On [Around] Wisconsin

Many of us have grown to think of Wisconsin as the obstacle one crosses to get to Chicago or points east, the land of speed traps.

Lately, because of the actions of our Tobacco Taliban, it has been seeming a more welcome place.

Now their governor wants to change things and keep smokers and people of good will [despite what the TT says, these two groups do overlap] out of his state.

I suggest that we all let the powers that be in Wisconsin know that bratwurst, cheese, and beer from Wisconsin will disappear from our shopping lists if this happens.

Many people don’t want to go across Wisconsin already. If they do this, people who want to go east may well want to skip their state altogether. There may not be a good other option for getting to Chicago, bit if you are looking to get to that other big Midwestern crossroads, Indianapolis, or south or east of there, you might want to rethink things. 52 around Rochester, 63 from Rochester to I-380, down the Avenue of the Saints to I-80 and I-74 across Illinois and Indiana is almost the same mileage, but allows one to skip both Wisconsin and Chicago. Some small stretches between Rochester and Waterloo are two-lane, but most is four-or-more lane, divided and there are no toll roads.

And remember: If they don't want us, we con't want them.