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?
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