Bruce Resnick
Bayside Police Department

BROWN DEER

(No response as of yet, will update later)

FOX POINT

David:

   Yes, all prisoners are allowed to make phone calls before being transported to the Milwaukee County. 

 Thomas J. Czaja

Chief of Police

Fox Point Police Department     

GLENDALE

David,

We allow phone calls.  There is no variation due to type of arrest.

Tom Czarnyszka
Glendale PD

RIVER HILLS

(No response as of yet, will update later)

SHOREWOOD

We allow them to make a few telephone calls from our telephone. No charge. We would rather have them bail out then take them to the county jail. We have limited staff to leave the Village.

Chief David M. Banaszynski

Shorewood Police Department

WHITEFISH BAY

Dear Mr. Tatarowicz.  We do not have a standard policy that indicates when persons taken into custody are allowed or not allowed to make phone calls.  Each situation is handled on a case by case basis.  The majority of times, however, people are allowed to make phone calls, if requested, prior to being taken to the Milwaukee County Jail.

Sincerely,

Chief Robert Jacobs
Whitefish Bay Police Department

In my previous posting I told the True story of Carl, who was picked up by the Milwaukee Police Department on a minor traffic stop .... was taken into custody on some unpaid traffic fines .... and due to the policies of the MPD and the MIlwaukee County Sheriff, Carl could not make a phone call to friends or relatives so he could get the money to pay the fine and get bailed out.

Due to these polices of the MPD and Sheriff, Carl ended up losing his job as result of 3 consecutive days of unreported absence. 

Carl is now unemployed and as of tomorrow will be homeless.  His employer is fighting Carl receiving unemployment benefits. 

Carl had been a model employee --- never missed worked, was always on time, was up for a promotion and a raise.  But Carl's employer makes all new hires sign a form that says if they miss 3 days of work without calling in, they are considered to have "resigned" their position.  And they then fight against the ex-employee receiving any unemployment benefits.

I wondered how the police departments on the Northshore handle the phone call situation.  I wrote an email to each of the police chiefs and have started to get responses

Please remember that Sheriff David Clarke uses the phone system at the County Jail as a PROFIT CENTER!  Detainees can only make collect calls or buy calling cards from the commissary (which they only go to once a week).

Sheriff Clarke has a deal with the company that handles the collect calls and phone cards, which charge exhorbitant rates for both.  Clarke takes in over $1 million a year, by overcharging the detainees, and their families (who get the collect charges of over $5 per call on their phone bill).

We constantly hear Clarke bemoan the fact that there is jail overcrowding and that he needs more money to run the jail and house of correction --- it would be interesting to see how much less overcrowding there would be, and how much less money Clarke would need, if detainees could simply make phone calls and get bailed out.

In my next posting --- part three of phone calls for prisoners --- I will post the policies of the Northshore Police Departments, and some of the comments from the various Police Chiefs.

DO YOU THINK CLARKE SHOULD CHANGE HIS POLICY?     HOW DO YOU THINK THE NORTHSHORE DEPARTMENTS HANDLE THE SAME SITUATION?     WHAT ABOUT FLYNN AND MPD --- WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

This is a TRUE story about how one person’s run in with the Criminal Justice System in Milwaukee County has cost them their livelihood, health, housing and future.

This is NOT a story about violent or felony crime.

And this is a story that the average resident of the Northshore Suburbs of Milwaukee probably would not have happen to them. 

This IS a story about those who live on the edge between poverty and a decent living, and who are susceptible to the grand standing Get Tough on Crime Political Realities.

An acquaintance of one of my co-workers (I’ll call him Carl), who I have known for about 5 or 6 years had a good paying job (in the context of his socio-economic bracket that means between $10 and $15 per hour, and some benefits), that allowed him to live a comfortable but modest lifestyle --- an apartment costing about $600 a month, a very used car and a little spending money.

Carl lived in Milwaukee around 35^th and Wisconsin, but like many residents of the inner city, his employment was in Port Washington (most “good” jobs are not in the city, and most of those in the suburbs are not available by public transit).

As luck would have it, Carl got pulled over by the Milwaukee police for a minor traffic violation, and it turned out that he still owed a fine (about $500) from a prior traffic violation, and there was a warrant for his arrest.

Yes, Carl was stupid! He should have paid his fine, and there would not have been any more to tell in this story.

But as Carl did NOT pay the prior fine, he was arrested, handcuffed, taken to the MPD local station, and then forwarded on to the Milwaukee County Jail.

Oh well, you may be thinking now --- NO BIG DEAL !! --- so he pays the $500 fine and gets out of jail. Except, that most folks in Carl’s income bracket are living on the edge, and don’t usually have a spare $500 on hand.

Okay, again No Big Deal --- Carl can just call a friend or two, and get the $500 he needs and gets a “get out of jail card” that way.

Or so one would think --- but one would be wrong !!!!!!

First of all, when Carl is arrested by the MPD, he is not allowed to make any phone calls from his cell phone, or from a phone at the police station. They tell him he can make a call when he gets to Milwaukee County Jail.

WRONG!

At the County lockup, they of course take away his cell phone, and he only has access to a pay phone ……… and can only make “collect” calls, or use a calling card purchased from the jail commissary.

Now maybe you know a lot of folks who will take a collect call from you. If you know their number off the top of your head --- and ONLY IF they have a LAND LINE!

You cannot make a collect call to a Cell Phone. And I hope it is no surprise to many of you, that most people in Carl’s Socioeconomic Bracket do NOT have Land Lines --- almost all have cell phones.

You cannot use money to make a call from the Milwaukee County Jail, you must buy a Phone Card from the commissary. 

This sounds fine in theory, except that you can only go to the commissary once a week! 

If you are booked in on a Thursday, and your jail section day for the Commissary is on Wednesday, you have to wait a week before you can buy a phone card --- and then only if you have money in your Commissary Account.

For a little background on this whole deal, a large part of the reason that they have this system in the Milwaukee County Jail is that Sheriff David Clarke believes that there is not enough Punishment in the Criminal Justice System. and he likes to brag about how he saves the County money, 

Now one of the ways that Sheriff Clarke likes to Save the County money, is to take it from those who can least afford it!

You see, the phone system at the County Jail is not a regular system --- it is actually a contract that Sheriff Clarke has with a private phone firm, that charges $5.55 for a 15 minute collect call. 

In 2007, the Sheriff picked up a nice little sum of $1,129,200 off the rigged phone system.

In Carl’s case, he was stupid to be there, as he had not paid his previous fine. 

But the average prisoner in jail has NOT been convicted of anything --- many of them have not even had the chance yet to see a lawyer or judge.

Yet, because they are poor and cannot post bail, or pay some small fine, their families (those who may have a land line) get ripped off by accepting their calls. 

Sheriff Clarke gets to punish both the inmate and the inmate’s family, while making money off the backs of the poorest in our community.

Getting back to Carl’s situation, Sheriff Clarke can chalk up an extra punishment. 

Since Carl could not call anyone he knew with a land line --- and since his workplace will not take a phone call from a county jail --- Carl lost his job for not reporting in for three days in a row. (Carl had a perfect record at his job, never missed a day or was late)

It just so happened that Carl had only a few days left until his first year anniversary with the company, but since he was fired before that date, he lost his accrued vacation time, the raise he was due to receive, and all his health benefits.

In addition, Carl’s company requires all new hires to sign a form that says that if they do not report in for three consecutive days in a roll --- they are considered to have resigned their position, and have not technically been fired, and are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

I am not a lawyer, but it just seems that it shouldn’t be legal to sign away your rights to unemployment benefits, especially as it is a unilateral agreement that is non-negotiable for a new hire.

And yes, Carl did appeal his denial of unemployment benefits, but was denied them.

And yes, Carl will be without a place to live at the end of this month. One more person unemployed and homeless in Milwaukee.

Sheriff Clarke Tough on Crime & Punishment??? 

That depends upon your definition of Crime!!!

WHO CAN YOU CALL COLLECT FROM JAIL (LAND LINE ONLY)?

HOW DO YOU LIKE PAYING FOR SOMEONE LIKE CARL TO STAY IN JAIL AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE BECAUSE HE IS NOT ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD?

Sarah Palin is in the news again, using her son with Down Syndrome as a political prop.

I don't know about those of you folks who may read my postings, but in the recent presidential campaigns, I cringed when John Edwards used his cancer stricken wife, Elizabeth, as a political prop

(and we know now just how little he regarded her in other aspects) ..........

and I got very tired of seeing Sarah Palin's son Trig, who is afflicted with  Down Syndrome,  being passed around like a sack of potatoes,  by Sarah and her family ---

Call me cynical, but the use of her baby Trig and her single pregnant daughter Bristol, did not convey one iota of sincerity to me.

I wish the best for baby Trig, and single mother Bristol.

And I hope that Elizabeth Edwards can pull through her ordeal with cancer.

But I really do not want to see them on TV, or read about them in the papers or magazines, in relation to Sarah or John, and their political forays. 

I think the Exploitation of their less fortunate kin has pushed beyond all ethical and moral limits.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

An Evening of

Argentine Tango at Open Book

Performance by the Tango Elixir Dancers featuring Nina Tartarowicz

Live music by Quinteto Yzafa of Madison

A PerfectWay to Start Valentine’sWeekend

Friday Night, February 12^th

Doors open at 7:00 pm. Performance at 8:00 pm. Tango lessons and dancing to

follow. Refreshments will be served.

General seating

Members: $10 in advance

$15 at the door

$15 Non-members (admission applies to Open Book membership)

Cabaret seating -- $15

Tickets available at Open Book 4093 N. Oakland Ave.

Tango

 When driving on I43  or the other freeways in the Milwaukee area, I am  amazed at how many Big Rigs are in the left lane.

Sometimes they are tailgating the car in front of them, in an attempt to get the car to move over,  at other times, they are doing the speed limit or less.

When they are speeding and tailgating, the danger is obvious, and pictures of over-turned semis on the Milwaukee freeways are almost a common sight on the evening news.

When they are just occupying the left lane, they obstruct the view ahead for drivers behind, and there is often dangerous jockeying by the cars, as they switch lanes to pass the semis on the right.

In my younger days over 35 years ago, I learned to drive semis, and drove over the road.

I was taught that a semi or heavy truck only used the left lane for passing, and not for cruising.  

If my memory serves my correctly, I believe that in most states, and certainly in almost every urban area (other than Milwaukee), semis, heavy trucks, and vehicles with trailers, are restricted from the left lane.

If you drive on the tollway or freeways in Illinois, you will notice that those kinds of vehicles are prohibited from the left lane.

I know that most Milwaukee area drivers think the Illinois folks are crazy -- and they do go rather fast down there ---  but surprisingly, the traffic fatality rate on the 286 mile Illinois Tollway System, was lower than on the much smaller Milwaukee freeway system, in 2009.

Traffic Fatalities are down almost everywhere, due to safer vehicles, better engineering of roads and road signs, and an emphasis on DUI enforcement.  

I think they could be still lower in Wisconsin, if we adopt the same rules regarding semis and heavy trucks in the fast lane.  That is not where they belong.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?    YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

 A series of articles by the Journal Sentinel on fraud in the Wisconsin State subsidized Child-Care Program has resulted in a public outcry, investigations by officials, hearings in the legislature, and a flurry of “reform” legislation by Governor Doyle and various Legislators.

Officially known as the Wisconsin Shares Program, payments are made to various types of Child-Care facilities and arrangements, including Licensed Child-Care facilities, Licensed Family Child-Care Home, and Certified Family Child Care Home. 

In addition to the Wisconsin Shares Program, there are other Child-Care subsidies, such as the Caretaker Supplement cash benefit, for parents on SSI with minor children.

As noted by the Journal Sentinel reports, some of the controversial aspects of the Shares Program were the hiring of parents whose children were enrolled at a facility, in essence, paying the parent to watch their own kid. Also a payment system that was based upon Enrollment, and Not Attendance!

What the Journal Sentinel did not disclose in their articles is that None of this was a Secret! And that the W-2 Reforms to the old AFDC Welfare Program, were mostly responsible for the amazing growth of the Shares Program.

In the past 10 years, the Shares Program TRIPLED in size to approx $400 Million per year!

If the Officials and Politicians in Madison did not realize the correlation between the huge decline in Welfare Cases after W-2 (60% decline) and the astronomical increase in the Shares Program (along with other programs I will not address in this posting) – then those Officials and Politicians are either Fools or Frauds.

However, the Folks living in Poverty are definitely NOT Fools.

 Per the UWM Center for Economic Development --- “In Milwaukee's inner city, joblessness is endemic. 56.4 percent of working age males in the city's "Enterprise Community" - census tracts designated as the "inner city" by City Hall-were either unemployed or not in the labor force. “

Just HOW do the Officials and Politicians think those people survive? It is obvious that there have to be ways in which they can maintain at least a bare subsistence.

Of course, there is a “cash” economy that helps. Most of it is benign, like the housekeepers, handymen, gardeners, etc. that affluent folks hire for cash jobs … and then there is the tragic cash economy of drugs, which is a topic unto itself.

Until now, the Officials and Politicians were having the best of both worlds.

On the one hand, they claimed that they were cutting off the Welfare Queens driving their Cadillacs, and they were going to make them Work to earn their Keep (Tommy Thompson’s W2). 

While on the other hand, they knew that as there were not enough sustaining jobs even if everyone could work (and don’t forget that the FED’s policies call for 6% unemployment or they raise interest rates) there had to be assistance of some kind. 

And so they turned a blind eye to the Shares fraud (among other things), until the Journal Sentinel decided to make an issue of it.

Even the drug dealing at many of the Child-Care providers places was not unknown. High ranking officials in the Milwaukee City Attorney’s Office were informed of it, and most of law enforcement was aware of it.

For the moment the various reforms from the governor, officials and politicians will be pursued, and like other issues du jour, the general public will forget all about it.

In the meantime, Racism, Lack of Jobs, Suburban Flight, Outsourcing of Labor, and Offshoring of well paying manufacturing jobs will continue the present plight of the Inner City Residents.

But remember that just because some people are Poor --- doesn’t mean they are Stupid! 

Only until we address the Real Problems and Poverty, will we have Real Solutions.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?                    YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCO

 Senator Reid is quoted in a new book by two journalists about the 2008 campaign, “Game Change,” as saying privately that the US would be “ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama – a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.’ ”

There seems to be no lack of politicians, pundits and commentators who want to paint Senator Reid as a Racist for his comments.  And they want to vilify him for using the word Negro.

In my opinion the use of the word Negro is a non-issue.  Although not used very much today, it is still used by "People of Color" (the PC Term Du Jour) .......  and there are many associations that use the word Negro in their association name.

The core of what Harry Reid said is that WE Americans --- White, Black, Latino, Asian et al, still harbor prejudices which favor "light skinned" People of Color.  

Is it a conscious prejudice? Sometimes YES -- Sometimes NO .....

But it is Perceived as Real, and Perception is Reality!

Harry Reid made an astute political observation.  

Instead of "Killing the Messenger" ...

WE as a Nation --- All Americans --- should look inward.

So that hopefully we can make the Truism of Senator Reid's comment, as out dated as the use of the word Negro. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

There is a lot of talk on the news and in the papers about the reluctance of banks to give small businesses loans, and how that reluctance is part of what is keeping our economy from rebounding.

Maybe one reason that the banks are not giving out lines of credit to small business owners, is because the banks have figured out how , in many cases, to extort obscene profits from the captive small businesses.

The scheme that the banks use is geared towards small businesses that are dependent upon billing out for their services, and receiving payment by check. Small businesses that work primarily in cash (fast food, storefront retailers, etc) have some immunity.

Here is how it works:

Acme provides services to other companies. When they receive an assignment, they schedule the work, buy the necessary materials, and assign worker(s) to the job. They write a check for the materials, and at the end of the week or the next week, they pay their labor.

Acme’s costs are almost immediate. And in a very slow economy like the one we are in, their orders are probably way down from previous years, and there is not much of a cushion between costs and billings.

Work is now completed, and Acme bills out the job, let’s say the bill in this case is for $1,000 even. If the billing is to a very good customer, or another small business, they will usually see their money in about 30 days (a month after they have already paid for the materials and labor) --- but if their customer is a large corporation, there is a very good chance that it will be 45 or 60 days before they get paid, as large corporations can, and do, use their payables as a floating line of credit when they need to …… in essence, taking a loan out from their vendors.

Acme is lucky on this job, and they do get payment of $1000 in about 30 days from the date of invoice. But that does NOT mean that they have their money yet.

They deposit the $1000 check into their business checking account at ABC bank down the street. ABC is a large bank operating is several states with over one hundred locations.

Since the check that Acme has deposited is from a company in another state, ABC puts a 5 business day hold on the check (7 normal days). This means that the $1000 is NOT available for use by Acme for another week.

In reality, ABC has put the check for $1000 into the Federal Reserve Clearing, and ABC receives interest for every day that check is in the Fed! That is the overnight rate that the Fed pays to banks. Of course when the money is out of the Fed, the bank uses it to makes loans and again, makes interest on the $1000 that Acme does not have access to yet.

It is worth noting, that virtually all the check transactions nowadays are done electronically, and the bank has probably received the $1000 for the check the day after they put it into clearing.

So the bank has the $1000 for a week and making money on it, while Acme is still waiting. But the best part For the Bank is yet to come. ABC gets more chances to make even more money off this transaction!

Acme has to write checks to its vendors and suppliers, and there are also monthly billings from their insurance company, vehicle loans, and other payables, that are automatically withdrawn from Acme’s checking account with ABC.

As luck will have it, during the float time that ABC is keeping the funds unavailable to Acme, some of those automatic withdrawals hit Acme’s account, and virtually used up all the “cleared” funds in the ABC account. When ABC deposited the check, they already had $3500 in the account that was cleared, and with the deposit, they have $4500 in their account, but there is that 7 day hold on the $1000.

After the automatic withdrawals, Acme’s “cleared funds are $750. Seven checks that Acme has written, totaling $1500 come into the account. There is a check for $900, and then six more checks for about $100 each.

ABC bank receives all seven checks the same day. It processes the $900 check first, which is $150 more than the available funds that Acme had in its account (there is still the $1000, but it won’t clear for 2 more days). So Acme’s “available funds” in its checking account are overdrawn by $150.

ABC bank charges Acme a $35 charge on the $900 check, for overdrawing the available balance. It then proceeds to pay the other 6 checks, at an additional charge of $35 per check. It has now assessed Acme $245 in overdraft fees.

When ABC finally clears the $1000 deposit two days later, it deducts the $245 in overdraft fees, so Acme only has $755 left of the original $1000. If Acme was making a 25% gross profit on that job which would be $250, they have now only $5 of that left.

In essence, ABC bank has “loaned” Acme $1500 for two days in covering the 7 checks, and made a return of $245 on the $1500 loan (16% interest for two days). A very bad deal for Acme --- a hell of a good deal and Great Profit for ABC!!! Remember, $245 for two days --- what astronomical figure is the interest rate based upon an annual basis???

I would suggest that the answer to the question I put forth above “Why Don’t Banks Want to Provide Loans to Small Businesses --- Even after the Government Bailouts and TARP Money the Banks Received?” is obvious.

Why in the world would a bank provide a small business person a loan or line of credit, at any imaginable annual rate (10%-15%-18%) when they can collect 16% on a two day loan?

By the way, this banking scheme, as many of you may know, is also used on individuals.

Please note that banks have not always been this predatory. In my own experience, I was with a large bank for about 15 years, and during most of that time, I could work with a branch manager and expedite the clearing of funds. But starting about 4 years back, they stopped helping to work with their customers, and took a “scorched earth policy” instead.

There is also some hope with SMALL banks. There are still a few (very few) small banks and savings and loans, that really do want small business and consumer business, and they will work with their customers. You have to look really hard to find them, but they do exist.

In my opinion the Large banks have done their expansions and buyouts, and they really don’t care much for small business or consumer customers. When they can borrow Billions from the government (us) and when their executives have paychecks larger than the budgets of most of the Milwaukee suburbs --- they just don’t care anymore…….

WHAT DO YOU THINK?                   YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

 Are you tired of calling Customer Service at some company and getting the “run around”? the multiple and endless choices of pushing this or that number for this or that service, and in the end, talking with someone who is of no help, and who really doesn’t care ?

So am I ………… whether utility companies, software companies, retailers --- you name it --- Customer Service is usually not only a misnomer, but an outright LIE !

The bright spot in the dreaded Customer Service, Non-Service, has been AT&T Cellular.

I have had the same cell phone number now for around 15 years. I am not even sure what the name of the original company was --- although I think it might have been Cingular.

Over the years, this company bought that company which bought another company --- etc, etc, ………. and now for the last few years, it has been AT&T Cellular.

I have also had cell service from another large cell company, during the same time I have had AT&T. So I do have a comparison in the cell phone world – and there is no comparison.

Over the past three years or so, when I have had a reason to call AT&T Customer Service, they have been extremely easy to work with, pleasant and helpful.

In addition (hold onto your seats now folks) several of the times, they have gone over my family plan with me, and found ways for me to SAVE MONEY !!!!!!!!!!

With one kid in college and always traveling, another kid in SIS and keeping in touch with that world, my wife’s use, and my need to be able to access e mail when I am not in the office --- as you can imagine, they are almost countless combinations of plans and services to choose from, to fit everyone’s needs.

Just now I have hung up with AT&T after calling with a question --- and the Customer Service Representative not only had answers for me, but she suggested a different configuration on my plan that will save me money in the future --- and since I was making an upgrade (although at a LOWER cost) she then proceeded to credit back over $100 in fees that I wouldn’t have had if I had this new configuration.

For some reason --- AT&T seems to think that Good Customer Service --- and helping their customers make the best choices at the lowest cost, will result in a Successful Business Model --- and for some reason, I think they are Correct !

I think that their model could even result in someone like me singing their praises, and perhaps spread the word around that they are a Great Company to work with.

And --- as a disclaimer which you will NOT see from Wisconsin judges, Politicians (state and federal) or from many financial advisors, and/or doctors who receive money from pharmaceutical companies they shill for ……………. I have not and do not own any stock in AT&T, or have any financial interest in that company  .............   :-)

HAVE YOU ANY GOOD EXPERIENCES WITH COMPANIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ................ PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO -----

JUST LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT COMPANY,

OR IF YOU ARE A WISCONSIN JUDGE WHO THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT HAS SAID SHOULD NOT RECUSE THEMSELVES FOR SOMETHING AS PETTY AS BIG MONEY FROM CONTRIBUTORS ...

 I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CRITIQUES ON THE FRENCH HEALTH CARE SYSTEM --- AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST, AS IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE AN AGENDA, BUT TO GIVE A BALANCED LOOK AT HOW IT WORKS --- NOT ONLY HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO WORK ON PAPER, BUT ALSO HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS IN REAL LIFE.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM ---- I AM PUTTING THIS OUT AS AN FYI TO THE READERS OF THIS BLOG

Is French health system a model for U.S.?

08:09 AM CDT on Monday, May 18, 2009

By JIM LANDERS / The Dallas Morning News
jlanders@dallasnews.com

PARIS – Houston native Jennifer Hua gave birth to her first two children in Texas, and her last two in France. The Houston hospital looked like a luxury hotel. The hospital in Paris was a converted prison.

Amenities aside, she prefers Paris.

The American health care model, she says, is too expensive and too insecure. France offers her family good medical treatment, better insurance, more convenience and no worries about how to pay medical bills if her husband's job changes.

"If we were to consider returning to the U.S., health care would be one of my top concerns," the Rice University alum said.

Dallas native Anna Marie Mattson heads the University of Texas alumni group in France (Texas Exes). She's lived in Paris since 1990 and has seen members of her family go through hospitalizations. Mattson says the French model encourages people to put health ahead of economic anxiety.

"Under the U.S. system, I never wanted to get sick, and when I did, I went to the pharmacy to try to find a way to treat myself," she said. "In France, you go to the doctor immediately."

As America seeks a better way to provide medical care, France offers an example of a system where everyone has government-provided, basic health insurance – citizens and immigrants alike. Expenses for such chronic illnesses as cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis are covered entirely by the state so patients can focus on treatment rather than financial ruin.

But if France is instructive on health security, it also shows how high, vexing medical bills push government into a constant reform struggle. Lately, the French are taking a page or two from the U.S. playbook to try to cope by exploring managed-care practices.

Rice University alum Elizabeth Dutertre, who's lived in France since 1968, has had good and bad experiences with French health care.

"Many liberal Americans are convinced that the French system is the be-all and end-all solution to health care costs in the United States," she said. "But the system is costly to both the workers and the state. In fact, it is going bankrupt."

Bankruptcy looms for America as well. Health care absorbs more than 17 percent of the U.S. economy, or $2.4 trillion. The French fork over 11 percent.

In 2006, U.S. spending averaged $6,714 per person. The average resident of France spent $3,450. This year, U.S. spending is expected to near $8,000 per person, while French officials estimate spending there will come in below $5,000. It's not that the French are younger. One in six of France's 61 million people are over the age of 65; one in eight Americans are over 65.

France and the United States pay for their health care in different ways. Most U.S. health care spending is private. The government's share – what you pay for in taxes for Medicare, Medicaid, military and other government employees – is 46 percent. The rest is paid through insurance split between employers and workers, and in out-of-pocket expenses borne by consumers.

In France, national health insurance pushes the government's share of health care spending to 80 percent. Consumers and their employers pay for the rest through supplemental, private insurance and out-of-pocket expenses.

In both countries, patients with the money to pay for more or better care not covered by insurance are able to buy it through private clinics and doctors. Health expenditures have grown faster than prices for nearly everything else in both countries for many years, despite decades of reforms aimed at capping prices, supply and demand.

President Barack Obama has made a priority of providing health insurance for all Americans while lowering health care inflation. France has insurance for all but battles health care costs in the National Assembly every year.

Rationing by price

People in both countries tell pollsters that rationing health care is abhorrent, but both ration by price. American and French men and women who make too much money to qualify for indigent care, but too little to afford comprehensive insurance, often go without needed medical treatment.

France blends public and private insurers and hospitals with (mostly) self-employed doctors. There's a national insurance plan that covers between 60 and 70 percent of health care spending for everyone. (Forty-six million Americans do not have health insurance.)

In France, private companies and trade groups offer supplemental health insurance. Consumers use it to pay the charges not covered by national insurance.

Although U.S.-style managed care has started creeping in, the French insurance system leaves consumers free to choose their doctors and leaves French doctors free to make whatever prescriptions and treatment recommendations they think best.

Everyone who's lived in France for at least three months is covered by national health insurance.

People with chronic illnesses get continuing medical attention without facing a bill for it. Treatments and survival rates for cancers and other diseases are better in the United States, although French cancer patients routinely get access to experimental drugs.

Far more Americans get heart surgeries to clear clogged arteries, but the French death rate from heart attacks is about one third of the American rate.

The French live longer. They have more hospital beds and more doctors.

Price difference

For health economist Didier Tabuteau, though, there is one overriding difference between the U.S. and French systems.

"The difference is the price, not the number of doctors or the number of hospitals," he said. "You pay a very high price for drugs and doctors."

The French government negotiates price ceilings with pharmaceutical companies. French doctors earn about 60 percent of what their American counterparts make, although they get free medical school tuition and don't face high malpractice insurance premiums.

Like us, however, the French have a looming problem with the cost of medical care. If the American way is generous to doctors and drug makers, the French way is generous to consumers. With no deductibles and with out-of-pocket expenses averaging less than $250 a year, the French visit their doctors about twice as often as Americans. The French lead the world in drug consumption.

Cost-control steps taken over the last 20 years have created a two-tier system where medical care is readily available to the very poor and those who are well off. It's harder to come by for the lower middle class who can't get comprehensive, supplemental health insurance through their employers and can't afford to buy such policies on their own.

Tabuteau says a third of French consumers complain they can't get the dental care, eyeglasses or other treatments they want because of cost.

Jennifer Hua and her French husband can choose any doctor they want. They've had their pediatrician come to the house on a Sunday to care for a sick child.

The Huas pay their doctors at the time of service for house calls and office visits, but their insurance deposits reimbursements into their checking account in a matter of days. All of their medical care is covered by two health insurance policies that together cost them 77 euros a month, or about $102. The Huas used to spend another $100 a month for a better supplemental insurance policy than the one offered by Mr. Hua's employer, but they dropped that policy after he switched to a job with better benefits.

Identity cards

Insurers and providers use a common electronic billing system tied to identity cards that carry a microchip containing reimbursement information. Health economist Gérard de Pouvourville said the system's efficiency reduces overhead to less than 4 percent of the plan's cost.

For several years, a team of researchers at Harvard Medical School has argued that up to a third of the U.S. medical bill goes toward overhead for insurance companies, marketing, hospital and physician billing departments, pharmaceutical advertising and the like.

(Insurance firms and others dispute that overhead estimate. Comparable estimates for France are hard to come by. The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development collects health care overhead estimates from governments showing France at 6.9 percent, and the U.S. at 7.5 percent. OECD health data expert Gaetan Lafortune says both estimates are too low.)

In France, the national insurance plan's trustees negotiate a fee schedule with physicians' unions and hospitals. An office visit with a general practitioner costs 23 euros, or about $30. Patients are expected to pay one euro of that cost out of their own pockets. Insurance reimburses them for the rest.

Most doctors stay within the plan, but about 30 percent have opted out and are free to charge what they like. (Leaving the plan cuts them out of a government-funded pension.)

Employers contribute 12.8 percent of employee compensation for national health insurance. Workers contribute 0.75 percent. Chronic deficits have forced the government to add large amounts of tax revenues to health insurance financing, including a 5.25 percent income tax surcharge.

Tabuteau, head of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, warns that this is an inadequate model that will force the French government to either raise employee contributions or limit national health insurance to the 10 million people with chronic illnesses.

Money still talks

Elizabeth Dutertre has had three surgeries to correct double vision. The first was at the Hôtel-Dieu, a public hospital across the street from Notre Dame Cathedral, where an unexpected opening in her surgeon's schedule let her get an operation within two months of diagnosis.

"At the end of it, I had nothing to pay," she said.

The second time, she was told it would take two years before her surgeon could schedule her at a public hospital. She went instead to a private hospital, where her surgeon operated within three weeks. At discharge, she got a bill for 350 euros, or about $465.

"They immediately wanted a check – no Visa card, no American Express," she said. "If you can afford the out-of-pocket expense, you get quicker, better care."

Dr. Marie-Laure Alby, a general practitioner in Paris who shares a practice with three other doctors, said government-set fees don't provide enough money to cover expenses. The practice where she works offers patients care six days a week, 12 hours a day, including house calls. The four doctors share the cost of two secretaries and one nurse.

General practitioners in France earned about $84,000 in 2004, or $62,000 less than their American counterparts, according to the latest estimates collected by the OECD.

"The solution would be to have more money if you offer a better service," she said.

Alby no longer works within the government fee schedule. Instead of charging $30 for an office visit, she charges $42.

"It's about one-tenth of what you pay in the States," she said.

Alby argues consumers are too used to the idea that health care should be free.

"In France, one specific problem is the emergency room of the hospital," she said. "Many people in France would think less about going there than they would to go to a café."

Patients who go to a public hospital emergency room aren't given a bill to pay at the end of their treatment.

None of this is free, of course. The share of taxes in the French economy is more than 40 percent. In the United States, it's just over 25 percent.

The French government knows about emergency room overuse but has not cracked down.

"It's a pure scandal," Alby said.

NOTE:  I tried to post a comment responding to the comments of readers --- and it would not post !!  So I have posted it below in "bold - italics" --- the original post is below the response to comments -- and of course the comments are below also.  I guess I have to get our 13 year old to show me how to use this computer :-)

It is good to see a vibrant discussion on this topic --- it can only benefit the country in the long run. Regarding Dave Casper's question concerning medical care in France -- I do have a mea culpa for a faux pas ... I try very hard to verify before I print, and although I did that in this case, it was not with the right person and the story was distorted a bit from the original telling (the old heard it third hand).

As it turned out, it was not our daughter who had the treatment, but a friend of hers ....... BUT I did find out and verify the following:

1) Our daughter like many if not all students who travel abroad through one of the student programs, had an International Health Insurance Program coverage.

2) With that coverage, if she had needed care in France, it would have cost very little or nothing at all --- and definitely NOT as much as in the USA with normal private health insurance coverage here.

3) She did have a friend visiting from another country where she was studying, and she fell and hit her head --- ambulance and ER care and NO charge ... she also had the International Coverage, but as I found in my research since DC's inquiry, most ER visits in France do not result in a charge ... although not necessarily the technical design of the health care program there.

As for Gordy 1's assertion that the Republicans want the new plan to cover the politicians and the Democrats don't --- I don't really trust EITHER party or most ANY of the politicians, regardless of party affiliation. I have been active in both, and found the only difference is the "red meat" each party throws to its true believers !!!

But I have not found any substantiation that what Gordy asserts is true --- or for real, not forgetting that there have been no lack or Red Herrings being tossed around over this issue.

I am going to post a new blog about the French Health Care program, which is really very interesting. But I wanted to wait to give everyone a chance to make their comments on this posting

 Our daughter in college spent a semester in France and traveling around Europe not too long ago.

While in Paris, she was not feeling well, and went to the hospital.  

They quickly diagnosed her ailment, gave her medication for it.

When she walked out of the hospital, she hadn't paid anything, and she didn't owe anything.

A couple years ago, a friend of mine was really down on his luck, and he was very sick --- I think it was pneumonia?  

I took him to one of those urgent care places, and he was back out the door in 5 minutes --- saying they would not treat him as he had no insurance and not enough money ($200 some dollars).

I insisted he go back in, I went with him, and asked how they could turn away someone with a serious ailment, and if it was legal?  As soon as the word legal came out, they of course treated him, verified he was very sick, and gave him a prescription.

We went to Walgreens and I lent him the money for the prescription which cost over $100 !!!!!

That is the difference between health care in the rest of the "civilized" world and here in the United States.

And the differences go far beyond who can and cannot get health care ..........

Our economy is being torn apart by the exhorbitant costs of health care here --- we are becoming a country of "haves' and "have nots" in who gets to be healthy and who gets kicked to the curb.

Many of our corporations here "outsource and outshore" work that Americans use to do, in part because of the high health care costs here.

Even Corporations who provide health care for their employees have made the deductibles and co-pays so high, that it is not affordable for the average worker making a modest living.

Yet those same corporations (you know, the ones that pay their CEO's millions) cover the co-pays and deductibles for their high ranking executives --- true Cadillac Plans !

We are very close to "beginning" to solve this century old dilemma (Teddy Roosevelt tried over 100 years ago) ------- 

But the HIGHLY PARTISAN REPUBLICANS CANNOT BEAR TO SEE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION DO ANY POSITIVE --- DESPITE WHAT IS GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE .......

And as for Lieberman --- I guess the only explanation is DEMENTIA .......... but at least he --- like every Republican Politician out there in DC, has Cadillac Health Care Coverage --- so he will be a well cared for, Smiling Idiot !!!

WHAT DO YOU THINK --------- PLEASE SIGN IN AND LEAVE A COMMENT

It's that time of year when the Snow and Ice wars begin !

One of my pet peeves is the lack of concern for pedestrians in Shorewood regarding ice and snow --- when Shorewood proudly proclaims it is a Pedestrian Friendly Village --- NOT !

Following are some pictures from Shorewood High School --- showing a parking lot devoid of snow and ice --- but not so much for where people walk.

I had limited time to take pictures, but it seems almost every pedestrian crossing is ice covered on the High School side of the street.

Maybe the Shorewood PD has to write a few tickets to the School District to get them to be a little more Pedestrian Friendly.

(By the way, it is not just the high school --- last year the two grade schools, Lake Bluff and Atwater had ice covered sidewalks for days at a time -- totally impassable !!)

THIS WINTER IF YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES OF NON-PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY WALKS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THEM TO ME WITH DETAILS OF WHERE AND WHEN --- REMEMBER THAT FOLKS DO HAVE 12 HOURS TO CLEAN UP THE WALKS OF SNOW OR ICE 

LET'S KEEP SHOREWOOD PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY THIS WINTER

When it was announced that the Schwartz Bookstore in Shorewood would be closing back in February, it was stunning news not only for folks in Shorewood, but also the many patrons from Whitefish Bay, Fox Point, the East Side, River West, etc……

I posted a blog on Feb 18, 2009, asking if it was the End of the Story for Schwartz?

I suggested at the time that perhaps a Co-op could be formed, that would enable the bookstore to continue.  Schwartz had not closed yet, and after talking with the owner, Carol Grossmeyer,  I suggested that if a Co-op could raise $400,000, there was a chance to keep the bookstore viable.

Notably, at the same time, fellow blogger Joe Mangialmele  on his Village Square Blog http://www.shorewoodnow.com/blogs/communityblogs/from_the_village_square.html

was imploring the Village Administration, Village Board, Shorewood BID District and the Shorewood CDA to help in seeing what could be done to save Schwartz.

In concluding my posting back then, I noted the concerns and issues I had about a possible Co-op venture --- reiterated here:

Some ideas/concerns/issues that come to mind in such a venture, that I have thought of:

a) $400,000 could equal 4000 folks at $100 each or 400 folks at $1000 each, or variations in between.

b) Can this be done soon enough to retain some of the current talented employees of Schwartz's.

c) Are there area banks that will want to support such a community venture.

d) Do the demographics of Schwartz customers extend to Riverwest, the East Side, WFB ????

e) Who at the Village level will take on the task of coordinating the Administration, Board, BID and CDA ----  Guy Johnson, Village President ??? Chris Swartz, Village Administrator ??? One of the unopposed Village Board Members on the election ballot like Jeff Hanewall or Margaret Hickey ???

f) What support, if any, will Roundy's be willing to give to the effort ?

Unfortunately, neither Joe nor I found any support from the Village of Shorewood, or Schwartz’s patrons, in saving the Schwartz operation.

The store was closed --- the last of the books were sold off --- and the store fixtures were sold off ---  the store became an empty shell.

Thus was the LAST CHAPTER FOR SCHWARTZ!

 BUT

some enterprising individuals --- led by a visionary Keith Schmitz --- STARTED WRITING THE FIRST CHAPTER OF A NEW BOOK ---  AN “OPEN BOOK”!

It was perhaps fortuitous that Schwartz actually did close, as it enabled the Open Book organizers to think outside the box, and formulate a business plan that may be more conducive to a Co-op operation.

Envisioning a smaller operation than the former Schwartz, the new Co-op also started with a smaller expectation of the funds that would be needed.  Instead of the $400,000 investment that would have been necessary to continue the Schwartz format, the group felt that if they could raise $175,000, they could be in business.

To date the Co-op has over 800 members, not just from Shorewood, but from throughout the Northshore, Milwaukee’s East Side, and River West, and almost all other parts of Metro Milwaukee.

With a basic membership costing $50, and many folks donating much more than that, some up to $1000, the Co-op is approaching its goal --- to date having raised over $80,000 --- not including the loan from Shorewood.

The Village of Shorewood finally got into the act, providing a $35,000 interest free loan. 

(Cynically, I and many others believe  this was a CYA by the Village Board, after the big controversy of them giving $183,300 to the Harleys Clothing Store --- whose owner happens to be the president of the Shorewood Bid).

Unexpectedly, in a big stroke of luck for the Co-op ---  Roundy’s which owns the building that the Schwartz store was in, agreed to rent the same space to Open Book, at about ¼ of the rent they were charging Schwartz! 

At least in the short term, this has provided Open Book with a high profile presence on Oakland Avenue, and perhaps they will pick up some of the former Schwartz patrons.

Unfortunately, this deal from Roundy’s came too late to benefit from the “fire sale” of the Schwartz fixtures, which had already been sold off.  Much of the new investment by the Co-op has been on fixtures, furnishings, etc.

Presently, the big upside to Open Book is their inclusion of a coffee house, support from many Seniors in the area, and from Shorewood High School students --- who have volunteered a lot of time and effort in getting the new store open.

Additionally, Open Book is striving to be much more than just a bookstore. 

After all, the prognosis for an independent bookstore is not that great now-a-days, with the fierce and predatory competition from the big box stores.

With the additional space that Open Book has chanced into, they are planning to make good use of it as:

A place for Organizations to have Meetings,

A venue to present Book Reviews by Authors and Groups, and

A Venue for Performances --- Musical, Theatrical, and more.

Although I have titled this posting as an Open Book “Review” --- it is not a certainty that this book will be finished!

There has been controversy regarding Open Book and money received from the Village.  There has been confusion as to whether Open Book is a “true” Co-op, or really an LLC.  And the acceptance by the consumers and patrons is not a foregone conclusion.

Open Book has retained a lawyer in Madison, who is an expert on Co-ops, and they intend to indeed, be a true Co-op.  Details like voting rights of members (per member, or pro-rated by contribution) are being worked out, and I have been told that they should have everything in proper order by the end of the year, and the attorney is reviewing the proposed charter and details.

I don’t think that it is any secret that the ultimate success and survival of Open Book rests upon just one factor ---- YOU!

Will the Community support its Home Town Business --- or will the lure of the Big Box Stores keep them away?

Now is a very crucial time for any retail endeavor.  The Christmas Buying Season is usually the “make or break” for all retailers.

How much of YOUR Christmas shopping be done at Open Book?

How many of the Local Organizations, patronize Open Book for meeting space?

Where will YOU stop by for YOUR Cup of Coffee?

Will Open Book truly become a Community Meeting Place?

The Writing of the Next Chapter for Open Book will be Written by YOU and the COMMUNITY. 

Will YOU write a Happy or Sad Ending?

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED --- SIGN IN AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

 For the last couple weeks, an ALL OUT WAR ON LEAVES has been waged in the Northshore Suburbs (Milwaukee and other suburbs also) ..... WHY ?

When I have asked folks WHY they are so determined to eliminate the Leaves from their Property ---

and are willing to pay Big Bucks for the municipalities to vacuum them up, haul them away, and "usually" send off to a landfill ---

I am usually told that the Leaves will HARM their Lawns and Gardens.

WRONG !!!

Following is information about mulching leaves --- and the Well Kept Secret --- that mulching the leaves and leaving on the lawn, or using around trees or in gardens is actually GOOD for your Lawn and Garden.

Following is excerpted  information provided by York, Ontario, Canada to its residents regarding the benefits of mulching leaves instead of raking and removing them.

  It can be viewed in full at http://www.york.ca/Services/Garbage+and+Recycling/Leaf+Mulching.htm

Why leaf mulch?

Soil Enrichment:  Leaf mulch returns nutrients back to the soil.  Your lawn and gardens will require less fertilizer and other additives.
 
Water Conservation:  Leaf mulch helps retain moisture in soils.  When soil is covered with leaf mulch, the mulch lowers the soil's exposure to sun and wind which reduces evaporation.
 
Banned from Landfill:  If yard waste is found in regular garbage sent to Michigan landfills, the entire load of garbage can be rejected at a significant cost to Regional tax payers.
 
Saves Money:  By managing your leaves on site, you reduce the need to buy paper yard waste bags.
 
Insulation:  Mulch acts like an insulating barrier from the heat in the summer, from the cold in the winter and from the wind all year round.  Mulch prevents compaction and erosion of soils from wind and rain.
 
Weed Control:  Leaf mulch can help prevent the growth of weeds.  Add a thick layer (5 to 7.5 cm or 2 to 3 inches) to gardens to reduce the need for herbicides.

Leaf Mulching Tips

• Keep your mower blade sharp.
• Set your mower blade to 6 cm (2.5 inches) high.
• Mow leaves when dry to prevent clumping. 
• Push lawnmower slowly to give mower time to chop up leaves.
• Mow leaves when there is no more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) of leaf litter.
• When adding mulch to gardens, do not put mulch right up to the base of plants or trees and make the mulch no deeper than 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches).
• If your lawnmower bags yard waste, either remove the bag to spread mulch evenly over the lawn, or use the bagged mulch where necessary around trees, shrubs and gardens.
• You may be able to convert your mower to a mulching mower by purchasing a mulching blade retrofit kit which is available at hardware stores and garden centres. Mulching blades chop up leaves many times, producing very small leaf pieces.
• If you use a lawn service, ask them to leaf mulch.

What can you do with leaf mulch?

Leave it on your lawn:  Use your lawnmower to chop up leaves and leave the pieces on your lawn.  It is important to make sure leaf pieces are small enough to let light get through to your grass.  This may require you to mow twice where there is a lot of leaf litter.
 
Dig leaves into your garden:  Dig leaves directly into your garden to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. 
 
Use leaves as mulch:  Put leaf mulch on gardens and flower beds and around trees and shrubs.

Just imagine if we spent all that money and manpower on snow and ice removal, instead of the moving around of leaves!

This winter when your friend or neighbor breaks their hip or ankle when trying to traverse a snow or ice covered sidewalk --

or when you see someone in a wheelchair unable to cross the street because the crosswalk is covered in snow --

or you can't stop at your favorite shop on the street because of the mound of snow separating the street from the sidewalks and storefronts --

think how much more logical it would be to Remove Snow and Not Leaves!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME !

  The "Village Board Tax Shuffle" is a very popular dance that the Brown Deer Village Board Trustees are starting to swing to.   It is a dance I have seen performed in other communities, including Shorewood, where I presently reside.

It works like this:

1) Taxpayers say ENOUGH --- can't you guys find some place to cut expenses, instead of raising taxes ?

2) The Village Board Members think the Taxpayers may really be serious this time.

3) Looking through the Village Trustee "Secret" Handbook -- in the Troubleshooting Section, they find that action is called for ---

the Handbook advises that if "you can't dazzle them with results, baffle them with bull"

4) Now that there is an outline to work from, the Village Trustees look for ways in which to cut THEIR budget --- so they can tell their Constituents that they have HELD THE LINE ON SPENDING!!

5) The most difficult part of the dance is the delicate flair that is called for at the end of the shuffle.  With the grace of a professional ballroom dancer, the Board has to carefully mask the true consequences for the Taxpayers -- a few twirls and spins -- perhaps a little glitzy soft shoe, and with some luck, the Trustees may just pull it off, and leave the stage to resounding applause!

BUT -- unfortunately for the Board of Trustees, Taxpayers have seen this dance too many times before, and they realize what is really happening.

The Brown Deer Board stops paying for Crossing Guards for the School District.  claiming a Savings of a Whopping $17,300 .............. ONLY there are NO SAVINGS!  The same taxpayers are still paying for Crossing Guards .... and now they actually could be paying MORE for the same services.

The Village has a police force administration in place which has the expertise to oversee and manage Crossing Guards ....... will the School District now have to pay more as they become responsible for the administration of this Village Safety Issue.

The Village Trustees can now also claim that they cut another $39,000 from the Village Budget by charging the School District for Trash Removal --- SO WHAT --- the same Taxpayers are still going to pay the costs --- only they will pay it to the School District and not the Village.

Shuffle on and on and on .............. Don't find Real Savings --- just shift the costs to another venue for the Taxpayers to pay.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?  YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME !

In 2005 the Maximus Group did a study on the consolidation of police services for Northshore communities.  The study that was produced showed very inconsistent savings, for example, Shorewood saving 10 times more than Whitefish Bay, despite the fact that the two suburbs are extremely similar in makeup and population, and operationally had a difference of only one sworn officer. 

Obviously,  with that kind of outcome, the study had flaws in its execution, or in miscommunication of the terms of the request that was given for the study.

As Shorewood Police Chief David Banazynski was working on his Master’s Degree, he thought this issue would make an excellent topic for his Dissertation. 

Published in 2007, his completed product is entitled:

“Determining the Feasibility of Merging The Village of Shorewood Police Department and The Village of Whitefish Bay Police Department “

I would be happy to e mail a pdf copy of the report to anyone who requests it (e mail me at datdave2000@yahoo.com ) , or you may contact Chief Banazynski for a copy.  There is also a slide show presentation link on the Shorewood Village Website that you can view.

Cutting to the chase --- the consolidation study showed that savings for both WhitefishBay and Shorewood  would be in the area of $200,000 to $300,000 -- each --  per year!

Especially in the current economic climate of falling tax revenues and economic recession, these are serious numbers that deserve serious consideration from both the SHWD and WFB village boards.

In fact, all the current municipalities in  the NSFD should also have an interest in these savings.

It is ironic that the respective village boards have not studied this issue more thoroughly, considering that some aspects of their police departments are already consolidated !  Neither SHWD or WFB has its own police dispatch --- when you dial 911 in either village, the call goes to a central dispatch, which coordinates calls for both departments.

WFB and SHWD also have a “mutual aid” agreement, which is why you will often see squad cars from both departments responding to the same incident.

If a proper study of a consolidation is done, for example with WFB and SHWD, it must be apples to apples.  For instance, Shorewood puts the costs of insurance and the CSO’s in the police department budget, while WFB puts those costs into their general budget.  Also the phone costs for the WFB department are twice those of SHWD, which while both being almost exactly the same size, they should be virtually identical. The difference is probably due to interpretation of where to assign costs, and not the costs themselves.

I think the fact that Chief Banazynski has publicized this study is an indication of his character and integrity.  When all is said and done, if a consolidation did occur, he could be one of the cost savings if his position is eliminated !!

Now it is up to the character and integrity of the respective village boards to give this topic the attention it deserves. 

For several years now, there have been opponents in both villages who have been aware of the potential cost savings, but who have quashed a serious look by the village boards, in advance of their own private agendas.

If you agree that consolidation should be seriously considered --- call your village trustees and insist they put the issue on their public agenda. 

I will send an email copy of this posting to each of the trustees of both villages to help in that effort.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?     YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME !

 In the Current Debate over Health Care in the USA, I never hear about "What" Health Care is Now --- compared to Health Care over 50 Year Ago ......... but if you think about it, the Only Real Difference, is that we now have Medications that Prolong our Lives, and do a Better Job of Alleviating Suffering.

Other than Better Surgery (replacing hearts, hips, knees), the Only Major Advances in Medicine in the Last 70 Years or so has been Innoculations, which can help to Prevent Diseases (Polio was the Big Breakthrough) and Antibiotics that Stave Off Infections (bacterial, not viral).

But we HAVE NOT FOUND CURES TO DISEASES !!!  

We can Kill some Diseases or Prolong the Lives of Those Who are Afflicted (cancer for example) ... but we have NOT FOUND CURES !!

The Lack of Cures is Why I Found the the Following Article to be of Such Great Interest.

This Article Actually Talks About the Need for CURES !!!   It starts out a little dry (Doctors are not known for prose) but STICK WITH IT AND CLICK TO THEIR WEBSITE .... in my opinion THIS IS REAL DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. 

By Lou Weisbach & Dr. Richard Boxer: Co-originators of American Center for Cures Initiative.

Now is the time to answer the urgent pleas of all Americans: focus on cures. The AmericanCenter for Cures (ACC) initiative will strike a permanent, devastating blow to the root cause of the healthcare crisis: disease. As Carol Marin of the Chicago Sun-Times recently said, "the plan is revolutionary in a time that calls for nothing less."

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made remarkable discoveries about the fundamentals of biology. But the time has come to apply that knowledge. The NIH basic research is essential in finding the pieces of the puzzle. The ACC will put the puzzle together. It's time America used its genius, once again, to proactively do the right thing for its citizens and the world.

The ACC will be a public/private mission-driven accountable research institute within the NIH with a by-pass budget and led by the Director of the Cures (formerly named the Director of the NIH), a cabinet-level position. The new position will demonstrate the priority and commitment of the administration and the American people. This will represent real change we can believe in and that will touch our families.

The ACC will fund high risk/high reward research on specific diseases chosen by a Cures Council. Through its Health Advanced Research Projects Agency (similar to DARPA), it will focus on new pathways towards prevention, early diagnosis and cures through research and streamlining the clinical trials process.

Each disease chosen by Cures Council will have a CEO who will be accountable and responsible for a cure within five to seven years. Each disease unit will lead a global mission that will invest in researchers and research institutions to find answers to specific questions. There will also be specially designated funding and coordination with other agencies, institutes, academic centers and the private sector, preventing the "Valley of Death" for under-capitalized, highly creative biomedical companies.

Americans spend at least a trillion dollars treating the effects of diseases and less than five percent of that preventing and finding cures to those diseases. It is not rational. Curing diseases will save taxpayers $400 to $500 billion annually and dramatically reduce the cost of health insurance. This is the 21st Century, proactive, can-do American approach.

The ACC will implement a global mission to cure three diseases within the next five to seven years, including but not limited to: diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS, breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, and other various forms of cancer, cystic fibrosis, mental disorders, AIDS, autism, etc..

Action Steps for You

If you believe that it's unacceptable that the percentage of Americans dying of cancer has not significantly changed since 1950. If you believe it's unacceptable that no major non-infectious diseases have been reliably, consistently cured in your lifetime. If you believe that the promise of a new cure on your news show never seems to happen. Then demand change. Our representatives in Washington work for us and are spending our money. On behalf of more than the 110 million Americans currently afflicted with disease, demand change. On behalf of our families, demand change. Let all members of the House and Senate know that there cannot be a comprehensive solution to heath care without dealing with the underlying root problem, disease. Demand that the AmericanCenter for Cures initiative be at the forefront of health care reform legislation.

It's time for America to start tweeting, Facebooking, writing, and calling to demand change. The power to cure resides within every American's determination to drive this mission forward.

Albert Einstein once said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

We can and must do better.

By Lou Weisbach & Dr. Richard Boxer: Co-originators of American Center for Cures Initiative.

Joe Wilson, the Congressman from South Carolina who was so incensed by President Obama's speech to the Joint Session of Congress that he felt it necessary to yell out that Obama was a Liar, seems to want LESS Federal government Spending and Programs  --- Or does he Really ???

And if he does, do you  think the Good Folks of South Carolina share his sentiments ?

Probably --- NOT SO MUCH !!

JUST A FEW FUN FACTS ABOUT HOW MUCH SOUTH CAROLINA LOVES FEDERAL MONEY !!! 

One way to measure how much a state and its politicians love Federal Money and Programs, is to look at the ratio of money that the state pays in monies  to DC per capita, and how much of that  money they get back.

Per Capita, South Carolina ranks 16th highest among the states in the amount of money  it gets from the Federal government, compared to how much it pays to the Federal government!!

The Folks in SC get back $1.35 for every $1 they send to DC.

In Wisconsin we only get back 86 cents for every $1 ...

In fact in fiscal year  2008/2009, South Carolina received $7.1 BILLION from the Federal Govt ---

or approx $1650 PER PERSON !!!

And this is NO accident --- for decades, the Southern Congressmen and Senators have Porked Up their States by getting enough seniority to send Federal Spending to the South ... NO big secret there !!!

President Eisenhower spoke of the Military / Industrial Complex --- and he may well have had South Carolina in mind --- there are 9 Major Military Installations in SC, compared to only Ft McCoy in WI.

It is ironic that so called Conservatives, who voted Bush into office over Gore, were primarily from Net Income of Federal Dollar States ---

Almost every state which receives More Dollars from the Federal Government then they send to DC  ---- voted for Bush over Al Gore !!! ----  They Know where Their PORK comes from ...

Interestingly, Florida is basically a "break even" state, they get back about $1 for every $1 they send ....... no wonder they were the Main Battle Ground !

So do you think Old Joe Wilson is really against needed reform for Health Care --- or is he just playing Partisan Politics against the Democrats ?

In light of the recent controversy about Senior Pranks at Shorewood HS and the appropriate discipline – I thought a comparison to my day and age would be helpful in finding the right perspective.

In the fall of 1965, I started as a freshman at St. Bonaventure HS in Sturtevant, WI. It was a college prep boarding school, run by Franciscan priests.

Back then Sturtevant was a sleepy little rural town, which was probably best known for its train station, the hotel and restaurant at the train station, and its silver water tower that was the highest structure around.

The water tower was quite visible from the school (about a ½ mile or so north of town on CTY H). 

And very noticeable in the fall of 1965, were the words that had been hand painted

on the side of the water tower facing the school --- Rex Sucks.

The “Rex” that the graffiti referred to, was Father Regis, who happened to be the disciplinarian at St. Bonaventure. In a public school, the disciplinarian is commonly known as the vice principal.

Regis is the 3^rd declension Latin form of the noun Rex. If you know Latin, Rex is the nominative form of the noun, while Regis is the genitive form. And although I had two years of Latin in high school --- grammar was never my strong suit, so don’t expect me to explain the differences !

At any rate, Father Regis’ nickname among the students was Rex. And Rex definitely ruled his domain in keeping order among the students – or as much as anyone is able to control teenage boys.

In the eyes of the Class of ’65, they definitely felt that Rex was a bit too enthusiastic in making and enforcing the rules – hence the salute to Father Regis from the departing seniors was painted upon the Sturtevant water tower, for all to see --- Rex Sucks.

The current pranks of the Shorewood HS Seniors may seem to pale in comparison.

But the real question that is begged is:

 What Was the Appropriate Discipline Back Then --- and What Should be the Appropriate Discipline Now ?

Back then, if the Seniors of ’65 were caught by the Sturtevant Police (or Sheriff ?), more than likely they would have been brought to the School, and turned over to the School Authorities for Discipline. 

And it would also be understood that the “pranksters” would have to pay for the painting over of the graffiti.

The school would have followed through with consequences for the offenders. Probably detentions, garbage collection, cleaning of the school and grounds, etc.

It is very unlikely that they would have been suspended --- not because that would have marred their “permanent record” --- but because that would have been considered a reward, rather than a punishment.

And “back in the day” --- the punishment met out by the school would only have been the beginning ! Their Parents would have followed through with much more ….

In “today’s society” we have a totally different situation.

School Administrators no longer want to have “real” responsibility for the discipline of the students. Instead of taking the high road and guiding today’s students into mature adults, they rely upon Suspensions and Calling the Police.

For example, MPS has begun to study the numerous suspensions of students enrolled in their system, and if they are an appropriate way to discipline students.

A friend of mine whose son just completed grade school in MPS, had complained for the past 2 or 3 years, that his son would be suspended at the drop of a hat at MPS, rather than disciplined.

My friend definitely did his part as a father in disciplining his son --- but he felt abandoned by the MPS system, for not doing their part. 

He didn’t believe that suspending a kid from school for making a ruckus was any kind of discipline --- when all it resulted in was the kid staying home and watching TV or whatever, while his parents were at work.

He felt that the school should have true discipline, such as keeping the kid in detention for an hour after school for a week or so --- and knowing the kid, I am sure the father is correct, and the kid would have knocked it off. (By the way, I believe he is basically a good kid, and he seems to have outgrown his unruly ways now in high school --- and actually hasn’t been suspended once this year !)

The Shorewood System is not much different from MPS regarding discipline.

Even before the current Senior Pranks --- SHS has had a policy of suspensions and police for almost any infraction !

For example, I know that not too long ago, the vice principal at SHS called the police and had them write tickets for disorderly conduct for two students ---- this was for a Shouting Match --- No Physical Contact !!!

And the Students were not even present when the Police wrote the tickets. They were written on “information and belief”. (If you think this is an exaggeration, please feel free to call the school administration and/or police officials to confirm that this is normal operating procedure at SHS).

Back to the Question Du Jour --- what should be done  in the future for such actions as those recently committed by the Senior “Pranksters”?

In my opinion, if we look back at what worked in the day, I would suggest the following:

1)      School discipline for all actions that take place on school property. I personally do not think suspensions serve any real purpose --- I would rather see the seniors in detention for an hour after school for a month. And of course, the students would be responsible for cleaning up their mess --- or paying for damages if it is of a permanent nature.

2)      Whatever the discipline, be it suspension or detention --- school officials need to stick to their guns. Shorewood HS Principal Matthew Joynt should not have caved into pressure and reduced the two day suspension he first imposed, down to one day.

3)      Off school property actions are the proper venue for the Shorewood Police. It could be argued that they could turn the perpetrators over to school officials and parents for discipline --- provided of course that any damages be paid for. Unfortunately, it is clear that the school has no stomach for enforcing their own discipline --- and not too much can be said of the parents who are trying to have the suspensions dismissed. (Hello --- You are Parents, Not Friends !)

4)      If  turning over the students to school and parents will not result in any meaningful discipline --- then it follows that ticketing for Disorderly Conduct would be in order. However, let’s get Real on the $177 tickets ! 

5)      For most Shorewood students and their parents, $177 is a really cheap Crime --- I would instead suggest that there be “Time for the Crime” --- Time imposed by the Court for the miscreant students to:

a) clean off graffiti  

b) general cleaning up of parks and school grounds 

c) providing services for elderly Shorewood citizens in yard work, etc  

d)such work to be done on Saturday mornings, under the watchful eye of the SPD.

Can We Go Back to Old School Discipline ? Would It Be Preferable to Today’s “Bag and Tag”  (police vernacular for ticketing) …. What do You Think ?

By the way,  there is an end to the story I started about  "Rex Sucks".

During the 1965-66 school year, the upper classmen assured us freshmen that Rex (Father Regis) was a warmer, kinder and gentler soul.   Which amazed us freshmen, as we couldn’t fathom that he could have been any stricter in the past !!!

But I can attest from personal experience over the following years, that Rex was Strict --- but Fair. 

And in all fairness to Rex --- whenever we were mistakenly punished for something we didn’t do --- we knew the ledger was corrected for all the things we were never caught doing J

And --- the Senior Class of 1966 left their own Parting Message to Father Regis.

They snuck up on the Sturtevant Water Tower at Night ---- and Painted Over "Rex Sucks" with Silver Paint ………

Of course, Rex reamed out the entire Senior Class for this escapade ---

But some of those Seniors swear that as he yelled at them for their foolhardy stunt ---there was a “Tear in His Eye"   ........ 

 WHAT DO YOU THINK ? YOUR THOUGHTS ARE WELCOME !