Foxconn Scam in Wisconsin Is Bipartisan, Aided by Democratic Party and Mouthpieces

Scott Walker pro-Foxconn campaign ad in Wisconsin.

Madison, Wisconsin — John Nichols keeps lying about Foxconn in Wisconsin in his new column this weekend.

The Wisconsin political world knows knows Nichols is lying about Foxconn.

But Foxconn has become a lie agreed upon by many in an effort to obscure the pro-Foxconn position of the Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee, Tony Evers.

For a serious discussion of Foxconn and the 2018 Wisconsin general election, see Lawrence Tabak in the American Prospect.

Writes Tabek:

[A]s of yet, [Evers] has not articulated exactly how he would go about modifying the signed contracts and the promised subsidies, nor is it clear that an onslaught of Walker ads touting the thousands of wonderful Foxconn jobs and concomitant statewide economic bounty will fail to sway. After all, which is easier to parse: 13,000 'family-supporting jobs' or 'just thinking' about what a few billion dollars could do if spent on education.

Tony Evers is a weak and less-than-knowledgeable candidate.

Democratic Party allies know this and are scrambling, though the current political terrain is as hospitable to a D-designated candidate not named Obama than in some 10 years.

Nichols' big lies on Foxconn concern the positions of the two major-party candidates for governor — Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Evers (D).

Scott Walker and Foxconn

First up, there is Walker's effort on Foxconn about which Nichols properly lays out the economic and fiscal outlines of the boondoggle, against Walker's crowing Foxconn is an "opportunity to completely transform our state’s economy."

Nichols ascribes onto Scott Walker good intentions that will lead to unwanted consequences, but only because Walker is "clueless" and was "duped" by Foxconn.

Nichols concludes: "The Foxconn deal has always felt like a scheme to help secure the re-election of a governor who has repeatedly stumbled when it comes to job creation — not a serious proposal for the state’s future."

This framing of the Scott Walker project in Wisconsin is ridiculous, though Walker certainly wants to use Foxconn to prop up his reelection.

Scott Walker was not duped by Foxconn.

Foxconn is a serious, intentional proposal for Wisconsin's future — a low-wage economy amid an unprecedented transformation of the legal terrain to benefit Foxconn against all other citizens, communities and businesses, and massive redistribution of public wealth to private interests.

Administrative law, environmental law, Due Process, and all manner of litigation rights have been altered to benefit one legal entity. This obviously begs many questions about the rights of non-Foxconn players: Everyone else in the regulatory and legal systems.

Foxconn as a corporation is conferred by statute and/or contract explicit permission to pollute and deplete public waters, licensed with special rights against litigants in the heretofore neutral state judicial system, and is given one-of-a-kind protection and legal advice by the Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources.

Foxconn is a unique legal entity that enjoys privileges far-beyond that of other businesses, non-profits and citizens. This new legal status Foxconn has is not an accident accomplished by a clueless and stumbling Scott Walker.

Foxconn as a super, extraordinary corporate entity was created on purpose and with bad intentions by Walker and Republicans who are engineering corporate rule over the rest of the state.

$Billions for Foxconn is another objective Walker and Republicans have shoved down Wisconsin in a manner that, to any reasonable person, connotes purpose.

Why Nichols and Evers omit the clear aims and objectives of Foxconn is inexplicable, except for the fact Evers maintains his position in favor of Foxconn in the hope few voters notice his duplicity.

Against Walker and Foxconn, Evers couches his support for Foxconn in mush.

Evers' statements about Foxconn consistently echo his commitment while paying lip-service to Foxconn critics because Foxconn is unpopular in Wisconsin, especially in the the northern two-thirds of the state.

Here's Riccardo Torres in the Racine Journal-Times in September:

'It’s a lousy deal, and we’re going to have to hold Foxconn’s feet to the fire going forward,' said Tony Evers.

Evers did not say he would undo or change the agreement with Foxconn if elected governor.

'We can, and we should, compel them to be good corporate citizens,' Evers said.

Gee, it's a good thing Tony Evers is vowing to hold feet to the fire, (wtf does this mean?), and compelling Foxconn to behave as a good corporate citizen.

This tells us nothing about public policy beyond the fact Evers will keep Foxconn.

Maybe Evers will recite the rite of Exorcism: The power of Christ compels, you, Foxconn. Tear up your contract and leave Wisconsin. ... Give us the response, Democrats.

Or maybe Evers has a secret plan to end Foxconn.

State government of, by and for Foxconn is a betrayal.

Tony Evers is complicit.

Foxconn Polls Badly in New Marquette Law School Poll

Madison, Wisconsin — The $4 billion in public subsidies to Foxconn remain unpopular in Wisconsin, show results in the new Marquette University Law School Poll.

The Marquette poll shows registered voters think public monies paid to Foxconn are not worth the enormous costs —  48 to 39 percent of registered voters think the state is paying more than the Foxconn plant is worth.

Reads the Poll release dated Sept 18

Forty-eight percent of registered voters think the state is paying more than the Foxconn plant is worth, while 39 percent think the plant will provide at least as much value as the state is investing in the plant. Thirteen percent say they don’t know if the plant will be worth it or not. In the August poll, 44 percent said the state was paying too much and 41 percent said it was worth it.

A 58 percent majority of registered voters statewide believe the Foxconn plant will substantially improve the economy of the greater Milwaukee area, while 31 percent do not think it will and 11 percent say they don’t know. In the August poll, 61 percent said the Milwaukee area would benefit while 27 percent did not think so.

When asked if businesses where the respondent lives will benefit from Foxconn, 33 percent say businesses will benefit directly from the Foxconn plant, while 54 percent say their local businesses will not benefit and 14 percent don’t know. In the August poll 32 percent said their local businesses would benefit, while 61 percent did not think so.

Gov. Scott Walker (R) has made Foxconn a central campaign plank as the administration continues to direct public monies to private corporations.

Pro-Foxconn ads by Walker seem ubiquitous, while Democratic Party nominee for governor, Tony Evers, refuses a position on Foxconn.

Evers changed his post-Primary election posture from no comment to, "we’ll hold Foxconn’s feet to the fire and make sure that Wisconsin is getting the best return on investment possible," (BizTimes, Mal Contends).

Weasel words and inept metaphors are the order of the day from Tony 'the Mush' Evers, holding Foxconn's feet to the fire and getting the best return on investment possible are not serious issue positions.