This chart pretty much speaks for itself. This is the major problem of our time for our government. The problem isn’t that the government provides services that cost too much — the problem is the government provides services that work well and stay out of the way so much people don’t realize they are even using a government service. Even if they understood that, a deeper problem remains:

Reconstituting the submerged state has been doubly difficult because while the stakes have been highly apparent to
the groups that have benefitted from them, they were not
very visible to most Americans. Most people perceived only
the market at work: they have little awareness that many
social benefits they receive emanate from a submerged state
that is structured by public policy and subsidized by government. Neither do they realize that many such policies
disproportionately benefit wealthy citizens.They are unlikely
to know the extent to which government policy promotes
the profitability of some industries by offsetting their costs
in serving citizens, whether as consumers or borrowers.The
functioning and effects ofthe submerged state remain murky,
if not largely hidden, to most citizens.

*sigh*

via Boing Boing

via Dave Berry

Via Boing Boing et al.

…my front yard disagrees.

Once again we have the last snow in the neighborhood.  Figures.

As Bob pointed out… All your Base has been around now for 10 years. Another way to feel old, I guess

Ah, floppies. May they rest in peace.

I’m so bummed I missed this live and in person. Given all that’s gone on, this clip… is just simply awesome.

That said, I’ll note that I didn’t see too many Walker supporters.  They occupied one corner of the capitol, while the rest of us were circling the capitol (and inside).  I didn’t go looking for them, they didn’t look for me.

Nevertheless, here’s some pictures:

Protesters on Miss Forward

Scott Walker is not a college graduate. Also, cannot be a substitute teacher in Wisconsin.

Even the firefighters aren't with Scott.

Unexpectedly Wisconsinites get to reuse their Farve jerseys.

I think we can all agree on this one.

Fighting Bob. His bust has become a shrine.

This was posted quite widely in the capitol.

The TAA is taking turns cleaning the capitol.

Lots of things are supposed to happen in 2012. Apparently Total Recall as well, minus Arnold.

The Rotunda, Wisconsin State Capitol

Michelle Malkin said Up Next: Didjiridoo & vuvuzela ensemble. Vuvuzela, check.

Michelle Malkin said Up Next: Didjiridoo & vuvuzela ensemble. Didgeridoo, check.

Another thing Wisconsinites can agree on.

WTF, indeed.

I don't think I can disagree with this.

...and for people in Britain.