Ah, the weather -- always a topic of conversation in Wisconsin. Less than two weeks ago the weather was still very pleasant, one week ago the leaves were still falling from the trees, and today -- snow. To be sure, it won’t stick around -- it is supposed to be back in to the 50’s in a few days -- but still, who is ready for this?
On a totally unrelated matter, the family and I spent the weekend in southern Wisconsin, and during our travels I noted several things. One: the trees still have their leaves (unlike here) and still have some color (definitely unlike here), so the drive was quite scenic. Two: northern Wisconsin and southern Wisconsin really are two different worlds. This is one of those things that I rediscover from time-to-time. I am speaking as to regards economic matters, of course. The economic engine of southern Wisconsin is so much vaster and more diversified than the one in our northern area. The economic engine of our northern counties is essentially powered by only one thing -- our natural resources. Our forests, our water resources, and our undeveloped spaces. Everything else flows from these resources. Even what little bit of agriculture we have (cranberries) is highly dependent on the availability of vast quantities of water. The point of all this is that, while the economy of southern Wisconsin is growing and that portion of the state appears to be quite prosperous to my northern eye, here in the north we are in a catch-22 situation. We need some growth to survive and prosper, but growth will probably also work against our long-term interests.