Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 2011, local residents were heard to say, “Here we go again.” They were referring to
throngs up to 100,000 strong descending on the Capitol building, parading, honking, toot-
ing, bellowing, and generally doing what locals at one time were legendary for doing:
protesting. (Here, it was for the governor's to-the-bone new budget plan.)
Still, though Madison may of late be reminiscent of its leftist hot spot days, the salad
days of revolution are not always so apparent. Financial institutions are rather more con-
spicuous than cubbyhole progressive-action storefronts, and corpulent lobbyists seem to
outnumber radicals. The student population rarely raises a fuss anymore, unless to over-
celebrate UW sports teams' championships or holidays in beer-soaked student bacchanalia
(tear gas for drinking, not for war protesting).
OnereasonweloveMadisonissimplythatthecapitalissuchawackyplace.AWiscon-
sin governor's aide once quipped, “Madison is 60 square miles surrounded by reality.” The
quotehasbecomeaproudbumper-stickersloganinthecity.ThemayorofMadisonin2012
even floated an idea to adopt it as the city's official slogan. Perhaps appropriately for such
