You can use your Facebook account to log in.
Or, use an existing account:
RSSWe The People/Wisconsin: Economy 2012
About this project
The We the People/Wisconsin 2012 Economy Project — through monthly print, broadcast and internet media reports — brings together Wisconsin res…
Voters aren't easily grouped
As elections approach, pundits and political strategists try to strain the mixing pot of America for a particular demographic. The Hispanic vo…
Voters aren't easily grouped
As elections approach, pundits and political strategists try to strain the mixing pot of America for a particular demographic. The Hispanic vo…
Pinching pennies on gas, groceries
NEENAH - Sarah Schmidt's family has avoided vacations with long drives and has become adept in making strategic grocery purchases over the pas…
Between the cracks of the 'working class poor'
NEENAH - Neenah resident Sarah Schmidt is an artist. She's an afterschool youth tutor and program assistant at the Boys & Girls Club. She'…
We The People: Women react to gender, generational questions in politics
As politicians crisscross the state in search of votes, themes like the "war on women" are prevailing on the campaign trail, drawing attention…
We The People: Women react to gender, generational questions in politics
As politicians crisscross the state in search of votes, themes like the "war on women" are prevailing on the campaign trail, drawing attention…
We the People: Generational & Gender Differences
We recently sat down with Palmer Hoffland of Viroqua to get his thoughts on generational and gender differences and how they play a role in el…
We the People: Generational & Gender Differences
WKBT continues its series We the People: Economy 2012 with a look at how the rising price of goods is affecting 71 year old Palmer Hoffland of…
Business owner favors political individuality over group identification
Madison sales consultant Bret Gundlach belongs to two important demographics often mentioned by politicians and their campaigns these days: sm…
Latest Video
Project participants
Chippewa Falls: Nick and Maurita Burzynski
After a cheesy pickup line and a whirlwind romance, Nick and Maurita Burzynski of Chippewa Falls got married in 2008. Last April, the household got a new member: their son Xander. To support their growing family, Nick discontinued his studies at the local technical college to work full-time first shift at the local hospital. Maurita works part-time second shift at Menards so that either she or Nick would always be home with Xander. The small family makes enough money to support themselves, but they worry about the sluggish economy, coupled with their student loan debts and home mortgage. (Chippewa Herald)
Galesville: Brenda and Ron Herman
Brenda and Ron Herman live in a three-bedroom house with two kids, two cars and two dogs. They earn a little more than the state median income — enough to make them comfortable, but not secure. They worry about job security, the price of gas, health care and education. They read the paper and watch the news but aren’t always up to speed on the issues. They make an effort to vote but aren’t especially political. She works as a county child support specialist; he’s a third-shift janitor. (La Cross Tribune)
La Crosse: Palmer Hoffland
71 year old Palmer Hoffland grew up right around the corner from the woman he would eventually marry. He and his high school sweetheart, Martha, live in a home just outside of the rural farming community of Viroqua in western Wisconsin. Palmer is a retired banking executive. He and Martha have two grown daughters and four grandchildren. With his background in banking, Palmer is concerned terribly about debt issues especially on the national level. He says politicians are looking out for their own parties and not their constituents. He worries about what the huge national deficit will mean for his kids and grand kids. (WKBT-TV)
Little Suamico: Ron and Cynthia Nelson
Ron and Cynthia Nelson live in Little Suamico with their three young boys. Hayden is six, Colton is three, and Brycen is seven months old. The family is active in their church and now, they want to be more active in the political process. Cynthia tells us she grew up in a conservative family; Ron was raised a Democrat and his father belonged to a union. Though their backgrounds are different, both Ron and Cynthia tend to agree with conservative candidates. Still, Ron is hesitant to declare himself a Republican. Both have concerns about the amount of taxes they’re being asked to pay. And, with Ron working in the finance industry, he says his biggest concern is over-regulation of business. (WFRV-TV)
Madison: Bret Gundlach
Bret Gundlach is a 44-year-old, father of two who lives on Madison’s east side. He runs a small consulting company with five employees called TransformPOS, Inc. that helps restaurants, clubs, bars and other hospitality businesses with point-of-sale and other high-tech solutions. He says his company is doing well, though profits in 2011 were down a bit from 2010. This year looks strong, however, with sales up from last year, he notes. A fiscally conservative and socially moderate Republican, Gundlach is a strong backer of Gov. Scott Walker who supports a limited-government philosophy.
Oregon: Jim and Lauralyn Klarich and family
Retiree Jim Klarich, 64, says he's voted Democratic in every presidential election, and his wife says she also leans left. Jim and Lauralyn's 37-year-old son David describes himself as more conservative as he gets older, his wife Odessa says she also tends to vote Republican.
The divided family, is more together than they seem. Their Oregon home is not just the dwelling of Lauralyn and Jim, but David and Odessa and their five-year-old son Gage.
Reedsburg: Phillip and Emily Rogers
Phillip and Emily Rogers of Reedsburg are old fashioned when it comes to money. They believe you should put 20 percent down when you buy a house. They avoid the temptations of credit cards. And they believe in saving for a rainy day.
But when a debilitating disease struck Emily Rogers virtually overnight, causing her to lose her job and require round-the-clock care, the family had to recalibrate their dreams. While Phillip works as a teacher and school principal, providing for his wife and three children is a struggle without the support of friends and neighbors.
“It’s tough, but we have a strong faith and I just take it a day at a time and try to stay positive,” Emily Rogers said. “It is what it is and you accept it and make the most of it.” (Wisconsin State Journal)
Please Wait…