Todd Berry

The death of a friend or loved one brings a rush of emotions: sorrow, grief, emptiness, even relief. But I never thought of it as a teachable moment until the recent passing of James R. Morgan, former president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.

If the state had a checklist for spring cleaning, income taxes would be on it. No one benefits from complex laws that burden individuals, small businesses, and tax collectors alike.

In Aesop’s fable, a grasshopper enjoys a carefree summer, while an indefatigable ant stockpiles food for the cold months ahead. When winter arrives, the famished grasshopper asks for help, only to be rebuked by the ant for his past indolence.

A prominent political scientist recently observed that “Wisconsin is a state in turmoil.”