WI 2014 FALL Who says WISCONSIN INTEREST you can’t fight Post-election possibilities City Hall? BY MIKE NICHOLS Courageous Ride-sharing Kristi LaCroix apps disrupt BY SUNNY SCHUBERT pols, pg.14 Alistair Cooke BY JIM EPSTEIN and the genius of the Wisconsin Idea BY WARREN KOZAK Christian Schneider checks out Madison’s cab rebels, pg. 20 Editor > CHARLES J. SYKES Here we are again WI WISCONSIN INTEREST In a few weeks, Wisconsin voters will salutary effect of technology forcing again get to decide whether to continue the change on outdated governmental conservative revolution in Wisconsin. If operations. These two firms foreshadow Publisher: the polls are right, it will be close. a much larger technological shift that may Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, Inc. Mike Nichols takes a look at a possible be as significant as the invention of the dystopian (for conservatives) future: Model T.” Editor: Charles J. Sykes What would happen here if Mary Burke is In “Rise of Disability Nation,” veteran elected governor and is faced with a GOP journalist Steve Prestegard explores the Managing Editor: Marc Eisen legislature? Would she be able to fulfill the disturbing numbers of Americans who fondest dreams of the unionist left? Spoiler are claiming they aren’t healthy enough Art Direction: Stephan & Brady, Inc. alert: Nichols thinks not. But as he writes, to work and who are tapping into and her defeat of Scott Walker would usher in a straining the Social Security system. Contributors: Jim Epstein very different Wisconsin. This issue also features a compelling Richard Esenberg Our cover stories in this issue focus on portrait of a former member of the Warren Kozak the intersection of high-tech innovation teachers union who took on the Mike Nichols Steve Prestegard and deregulation, which also happens to establishment. Sunny Schubert chronicles Christian Schneider be the intersection of the free market and the extraordinary story of Kristi LaCroix, a Sunny Schubert generational politics. Christian Schneider Kenosha teacher who took on the union in Charles J. Sykes recounts his Uber ride to the dark side, one of the state’s strongest union towns. Board of Directors: or at least Madison, where the innovative And do not miss Warren Kozak’s gem: CHAIRMAN: ride-sharing company is still illegal. Jim the rediscovery of what British writer Thomas Howatt, Chairman Epstein argues that “the rise of Uber and Alistair Cooke found when he drove David Baumgarten Lyft is also more than a paradigm for the through Wisconsin in 1942. Ave Bie Catherine C. Dellin Jon Hammes Michael T. Jones James Klauser WPRI David J. Lubar The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, Inc., established in 1987, is a nonpartisan, not-for- Maureen Oster profit institute working to engage and energize Wisconsinites and others in discussions and Timothy Sheehy timely action on key public policy issues critical to the state’s future, its growth and prosperity. Gerald Whitburn The institute’s research and public education activities are directed to identify and promote Edward Zore public policies in Wisconsin that are fair, accountable and cost effective. Mike Nichols, President Through original research and analysis and through public opinion polling, the institute’s Contact Information: work will focus on such issue arenas as state and local government tax policy and spending and related program accountability, consequences and effectiveness. It will also focus on ADDRESS: health care policy and service delivery; education; transportation and economic development; 633 W. 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BY RICHARD ESENBERG �������������������� 4 Frontline Report Kristi LaCroix challenged the teachers union... and won. BY SUNNY SCHUBERT ��������������������36 Mike Nichols Deficit hawk will bring a sobering message. BY MIKE NICHOLS �������������������������40 UW-Madison Department of Animal Sciences photo CONTENTS > features Milwaukee Laborfest photo by Mike Nichols What Happens If The Rise of Burke Wins? Disability Nation A look at a possible future. Why do so many Americans claim BY MIKE NICHOLS ��������������������������� 6 they aren’t healthy enough to work? BY STEVE PRESTEGARD �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 24 Uber and Lyft vs. Taxi Cartel Road Trip Innovation and deregulation benefit What Alistair Cooke found here in society. 1942. BY JIM EPSTEIN����������������������������14 BY WARREN KOZAK �� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 30 My illegal Uber ride to work. BY CHRISTIAN SCHNEIDER � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 Fall Dispatches > CHARLES J. SYKES Weaponizing the media The story so far: Our nonglobally warmed winter gave way Disappointed by the failure of previous attempts to to an underwhelming spring and a thoroughly disappointing bring down Gov. Scott Walker, the media this summer summer, relieved only by the spread of the bizarre but charming weaponized their coverage of the John Doe investigation. charitable ritual known as the Ice Bucket Challenge. Which In headline fonts heretofore reserved for world wars and brings us again to fall and yet another election season. the Hindenburg disaster, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Didn’t we go through this in 2010, multiple times in 2011, blared: and again in 2012? Why, yes, we did, because in politics there is “John Doe prosecutors allege Scott Walker at center no finish line — even in Wisconsin politics. of ‘criminal scheme.’” This, understandably, generated considerable interest Remembering what’s important and launched a thousand breathless blog posts, until (and not) it turned out that the prosecutors’ theories had been It was an awful summer. The Mideast was ablaze; rejected by two separate judges, who had shut down the Russia invaded Ukraine; Ebola spread in Africa; the junior investigation. varsity terrorists known as ISIS beheaded two American As media critic George Mitchell noted: journalists; Ferguson, Mo., erupted in racial conflict; and “The [Journal Sentinel] story went nearly 300 words the economy still struggled. But our political leaders were before reporting a comment from Walker. It continued unwavering in their focus on the critical issues of the day. another 700 words before confirming Walker’s claim that Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin signed on to a letter two judges had rejected the prosecution theory. Not until sent by 47 Senate Democrats and one independent that the second-to-last paragraph did it actually quote one of denounced the Washington Redskins nickname as a “racial the judges. slur.” Her colleague Ron Johnson demurred, putting the “When questions inevitably arose about the paper’s issue in perspective: coverage, Managing Editor George Stanley attempted to “We have enormous challenges facing America. Only justify the headline and story by stressing the fact that some of them are the concern of the federal government. Walker was a target [emphasis added]: The letter, signed primarily by Senate Democrats, concerns “‘The second John Doe probe centers on Gov. Scott an issue that should be left to the team’s owners, its players, Walker as its target and on allegations that he and and its fans. I trust that they will do what is right. This is his campaign coordinated advertising spending with not a matter that requires congressional action. Congress private groups against state campaign finance laws. should concentrate on its own duties. None of that was known until yesterday’s documents “And when it comes to football,” he said, “I will were released by the U.S. Appeals Court. Scott Walker concentrate on the Green Bay Packers.” was never known to be a target of the first John Doe Speaking of the Packers: Unlike politicians in investigation that has been closed.’” Washington, the Packers learned from their mistakes and A week later, the attorney for the John Doe prosecutor decided this season to keep three quarterbacks on their issued a statement that pulled the rug out from under roster. Just in case. Stanley, declaring bluntly: “Governor Walker was not a target of the investigation.” John Doe frenzy “At no time has he been served with a subpoena,” said In spring, the fancy of the young turns to romance, but attorney Randall Crocker. Discussing the documents cited come election season, the media’s passion turns to hyping by Stanley to justify the paper’s screaming headlines, Crocker criminal investigations of Republicans. wrote, “While these documents outlined the prosecutor’s 2 Wisconsin Interest Fall Dispatches legal theory [a theory rejected by both a state and federal by 2033. judge], they did not establish the existence of a crime....” Perhaps this explains why Burke chose not appear Stanley was, however,