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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMasters of Manipulation
Investigative journalism lives on ....
http://expressmilwaukee.com/article-22239-masters-of-manipulation-right-wing-billionaires-corporations-and-the-bradley-foundation-pay-for-junk-studies-that-prop-up-their-agenda.html
Right-wing billionaires, corporations and the Bradley Foundation pay for junk studies that prop up their agenda
According to a new study by the Madison-based watchdog group Center for Media and Democracy, the 63 think tank members of State Policy Network (SPN) have worked hand in hand with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to craft pro-corporate, anti-democratic legislation that boosts their donors bottom line. The allegedly independent, nonpartisan think tanks in SPNincluding the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute and the John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policyprovide and share the ideologically skewed data and analyses that form the justification for bills to sabotage Obamacare, gut workers rights and ban unions, reform the tax code to benefit the wealthy and corporations, roll back environmental protections, expand school vouchers and privatization, abolish Common Core standards and more.
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Bradley Foundation Outspends Koch Brothers
With more than $550 million in assets, the Bradley Foundation sunk at least $31 million into its voucher studies and programs, according to a report by One Wisconsin Now (OWN). But its funding is sent to other conservative, free-market foundations and think tanks around the country. They are the biggest funder of right-wing causes in the nation, said Mike Browne, OWNs deputy director. They spend more money than the Koch brothers.
The Bradley Foundation is a huge supporter of members of the State Policy Network in Wisconsin and elsewhere. According to OWNs research, the Bradley Foundation has given more than $16.5 million to the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute and $635,000 to John K. McIver Institute for Public Policy. The two groups are SPN members that have provided voucher-supporting studies and analysis at the same time they attempt to pass themselves off as independent, straight-shooting think tanks.
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WPRI, which bills itself as Wisconsins Free Market Think Tank, has precious few scholars on staffnone, in fact. Its president is former Journal Sentinel columnist Mike Nichols and its lead commentators are WTMJs Charlie Sykes (whose current wife works for the Bradley Foundation), political consultant Deb Jordahl and former Department of Administration Secretary George Lightbourn. WPRIs board is dominated by the states corporate chiefs, including Tom Howatt, chair of Wausau Paper Corp.; Bank Mutual President David Baumgarten; ex-MillerCoors Vice President Michael Jones; former Thompson administration official and We Energies Senior Vice President James Klauser; Milwaukee investor David Lubar; and Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) President Tim Sheehy.
LisaLynne
(14,554 posts)It's nice to see someone actually connecting the dots like that.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Down with Corporate SockPuppetry (R)
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
This is one subject that cannot be repeated enough. There are folks who visit this website, new members and even some veteran DUers who don't know these facts.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)We're meeting here:
KoKo
(84,711 posts)to those who are active outside DU experience...So, while there's not any active organizing here on DU anymore...doesn't mean that this info being posted doesn't end up being useful to many of us who are still active outside, locally.
So...let those of us who care keep doing the "K&R" at the Saloon. Somebody's got to do it so that the trivial doesn't overwhelm.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)Quite the opposite, in fact.
As it happens, I've been trying to deal with the misinformation and biased analyses coming out of the WI Policy Research Institute in articular for decades now. one of their most notorious studies wa used to justify the massive buildup of prisons & the incarceration culture in WI in the 90's. I did a detailed rebuttal of the "study" & sent it to legislators on the appropriate committees, but to little avail. Turns out that the political value of being "tough on crime" far outweighs the benefits of a rational criminal justice policy, even for supposedly liberal politicians.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)Thanks for the post.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)"Takeover States!" Stolen as of now.
Skittles
(153,193 posts)*EGREGIOUS*
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)You make me feel like that is my middle name LOL.
UtahLib
(3,179 posts)Shame on those who only masquerade as journalists.
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress."
Jimbo S
(2,960 posts)One of their better ones in quite a while. I have the hard copy saved for future reference.
TheJames
(120 posts)Its the Rich Man that keeps you down.