Back From a Strange Land: Wisconsin

We just came back from vacation; and we went to a strange land.

It was an incredible yet simple land. Everyone was expected to speak the host's language. Really, there were no signs in multiple languages. When we registered at the hotel, the signs on the walls at the desk were in the host's language.

Our visits to restaurants, museums, and parks found the same thing—one language. What was even more strange is that the menus had the food and the prices, but not the calories.

We saw people riding bikes all over and only a very, very, few wore helmets. Apparently, this strange land felt people could make up their minds if they wanted to wear them or not. The same went for motorcycles.

And, to top it off, you could talk on your cell phone while holding it in your hand. You could not text though. The land had lower taxes than here in California, their state workers' union was weaker than here, and the land had a surplus of funds.

Throughout the land, we saw signs of wealth, middle class and poor, yet little or no graffiti. The leader had just been successful in stopping a high-speed train to its capital. He was not pushing to raise taxes on the rich or sales tax on the poor to rich across the board. Oh, and the speed limit was a tightly enforced 55 m.p.h. on freeways and 65 on open highways.

The land? Wisconsin. No we aren't planning to move back there and no, if we don't like it here, move. Save your ink. 

But, just imagine for a second what we would save if everything was printed in one language. Imagine if our government didn't nanny us with laws it feels good about like calories on the menu or helmets for bike riders. Sure they may save a life or two, but shouldn't you be allowed to ride without a helmet if you wish to be that foolish?

If you want a creamy hot fudge sundae, do you really want your government to tell you if the sundae has 2,000 calories or 1912? Just look at us and see what we have let our leaders do for us, or should I say to us.

Shame on US.