New conservative Republican Governor Scott Walker and large conservative GOP legislative majorities are quickly turning back the clock in once-progressive Wisconsin, and the public discourse is degrading quickly, too. We used to say, "On, Wisconsin," with an historic sense of forward-moving optimism, but nowadays "Oh, Wisconsin!" is more appropriate.
A little fresh bigotry by endorsing race-based nicknames and mascots, here, not to mention other outbreaks on talk radio or in ubiquitous online comments here, and here, and soon we'll be the heart of the new Confederacy.
It's regrettable that Elkhorn State Sen. Neal Kedzie, (R), is among the sponsors of the bill to permit Indian names again to be used by school sports teams.
Wisconsin was a leader in the movement to stop this onerous practice.
What is the point of going out of one's way to offend?
Haven't we beaten down native people far enough?
Another of the co-sponsors is New Berlin's State Sen. Mary Lazich, (R), whose chief of staff for the suburban Milwaukee elected official has used his blog to compare Department of Natural Resources employees to Nazis, and suggested some liberals are thin-skinned - - though his phrase was "matzo-skinned."
Don't't believe those examples? Details here.
But State Sen. Kedzie, whose official website notes:
"A trademark of Senator Kedzie’s legislative career has been his ability to build consensus among generally polarized groups. This strength has led to the passage of prominent legislation, which is gaining national and even international attention."
The past tense "has been...has led" is now more accurate.
The GOP bloc in the legislature has really moved to the right, the moderates have caved in, and people feel more free to air their prejudices in once progressive Wisconsin.