I have lived in Madison for almost seventeen years now. It really is a nice place to live. There is always a lot going on - tons of restaurants, bands, the university, you name it. Drive five minutes out of town and there is farmland and peace and quiet.
I get a lot of questions about Madison from those who don't live here. Especially lately. What about all those "protesters"? What is it like to live there?
Well, some parts of the city are just like any other in the US. If you didn't know where you were, you would think you were in any Midwestern town. The "protests" were nothing but a rumor once you get a few blocks off the square.
But there are the fruits and nuts. And they make a racket, as evidenced by the "protests" a few months ago. I use the word protests in quotes because they were, in reality, planned political rallies, not true protests.
They are ramping up again. For the next month or so, there will be more rallies, shouting, drumming, the whole shebang. There will be lunatics, leftists, crazies, dudes making a point so they can get laid, college kids, hippies, socialists, communists, and all the rest down on the square. It is budget season.
In a show of how infinitely stupid a city council can be, the city of Madison has issued permits for people to create "Walkerville". A tent city around parts of the square. I already know what this is going to end up looking like. Here is an article on it.
See that map? OH MAN do I feel sorry for those business owners and folks who live in that area. They tried in vain to get the city to not pass this but to no avail. In a true show of lunacy, the City of Madison put POLITICS right up front and gave them the permit. Of course this sets precedent. The Klan and any other kook group will now have full rights to camp out on the square from this day forward or the city will get its pants sued off.
I will get some photos and video of this bullshit when the time comes. It is going to look like crap, sound like shit, and smell worse. There will be garbage everywhere. The business owners will lose their minds. I honestly do feel sorry for them. I hope the farmers market vendors are ready for those tents NOT to move on Saturday mornings. I will be interested to see those fights when the vendors show up to their expensive stall spots and some stinky people are squatting there. I think physical violence may ensue. At least I am hoping so. Wouldn't that make great footage seeing an Amish dude with an axhandle tapping a tune on some college student's cranium?
Madison really is a nice place. You just have to stay out of the insanity. About once a day I see somthing and say - fuckin' Madison. Nowhere else.
4 comments:
It's a big problem when the city does something that impacts you business negatively. When someone does something like that I always make sure I make a measured reasoned response.
I threaten them with a beating.
Madison's Capitol Square is one of the most beautiful places in the country... Too bad it is such a political hotbed, which leads to nonsense like this.
I say the same thing several times when I drive through Madison.
Madison is a great town. My wife is from there and we visit often. We just moved from Chicago to Hammond.
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