By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published Jun 12, 2012 at 7:55 PM

I really want to gather all those fun-loving knuckleheads on the Milwaukee Common Council and start banging their heads together, hoping to knock some common sense into them.

As I predicted, the council has unanimously turned down the application for a strip club Downtown. They all agreed with the pleas from "Downtown businesses" that the club would "hurt development efforts."

I don't see how the development efforts could get much worse. Downtown Milwaukee is a ghost town after dark. There is nothing going on. The council gives licenses with ease to quirky restaurants that come and go like the 5:40 to Savannah, never stopping long enough to pick up passengers.

But a strip club? Sixteen jobs, not counting strippers? Lots of tax revenue? A place where all those conventions we are going to get some day can send their members for recreation?

Right now when a convention comes to town and they list things for them to do after dark the range runs from dinner somewhere to dessert somewhere. Any live music downtown? Any great bars? ANY STRIP CLUBS?

Jeez. This kind of attitude is just what keeps Milwaukee stuck in second gear. I understand old fogeys (like me) refusing to try something different. But where is the cry from the next generation of leaders who might think that a strip club is really not Sodom or Gomorrah?

Somebody actually trotted out the "objectify women" argument at the hearing on the bill.

Unfortunately, I don't think they were kidding. You know what they say, "Ignorance is temporary, but stupid is forever."

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.