Freedom? Republican Rep. Thiesfeldt: "Some families know more about this (vaccines) than the Doctors do."

Of all things, Republicans have been taking "freedom" and weaponizing it into something dangerous.

It's nothing new for those who, like little children, don't like being told what to do. They've been doing this by denying climate change, rolling back environmental protections, ignoring 39,000 gun deaths a year, and now...leaving the spread of communicable diseases up to parents who of course know better than their DOCTORS about the "dangers" of vaccinations?

We're pushing "freedom" now instead of public health? No wonder gun deaths, pollution, and repealing health care doesn't even faze Republicans, who have some whacked out idea of "freedom." And those victims who lose all their freedoms?

Republican Rep. Jeremey Thiesfeldt, who opposes Rep. Gordon Hintz’s bill that would repeal the personal waiver exemption for vaccinations, actually said this...go to 2:25 into clip near the end. Upfront:

"...these people are very well studied on this stuff. Doctors, you know I said I'm not a doctor, but when these people talk to me, and they way more about this stuff than I do, and for me to be able to tell them, you are forced to get this, even though you have this vast knowledge on this, I suspect some families know more about this than the doctors do." 

No, families don't know more than their doctors, especially those who sought out and found alternative "facts" backing up their crazy idea's on Google from fellow anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists. This is what passes for governing?

Thiesfeldt, an anti-choice conservative, had the balls to say this...

Thiesfeldt: "I am not anti-vaccination, but I am pro-parental rights and responsibilities. One of the hallmarks of our medical society is informed consent, and being able to control your own health care decisions, and I believe this is going the wrong direction. We already have taken too much responsibility away from parents. There are few things more sacred than  being able to control your own health care, and I think this is a step too far." 

Or this important issue tossed off as irrelevant by Thiesfeldt:

Host Adrienne Pedersen: "What do you think about that theory that it is a parents choice, but not getting your child vaccinated is possibly making a choice for another person's child?"

Thiesfedlt: "As a parent, my responsibility is for my own children ... Having the government come in and force me to put something in my body or in  my child's body that I believe to be harmful ... There are too may variables involved for us to just look at it as a requirement that everybody needs to do this."

Pumping the "freedom" and resent level up a few notches, Thiesfeldt came out defending whiny parents who feel victimized for own irresponsible decision. Hey, decision have consequences:

Thiesfeldt: "And predominantly, when I have had families come in and talk with me about this particular situation, they will come into me and tell me the stories of how they have been characterized as uncaring, uneducated, labeled as anti-vaxxers, and nothing further from the truth could be the case.

Here's one uneducated and uncaring victim of his own and father's dumb ass decision, which by the way, raises the issue of Trump new enforcement of the "conscience clause"...

Jerome Kunkel, 18, a student at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Assumption Academy, said he has deeply-held beliefs against being inoculated with the chickenpox vaccine, NBC News reports. He sued the health department in March, and lost.

“The fact that I can’t finish my senior year in basketball, like, our last couple of games, it’s pretty devastating,” Kunkel said at the time. “I don’t believe in that vaccine at all and they are trying to push it on us,” Kunkel’s father, Bill Kunkel said. He noted the vaccine was created from the tissue of two aborted fetuses. "As Christians we’re against abortion,” he added. He also bragged that as children, “we used to go to chickenpox parties.”

Well, the Catholic Church gave it's blessing, with this sound reasoning:

National Catholic Bioethics Center notes: One is morally free to use the vaccine regardless of its historical association with abortion. The reason is that the risk to public health, if one chooses not to vaccinate, outweighs the legitimate concern about the origins of the vaccine. This is especially important for parents, who have a moral obligation to protect the life and health of their children and those around them.

Imagine if Trump's religious freedom/conscience clause denied you immediate needed treatment?

President Donald Trump during remarks on the National Day of Prayer, (announced he) finalized a new 440-page rule strengthening protections for healthcare workers who refuse to provide care that violates their religious or moral beliefs ... provides enforcement tools for 25 laws passed by Congress that are already on the books. "The regulation will allow anyone from a doctor to a receptionist to entities like hospitals and pharmacies to deny a patient critical — and sometimes lifesaving — care."

And no, doctor groups don't back Thiesfeldt's position:

Adrienne: Are you talking to any medical groups endorsing this? 

Thiesfeldt: "The doctors were in my office the other day at the capitol, as well. I have heard them in the past, as well. The impression is that all doctors agree on this. Most of them do, certainly, but they all do not. I have talked to doctors who have had vaccination issues with their own children and have doubts."

Do doctors have doubts? Sure they do, but do they think putting "freedom" ahead of public health is a sane idea?

Public Sanity Crisis, Vaccines Pushed by Communists: Reseachers have looked at how anti-vaxxers got so convinced. Surprise, it all starts with the juvenile attitude someone is telling them what to do: 

"Public confidence in vaccination is waning, driven in part by the manufacture of doubt by anti-vaccination activists and websites," writes a research team led by Isabel Rossen and Mark Hurlstone of the University of Western Australia. Their study aimed to determine who is vulnerable to anti-vaccination persuasion, and why. Rejecters and fence-sitters both scored high on the liberty foundation, meaning that both groups consist of people who really dislike being told what to do. The findings largely confirm those of a 2017 study in Nature Human Behavior, which found that parents who were very wary of vaccination were twice as likely to endorse the moral foundations of purity and liberty than those who accepted the practice.

The parents who are worried or sure about grave risks from vaccines reflect a broader horror that has flickered or flared in everything from the birther movement to “Pizzagate,” that nonsense about children as Democratic sex slaves in the imagined basement of a Washington pizza joint. Their recklessness and the attendant re-emergence of measles aren’t just a public health crisis. They’re a public sanity one, emblematic of too many people’s willful disregard of evidence, proud suspicion of expertise and estrangement from reason.

A Republican state Rep. in Arizona said on her Facebook page that pressure on parents to vaccinate children “is not based on American values but, rather, Communist.”

They fly ever more stubbornly in the face of sophisticated research and hard-earned knowledge. Beneficiaries of wisdom that prior generations lacked, they toss it away, wasting and mocking progress itself.
There’s also a man in the White House, at the Resolute Desk, who makes grand pronouncements based on random conversations; implores Americans to distrust traditional institutions and conventional sources of information; and promotes conspiracy theories. He has specifically echoed and validated the apprehensions of anti-vaxxers. Whether he’s symptom or cause doesn’t matter. He’s dangerous either way.

Times Magazine's Jonathan Mahler noted “a radical new relationship between citizen and truth.” He wrote that millions of people “are abandoning traditional sources of information, from the government to the institutional media, in favor of a D.I.Y. approach to fact-finding.” They turn to the internet, which is both a hall of mirrors and an overstuffed bazaar. It lets them customize their input and thus tailor their reality, which is reinforced by the like-minded company they keep online. They become surer that climate change is a hoax, that the deep state plots against the bold warriors who threaten it ... and they open the floodgates to so much fiction that fact is swept away.

GOP trick to make Public Schools sound like Private Schools fails.

Republican lawmaker and former teacher Jeremy Thiesfeldt must think we’re stupid, and after taking a look at his plans for public education, he apparently wants to make our kids that way too.

Public Profit Bad, Private Profit Good: Thiesfeldt complained in his press release that the Fond du Lac School Districts made up for lost funding by increasing taxes and then having a surplus, what he oddly called “profit.” That’s rich coming from a guy pushing profit driven private schools:

Former disgruntled teacher!!!

The Fond du Lac School District (FDLSD) “increased its tax levy $379,407 due to private school voucher students.” A Fond du Lac Reporter article took advantage of that complexity to mislead the readers, whether intentional or not, to put the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) in a negative light. The districts levied beyond the costs of the WPCP, profiting from students that are no longer enrolled, or never were enrolled in district schools.

Profit is usually paid out to someone or something. The districts money will stay with the district and pay for schools. 

Below I’ve interpreted Thiesfeldt’s nonsensical list of talking points, with my comments in parenthesis:  

“Students are educated at a lower cost (education will be driven by cost, not outcomes) and access to more educational choices (the magical thinking that more choices makes things better) yields greater parent satisfaction (playing on the insecurities and fears of parents who want to do what's best for their kids) and improved outcomes (simply not factually true).” 

Thiesfeldt closes with meaningless, nonsensical assumptions:

In America today, people are demanding choices (no, Republican privateers are demanding choices). In order to efficiently provide for more educational choices, we must conclude all good schools are worthy of some level of public financial support ("we must? ... 'these aren't the droids you're looking for...sorry, just more insane claptrap beyond any Jedi mind trick). 

Good schools need adequate funding as they assist parents in educating their children (but not public schools, right?); dedicated teachers need fair compensation, good training and parental support; good parents need to be actively engaged in school governance; students need parents to hold them to high standards (yes, for public schools. Try "governance" of a private school sometime). 

Cooperation amongst all these entities (just give-in to profit driven private schools) will yield students that possess the skills our workforce requires, but, more importantly will sustain and advance the American tradition by passing the keys of freedom to coming generations (dripping nationalism, since when are private for profit schools traditional?).

Isn't it a little suspicious that a 21 year former religious school teacher wants to expand vouchers? Thiesfeldt's ultimate goal is like so many others in his party; a mass conversion to religious indoctrination and ultimately a more socially conservative society. Let's call it what it is, taxpayer supported Sunday school, 5 days a week.

Kewaskum’s Rep. Jesse Kremer came right out and said it, when he dragged his 3 Biblically named daughters into the debate:

An unapologetic social conservative with a deep Christian faith, Kremer enrolled his three daughters — Keturah, 12, Miriam, 10, and Michaiah, 6 — in a Lutheran school in West Bend. “I tell people who send their kids to public schools that I send my kids there because I know they are getting the beliefs that I want them to have.”

And since you don't have to test "beliefs," Thiesfeldt's opt out bill is starting to make sense:

Rep. Thiesfeldt's Test "Opt Out" Bill Passes Assembly: Rep. Thiesfeldt’s bill, guarantees parents of students in grades 3-12 the ability to receive, upon formal request, an exemption for their child from the statewide standardized test...

And magically, vouchers schools are as good as they say they are.

Vouchers Satisfy Parents, play to their Insecurities!

It's funny and deceptive the way Republicans like Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, a former teacher, steer clear of the 25 year substandard private voucher school record, by touting how "satisfied" parents are with the program.

The old cliche "parents know what's best for their children," is getting a lot of mileage, and is patently ridiculous. Really, parents somehow have an innate insight into the latest teaching techniques and course work they feel is best for their kids?

From WPR audio this morning, Thiesfeldt did the old switcheroo, shifting from a callers question about private school accountability to the magical "satisfaction" levels of voucher parents. And he thought I wouldn't notice:



Republicans have always played on the fears and insecurities of parents who want to do what's right for their kids. Giving them "a choice" is nothing but manipulative pandering. Thiesfeldt pointed to studies of satisfied parents. I just happen to remember that study:

According to the University of Arkansas: Researchers with the School Choice Demonstration Project report that having a choice of where to send their children to school boosts their satisfaction with and involvement in schools (in Washington, D.C.). 

That’s right, parents are more satisfied simply because they got to choose. But are kids more educated? Three quarters of the voucher parents didn't care. Public schools aren't held to that same standard: 

Patrick Wolf, director of the School Choice Demonstration Project said, “Even D.C. parents whose children ended up returning to public schools tended to say that they were happy that they at least had a choice.” 

After decades of bashing, even laughing at the idea of smaller class sizes, Republican backed vouchers schools can't play it up enough, finding a very receptive audience of appreciative parents. Still, it's all about touchy feely stuff and not about better academic outcomes:

The factors these parents considered most important in making a choice included smaller class sizes, school safety, religious or values-based environment and rigorous academic curriculum ... Many parents placed greater emphasis on attitudes and behavior of their children, rather than test scores, as a basis for evaluating their progress. None of the parents polled considered standardized test scores when assessing their children’s progress.

President George W. Bush's NCLB's testing extravaganza emphasized testing as a way to fail most schools, so they could be turned into private religious schools. Testing went into overdrive and that's why we have what we have today. But for vouchers, testing isn't important:

Most parents measure their children’s progress almost exclusively by the level of enthusiasm the students express ... Actual grades and test scores are secondary concerns. By this standard, the vast majority of families reported that their children are succeeding or progressing in very important ways.

That same caller gave Thiesfeldt an example of how cutting education funding can actually hurting our kids. Of course, Thiesfeldt lamented the tight budget he and his band of plundering republican pirates have created.



Remember when everyone in the state paid taxes and supported education and infrastructure? Not anymore, since manufacturers and big ag got a $240 million tax cut and soon won't be paying any state tax at all. That's freeloading, sticking even conservative tightwad voters with the bill. And not a peep.  

State Republicans want Indoor Smoking again, say if you don't like it, go to a different restaurant or bar.

It's enough to take your breath away; Republicans are talking up "freedom and liberty" when it comes irresponsible and dangerous behaviors that impacts peoples health, like smoking.

Republicans have never liked the statewide smoking ban that saves lives and prevents other respiratory illnesses. While the number of smokers gets smaller every year, those not smart enough to quit seems to think the majority of healthy Wisconsinites should be the ones to lose their freedom. Like in this comment at WKOW:

That's right, without the distinct characteristic of cigarette smoke, "every establishment is going to be identical." Smoking is a health hazard that infringes on everybody else's freedom. Or is it? Maybe it's another constitutionally protected right...like say, buying a big gulp or an incandescent light bulb.

On Tuesday, Madison decided to protect the public from cancer, disease and premature death:

WKOW: Madison's City Council approved a ban on electronic cigarettes. It prohibits vaping in public places like bars, restaurants and stores. Council members say chemicals in the vapor of E-cigarettes can be harmful to others. Those against the ban argued that the devices help people quit smoking real cigarettes.

E-cigarette "flavors" emit vapors like nicotine. The effects of nicotine?

Nicotine can also lead to insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance, as well as an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It affects thyroid hormones, pituitary hormones, sex hormones and adrenal hormones.

Bizarro World former state senator and Congressman Glenn Grothman once backed a bill allowing e-cigarette smoking statewide:

Sen. Glenn Grothman's bill would do the opposite, explicitly allowing e-cigarette users to inhale the nicotine-laced vapors indoors despite the state's 2009 law that prohibits indoor smoking.

"Why should we compare e-cigarettes to cigarettes when we should be comparing them to clean air?" said Murray Katcher, a Madison pediatrician.  

Taking Grothman's place is Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt. Check out his amazing response: 

Thiesfeldt: "I enjoy the smoke free air too, but that was my choice, to go to a restaurant that there was smoke in the air, I could go to a different one if I wanted." 

The freedom loving Republican Party, and their phony, devil-may-care, feckless, unaccountable, do-nothing attitude. Here's WKOW's Greg Neumann:

Conservative Fond du Lac leery of Republican Legislators Voodoo Economic suggestions for city budget.

I just love this story. It shows how completely irresponsible Madison Republican legislators are about their continued use of supply side, voodoo economic policy.

First, let’s see how one state senator and one state representative would solve Fond du Lac’s budget problems. Yes, they want tax cuts. FDLReporter:

Fond du Lac City Council will take a couple more weeks to consider applying more

Trust us, we know what we're doing?

reserve funds to the 2015 budget. Sen. Rick Gudex and Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, both former councilmen, spoke as “city residents” suggesting the Council use some or all of the $1.5 million in unassigned fund balance to help reduce the tax levy that includes a 5.4 percent increase …saying it was unfair to ask taxpayers to “pay more” in the form of a tax increase.

What makes their suggestion even more ludicrous is that it sets up a budget before the city’s reassessments are factored in, which could be dramatic.  

The tax increase, though, will vary in the wake of a citywide property revaluation, where some properties increased in value and others decreased. Thiesfeldt said “I am very uncomfortable with maintaining a fund balance well beyond Council policy of 15 percent and ... increasing taxes by 5.4 percent of equalized value. There should be some consideration to knocking that down.”

No, there shouldn't. And that was the message by the city's real managers of taxpayer money, who presented some very important reasons:

City Manager Joe Mooreand Director of Administration Hal Wortman both voiced concerns Wednesday about the use of additional fund balance to reduce a tax rate increase. Wortman said the city could get into a cycle of increasing budget deficits and would have to cut services.

Moore said by lowering the levy, no matter how it’s done, it would “re-set” the baseline property tax levy and the amount cannot be recovered. There is no additional state aid and the levy may be increased only by the percentage of new construction and increases in debt service. “If you don’t levy up to the levy limit, you've reduced your levy and that is the new base for the next budget year and years going forward,” Wortman said. “You've lost forever whatever amount you reduce it by.”

Wortman is talking about our big government Republicans in Madison, who put a fiscal straitjacket on local government:

Wortman said there would be better ways to use excess fund balance, including repayment of debt, avoidance of new debt and for economic development. “I would say stick with the levy budget as is,” he said. “It would be a poor financial decision to draw down the tax levy.”

The outright rejection of Rep. Thiesfeldt and Sen. Gudex’s budgetary suggestions tell the whole story:

Moore said the risk inherent in using the entire $1.5 million is having no fund balance at the end of 2015 for use in 2016. Previous budgets have used some fund balance to support the upcoming year’s budget. If an emergency arose, there would be no funds to draw from. 

I think this sums it up:

Council President Sam Meyer said he wanted to be comfortable about the city’s ability to pay bills in the future.

What, who would ever politicize Public Education and Common Core, asks Tea Party Rep. Jeremy Theisfeldt.

What is it about Republican lawmakers writing sloppy laws? Aren't we all tired of hearing them say after the fact how shocked they were that people would use the laws in ways they didn't “intend?”

Well, here we go again. Tea Party Republican Rep. Jeremy Theisfeldt is ticked off the superintendent of public instruction would take the lead on education. Fancy that.

WSJ: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers unilaterally adopted Common Core. Legislation is now pending.

Theisfeldt wrongly believes Evers is actually more worried about losing power than improving education in Wisconsin. Everything revolves around “power”…if your Republican, not public service.

DPI is fighting a turf war to avoid its power being curtailed by SB 619.

And how about Evers worry that legislators will politicize education? Impossible?

DPI has particularly targeted the end of the proposed revision process in which legislators could potentially debate and amend standards. While conceivable, this would be unlikely. I don’t know a legislator who aspires to reach that point.

That’s right, the law would allow the complete politicization of education…but no one would ever do that, right? Forget about writing the law to prevent that. Who would do that?

Tea Party Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt fears Common Core, his own government, and Indoctrination!!! Pushes Politicized Big Government Education Oversight.

Local control? Our state Republican majority finds that to be an antiquated idea. Maybe they mean local control to carry out state mandated big government Republican theory.

Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt is the states tea party enemy of Common Core. He gets his idea's and "dark" orders from ALEC (see the pictures). Common Core is a threat to privatizing schools, since any show of improvement could leave failing vouchers schools in the dust (if we buy into the idea that U.S. schools are failing, which I believe is another GOP exaggeration).

For ALEC and other voucher supporters, a chaotic mishmash of curriculum, systems and styles of education will in some way result in smarter kids, defying all logic.

Here and Now asked Thiesfeldt about comments he made in an editorial that "innocently" went something like this:

"National standards create a unified launching pad which makes it easier to indoctrinate students in the beliefs of the educational industrial complex."

Thiesfeldt's ridiculous explanation: "...it could be a positive or a negative....We've been seeing what I believe is an increase in stories of 'objectionable lessons.'" That kind of rules out the "positive" kind of indoctrination:

   
Thiesfeldt isn't the only one doing the bidding of ALEC. On the Senate side ALEC is well represented:

jsonline: A state Senate committee is also reviewing the Common Core. National treasurer for the American Legislative Exchange Counsel (ALEC), State Senator Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), a member of that committee, called for repealing the Common Core and establishing legislative oversight of academic standards.

And the kind of "local control" Republicans legislators are talking about? Don't look to the districts:

Sen. Paul Farrow (R-Village of Pewaukee), who chairs the Senate committee, issued a report Wednesday that said the committee would consider whether the state should establish a board to review English, math, social studies and science standards every six years.

You'd think the State Superintendent of Public Instruction would have those duties...he does?

Condescending misogynist Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt treats women like grade schoolers.

It's just amazing how under the influence of power we're able to see the truly ugly side of the Republican Party's "personality," if that's what you call it.

Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt "reprimanded" and belittled Democratic Rep. Christine Sinicki for resigning from the Common Core Select Committee. What a "Manly" thing to do.

I've highlighted Thiesfeldt's demeaning condescending letter to Sinicki. Wanna know how petty and mean spirited tea party Republicans are? This is it. What are we still in grade school Thiesfeldt?

The End of Middle and High School Sports!?? You might want to call Republican Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt.

After seeing a story posted at Wisconsin Soapbox, I had to do a little checking on what appears to be another Big Government Republican (BGR) shot at public schools, and the possible end to their sports programs. Eh, who needs a level playing field with rules and regulations anyway? Attention WIAA!!!

If you haven't noticed already, Republicans don’t really believe in small government. It's more like a big, free-style form of conservative control, with little or no thought about the unintended consequences of their ideal agenda. That's why the courts are so involved.

Which brings me to State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, who made a wise decision to stop screwing up the minds of Lutheran elementary kids and get into a less productive job like crazy Republican legislator.

Not as well-known as other loony tune legislators, Thiesfeldt is a walking cliché of extremist big government conservatism. Thiesfeldt has racked up quit a record so far, backing bills that...

...hide donor occupations from the public, a ban on fetal body parts affecting UW research, banning hospitals and doctors (and anyone else too) from requiring flu shots (creating a health hazard), tougher Marijuana laws, repealing the dairy state requirement to serve butter in restaurants, allow firearms in schools, a tax exemption for the sale of silver and gold, an opt out for installing "dangerous" smart meters, behind a move to have “In God we Trust” on license plates, and finally, allow citizens to sue wind energy companies and farmers for their perceived harmful effects.

Thiesfeldt's next target could end high school sports as we know it. He wants to allow those who've opted out of going to public schools to go back to them for free extracurricular activities. 

Back peddling from the strongly held conservative value that we live with our choices, Thiesfeldt now thinks that’s unfair. And he doesn't say anything about refunding “choice” money to pay for the team coaches salary and benefits. Nor does he deal with an influx of athletic “ringers” flowing into a districts, or the bidding war to attract them. Details details….  

KFIZ: A state lawmaker wants to open up extracurricular activities at public schools to all students living in a district. The bill from Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac would require schools to open up sports teams and other activities to any student in their community. He says that’s regardless of whether they attend a parochial school, virtual school or are home schooled … Thiesfeldt says no child should be denied a chance to participate simply because they made a different choice for their education.

Take a second to let that anger and frustration build and fade. Take another breath, there’s one more incredible regulation that could end school sports as we know it:

The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, a private organization, is actually the body that requires students to attend the school they compete for meaning the Legislature has no control over its policies. 

...here comes big government....

Thiesfeldt addresses that issue by prohibiting schools from making an agreement with an organization that bars non-enrolled students from teams.

Say goodbye to the WIAA. Either voters didn't know exactly who they thought they were voting for, or they think like Thiesfeldt. Either way, I’m staying away from the Bizarro World folks in Fond du Lac. 

Rise of the Smart Meters: Republicans continue Petty Meaningless fights for “Freedom,” offering false sense of patriotism!!!

Republican State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt put on his tin foil hat long enough to write this bizarre fantasy based press release: 

Armed with $3.4 billion federal stimulus (ARRA) dedicated to smart grid projects nationwide many local utilities have mandated the implementation of “smart meters.” While projected efficiencies are laudable…

Here’s where we go off the Richter Scale:

…personal privacy concerns oblige caution. Smart meters can cross the line guarding individual privacy and exploit a customer’s dependence on utility services for which there is likely no alternative … these meters can be capable of collecting far more than utility usage … they can track home occupation, security system presence and settings, schedule habits of residents, temperature, computer usage, value of electronic devices, etc. The list of potential data collection and subsequent vulnerabilities is almost endless … rationing of services is also within the realm of capabilities … online data and wireless transmissions by smart meters are intrinsically tempting to hackers, unauthorized third parties, and potential warrants by overzealous law enforcement. On a wider scale, former Defense Secretary Leon Panneta once warned of a potential “cyber Pearl Harbor”, where hackers could shut down entire power grids based on smart meter data. On a smaller scale, there is a great potential for home intrusions and thefts by well-informed individuals or hackers Realists and intellectuals agree the question surrounding cybercrime is not if, but when.

Check out this supposed “horror story:”

A simple internet search reveals a plethora of smart meter horror stories. Audrey Parker, an 81 year-old Baraboo widow and great-grandmother, refused a smart meter in her home due to health and privacy concerns. Despite an extended dialogue with the utility company, her provider shut off her water for approximately four days before the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) stepped in.

“Fear” not, Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt will save you.

Last week I proposed the Smart Meter “Opt-Out” Bill. It empowers Wisconsin citizens with the personal liberty to opt-out of mandated smart meter installation … Although some meters in Wisconsin may not currently possess severely intrusive capabilities, many with these capabilities do exist and upgrades are not far behind.

With the understanding that what most Republicans say is actually projection, I truly do fear someday all of this is just a super majority away from actually happening. Of course they will have some justification for doing it, they always do, no matter how ridiculous. 

You might remember Thiesfeldt also wanted to dismantle local governments and schools through advanced payments into retirement health care coverage for employees, like the post office. The strain of such payments will force big cut backs of local communities or the elimination of public schools once and for all.