Commentary Update for February 1, 2002: Bloechl Letter, Ethanol, Frings on Health Care

Hello Again,

Jim Mather and I will probably start a spring semester taping of Commentary the week of February 11th. As soon as I know the date and time I will of course pass the information on.

I received some interesting website reader emails this week. First, outspoken and soon to be former member of the Oshkosh Common Council Melanie Bloechl wrote in to thank Mike Norton and I for last week's Shared Revenue Forum and to bash our local State representatives:
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/bloechlletter.htm

Remember the recent exchange on ethanol? Harmon Seaver has more to say here:
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/seaveragain.htm
Note: I did e-mail the initial Lemmer and Seaver pieces on ethanol to the "Stop the Ethanol Now" group and asked for a response, but have not received one as of yet. Anyone got an email address for Ed Garvey? (attorney and former gubernatorial candidate who now represents anti-ethanol clients). I'd like to get his views.

Finally, Jon Frings applies the current "consolidation mania" argument to the issue of rising county and municipal health costs.
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/jfoninsurance.htm

Emails, essays, on these and other topics are welcome.

Have a great weekend everyone.

-Tony