Brookfield Basics - All Comments

re: What Would Napoleon Have Told the Auto Companies?

mick — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:30:22 GMT

I'm with Napoleon on this one! Your assessment of the situation was well said.

re: Two of Me

Larry Knetzger — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:41:07 GMT

Hi Tom, while Paltip has some real valid concerns that he/she has expressed, you are not an ordinary citizen you are an elected official to a school board. Right up front you are expected to be more of an upright citizen being in the public eye making decesions on the education of people like the one you rendered aid to. and with that in mind you acted accordingly and responsibly.

I have stopped my self to render aid to people with a broken bicycle or falling while jogging. The least I do is offer the use of my cell phone or ask if I can call the police for assistance . Not everyone is a pedophile, I do think the boy maybe should have refused the ride, but then again he maybe was also hurting.

I was involved in an auto accident where a car rear ended my vehicle and their car became disabled. The police had it towed away, I gave that person (a nurse) a ride to work. She was nervous from the accident and more worried about what her husband would say than riding with me to her place of work. I have a real soft spot in my heart for Nurses after an extended hospital stay and seeing what caring and helpful people they are by nature.

I guess if you want to critisize my help the same criticism could be said of my passenger for accepting a ride from me. She of course was an adult, not a child.

You did the right thing, maybe a phone call to the police could have been done, but that might have been a response to a common public response of distrust of anyone who stops to aid a younster. What a changed world we live in. Good Job Tom.

re: Two of Me

Tom Gehl — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:48:43 GMT

Paltip - Fair enough. You raise some valid points and I don't feel "accused". I reacted to the situation I was presented with and the very limited time I had. Looking back, I agree that I should have walked him to school, and wish I would have. If I had it do do all again, I would do everything the same except for that. Also, the points you raise are exactly why I connected with the Principal. We both agreed she should call his parents, so that they could handle the situation as they thought best. They were very pleased. I just hate to think of OUR behavior being changed by the "creeps" out there.

re: Two of Me

Paltip — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:42:32 GMT

I'm glad you feel good about what you did Tom, but that's a real slippery slope you are operating on. You talk about 20 minutes making a a huge difference in someone's life - no doubt - good or bad. 20 minutes of torture or molestation probably feels like a lifetime and causes irreparable harm. Let's play devil's advocate. Kneeling down to get on the same level, eye to eye, chatting, comforting, befriending - think child molesters/pedophiles might operate the same way? Shame on Riley for getting in a car with a stranger. And shame on you for going there. School was a half mile down the road? How about taking a little stroll? Walk the kid to school. If he's hurt to bad get on your cell phone and have him call his parents or neighbor. If you don't have a cell go to one of the houses you were by. Man, I would be real upset with Riley if I was one of his parents. How many times have you told your kids about strangers? Plenty I'm sure. Sorry Tom, I don't think you should have gone there with this one, it creeps me out. Again, you talk about your mind drifting back to him on several occasions during the day. Geez, I gotta believe the freaks out there do the same thing thinking about their "prey". Think you missed the boat on this one, too many similarities to too many ugly possibilities. PLEASE don't infer that I am accussing you of being anything but a good hearted citizen. I said let's play devil's advocate, sit back, you are open minded, I'm sure you can see this point of view and you should have regrets about publishing this one. And I regret that we live in a society that issues like helping a child make us think so much and could have negative consequences.

re: Two of Me

My Two Cents — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:08:44 GMT

Our world has deteriorated to the point that we have to think twice before we help a child in distress. Because of the creeps who have violated the security of our children, we have to make sure our offer to help doesn't further distress the child. Many times I hesitate to offer even a simple compliment to a little child. I'm happy to hear this story has a happy ending for both of you.

re: How We Got Here - The Theory of Relativity

My Two Cents — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:24:50 GMT

Hi Tom,

I'm so sorry to hear you're taking a break. I have the same feelings of dread. However, I've signed up to make phone calls for my political party. At least I can say I tried when this is all over. Thanks for your wise words.

re: How We Got Here - The Theory of Relativity

St. John Vianney — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:17:09 GMT

Hi Tom, sorry to hear you're taking a break for awhile. Hope you return refreshed and ready to write and blog again.

re: Energy - The Environment - And Congress

mikeyd — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:14:59 GMT

Hi JB,

It is the science that I read and understand. I did not say anything about 'the media'.

First you say Global warming is a hoax, then you say 'current warming cycle', contradicting yourself. Good job.

I agree it is barely debatable that humans are contributing, because the scientific facts depict trends that are without scientific doubt attributable to humans and there isn't a debate in scientific realms at all anymore.

re: Energy - The Environment - And Congress

Jeff B — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:39:02 GMT

MIKEY...those are the funniest comments, but I am sure you feel all warm inside. Global warming is a hoax. Humans contributing to this current warming cycle is barely debatable. Don't fall for media hype.

re: How We Got Here - The Theory of Relativity

NWCguy — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:45:38 GMT

Great points Tom, couldn't agree more. We have built a culture of green and over-indulgence. Washington is corrupt and needs reform. Unfortunately, it needs more reform than either candidate can provide.

re: How We Got Here - The Theory of Relativity

Larry Knetzger — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:21:02 GMT

Hi Tom, sorry to see you leave for a while. Old Theory, Practice, Belief . "Do on to others as you would have them do on to you". Simple rule of life, with out complexities by wrong interpretation. Look for you soon to once again express your point of view .

re: Energy - The Environment - And Congress

mikeyd — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:31:47 GMT

'I believe both candidates, but in particular John McCain, missed an enormous opportunity by not making this a key component of the campaign.'

Barack Obama has made energy independence a major piece of his platform. Why has Pres. Bush and Cong. Sensenbrenner fought every increase in CAFE limits, which would very quickly have a larger long term impact than more drilling, with the added benefit of actually helping our climate change problem. Drilling, pumping, and burning more will only hasten dramatic increase in global atmospheric CO2 content, increase pollution, and global warming.

It is time to consider all these issues as being linked.

Our desire for slightly cheaper gas might not trump the environmental or socio-economic impacts of drilling more and more, and thus burning even more. The gas companies do not own the world. There are Many hundreds of oil permits issued and currently being held by oil companies and not being used. Why don't they just start there?

'we also need to pursue every drop of oil and every cubic foot of natural gas we can'. This kind of thirst goes strongly against the love you claim to have for the environment. Oh to be Republican and an 'environment lover', I am sure it is an annoying and sharp edged fence on which to stand. No one is saying that the drilling itself is all that bad, except it is a lie to say it is always environmentally safe and friendly. How many platforms were ripped off their moorings by Katrina and Ike? How is the groundwater in the area near your beloved well heads? Care to pump and supply your family with the downflow groundwater for drinking? Don't care for that, and the wells you mention are probably Extremely low producers... Do they ever burn off anything there, spewing mercury, CO2, and all kinds of carcinogenic toxins into the atmosphere in the vicinity? What about at the nearest refinery; a clean, green machine?

On top of all this, there are those trying to scare us into pumping it at all costs, since we aid terrorists by buying their product if we don't... you mean like Canada and Mexico? I will not be terrorized and most Americans thankfully seem to have gotten over being terrorized like this since the Bush/Cheney ad campaign leading up to the last presidential elections.

Why not just decrease our desire for this product altogether?

re: Energy - The Environment - And Congress

Jeff B — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:06:40 GMT

I assume by this

"And the only group of people keeping us from doing exactly that is the United States Congress."

You mean Republicans in congress. The Dems have and will always be against it. McCain/Palin will help too!

re: I Can Eat Fifty Eggs

Brien Lee — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:35:00 GMT

well written. a great tribute to a great man

Waukesha Carnival 09-28-2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Waukesha Carnival 09-28-2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:47:11 GMT

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re: Our Financial Crisis: Why Character Still Matters - And Why Economics is More Important than Finance

Richard J. Steinberg — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:50:14 GMT

Character is certainly essential and so is intellectual honesty.Easy money leads to disaster. Oversight is sorely needed but another layer of federal intervention is not. Innocent taxpayers should not be taken advantage of to finance and bail out the lenders and recipients of poor judgment. This financial blunder is not akin to the enviornment and weather conditions over which people have no control. When will the forgiveness of those who gained for doing nothing stop ? Bailout, no. Accountability, yes. The power brokers must answer to the public. Reference is subtly made to them but who are they ? sorry for any typos.

Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative

Waukesha carnival 9/21/2008 « Musings of a Thoughtful Conservative — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:39:53 GMT

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re: Reflections on September 11

Practically Speaking — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:35:56 GMT

Thanks, Tom. Thought provoking as usual. I always enjoy your historical perspective.

re: Gustav - Katrina - And Miss Molly

Jon Wolff — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:35:50 GMT

Great story, Tom. I shared it with some friends.

re: Bone of their Bone and Flesh of Their Flesh - An Update

Practically Speaking — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:18:44 GMT

All parents should be glad about this decision. It really speaks to the issue of who has the right to decide for your child.

This is the second time the government has tried to take away a parent's right to homeschool after that right was secured. Once it was at the Federal level, this time the state. Each time it was the tremendous outpouring of calls, letters, and emails to officials that influenced the decision to uphold parental rights.

Thanks for blogging this important decision.