Scott Walker backtracks from striking 'truth,' 'human condition' from Wisconsin Idea

Wisconsin State Journal ^

[bigdaddy45]

Facing a massive backlash, Gov. Scott Walker retreated Wednesday from a proposal to wipe out language at the foundation of the Wisconsin Idea — the long-cherished principle that the state’s public universities exist to seek truth and serve the people of the entire state.

“The Wisconsin Idea will continue to thrive,” Walker’s spokeswoman, Laurel Patrick, said in a statement. “This was a drafting error. The final version of the budget will include the Wisconsin Idea.”

But earlier in the day, Walker told reporters in De Pere that the proposed language change in his 2015-17 budget plan would better focus the University of Wisconsin System.

“The focus would be honed in, in particular to look at making sure that we prepare individuals in this state ... for the jobs and opportunities that are available in the state,” Walker said, according to Wisconsin Radio Network.

[Awgie]

Be careful Scott, don’t get lost in the weeds. Stick to your principles.

[DaveA37]

Media doesn’t want Walker to get too high up on the “favorable list” so they do a hit piece every now and then. Just think how nasty they will get as we get closer to Nov. ‘16

[DaveA37]

Media doesn’t want Walker to get too high up on the “favorable list” so they do a hit piece every now and then. Just think how nasty they will get as we get closer to Nov. ‘16

[ClearCase_guy]

I'm not going to say anything about Walker, and I'm not going to say anything about the Wisconsin Idea.

But I will say this -- politicians at the national level should know what they want to say, they should say it clearly, and they should stand behind what they say, come hell or high water.

"Back tracking" is a very quick way to convince me that you have no principles and that you'll just say anything in order to become bigger and more powerful.

[Vigilanteman]

Did he pass gas after partaking of a broccoli and cheese dip too? Is this what constitutes a scandal when you're a successful GOP governor?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

More like every day...

[knarf]

He's done, IMO

“The focus would be honed in, in particular to look at making sure that we prepare individuals in this state ... for the jobs and opportunities that are available in the state,”

Translates into good, lil' worker bees ... communist(s), useful idiots, Walker is an embed.

[olezip]

Facing a massive backlash, Gov. Scott Walker retreated Wednesday from a proposal to wipe out language at the foundation of the Wisconsin Idea — the long-cherished principle that the state’s public universities exist to seek truth and serve the people of the entire state.

Very sorry to see Scott Walker back away from his principles and the desperate need to clean up our universities by getting rid of dysfunction, counterproductive, and costly university programs.

The Wisconsin Idea is NOT a long-cherished principle, that's for sure!

Time to get back to reading, writing, and arithmetic in our universities, IMO.

[Beagle8U]

“Facing a massive backlash, Gov. Scott Walker retreated Wednesday from a proposal to wipe out language at the foundation of the Wisconsin Idea — the long-cherished principle that the state’s public universities exist to seek truth and serve the people of the entire state.”

Wipe out language? Do they talk funny in WI?

[sportutegrl]

Actually, if you read his whole original comments, he wanted to limit the useless ___-studies degrees that don’t prepare anyone for an actual job.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Shame on him. He actually thinks the Universities should prepare students for real jobs rather than essoteric thinking.

[alloysteel]

The “Wisconsin Idea” is pretty much a formulation created by the Progressives under the tutelage of Robert LaFollette Senior, and is the basis of liberalism as perverted into a kind of National Socialism today.

The crux of this declaration was to make government more “efficient”, and when the “right people” are running the government, it would be a secular Heaven on Earth.

A utopia that never was and never shall be.

[gorush]

They should remove the word “liberty” from the state constitution as well until they get rid of the ridiculous seat belt laws.

[Aleya2Fairlie]

I’m so reassured! Now I can rest easy when those really big issues come up! Brave one he is. /extr.s

I’m about to stop listening. I’ve been of the opinion that the nation was lost when Obama got elected the second time. I think I’ve been right.

[Awgie]

“Translates into good, lil’ worker bees ... communist(s), useful idiots, Walker is an embed.”

Time will tell. But I suspect knarf is the real “embed.”

[KC_Conspirator]

the long-cherished principle that the state’s public universities exist to seek truth and serve the people of the entire state.

You have got to be kidding me. These universities have produced some of the biggest lies and only acted on behalf of their leftist political allies in the state.

[knarf]

As a recently elected member of the school board, I am always suspicious of politicians or any other power figure when they suggest anything about "change"

This is education, after all ... (admittedly I sit on a local grammar, middle,HS board and not univ) .. and MY concern is the serious effort "they" are making to eliminate God, country, red, white and blue, apple pie, Chevrolet and Norman Rockwell from the minds of children that (IMO) absolutely NEED these ideas and concepts in order to develop an American identity

IF what I read about college level students is correct, they're not very well established in American identity and THEY TOO could use some input

I read the article and confusingly, The Wisconsin Idea is not very clearly defined and a search seems to interpret that idea as a progressive element in Wisconsin's state identity

So, to take the humanity out of a progressive statement that, in the beginning INCLUDED it ... is a travesty to the concept and AMERICAN IDEA of equality.

You ARE correct about being an embed ... I have only one compatriot on a board of liberal, rubber stamping nine members

Go to your local school board meeting and watch how quickly they dispatch business and comment how we got out faster this month than last.

I'M a trouble maker .... the cafeteria report (f'rinstance) is thousands of dollars a week and the breakdown is listed;

FOOD ... $1,780.99
FOOD ... $365.38
FOOD ... $,586.11
FOOD
FOOD
FOOD

and etcetera

Last month (I've been on the board 14 months) I asked WHAT was that food for $1,780.99 FOR and I was told I would have to ask the Cafeteria manager

So I did

And she e-mailed me her reply

All FOOD is that which is eaten and the other items (paper plates, napkins, etc., are identified as such

I replied ... which one of the FOOD items was beans or watermelon

I haven't gotten a reply yet ... and don't expect one

The cafeteria is probably 100% legitimate, but my question is not answered and is ignored

I don't like that

We are, IMO, in a delicate position in the United States in that we don't have the national identity we had just 70 years ago ... 2 (or 3, depending on your reckoning) generations and the kids have their faces stuck in a cell phone spk in code txtg .. and I as one dinosaur, will work and be outspoken to KEEP ... er ... conserve ... America and the IDEA that we ARE great because we ARE good because we DO recognize God and we love both Him and our nation ..... not our job

[Hugh the Scot]

Huge nothingburger. Created news about a manufactured scandal.

Now comes the purification by fire: "Walker is a closet communist"
Walker is a limberback"

Good times.

[knarf]

Time to get back to reading, writing, and arithmetic in our universities, IMO.

Unfortunately, it seems those ARE needed ... at a university level