Libertarian Librarian

Last year, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewarage District (MMSD) dumped over 4 BILLION gallons of untreated sewage into Lake Michigan in May 2004 alone. The fact that MMSD is the largest single polluter of Lake Michigan is pretty much incontrovertible. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) is the state agency which is:

dedicated to the preservation, protection, effective management, and maintenance of Wisconsin's natural resources. It is responsible for implementing the laws of the state and, where applicable, the laws of the federal government that protect and enhance the natural resources of our state. It is the one agency charged with full responsibility for coordinating the many disciplines and programs necessary to provide a clean environment and a full range of outdoor recreational opportunities for Wisconsin citizens and visitors.

Water cleanliness and safety are part of that mission. Yet the WDNR has taken little or no action against MMSD since the 1970s, and has done nothing at all in the wake of MMSD's unprecented waste dumping last year. You'd think that working with, perhaps threatening, MMSD to prevent further dumping of BILLIONS of gallons (I picture Dr. Evil saying that) into Lake Michigan would be a priority.

But I guess the WDNR is too busy with this, to have any time left for all those turds floating in the lake. And the fact that the hundreds of thousands of people enjoy the fireworks may be SOL because there MAY be a few folks inconvenienced by closing the park early a handful of days out of the year is irrelevant to the WDNR. The DNR understands the problem but doesn't have any leeway-- rules are, after all, rules.

Except when the rule breaker is MMSD.

Turds in the lake? Acceptable. Beaches closed due to contaminated water in the lake? Acceptable. Cryptosporidium outbreaks due to contaminated drinking water? Unacceptable, but not really that big a deal.

Fireworks displays enjoyed by countless thousands of festgoers spending money to support the local economy? Unacceptable, because a few folks who wanted to walk along the turd encrusted beach on Lakeshore Island Park would be inconvenienced.

Ye gods could government have its priorities any more screwed up?