Here in Wisconsin: Ignorance is Bliss

I read the Wisconsin State Journal nearly everyday, yet I have heard not a word about this story. In a nutshell a respected UW-Madison professor of history writes an op-ed piece critical of Walker and the Wisconsin Republican Party more generally and posts a essay and reading list on his research into the origins and orginators of the radicalization of the WRP. The WRP launches a FOIA against Cronon to get his emails searched for Walker, Fitgerald, recall, Republican, and the names of the senators facing recall. Why? Cronon is right about the sources of radicalization and, as he argues,

the Wisconsin Republican Party would seek to employ the state’s Open Records Law for the nakedly political purpose of trying to embarrass, harass, or silence a university professor (and a citizen) who has asked legitimate questions and identified potentially legitimate criticisms concerning the influence of a national organization on state legislative activity. I’m offended by this not just because it’s yet another abuse of law and procedure that has seemingly become standard operating procedure for the state’s Republican Party under Governor Walker, but because it’s such an obvious assault on academic freedom at a great research university that helped invent the concept of academic freedom way back in 1894.  I’ll return to that 1894 story at the end of this blog entry.

"Collateral damage" of Neoliberalism's war on people includes honest debate and, by extension, Democracy.