We are having an extremely mild winter in WI – no snow, and the average temp is like 35 degrees, probably. The lakes are still open. All the municipalities around WI are saving a ton on not having to plow the roads – the figure given for for Madison on the local news last night was something like $300,000. But the private contractors who make a living plowing are laying off their guys and crying – no work.
It just creeps me out. I feel like it means us humans have ruined the climate. And it’s depressing – white snow would be prettier than brown matted grass. One of my facebook friends said she went to a solstice bonfire last week (on 12/21) and wondered if it was some kind of commentary on the state of our civilization – she found herself standing in a large group of people huddled around a fire in the mud.
The other thing that worries me is that because so many municipalities are saving money by not plowing, our governor (image from Michael Duffy) will be able to say that the anti-collective bargaining legislation he passed is working – obviously since us expensive, overpaid, lazy public employees are not doing the work, all these local governments are saving beaucoup bucks. I hope the private businesses who are losing money raise holy hell.
Open Lake Mendota, 12/27/2011
