Theansweris42 comment is one of the most logical and respectful comments I have read. Furlough works ok for the private sector but maybe not as well for government (item 1 in previous entry). I would like to add that 50% cut in government jobs means more unemployed. Also, because it saves money (labor costs) would the public accept less services? Think about the whole picture.

Not that I disagree completely with government employees taking furloughs but I think it should be noted that:

1. Companies taking furloughs often are producing less due to the economy and are therefore over staffed. The furlough is a nice way to reduce your labor cost during these production/business lulls.

2. Can you give an example of which government agency has less work to do now than they did 3 years ago?

3. If my fellow commenters are going to ask for reducing government size (and even 50% reduction in government jobs) where are they going to come from. Can YOU name the departments that need 50% less workers or which departments you would close altogether?

Good job NVgrf. Your Navajo friend did a great job of decoding Eyster. His message is certainly coming through loud and clear.

So based on the last few days of reading this half CAPS LOCK blogger, I've come to the conclusion that this guy is pissed that he has to take a FURLOUGH (or a 3.065% pay cut) while public school teachers salaries are not allowed to be FROZEN. Bitter?

Marienburg1274: You should consider running for office with your comment as your total platform. I have no doubt that in today's world you would be elected. You are my new hero (and I am being 100 percent serious).

"I still think a “fee” is another name for a “tax.” I would assert, IF IT COSTS like a “tax,” it is a “tax”! Do you agree?!"

No, I do not agree. (I do agree with the comments about the use of CAPS.. really man, come on.) A tax is something that we are all forced to pay for the existence of our government. A fee is something optional that I have more control over. For example, registering my car at the DMV is a fee, not a tax, because I could always choose to not own a car (and many people have made this choice). Or tuition at a state university is a fee, because I don't have to send my child there. Also, the "gas tax" really is not a tax but a fee for the same reasons. I'm all for having more fees for peripheral services if it means reducing taxes, because it gives the taxpayer more control (this is why I loved Huckabees plan of doing away with income tax altogether in favor of sales tax, which if you think about it is like a gray area between tax and fee).

Marienburg1274 hits it on the head. Wisconsin is addicted to government. There are far to many levels of government. Full time legislators build careers on promises. The "expose" the need for more government in order to keep their jobs. Perhaps the State of Wisconsin should declare bankruptcy and shed about 50% of government employes.

Think bigger, John. Furloughs are a symptom of a much larger problem: the size of government. There should be permanent furloughs; that is, eliminating government jobs. People need to realize that when the largest employers in Rock County and many other of our 72 counties are public entities such as municipalities, counties, school districts, UW system, tech colleges, and the like, there is a huge structural economic problem. The private sector is reducing costs and hiving off excess bureaucracies (the white collar professional is one of the hardest hit of all time in this recession) to boost productivity. Why shouldn’t government do the same? Don’t re-hire for open positions and work toward eliminating/consolidating existing positions. There is some fetishistic love affair with government jobs in Wisconsin, many of which are simply not needed for a state of our size.

Actually, I have a friend where I live who is Navajo. He finally broke Eyster's "Caps Code" yesterday after weeks of deciphering. Here is the deal:
1. Don't focus on the capitalized words. It's a ruse. Throw them out and concentrate on the non caps.
2. Eliminate every third vowel, except on Tuesdays.
3. Throw out every sentence ending with a question mark. He really doesn't mean it. He already knows the answer to every question.
4. Now put all of the remaining letters together and insert appropriate punctuation.

And finally....code cracked! My Navajo friend indicates that it merely says the following over and over....."Republicans rule. Stick it to the teachers. Republicans rule. Stick it to the teachers........."

I took my furlough days at work last Spring. I had to stay extra hours to make up for the time I lost. I didn't get over time because I'm salaried. I don't take comp. days because I'd have to make them up, too. I didn't apply for unemployment compensation because I didn't need it, and I thought it would look bad. I don't have tenure, and could "disappear" at any time for any reason. I don't have a pension plan, and they stopped contributing to our 401K. My insurance premium went up over 42% last year. That's in addition to not getting a raise, but rather a 5% cut. I still have a job, and I still pay my bills, however. For that I am grateful.

I agree! Please layoff the ALL CAPS. It's very annoying and I think I'm going to stop reading your blogs because of them.

I try and read your articles until I get dizzy with your caps words. I thought roller coasters made me sick to my stomach, but your writing trumps it. TaKe It EaSy!