From Woodson To Walker What A Difference A Week Makes In Wisconsin

A week ago (well, actually a work week), the Packers won the Super Bowl and the state was united behind the courageous Charles Woodson and the others: Rogers, Driver, Jennings and Matthews.

Everyone felt great.

In the ensuing week, the mood for many got gloomy, then breath-takingly depressing:

Scott Walker, who won electionwith just 52% of the vote, was widening his imperious and unchecked extension of executive power - - beginning early in the week with the suspension of the broadly-popular Stewardship Program through which the state and local non-profits partner to acquire open space to pass along to future generations, and ending Friday with Walker's plan legislatively to wipe out most collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The goal: slam public employees, damage Democratic Dane County's equilibrium and economy, and deflate unions across the stat.

All the while strengthening employers through tax breaks and gubernatorial control of the state's process to promulgate administrative rules - - in itself a huge win for big business at the expense of transparency and consumer power.

Combine that with the coming attack on traditional Wisconsin voting procedures through legislators' assault on the myth of voter fraud concocted by Republicans and the Walker Gang's intent is clear:

Embed radical changes deeply into Wisconsin public life and policy-making, because everyone in politics knows it's easier to do things than to undo them.

With legislative majorities, ideological allies in talk radio and an unwillingness to include others in their decision-making circle, the die seems cast for years of self-interested and harsh Republican rule.

Progressive Wisconsin R.I.P.