"The Wisconsin Idea, in United States History, also refers to a series of political reforms of the late 19th century and early 20th century whose strongest advocate was Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Wisconsin's governor (1901–1906) and senator (1906–1925). The Wisconsin Idea was created by the state's progressives to do away with monopolies, trusts, high cost of living, and predatory wealth, which they saw as the problem that must be solved or else "no advancement of human welfare or progress can take place". Reforms in labor rights were one of the major aspects of the Wisconsin Idea. The progressive worker's compensation program was first introduced by German immigrants, who were abundant in Wisconsin. The system was adopted from the existing system in Germany, which was based on the idea that the employer was obligated to take care of his employees and keep paying them as they grew old. Many of the reforms were based on traditions and customs brought to the state by German immigrants.
The emphasis on higher learning and well-funded universities stressed by the Wisconsin Idea was derived from the education system of Germany. Progressives also proposed the first state income taxes, as well as submitting the idea of a progressive tax. They also passed legislation prohibiting pollution and police brutality.
The Wisconsin Idea would go on to set an example for other states in the United States. The progressive politicians of the time sought to emulate and ultimately transcend the states of the east coast in regards to labor laws. Wisconsin progressives wished to make Wisconsin into a benchmark for other Midwestern states to strive towards. Although many of the reforms went through in 1911, conservative opponents of the progressive party took control of Wisconsin in 1914, thus minimizing the magnitude and effects of the reforms. The Wisconsin Idea would continue to be a revolutionary precedent for other universities, and its educational aspects are still relevant today. Robert La Follette, Sr. was the man who implemented much of this legislature, and he was among the earliest supporters of direct election of senators, which is now a national practice. These progressive politics also helped pass the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Amendments to the American Constitution.
These proposed reforms, all of which were eventually adopted, included:
Primary elections, allowing the rank-and-file members of a political party to choose its nominees rather than caucuses usually dominated by political bosses.
Workers' compensation, allowing workers injured whilst working to receive a fixed payment in compensation for their injuries and related expenses rather than forcing them to go to court against their employers, which at the time was extremely difficult and had little realistic chance of success.
State regulation of railroads in addition to the federal regulation imposed by the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Direct election of United States Senators as opposed to the original method of their selection by the state legislatures, eventually ratified as the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Progressive taxation, where the wealthier pay a higher rate of tax than the less-affluent, made possible on the federal level in part by the adoption of the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Adoption of these reforms marked the high point of the Progressive Era.....
Well it wouldn’t be a Walker budget without a lunatic lefty lawsuit...
“....Pleasant. That’s even how Walker’s bitterest political foes describe him.
In the heat of the state’s showdown with its union four years ago, Rep. Peter Barca, the Wisconsin State Assembly’s top Democrat, publicly denounced the governor at protests across the state. “You know, Governor Walker, you have defiled our heritage,” Barca said at one rally. “You have disregarded our values.”
But Walker,who declined to be interviewed for this article,never took it personally. “I’d give a speech in front of 50,000 protesters saying,‘Walker’s got to go,’“ Barca says, “and you’d see him the next day and you’d think I just sent him a coffeecake or something.”
Barca is part of a small group of leaders who meet regularly with Walker during the legislative session,but Barca said those gatherings are almost never satisfying. “Generally,when you meet with him on the major issues,you don’t feel like it’s a dialogue,”he says. “We get along just fine. He is sort of chitchatty. He exchanges pleasantries,makes some jokes. But you just feel like that on the big issues he is just there to tell you, ‘Here’s what I am going to do.’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3311629/posts
Seems to me REPUBLICAN means Smaller Government! Glad to see someone implementing it. Kudos to Walker.
HA!! That's good...
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<>Direct election of United States Senators as opposed to the original method of their selection by the state legislatures, eventually ratified as the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.<>
And so began the rot . . .
The worst part was that Walker took La Follette’s red Swingline stapler.
I love it!! A happy warrior that wins our battles.
“called for moving La Follette’s office from rented space into smaller space in the basement of the state Capitol.”
Love it. Throw the leftist scum into the basement with the slugs and mushrooms. Mr. Walker has the science of punishing leftists down to a T. Hoorah for the governor.
Doug La Follette is trying to set up a 2016 recall run against Walker, or a 2018 run if that fails.