Why We're Recalling Walker...

While many have completely mischaracterized the reasons for the recall efforts here in Wisconsin, like the guy in this ridiculous discussion on WPR, a few have gotten it right. From the Caledonia Patch, Shorewood resident Lyle Ruble wrote this great observation over “What’s Really Behind the Recall?”

If you talk to most people who support the recall, they’ll reel off a number of reasons for the calling of a recall.

-The haste, at which legislation was introduced, passed and signed into law.

-The restrictions to union collective bargaining.

-The draconian cutting of the state’s share of funding to state K-12 education.

-The draconian cutting of the state’s share of funding to higher education.

-The radical redirection of state funding to support business and the wealthy.

-Cutting the state’s share of funds to support the poor and elderly.

-The changes to Badgercare and aid to the disabled.

-The shift of key posts within departmental administrations from civil service to political appointees.

-The Voter ID law.

-The law allowing concealed carry.

-The defunding of Planned Parenthood clinics.

-The law changing sex education in the public schools.

-The legislative redistricting.

Since the Republicans have taken complete control of all branches of the state government, they have introduced a rate of change unsustainable by most folks and for lack of a better term are revolutionary.

Whether you see it as positive or negative; the amount of legislation and change that the Republicans have achieved in less than a year, would at any other time be remarkable if it had been accomplished over the course of one or two gubernatorial terms.

I fault the Republicans for not understanding or perhaps not caring what the reactions would be. The strategies for rapid and decisive change have been completely mismanaged. When change is managed at the proper rate it gives those affected sufficient time to adjust. Without time to adjust it feels overwhelming and forced; The real reason for the recalls simply come down to being overwhelmed by changes brought too fast and too far-reaching for people to adjust.