In his groundbreaking book "What's the Matter with Kansas?" Thomas Frank asked how the populist state became so conservative and asked why voters vote against their own self-interest.
The same can be said of Wisconsin.
Robert La Follette,governor of Wisconsin (1901-1906) and senator (1906-1925), was a strong opponent of the power of corporations. When he ran for President of the United States as the nominee of his own Progressive Party in 1924 he carried Wisconsin and received 17% of the national popular vote. He was an American hero.
In 1959, Wisconsin became the first state to enact legislation recognizing the rights of government workers to bargain collectively. Similar laws spread in subsequent years, encouraged by Wisconsin’s law.
Then Scott Walker was elected. He rolled back collective bargaining rights. Under his leadership, Wisconsin saw the largest percentage decrease in employment in the nation during the 12 months ending in March, according to a new report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Teachers have been fired. Schools have suffered.
The state has been split into two warring parties.
And yet...Walker leads challenger Tom Barrett in the recall election.
What attracts half the state to Walker?
Something else is going on besides the money he is spending on his reelection.
Russ Feingold lost. Tammy Baldwin is behind in the polls. Unless things change in Wisconsin Obama could lose this crucial state.
The Democrats are not connecting to voters. But what do the voters want? More division? More unemployment? A weaker voice in their own government?
Bad schools?
What's the matter with Wisconsin?
A theory: By a convoluted bit of reasoning, many voters don’t blame Walker for the unemployment and problems he has caused. They blame the Democrats. Therefore, Democrats should be hammering the fact that it is Walker who has made life worse for Wisconsinites. And it will be even worse if he stays in office.
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