Wisconsin Marketing 101

Me Knows Better Than to Say This... but I will. The Department of Transportation in Wisconsin is an example of preeminent marketing. Now I know that many of you doubt my comment... mainly because I am cynical by nature. But this time... really... I am only stating the facts.
Jimmy bases this on one random occurrence will driving around the St. Croix River Valley taking photos of fall leaves. I like to take seldom traveled roads and try to figure out a way to see overly photographed sites from a new angle... but this takes me down some "pretty" difficult roads. I mean really rough roads.

In Iowa they are honest about the quality of the road. The DOT in IA displays plenty of signs to remind everyone that these are, "Low Maintenance Roads." With this warning, I expect rough roads and probably no shoulders and a little complaining that Iowa should do something about this travesty of a road crew.

In Minnesota, the roads are usually pretty good - all due to the exorbitant taxes and the thanks of Representative Oberstar, the ranking Democrat on the Transportation Committee. He is really good at siphoning funds from other states to do his pet projects and no one blinks an eye... wink... wink. Luckily all that money is free... so no need for any posted signs... and I still complain if the roads aren't perfect... after all shouldn't these be paved in gold with the taxes we pay.

But in Wisconsin... these guys are geniuses. They just label them as "Rustic Roads." Too bad George Carlin isn't alive as I can hear him enunciate the words slowly... "Rustic Road." Jimmy had visions of wagon wheel tracks and Conestoga’s passing through the prairie. Even when the road turned to crumbled asphalt and plenty of potholes, another sign reminded me, a present day settler, that this was a "Rustic Road." I had no reason to complain... I had shelter... the wheels were turning, I was moving and no Indians were attacking... for I was on a Rustic Road... this was an adventure.

But let's do the math and expectations:

Iowa - $4,000 for signs and much complaining about shitty work.

Minnesota - $4,000,000,000,000  in taxpayer funded roads (probably could add a few more zeros.. but Jimmy tried to be conservative in the estimate) - and still some shitty areas.

Wisconsin - $400 for a couple of well positioned signs - still a shitty road, but fun to drive on something called a "Rustic Road."

Wisconsin DOT - Marketing geniuses...