Forward, Interrupted

Wisconsin’s motto once was a definition. Now it’s an empty promise.

Wisconsin once was a state of firsts. First to establish kindergartens. First to set up a vocational, technical and adult education system. First to provide workplace injury compensation, first to create an unemployment compensation program. First to create primary elections to take the business of nominating candidates away from party bosses in smoke-filled rooms and put it in the hands of the people. First to base taxation on the ability to pay.

The first highway numbering system was created here in 1917 and later adopted nationwide. In 1919, Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution giving women the right to vote. Social Security was invented here. Wisconsin’s Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day to raise consciousness of environmental degradation. As recently as 1982, Wisconsin still was blazing trails, leading the way again by passing the country’s first statewide gay rights…