I'd like to say the informational picket on Friday to point out the incompetence of a legislature that can't pass a budget in less than 104 days was a moderate success. Many horns were blown, thumbs were pointed skyward, the occasional pedestrian asked what it was all about, and one news source did an interview (WTDY).

Most characters who stopped to chat were friendly, although one didn't really seem to understand the point of the picket and chose to argue that our signs were too vague and didn't express what should be changed in the budget. Another seemed to think we were calling for any old budget to be passed no matter the repercussions - not the case. And more than one person just didn't understand how five individuals could gather on the Capitol Square and not be represented some sort of organization, "Are you with McCabe's group?" Nope. Just some constituents who think it is outrageous that our representatives will be going on 107 days next week and still not be able to see eye to eye on a budget.

I am not naive about the necessity of taking time on issues of the state budget, but discussions concerning the biennial budget started in Spring. The budget was due in July. Every other state has a budget. Why are Wisconsin legislators such failures? Towns, cities, and counties need a completed state budget in order to properly calculate their budgets. Many of them have drafted budgets based on assumptions and if those assumptions turn out wrong they will have to go back and recalculate.

Something drastic needs to be done because it is beginning to seem to me that this budget blockage is intentional. I've been avoiding the one side is at fault blame game and pretty much calling "shame" on the whole bunch under the Capitol dome, but could the extreme Wisconsin Republicans be trying to drown the budget in the bathtub?