Free Republic

A couple of years back, along Wisconsin’s borders, three words were added to the bottoms of the “Wisconsin Welcomes You” signs. “Open for business,” the additions announced. But is Wisconsin? Really? You wouldn’t have known it this week, not after the state’s Senate rejected mining legislation despite months of dealings and negotiations. Frustratingly, deliberations devolved into divisive, bitter debates along party lines. While politicians seemed to be doing little more than jockeying for credit while making sure the other party couldn’t score a victory, the state — and especially northern Wisconsin — was losing. We lost big. In the wake...