As I consider topics for a monthly column, I have learned to be patient. Eventually, either Madison or Washington will do something irresponsible enough to get my attention. This month, the award goes to ..... our professional politicians who ignore growing popular distress and disgust at out-of-control government spending, which they spin as vital government programs which only they can provide.

I recall how as the last legislative session in Madison ticked away and the bills I had hoped would pass were ignored in favor of a resolution scolding a northern representative for OWI incidents and a bill mandating politically correct school mascots received priority.

Out of time and ideas, the majority party passed a resolution asking the Congressional delegation to push for federal aid to prevent huge numbers of teacher layoffs. I thought that ended it.

Is it just me or is it self-destructive to insist on pay and benefits improvements at a time when many taxpayers and/or parents face unemployment? More than one Wisconsin teachers' union rejected renegotiation of benefits, which will undoubtedly mean that some teachers will face greater responsibilities without the support of their fellow professionals next year. And, the unions will go without the dues of some of its members -- without government intervention.

Wisconsin's private sector employers have dealt with painful economic realities for the past three years. Thousands of employers are out of business and 342,000 jobs lost over the past three years. There is no light at the end of the tunnel, unless you are a government employee.

Wait: instead of the irresponsible, unconstitutional idea of a Washington bailout of local school districts expiring quietly, it returns, zombie like, with the Senate approving hundreds of millions in school bailout bucks for Wisconsin.

"Hooray," Washington will now "bail out" school teachers too. Do politicians think that we haven't figured out that neither Madison or Washington has a reserve stash of money for any new programs? They are adding still more debt to keep the peasants quiet, for now, with the bill to come due for our children and grandchildren. We must pay taxes to Washington as well as Madison so, how does that help us? (My granddaughter's share of the combined state and national debt is $32,720, and she hasn't even started kindergarten.)

Innovative initiatives as well as sacrifices are called for to save Wisconsin's industries and schools. Proactive private Wisconsin businesses may explain their predicament to their employees and ask for their input to help save their company and jobs. Sacrifices have been some of the, hopefully temporary, solutions, mutually agreed to. Why not government school teachers?

Educators should not depend on Madison or Washington to save their schools. They can do it themselves, through their local associations, in collaboration with their school boards. Both must reach out and work with each other. More spending is not the answer.

Jim Maas is the vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin