The Feudal State of Wisconsin

Commentary By Ron Beasley�

Sully is clueless:

Almost identical. Why doesn't Walker concede on collective bargaining, declare victory and move on?

John Cole replies:

Because union busting is the plan, has been from the get go, and we are dealing with crazy people.

Of course John is right but that's only part of the story and the collective bargaining issue was little more than a diversion.  Over at Think Progress they have the top-10 disastrous policies from the Wisconsin GOP you haven't heard about.  Have no doubt Wisconsin - Scott Walker and much of the Wisconsin GOP are not working for you.  They are owned and employed by the Koch brothers and numerous other oligarchs.  Their intention is to hand the State over to the lowest bidder and create the feudal state of Wisconsin.  That means the vast majority of the citizens will become serfs - and yes, that includes you tea baggers.

Let's take a look at a couple of the most outrageous:

2. POWER PLANT PRIVATIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEGLECT: The same budget bill calls for a rapid no-bid �firesale� of all state-owned power plants. One progressive blogger called the proposal �a highlight reel of all of the tomahawk dunks of neo-Gilded Age corporatism: privatization, no-bid contracts, deregulation, and naked cronyism� and suggested that the provision will open the way for large, politically connected corporations to buy up the state�s power plants on the cheap. While it�s unclear whether corporations would be interested in buying the plants, a similar proposal was vetoed six years ago by Gov. Jim Doyle (D), who called the plan fiscally and environmentally irresponsible. Many of Wisconsin�s power plants are in violation of federal clean air regulations and desperately need to be upgraded and cleaned up � not dumped into the private sector.

Of course that will depend on the ability of Republicans in DC to destroy the EPA.  This goes along with:

8. STIFLING INNOVATION: In late January, Walker introduced a bill that would ban wind-powered energy from Wisconsin and exacerbate the state�s dependence on out-of-state coal. If passed, it�s estimated that the law would immediately eliminate $1.8 billion in new wind power investments and jeopardize eleven currently proposed wind projects. After a public outcry earlier this month, Walker�s bill is (for now) dead.

This was so outrageous it was DOA.  This would have made the state even more dependent on coal from the Koch brothers empire and made the coal fired plants even more valuable.

And last but not least we have this power grab:

10. POLITICIZING STATE AGENCIES: A provision in Walker�s budget repair bill would convert thirty-seven state employees from civil servants to political appointees � consolidating his power over state government and expanding his power to �hire, fire and move key employees to carry out his agenda.�

OK, perhaps instead of the feudal state of Wisconsin we should use the modern term - the fascist state of Wisconsin.