Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Walker and Gogebic Taconite intimidation bully Geologist out of Job due to fear of Speaking out.

So this is what top down, rightwing authoritarianism looks like. It’s all Scott Walker.

The myth that conservatives are prevented from speaking out in public just blew up today, when we found out it’s just the other way around. As usual, it’s opposite day every day in Republican world.

Here's the horror story, and again, another attack on science:
Cap Times-Steve Elbow: A geologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey who found himself in the middle of a controversy over a proposed open-pit mine in the north woods says he's resigning after enduring weeks of on-the-job pressure over a rock containing asbestos-like material found at the mine site. 

Jason Huberty says the pressure of working in a politically charged atmosphere has taken a toll on his health and emotional state.

“I really feel like I can’t speak freely without losing my job,” says the 37-year-old iron ore specialist.
Like the Walker Blacklist, the fact that a person participates in the political process, in opposition to the controlling authority, is enough to discredit your life work:
Huberty, a frequent protester at the state Capitol who testified against legislation enabling the proposed mine in 2012, has been singled out by mining company Gogebic Taconite as a potentially biased employee who calls into question the survey's objectivity. Documents obtained from UW Extension, which runs the survey, also indicate concern over Huberty from members of the state Legislature.

Huberty says he’s been called to several meetings with officials from UW Extension regarding his involvement with protests against the administration of Gov. Scott Walker at the Capitol.

James Robertson, director of the survey, tells Huberty that his political activities have become “a growing concern. This concern has to do with the potential impact your general political activity and protesting at the Capitol might have on the survey’s reputation, even if that activity has nothing to do with geologic issues,” Robertson writes.

3 comments:

  1. He is not a professor. Huge mistake in your story

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're right, huge mistake. Corrected. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please correct again. He left his job at the DNR, not the UW.

    ReplyDelete