What I've learned this week!

After being gone for a few weeks, it was interesting to see what's been going on up here in Wisconsin.  Here are a few things I've learned since returning.

1.  Three of the people that we know that own businesses in Wisconsin are now placing their primary residences up for sale and relocating their businesses to Michigan and Florida.  While that may not be news to most of you, consider this.

The number one reason that they are closing up shop is due to the amount of taxes they are now paying to the state of Wisconsin.  This includes payroll taxes.  When it is all said and done, Waukesha County will lose 3 businesses (privately owned) that do a collective total of over 5 million in sales per year.  They will also be leaving behind the buildings that their businesses were in as well as lowering the number of employed County residents by 18.  It was interesting to see that the majority of those employees are also selling their homes and moving with the respective companies.  And, other than the inconvenience of moving, none of the employees are complaining about getting out of here.  Sad state of affairs for our State.

2.  The so called survey that the Journal Sentinel reported on regarding lowered anticipated numbers of people with hearing loss in the future.

While I do not have access to the complete survey results (it was published in a medical journal that charges for access online), according to the article, the participants were all in Beaver Dam, WI.  Thus, they were all of one ethnicity (white).  The unfortunate thing about the paper publishing this news article without the pertinent facts is that this may impact how hearing loss is looked at in the future and limit some services and programs for those that are D/HOH.  Here's a link to the article: http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/81560207.html

It was 'financed' by the Dept of Aging.  Would be interesting to find out where they got the funds and what their ultimate goals were in having this 'study' done.  Always has amazed me how so called 'scientific' data can be skewed to say what you want it to say.  We all have to keep in mind that Science is just another way of exploring and discovering ways that things work or are integrated into the lives of humans.  Kind of like our current elected officials.  It's all an experiment to see who can make the most or get the biggest benefit out of the deals, bargains and theories. 

3.   And then there's the Haiti Disaster.  While down in Florida, I saw the newsclip of Pat Robertson saying that the Earthquake happened due to the fact (in his opinion) that the Haitians had made a pact with the Devil a couple of thousand of years ago.  Thus (again in his opinion), they had it coming.  As a person that believes but does not actively partipate in the religious world, I found this highly offensive, irresponsible and just plain dumb.  What right does Mr Robertson (I won't even dignify his existence by addressing him as part of the ministerial population) have in going on a television program that is probably 100% subsidized by those that really believe he is the all knowing when it comes to getting into Heaven expressing these kinds of accusations, thoughts and so called devout teachings?  I'm wondering if God has a unique spot for him when his time comes.

As you probably know, there are thousands of Haitians that live down in Florida.  Some of them are U.S. citizens and some are here on visas for varying reasons.  So, we got to experience firsthand how this situation is looked at through their eyes.  It's sad to say the least.  But, on the other hand, there were alot of them that were upset at how aggressive the U.S. was in trying to 'take' over the rescues/recovery.  Of course, with the differing languages, lack of education, communication, and cultures, it was easy to see how things that the U.S. thought to be priorities were not at the top of the Haitian lists.  Haitians do not spend a lot of time analyzing things.  They also have a lifestyle and culture that is not comparable for the most part to ours here in the U.S.  The average lifespan is 44 years of age there. 

They have spent many years living in what we would consider squalor.  But, they also have an immense amount of pride and tend to take care of their own in most instances.  There is a place down near Miami, FL called Little Haiti.  Unfortunately, it has been infested with a heavy gang influence and is not looked upon in a positive light.  In a lot of ways, the U.S. has contributed to the new Haitian way of living once they are on U.S. soil.  Once we start handing out welfare, medical and housing similiar to how we do it with natural born citizens or any other foreign resident in need, they learn through the generations that this way of life actually guarantees them a roof over their head and food on their plate.  With the advent of the Immigration powers that be looking at issuing temporary visas for up to 18 months (for Haitian Nationals) and the culture that promotes as many children as possible, I am wondering how many 'new' U.S. citizens we will have in that 18 month period.  I don't see our government sending the mothers back 'home' and offering to take care of the offspring now that they are legally residents by birth. 

With the additional resources needed not to mention the burdens on our school systems to the communities that have a big influx of 'temporary' residents, the straw will definitely bend more as we stress the camels' back.  Will be interesting to see how this all turns out.  Now, about that offer from Africa that will give the Haitians an entire region of the country to resettle....

Just some thoughts on my part!  Hope you all have a great week!