Wisconsin's Voter ID Law

Scot Ross, Executive Director of One Wisconsin Now, has written an excellent posting on exactly why it's wrong. I might add that the bill moving through the Legislature completely fails to address absentee and early ballots, so it solves nothing.

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/blog/2011/01/why-voter-id-is-bad-for-wisconsin.html

Defending the Indefensible: Hypocrisy of the Right

In the aftermath of Tucson, the rightwing propaganda/disinformation machine is spewing stuff at full speed. Yes, the rightwingers are pushing back frantically against the public revulsion against their tactics by blaming the left. This is what they always do when they’re caught red-handed -- blame the “other side” and pile on the vitriolic rhetoric with still greater vehemence.

For decades, we’ve heard these hypocrites wail about the terrible things that pornography, violence, etc. etc. in movies and TV shows do to our society. Oh, they weaken and coarsen our society and corrupt our youth, the rightwingers have complained forever. But now that their violent imagery and demonizing rhetoric have caught up with them, the rightwingers claim there’s no connection between what they say and the series of mass shootings in schools, shopping malls, fast food restaurants and other places where people gather.  They can’t have it both ways. Either words have consequences or they don’t. And the right has been over the line so far and for so long that most people have forgotten that a line exists.

Stimulus and Response In the Tucson Terror Incident

As I began to learn of the horrible events in Tucson on January 8, I also began to see the rapid response of the far right. During the 2010 elections, the far right’s online comments  were ferocious enough, but in the aftermath of Tucson, they became white hot with rage against the “other side” -- liberals, progressives, Democrats, and others. The far right commenters denied that their vitriolic rhetoric, and that of their leaders, had any role to play, instead blaming the “other side” for creating the climate of hate, and attempting to pin the blame on a lone lunatic. Some even have gone so far as to paint the indicted man as a liberal. The far right always responds this way, accusing the “other side” of the offenses they themselves have committed. As a result, the “other side” attempts to defend itself and quickly becomes mired in an unwinnable debate.

The Stimulus: Trolling For Crazies

We’ve seen the far right’s provocative tactics before, particularly in the techniques of the anti-abortion movement. They use increasingly inflammatory rhetoric to create a climate of fear and hatred, constantly demonizing the objects of their scorn. Eventually some individual with marginal sanity takes the bait and murders an abortion doctor or bombs a clinic. The instigators hypocritically and piously deny any connection while condemning the actions of the lone actor.

One-Sided Demonization

Similar tactics characterized the 2010 elections. The far right tagged their opponents as socialists, communists, and tyrants. They used language filled with violent imagery. Sharron Angle called for “Second Amendment remedies” if they didn’t get the desired results at the polls. Michelle Bachmann exhorted her followers to be “armed and dangerous” in their opposition to energy taxes. Sarah Palin’s PAC posted a map on their website showing 20 Congressional districts held by Democrats, with rifle-style crosshairs in each, with the slogan, “Don’t retreat -- reload and aim.” Gabrielle Giffords’ opponent, Jesse Kelly, placed an ad saying, “Get on Target for Victory in November Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly” for just a $50 contribution. During the debate on the health care reform bill, the extremists held a noisy rally outside the US Capitol. When the Democrats returned from their caucus to vote, the crowd put them through a gauntlet, harassing them and even spitting on them. Disgustingly, they spat on John Lewis, who was nearly beaten to death in a civil rights event in the 60s. Meanwhile, the GOP leadership was flying the “Don’t Tread On Me” flag from a balcony on the Capitol, whipping the crowd into a frenzy. In addition, a 24/7 campaign on talk radio and cable news has been building the narrative, making hate and violence seem normal and acceptable. The list goes on almost endlessly, but nothing like this was coming from Democrats and progressives. No violent imagery, no calls for Second Amendment remedies, no overt acts of harassment were in evidence on the “other side.”

The Response: An Apparently Unstable Personality Takes Action

The response to this climate of fear and hate was growing animosity toward government and toward elected officials of the “other side.” Town hall meetings became angry mob scenes, complete with shouting, hissing and booing. In the 2010 elections, the Republicans swept out many elected officials at the federal, state and local levels. Congress and state legislatures convened and the new majorities began enacting their agenda. Then came that terrible event on January 8, 2011. Responding to the permissive atmosphere toward violence, an apparently unstable person committed the atrocity in Tucson. His political views, his motivations, scarcely matter. He took the bait and committed the terrorist acts. All the far right activists and their leaders can plausibly proclaim they have no association with him and that he is nothing more than an individual acting on his own volition. 

Who Are the Real Terrorists?

The man now under Federal indictment committed an act of domestic terrorism, if found guilty. He was not operating in a vacuum. All of those leaders of the far right bear responsibility for creating the climate for Tucson to occur. They laid the foundation of apparent permission to commit violence when they made those statements and committed those acts of harassment. This incident has nothing to do with the “other side,” but is entirely bound up in the politics of the far right. An unfortunate individual, most likely mentally unstable, seems to have absorbed those powerful emotions until they overwhelmed him, pushing him into committing this atrocity. Those who turned loose those powerful emotions knew what they wanted, and the immorality of that is unspeakable. America is better than that.

Boehner's Palin Moment

After seeing that clip from Brian Williams' interview with Boehner more times than I wanted to, I am forced to the inevitable question. If Boehner can't come up with a single item to cut from the federal budget, if he draws a complete blank, has he replicated Palin's inability to name even one newspaper or magazine that she reads?

Coronation Day in Wisconsin: Dog Whistles But No Jobs

As I read Governor Scott Walker’s inaugural speech, I became disconcerted by several aspects:

• Lack of concrete plans for accomplishing anything, including how to create the 250,000 jobs he promised
• Vagueness and unfinished thoughts in what he actually proposed

• Direct contradiction of his own announced policies

Instead, he presented nothing more than dog whistles and code words to arouse his supporters with not-so-secret messages about what he really wants to do while in office.

Violating His Own Policies

Walker began by proclaiming himself “Governor for all the people in this State of Wisconsin.” He has already targeted BadgerCare for serious cuts in funding and a two-year time limit on benefits. Clearly, he does not consider himself to be Governor for those with debilitating long-term illnesses, the disabled, the elderly, or the poor. He has also signaled his intention to attack the unions which represent teachers, police, firefighters so that he can cut their pay and benefits, and terminate as many as possible. This is not the outlook for a Governor for all the people, or for one who seeks to preserve and create jobs. He proudly spurned a billion dollars in Federal stimulus funding, and chased Talgo -- and its jobs potential over the next decades -- out of the state. Where are the jobs, Governor Walker? If the economy has such bad problems, why turn your back on success even before taking office? Are you for those 250,000 jobs or against them? What hidden policy do you really support? Was this a coded message to Big Oil and the highway construction industry?

Limited to Services the Taxpayers Can Afford

The first dog whistle came when he said, “We will right-size state government by ensuring government is providing only the essential services our citizens need and taxpayers can afford.” This ominous pronouncement implies deep cuts in all state services so that corporations and the super-rich need to bear little responsibility for the society that supports them.  Walker espouses the philosophy of greed. The truth is, state government exists mostly to provide services, such as police and fire protection, prisons, schools, roads, airports, regulation of business and industry, environmental protection, and so on. Cutting these services to the bone serves no purpose, but it does bring hardship to the people.

Family Values for Some Families

Walker continued, “And we will honor and respect the foundational role of the family in our society.” Given the current political rhetoric, that constitutes a direct blow to gay and lesbian families, and is directed at the anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-stem cell research industry. This remark tells the bigots of all stripes that Wisconsin is open for hate. Once again, Governor Walker contradicts himself. He does not intend to be a Governor for all of the people, and will seek ways to limit the civil rights of particular groups. Abortion rights will come under attack as Walker supports the “foundational role of the family in our society.” Worse, Walker thumbs his nose at the entire field of stem cell research that arose in Wisconsin. A bill has already been introduced that proposes to eliminate tax breaks on critical pieces of equipment used in that field. What about the jobs, Governor Walker? Should we ship those off to California, just like the high speed rail money?  If a company from Japan wanted to build a stem cell research and development facility in Wisconsin, would you chase them away, just as you did with Talgo? 

Adding Limited Government to the Constitution in an Inauguration Speech

Perhaps the strangest remarks in Walker’s speech came in his interpretations of the Wisconsin Constitution. Walker quoted the Preamble, “We the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our Freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general welfare, do establish this constitution.” Walker responded, “Powerful words. Our rights as free people are given by our creator, not the government. Among these rights is the right to nurture our freedom and vitality through limited government.”  Stop right there! Walker just managed to read into the Constitution a concept not contained nor intended. The Constitution promotes neither limited government nor expanded government , but Walker managed to blow another dog whistle to the Teabaggers by claiming what no one has ever claimed before. He also slyly insinuates that certain religious beliefs form the basis for the rights our Constitution guarantees us. Our rights are in our Constitution, not in any religious document. More code words and winks to secret supporters.

Frugality Without Virtue or Justice

Next, Walker quoted Article I, Section 22 of the Wisconsin Constitution, “The blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.” Walker then  says,”Today, in this inauguration, we affirm these values and fundamental principles. It is through frugality and moderation in government that we will see freedom and prosperity for our people.” Walker conveniently leaves out justice, temperance, and virtue as instruments of freedom and prosperity. Here, he sends a coded message that he plans to cut the state budget while reducing taxes. The problem remains: the state must provide essential services to the poor, the ill, the elderly. Cutting them clearly does not contribute to the general welfare clause in the Preamble, which he just lauded. Domestic tranquility suffers when police and fire protection are curtailed. Freedom and prosperity do not follow from inadequate education of the young. Frugality, justice, virtue, moderation, and temperance do not mean mere stinginess in government, focused on making government as small as possible. Frugality, justice, virtue, moderation, and temperance require wise use of financial resources, focused on growth and improvement. Any prudent CEO would tell us that’s the way to make a business successful. Companies that fail to serve their customers well (think certain airlines) lose customers and fail. Governments that fail to serve their citizens well, collapse in chaos.

Recycling Failed Bush Trickle Down Policies

Walker’s plan for creating jobs consists of reducing taxes for corporations and the wealthiest individuals, eliminating as many regulations as possible, and loosening the laws. As we discovered, the same policies under Bush created the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. These policies create short-term profits, and the loss of jobs. They hollow out the economy until it collapses. They failed horribly on the national scale, and will not magically begin to work at the state level. We can do better.

Show Us the Jobs, Governor Walker

Usually, a newly elected Governor will outline a plan of action for his or her term of office. What he delivered was fluff and window dressing. He gave winks and nods to his extremist supporters to signal his intention to downsize state government, while providing no safety net for the people least able to help themselves. He promised 250,000 jobs, but has no plans for creating them other than lowering taxes, eliminating regulations, and loosening laws. We have seen the folly of the failed policies of the Bush administration, and you are leading us down that slippery slope. Dog whistle coded signals to extremist supporters do not constitute governing policy. Where are the jobs, Governor Walker?