This world would be a much better place if everybody was just like me.

Oh, not on everything, but certainly when it comes to politics. Just take a look at two recent major issues.

Democrats are violently opposed to Wisconsin's voter ID law that was put on hold by a judge this week. I support the Democrats.

Republicans are violently in favor of the proposed mining bill that would allow a huge mining operation in northern Wisconsin. I support the Republicans on this one.

See what I mean? That's bi-partisanship. Let's look at these two issues.

I was unbelievably happy to see Judge David Flanagan issue a temporary injunction to put the voter ID law on hold. That means it won't be in effect for the April elections.

This stupid law was the darling of Republicans and right-wing talk radio to prevent what they called "the scourge of voter fraud." Never mind that we have more shark attacks each year than cases of voter fraud. Voter fraud, Republicans shouted, "threatens the very core of our wonderful democracy."

My great friend, Terry Evans, was a judge on the 7th Circuit of Appeals until he died late last year. He was on the panel that decided on the voter ID law in Indiana. Here's what he wrote in his decision.

"Let's not beat around the bush: The Indiana voter photo ID law is a not-too-thinly-veiled attempt to discourage election-day turnout by certain folks believed to skew Democratic," Evans wrote."The percentage of eligible voters participating in elections has, for many years, been on a downward trajectory. With that being the case, one would think states would be looking for creative ways ... to increase voter participation. Yet, the ... law we sanction today does just the opposite."

Now that makes sense. Instead of passing some law that makes it tougher to vote, let's find laws to make it easier, like online voting, longer hours and more neighborhood polling places.

Just because people keep screaming about huge blocks of fraudulent voters doesn't make it so. There are statistics on both sides of this issue, but common sense seems to explain that we would all be hard pressed to find any election where voter fraud played a pivotal role. Even if we have a few isolated instances of voter fraud it doesn't seem very important.

Now let's look at the mining bill, which was defeated by one vote in the state senate this week.

Republicans are trying to pass a bill that redraws the mining laws in Wisconsin. A company called Gogebic Taconite has proposed building a $1.5 billion iron ore mine in Ashland and Iron Counties. The mine would employ 600 to 700 union workers with very good jobs and benefits. In addition, the mine would have an impact in Milwaukee, where mining equipment is built, and in areas around the mine with the kind of support businesses that would start up.

Democrats are being led by the nose by tree-huggers who claim that the mine would result in horrible pollution and damage to our environment. They have been joined by one maverick Republican senator to block passage in the upper house in Wisconsin.

I generally support environmental laws and the protection of our wonderful natural resources. But we are in a very difficult economic time and something that comes along to give a shot in the arm to the state and the region looks like a pretty good attraction to me. Republicans have compromised on this bill.

I keep thinking about the wonders of Ashland and Iron Counties, and how they would look with thousands of beautiful trees and streams and lakes and absolutely no people around to enjoy them because they've turned out the lights on their way out of town.

Think of what we have here. Two pieces of legislation. Each backed by a different party. And each one where just a little common sense would dictate what seems to be the right thing to do.

See what I mean? We'd be a lot happier if everyone were just like me.