The following is a guest appearance on ‘Wisconsin Fun Next Exit’ by Dan Walkner.
Let’s make one thing clear: Wisconsin is not open for business. Wisconsin is a business. There is no reason why it isn’t flourishing; in fact there are many factors that should be propelling it forward. We have ample natural resources. We have a highly skilled and educated work force. We have a variety of options for transportation. Most importantly, we have no shortage of customers world-wide. Why are we not turning a profit?
Consider this situation. You work for a company and the boss says the goal of the company is to make $250,000. At the end of the year, after going over the books, the boss notices the company actually lost $39,000. After reviewing the books drastically differently than all the other similar companies in your field, the boss now says the company actually turned a profit of $24, 000. Although a paltry sum, it is in fact a profit.
The boss calls you into his office. He says, “Hey, our company did great this year. We didn’t quite hit our goals, but everything is going as planned. I do have some bad news, though. You won’t be getting a bonus. Frankly, you won’t even get a raise. Well, in all honesty, you’re going to be taking a pay cut. But the good news is you aren’t being laid off like many of the others. So thanks for your perseverance and a job well done. Keep up the good work!”
Why is the company not working and who’s to blame? Is the construction worker in line next to me at the grocery store to blame? Is the person standing in front of your child’s classroom to blame? Are you to blame? Am I?
In the world of work, very rarely are you afforded the opportunity to fire the boss. In politics, the game is set up to make it nearly impossible. The boss hasn’t been doing his job. The argument that the new boss is going to take away my guns (which he isn’t, of course) is not enough of an argument for me to keep the old boss. Let’s fire the boss and get back to work.
WISCONSIN FUN NEXT EXIT 