Independence Day is by far my favorite holiday. Warm weather, grilling out, playing golf and fireworks--it just doesn't get any better than that. It's also a great time to consider what makes the US the best place in the world to live.
Take for example all of the freedoms we enjoy. The freedom of expression (except for those things that offend other people, or things that some people think would offend other people, or giving the middle finger to a cop as you drive by him, or if you are criticizing the current President)
Okay, at least our economy operates without the interference of the government (unless you are an automaker, or a major bank, or a mortgage lender, or your business releases carbon into the atmosphere, or you want to control your payroll expenses).
Well at least we have the freedom to live our lives the way we want to (unless you want to drive a car that doesn't get 30-miles to the gallon, or you want to control your own health care, or you want to smoke, or you want to teach your kids about sex yourself).
At least we got rid of taxation without representation (if you don't count an entire state budget being written behind closed doors in one party's closed caucus, and how powerful unions and special interest groups still got their pet provisions included in there--at the expense of the rest of us.)
Maybe we should be considering our freedoms this weekend--before we give them all away.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Real Federal Stimulus
I've figured out why it's been so windy lately--it's the collective sighs of relief from people in this area after hearing the news that the Oshkosh Corporation is getting a billion dollar contract from the US Army.
The MATV order will likely allow Oshkosh to recall most of the workers they laid off over the last year--and hire even more people at their plants here in the Valley. If you thought the job fairs hosted by Oshkosh in the past were impressive--with lines of people stretching down the road waiting for interviews--just wait 'til you see what they will be like in this economy.
You know what I like to call this contract? A real Federal Economic Stimulus Package. Unlike most of the jobs "created and preserved" by the so-called stimulus package, this Federal spending deal will see real Americans, building real products to be used by real American heroes in positions that should last a real long time.
I find it ironic that on the news wire today we have a story of a project that will be funded by the other stimulus package. The Fish and Wildlife Service will spend five million dollars on a fish migration project along the Milwaukee River. The five-million will create 147-temporary jobs--removing a dam and other obstructions from the river. I'm sure this is an honorable project and that the fish will be grateful--but is this really a long-term solution to the recession? What do 147-people working on this project do at the end of the summer? Are there more fish migration projects out there for them to complete? I'd be willing to bet they'll be standing in line outside the Oshkosh Corporation waiting to apply for a "real" job.
A little know requirement for cities, counties and other governments getting stimulus dollars is that they must report one job "saved or created" for every 62-thousand dollars they receive. There is absolutely no proof required that a job was actually saved or created with the money--the Obama Administration has already done the math for them. So the next time you hear anyone talking about the "impact" of the Federal Stimulus--keep that in mind.
And why exactly do we need these 22-hundred MATV's anyway? Oh yeah, that dreadful "War on Terror"--oops, I mean "Overseas Contingency Operations"--that we are ending quickly because of the drain on the US economy. Why isn't James Genisio standing outside Oshkosh Corporate Headquarters with his sandwhich board calling the billion dollar contract "Blood Money for Bush's War"?
And just about anyone who works in Oshkosh will see the benefits of this "Stimulus Spending Package" as Truck employees spend their paychecks at local stores, restaurants and gas stations. Not sure we can say the same thing for the billions of "stimulus" dollars Governor Jim Doyle used to pay for past borrowing in the new state budget-so it would appear "balanced".
So sleep a little easier tonight Oshkosh--at least some of your Federal tax dollars are actually working to make things better for all of us.
The MATV order will likely allow Oshkosh to recall most of the workers they laid off over the last year--and hire even more people at their plants here in the Valley. If you thought the job fairs hosted by Oshkosh in the past were impressive--with lines of people stretching down the road waiting for interviews--just wait 'til you see what they will be like in this economy.
You know what I like to call this contract? A real Federal Economic Stimulus Package. Unlike most of the jobs "created and preserved" by the so-called stimulus package, this Federal spending deal will see real Americans, building real products to be used by real American heroes in positions that should last a real long time.
I find it ironic that on the news wire today we have a story of a project that will be funded by the other stimulus package. The Fish and Wildlife Service will spend five million dollars on a fish migration project along the Milwaukee River. The five-million will create 147-temporary jobs--removing a dam and other obstructions from the river. I'm sure this is an honorable project and that the fish will be grateful--but is this really a long-term solution to the recession? What do 147-people working on this project do at the end of the summer? Are there more fish migration projects out there for them to complete? I'd be willing to bet they'll be standing in line outside the Oshkosh Corporation waiting to apply for a "real" job.
A little know requirement for cities, counties and other governments getting stimulus dollars is that they must report one job "saved or created" for every 62-thousand dollars they receive. There is absolutely no proof required that a job was actually saved or created with the money--the Obama Administration has already done the math for them. So the next time you hear anyone talking about the "impact" of the Federal Stimulus--keep that in mind.
And why exactly do we need these 22-hundred MATV's anyway? Oh yeah, that dreadful "War on Terror"--oops, I mean "Overseas Contingency Operations"--that we are ending quickly because of the drain on the US economy. Why isn't James Genisio standing outside Oshkosh Corporate Headquarters with his sandwhich board calling the billion dollar contract "Blood Money for Bush's War"?
And just about anyone who works in Oshkosh will see the benefits of this "Stimulus Spending Package" as Truck employees spend their paychecks at local stores, restaurants and gas stations. Not sure we can say the same thing for the billions of "stimulus" dollars Governor Jim Doyle used to pay for past borrowing in the new state budget-so it would appear "balanced".
So sleep a little easier tonight Oshkosh--at least some of your Federal tax dollars are actually working to make things better for all of us.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wacko Coverage
Is it safe to turn on the 24-hour "news" channels now? I officially stopped caring about the death of Michael Jackson about ten minutes after news "broke" of his death last Thursday. I am apparently in the minority--as round the clock coverage has continued on all of the news channels--and the main networks as well.
If we didn't have "breaking news coverage" of the body being taken to the morgue--we had "team coverage" of fan reaction outside the Neverland Ranch. And once we got tired of the people who showed in hopes of being interviewed by a TV reporter--we had more "breaking news" of a press conference featuring Jackson's father--or attorney--or Al Sharpton. Has there ever been any high profile incident involving an African American that didn't result in Al Sharpton standing behind a microphone?
Even the local channels got in on the act--sending reporters to Waterfest here in Oshkosh--or to some music store to get "local reaction" to Jackson's death. It's too bad I wasn't asked about that because it would have been "I don't give a shit." And you can quote me on that.
In his Sunday column on the electronic media in the "Chicago Tribune", Phil Rosenthal points out that the death of Elvis--a far more iconic and culturally influential artist than Michael Jackson--wasn't even the top story on the CBS Evening News on August 16th, 1977. CBS--the top rated news program at the time--led with President Gerald Ford's support for returning the Panama Canal zone back to Panamanian control by the end of the century. In fact, Elvis's death wasn't mentioned for three more stories on CBS. Rosenthal points out that CBS was pilloried for this "error in editorial judgement"--NBC and ABC led with Elvis's death that night--but just the fact that a major news operation would even consider a celebrities' death to be less than life-shattering would be refreshing today.
Another thing that gets my goat is the sycophantic coverage provided to Jackson. Respected journalists are using the title Jackson gave to himself "The King of Pop" like it was something he had been granted by the US government. The man gave himself the name people!!! He's not the king of anything.
Glenn Beck on Fox News always talks about his 9-12 initiative--where he wants people to return to the feelings of resolve, anger and determination we felt the day after the 9-11 attacks. I just wish the national media would return to the 9-12 attitude of returning to coverage of what's really important in life. You know, on the same day Michael Jackson died, an Army soldier from Peshtigo, Wisconsin was fighting for his life at a hospital in Germany--after coming under attack by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Did you hear anything about Private Steven Drees that day--or any day until his death was confirmed by the Pentagon yesterday? I know I could have lived with 24-hour coverage of his life and accomplishments.
If we didn't have "breaking news coverage" of the body being taken to the morgue--we had "team coverage" of fan reaction outside the Neverland Ranch. And once we got tired of the people who showed in hopes of being interviewed by a TV reporter--we had more "breaking news" of a press conference featuring Jackson's father--or attorney--or Al Sharpton. Has there ever been any high profile incident involving an African American that didn't result in Al Sharpton standing behind a microphone?
Even the local channels got in on the act--sending reporters to Waterfest here in Oshkosh--or to some music store to get "local reaction" to Jackson's death. It's too bad I wasn't asked about that because it would have been "I don't give a shit." And you can quote me on that.
In his Sunday column on the electronic media in the "Chicago Tribune", Phil Rosenthal points out that the death of Elvis--a far more iconic and culturally influential artist than Michael Jackson--wasn't even the top story on the CBS Evening News on August 16th, 1977. CBS--the top rated news program at the time--led with President Gerald Ford's support for returning the Panama Canal zone back to Panamanian control by the end of the century. In fact, Elvis's death wasn't mentioned for three more stories on CBS. Rosenthal points out that CBS was pilloried for this "error in editorial judgement"--NBC and ABC led with Elvis's death that night--but just the fact that a major news operation would even consider a celebrities' death to be less than life-shattering would be refreshing today.
Another thing that gets my goat is the sycophantic coverage provided to Jackson. Respected journalists are using the title Jackson gave to himself "The King of Pop" like it was something he had been granted by the US government. The man gave himself the name people!!! He's not the king of anything.
Glenn Beck on Fox News always talks about his 9-12 initiative--where he wants people to return to the feelings of resolve, anger and determination we felt the day after the 9-11 attacks. I just wish the national media would return to the 9-12 attitude of returning to coverage of what's really important in life. You know, on the same day Michael Jackson died, an Army soldier from Peshtigo, Wisconsin was fighting for his life at a hospital in Germany--after coming under attack by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Did you hear anything about Private Steven Drees that day--or any day until his death was confirmed by the Pentagon yesterday? I know I could have lived with 24-hour coverage of his life and accomplishments.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Signs, Signs Everwhere a Sign
Why do so many people think the rules don't apply to them? I ask this after playing in a golf tournament this weekend--and seeing guys chipping onto the practice green--which was surrounded by signs that said "NO CHIPPING". I could understand if there was just one sign facing the opposite direction from where these guys were chipping--but there were at least five signs covering every direction around the green. And I swear one guy was literally chipping balls over one of the signs itself.
I notice this sort of thing all over the place. I make several trips to the grocery store every week to pick up a few fresh things each time. That means I usually go through the Express Lane. In many cases there is someone with a suspiciously large number of items in their carts ahead of me. Since the sign at the register clearly says "15 Items or Less"--I count the number of items that person puts on the conveyor. You would be surprised how many times its more than 15. In many cases its more than 20. Maybe we have some mathmatically-challenged people here in Oshkosh--but 23 is not even close to 15. It's more likely that those people think the rules don't apply to them.
Smokers are good ones for ignoring signs as well. We have a sign on the door behind our building telling smokers to put their butts in the ashcan provided for them outside. Do you know what is littering the ground right underneath that sign? That's right, cigarette butts. Some are literally lying less than six inches from the ashcan. Another of my favorites is the the group of smokers huddled outside the building where they work smoking right in front of the "NO SMOKING IN THIS AREA" signs. Maybe they think the rule doesn't apply in cold or rainy weather.
So why do people routinely ignore warning signs and so many rules? Maybe it's because there is no repercussions for breaking them. Do you think anyone would have been chipping on the practice green this weekend if a tournament official came over and told one person they were disqualified? Or if a course worker had taken the chipped balls off the green and threw them in the woods? Would Miss 24-items in the Express Lane delay things for the rest of us if she was made to decide which nine items she would not be allowed to buy? Or if she had to take the extra items back and return them to the shelves herself? And how many smokers would throw their butts on the ground if they had to pick them up with their teeth?
You may think that this is all small beans and who cares if someone ignores a sign or a rule? But this is just another symptom of the lack of personal accountability in our society today. If we don't care about the "small stuff" we will eventually not care about the big stuff--like paying your debts, taking care of yourself and making sound business decisions so you don't need a big government bailout. Oops, looks like we may have moved past caring about those as well.
I notice this sort of thing all over the place. I make several trips to the grocery store every week to pick up a few fresh things each time. That means I usually go through the Express Lane. In many cases there is someone with a suspiciously large number of items in their carts ahead of me. Since the sign at the register clearly says "15 Items or Less"--I count the number of items that person puts on the conveyor. You would be surprised how many times its more than 15. In many cases its more than 20. Maybe we have some mathmatically-challenged people here in Oshkosh--but 23 is not even close to 15. It's more likely that those people think the rules don't apply to them.
Smokers are good ones for ignoring signs as well. We have a sign on the door behind our building telling smokers to put their butts in the ashcan provided for them outside. Do you know what is littering the ground right underneath that sign? That's right, cigarette butts. Some are literally lying less than six inches from the ashcan. Another of my favorites is the the group of smokers huddled outside the building where they work smoking right in front of the "NO SMOKING IN THIS AREA" signs. Maybe they think the rule doesn't apply in cold or rainy weather.
So why do people routinely ignore warning signs and so many rules? Maybe it's because there is no repercussions for breaking them. Do you think anyone would have been chipping on the practice green this weekend if a tournament official came over and told one person they were disqualified? Or if a course worker had taken the chipped balls off the green and threw them in the woods? Would Miss 24-items in the Express Lane delay things for the rest of us if she was made to decide which nine items she would not be allowed to buy? Or if she had to take the extra items back and return them to the shelves herself? And how many smokers would throw their butts on the ground if they had to pick them up with their teeth?
You may think that this is all small beans and who cares if someone ignores a sign or a rule? But this is just another symptom of the lack of personal accountability in our society today. If we don't care about the "small stuff" we will eventually not care about the big stuff--like paying your debts, taking care of yourself and making sound business decisions so you don't need a big government bailout. Oops, looks like we may have moved past caring about those as well.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Following Up
Thank you to the people who have contacted me with their horror stories this week of trying to get into Country USA. Yesterday, My Two Cents talked about the five mile backup on Highway 41 southbound Wednesday night--and how something must be done to address this safety issue immediately. I have now heard from two people that the wait on Washburn Street itself--once you got off the highway--was TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS!! Oh, and parking went from 15-bucks to 20-dollars this year--provided you ever get in the lot.
I should also mention that there is now a cover charge at C-USA. Not only to you have to buy a ticket to get in, but if you want to drink, you have to buy a two-dollar wrist band. Yes, you have to pay to prove that you are 21-years old. Hopefully, the cover charge is being used to fund better security out there so those who survive the drive into the grounds can actually enjoy themeselves instead of dealing with all of the drunks.
Memo to the Oshkosh Common Council: you might want to check out the story of Dixie's Clubhouse bar in Grand Chute. The bar owner chose not to fight the revocation of his liquor license last night after four violation of town laws. As the host of one of our other morning shows pointed out yesterday--he should have moved the bar to Oshkosh--because he wouldn't have to worry at all. Three underage drinking citations and being open after hours cost the owner his license in Grand Chute. That kind of pales in comparison to 130-plus police calls in a year, drunk bartenders and bouncers and watering down the booze doesn't it?
Of course, the town of Grand Chute has a demerit system written into its liquor license ordinance. That helps bar owners to know that a certain number of violations will cost them their license--no matter how much they might beg or plead for "one more chance". I'm sure the town would be more than happy to provide a photocopy of that demerit system for Oshkosh officials to read--and hopefully add to their ordinances.
I was not at all surprised by the "shocking announcement" at the end of Jon and Kate Plus 8 this week on TLC. As I mentioned in a My Two Cents after the much-hyped season premiere, it was painfully obvious that the marriage was done and that the couple was going to split up. Their true priorities were exposed when Kate looked right into the camera and said "The show must go on." Really? It has to go on? Did you ever stop to think that the show might be the reason this whole thing fell apart? Or is the lure of fame, book deals and everything pretty much given to you for free (in exchange for the on-air advertising provided by the show) just to great to give up for your kids? Maybe she would like to adopt Michael Jackson's kids now--they are used to being part of circus.
I should also mention that there is now a cover charge at C-USA. Not only to you have to buy a ticket to get in, but if you want to drink, you have to buy a two-dollar wrist band. Yes, you have to pay to prove that you are 21-years old. Hopefully, the cover charge is being used to fund better security out there so those who survive the drive into the grounds can actually enjoy themeselves instead of dealing with all of the drunks.
Memo to the Oshkosh Common Council: you might want to check out the story of Dixie's Clubhouse bar in Grand Chute. The bar owner chose not to fight the revocation of his liquor license last night after four violation of town laws. As the host of one of our other morning shows pointed out yesterday--he should have moved the bar to Oshkosh--because he wouldn't have to worry at all. Three underage drinking citations and being open after hours cost the owner his license in Grand Chute. That kind of pales in comparison to 130-plus police calls in a year, drunk bartenders and bouncers and watering down the booze doesn't it?
Of course, the town of Grand Chute has a demerit system written into its liquor license ordinance. That helps bar owners to know that a certain number of violations will cost them their license--no matter how much they might beg or plead for "one more chance". I'm sure the town would be more than happy to provide a photocopy of that demerit system for Oshkosh officials to read--and hopefully add to their ordinances.
I was not at all surprised by the "shocking announcement" at the end of Jon and Kate Plus 8 this week on TLC. As I mentioned in a My Two Cents after the much-hyped season premiere, it was painfully obvious that the marriage was done and that the couple was going to split up. Their true priorities were exposed when Kate looked right into the camera and said "The show must go on." Really? It has to go on? Did you ever stop to think that the show might be the reason this whole thing fell apart? Or is the lure of fame, book deals and everything pretty much given to you for free (in exchange for the on-air advertising provided by the show) just to great to give up for your kids? Maybe she would like to adopt Michael Jackson's kids now--they are used to being part of circus.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Goin' Nowheres Fast
Country USA must be employing a new strategy to control the crowd at their event--don't let anyone actually get in. That is what appeared to be happening last night as traffic on Highway 41 southbound was still backed up to the Highway 76 interchange at 8:30.
Imagine my surprise as I got to the top of the on-ramp and found myself at the tail end of a five-mile backup. As you might expect, my initial reaction was "accident on the bridge"--so I did a U-turn in the median (yes, wasting a quarter tank of gas would constitute an emergency--therefore my actions were justified) and went back down Jackson into town. Was I in for a surprise when I followed Koeller and Poberezny down the other side of 41 to find the entire backup was due to people trying to get into Country USA.
Didn't the headline act go on stage at 9:30 last night? If you were a ticketholder at the back of the back up at 8:30 last night, did you really stand a chance of seeing Taylor Swift? I know I wouldn't be too happy if I paid forty-some bucks for a concert and never even got to the parking lot.
So I have to ask, what the heck is going on at the Ford Festival Grounds that no one can get in all day? We had numerous reports starting before noon yesterday that traffic was backed up in both directions for at least a mile at the Highway 44 interchange. This is the second year Country USA has been in its new location--shouldn't all these bugs be worked out by now?
This is not just an inconvenience for those attending the show--this is a real safety concern. Going from 65 to zero on an expressway is dangerous--even if you have signs warning you of the back up a half mile ahead. And with yesterday's heat, you were risking overheating of vehicles stuck in park, going nowhere for five miles.
If Country USA has to break down and pay the city or the county for traffic direction then they should do it. If they need to pay off the outlet mall, the car dealer, Oshkosh Truck or the porn shop to close the stretch of Washburn between 26 and 44 then they should do that too--because us "townies" are getting a little tired of having the "country bumpkins" tying up our main thoroughfare every night for a week.
I'm sure if we asked the DOT how to fix the problem they would probably tell us this will all go away when the roundabouts are installed at the Highway 41 interchanges. I'm predicting ten mile backups after those projects are done.
Imagine my surprise as I got to the top of the on-ramp and found myself at the tail end of a five-mile backup. As you might expect, my initial reaction was "accident on the bridge"--so I did a U-turn in the median (yes, wasting a quarter tank of gas would constitute an emergency--therefore my actions were justified) and went back down Jackson into town. Was I in for a surprise when I followed Koeller and Poberezny down the other side of 41 to find the entire backup was due to people trying to get into Country USA.
Didn't the headline act go on stage at 9:30 last night? If you were a ticketholder at the back of the back up at 8:30 last night, did you really stand a chance of seeing Taylor Swift? I know I wouldn't be too happy if I paid forty-some bucks for a concert and never even got to the parking lot.
So I have to ask, what the heck is going on at the Ford Festival Grounds that no one can get in all day? We had numerous reports starting before noon yesterday that traffic was backed up in both directions for at least a mile at the Highway 44 interchange. This is the second year Country USA has been in its new location--shouldn't all these bugs be worked out by now?
This is not just an inconvenience for those attending the show--this is a real safety concern. Going from 65 to zero on an expressway is dangerous--even if you have signs warning you of the back up a half mile ahead. And with yesterday's heat, you were risking overheating of vehicles stuck in park, going nowhere for five miles.
If Country USA has to break down and pay the city or the county for traffic direction then they should do it. If they need to pay off the outlet mall, the car dealer, Oshkosh Truck or the porn shop to close the stretch of Washburn between 26 and 44 then they should do that too--because us "townies" are getting a little tired of having the "country bumpkins" tying up our main thoroughfare every night for a week.
I'm sure if we asked the DOT how to fix the problem they would probably tell us this will all go away when the roundabouts are installed at the Highway 41 interchanges. I'm predicting ten mile backups after those projects are done.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Boozin' It Up
Watching most of the three hour "mini-trial" for the owner of O'Brian's bar in front of the Oshkosh Common Council last night has me thinking it might be time to reconsider the role alcohol plays in our lives around here. Hundreds of police calls last year, brawls, people found passed out lying on the floor, dozens of complaints from neighbors--and Chief Scott Greuel wouldn't even call it the "worst of the worst" bars in town. And despite the owner's past refusal to work with police to mitigate the behavior problems at his establishment, the Common Council still voted to let him keep his liquor license.
It's obvious that the City of Oshkosh has to join the hundreds of other municipalities around the state in establishing a demerit system for taverns and other establishments with liquor licenses. No more will city staff have to rely on anecdotal evidence at revocation hearings like last night--trying to convice the Council that there is a problem. Instead, you would have a clear data trail that would detail the myriad of problems at a place--and establish firm legal footing for pulling a license. It's amazing that a number of towns around the state have such a system--but a long-established city like Oshkosh just lets taverns operate without clear instruction on what will and will not be tolerated.
Refer back to My Two Cents from last Friday on the crowd at Waterfest for another major beef.
I've also got booze on the brain this morning because Country USA is back in town. I know two guys who have told me they hate country music--but they are taking the week off of work just to camp out there and get drunk. They hope to meet lots of drunk ladies as well. I'm guessing they aren't the only ones with those goals.
You couldn't pay me enough to sit out there and subject myself to five days of country music, (I got plenty of the ambient noise when I used to live on the northside and the event was at the Sunnyview Expo Center) but I know plenty of people that do--and they seem to have very different experiences. The ones who go to "party" all weekend come back saying it was "AWESOME!!"--although they can't usually remember the music much. Those who go and stay sober usually say it was "OK--but the drunk people are really getting annoying".
Starshow Productions always likes to brag about the huge attendance for Country USA but I wonder--how many people would show up if there were no alcohol on the grounds? Would they even promote the event as a "Family Friendly Experience"? We have a couple of other highly successful events here in Oshkosh that don't seem to require being falling down drunk to enjoy. I've never heard anyone say they aren't coming to Airventure because there isn't a beer stand on the flight line. And I don't think Jeff Dunham was any less funny at Theater in the Woods because the crowd didn't have a two drink minimum. Lifest continues to grow every year without alcohol on the grounds as well (although what I know about that crowd--there is likely some "cheating" going on in the parking lot and the camping area--but no one would ever admit it).
I admit, I like my good beer and my good scotch--but I have learned the hard way in the past that those are best enjoyed in moderation. I just wish more people would keep that in mind when they are in my city.
It's obvious that the City of Oshkosh has to join the hundreds of other municipalities around the state in establishing a demerit system for taverns and other establishments with liquor licenses. No more will city staff have to rely on anecdotal evidence at revocation hearings like last night--trying to convice the Council that there is a problem. Instead, you would have a clear data trail that would detail the myriad of problems at a place--and establish firm legal footing for pulling a license. It's amazing that a number of towns around the state have such a system--but a long-established city like Oshkosh just lets taverns operate without clear instruction on what will and will not be tolerated.
Refer back to My Two Cents from last Friday on the crowd at Waterfest for another major beef.
I've also got booze on the brain this morning because Country USA is back in town. I know two guys who have told me they hate country music--but they are taking the week off of work just to camp out there and get drunk. They hope to meet lots of drunk ladies as well. I'm guessing they aren't the only ones with those goals.
You couldn't pay me enough to sit out there and subject myself to five days of country music, (I got plenty of the ambient noise when I used to live on the northside and the event was at the Sunnyview Expo Center) but I know plenty of people that do--and they seem to have very different experiences. The ones who go to "party" all weekend come back saying it was "AWESOME!!"--although they can't usually remember the music much. Those who go and stay sober usually say it was "OK--but the drunk people are really getting annoying".
Starshow Productions always likes to brag about the huge attendance for Country USA but I wonder--how many people would show up if there were no alcohol on the grounds? Would they even promote the event as a "Family Friendly Experience"? We have a couple of other highly successful events here in Oshkosh that don't seem to require being falling down drunk to enjoy. I've never heard anyone say they aren't coming to Airventure because there isn't a beer stand on the flight line. And I don't think Jeff Dunham was any less funny at Theater in the Woods because the crowd didn't have a two drink minimum. Lifest continues to grow every year without alcohol on the grounds as well (although what I know about that crowd--there is likely some "cheating" going on in the parking lot and the camping area--but no one would ever admit it).
I admit, I like my good beer and my good scotch--but I have learned the hard way in the past that those are best enjoyed in moderation. I just wish more people would keep that in mind when they are in my city.
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