But the bottom line is that transportation choices depend on political decisions, and that fact dictated much of the discourse. In its report, WISPIRG took a swipe at the state's political leaders for pumping billions into highway project while giving short shrift to about everything else.

This reader filled in the blanks:

"In our state every proposed transit system has been vehemently opposed, and misaligned, by tea party, right-wing propaganda: high performance rail extensions to Madison of the Hiawatha line, the Milwaukee street car, the KRM commuter rail to Racine and Kenosha, the Madison streetcar system, etc. etc., even to the point of banning RTA's, all in favor of vastly more expensive and exhaustive highway systems. Authoritarian regimes are threatened by the masses and any venue in which they can assemble."

This writer suggested that Republicans actually welcome the brain drain.

"Young people are nice to have, but they tend to vote for Democrats. So they're not really welcome in Wisconsin. As far as the Republicans are concerned, brain drain is a feature, not a bug, for their policies."

While the WISPIRG report mentioned lifestyle issues, like the hassles of driving and parking, it didn't go to great lengths about Millennials' climate change concerns. This reader did.