I keep forgetting to promote the radio show I'm producing on WTDY, perhaps in part because we still haven't come up with a name for it. That should change in the next 48 hours. Anyhow, I encourage everybody to tune in to 1670 AM between 10-11 in the morning and call in!
Today Kurt and I talked with Bob Schwoch, a public relations lecturer at the UW School of Journalism who may be the only man in history to serve as a chief-of-staff to both a Democrat and a Republican in the Wisconsin legislature. Most importantly, he was the author of a Sconz guest post that got almost as many hits as the infamous camel videos from last month.
After talking about the good ol' days of bipartisanship with Schwoch, who is a skeptic of ideology, Kurt asked the listeners: Is the enormous partisan divide that the fight over collective bargaining rights has created good or bad for Wisconsin?
It seems that people on both extreme sides of the political spectrum have enjoyed the fight more than those on both sides of the center. The Glenn Grothmans of the world see this as an opportunity to stand strong and make the case against public unions, while many progressives are thrilled that the public is finally paying attention to issues of worker rights, even if they're being attacked.
Personally, I am happy with the increased awareness of state politics that the debate has promoted. Because of it, Walker will have to answer to a much higher level of scrutiny throughout the rest of his term.
Specifically, I hope this debate will educate voters on the importance of the government services they take for granted. In recent years Democrats have allowed Republicans to get away with attacks on the public sector because defending "big government" is difficult when so many voters don't understand how government benefits them.
Follow The Sconz on Twitter or Facebook to get regular updates on city and state politics. Tune in to the radio show everyday between 10-11 a.m. on 1670 AM WTDY. Please send anonymous tips, interview requests or any other comments to jcraver@isthmus.com.
