JODI BURMESTER is the Program Host for our next meeting, and she will introduce an old friend of Madison Central Lions, PDG GLENN SPRING, from the Albany LC. GLENN is equally well known for his trademark Western hat and his devotion to Lion service, and he will tell us about one aspect of the latter, the Lions Mission to Mexico. From these trips to Mexico (and other areas in Central America) come heartwarming stories of Lion service - eyeglasses and other medical help, transport of desperately needed supplies and equipment, and adventure stories involving Latin American roads and aged vehicles crammed with donated goods. This is a real "reality" show - come and hear it.
At our last meeting the TT warmed up the mike as usual. We had it turned down twice, but still not far enough. His announcement that he was selling Zoo Benefit T-shirts - $12 for adult sizes/$10 for kids - did get through. OTTO FESTGE led a well-pitched and spirited version of "America" - one of our better efforts - and "Bishop" BOB BOHN gave a timely and appropriate invocation.
Guests introduced were Kathy Panos, of GI Supply; and Bill Swanson of TDS Metrocom, both by CHUCK BASFORD and both prospects, and MICHELLE VETTERKIND finally brought her boss, John Laabs, executive head of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. We owe John for letting us borrow MICHELLE on Tuesdays, and it turned out that he used to work for the speaker.
JOHN JENSON reported on the State Convention. We had ten representatives there - not bad - and next year it will be at the Abbey and the year after that, 2006, at the Marriott in Middleton. Make your plans now. It is part of finding out what makes Lionism work.
MICHELLE VETTERKIND introduced our speaker, "Tony" Earl. For the many of us who are too young to remember, he preceded Tommy Thompson as Wisconsin's Governor, serving from 1983-1987, and prior to that he was Secretary of the Department Of Natural Resources and a legislator. He retired from a law firm in 2001. From that extensive background, he had a lot of interesting things to say about how much politics has changed since he started out at the level of local government. He said it was better then, and he listed several things that are different. One, the importance of big money in politics. Two, there is actually less competition. Used to be that each party took pride in having a full slate of candidates for every state office. Now, each concedes about a third of the legislative seats to the other, and they fight bitterly over the remaining third. Three, volunteers interested in public service used to run, and their campaigns were run and financed by volunteer efforts, versus the professions managers, writers and fund raisers we have now. Four, today's legislators are full time, supported by large paid staffs, and they spend their time with their own people and party. There is not the interparty socializing that used to take place, and so they don't really know each other as people any more. Five, the decline of the "pencil press." There used to be many reporters from different papers covering state government, asking questions, gathering information and writing columns on what was going on and why. Now, there are few reporters who mostly just accept PR handouts from staff aides, while the radio and TV people jostle for "sound bites." Six, the decline in personal relationships. Legislators used to debate during the day and socialize in the evenings, and even though they held differing opinions there was respect and friendship between them. Now politics is a "blood sport" and anything goes. And finally, the decline of political parties, who have been replaced by special interest groups who try to gain the support of legislators by any and all means. (See #1, above.)
In 1982, he and his opponent each spent $1.2 million, half raised and half matching funds. It was thought inappropriate to try to "buy" an election. Now, each election spends more millions than the last. There is no penalty for spending huge and unequal sums, which has made the ability to raise funds for others a determining factor in selecting leaders. It has brought about a recent "pay to play" situation in the Legislature, where bills moved (or did not move) through the process according to the contributions received by legislators from supporters. The money raised goes for opposition research and negative advertising, which has resulted in public loss of esteem for those in government and a decline in voter participation. Many voters can't find anything worth supporting in either candidate.
Positions are highly polarized - everything is black and white. You are for us or against us. Governor Earl used gun control and abortion as examples. He said most people don't believe in either extreme of either argument but don't get into the argument. He feels the solution lies in the public demanding more of their representatives, who must represent broader constituencies that consider the large numbers who hold moderate positions. A highly interesting and well-delivered presentation with a big round of applause at the end. We can only hope things will go the way he suggests.