Electability: the mantra of the \anybody but Bush"" movement. A mantra citizens should chant on their way to the polls Tuesday. A mantra that resonates with the sound of the most viable candidate in the Democratic primaries: John Kerry.
Although electabililty is a primary concern of many, this is not the only quality that makes Kerry shine. Kerry could make a great president-because of his liberal position on issues, his experience and his visions for the United States.
Last week in Virginia, 90 percent of exit poll respondents said that they thought Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., could beat President Bush, according to CNN. Sure, exit polls are never the most reliable source of information, but if they only hint at the truth, then Kerry has a shot.
When the Democratic candidate of choice faces Bush in the general elections, he will have to prove his ability as a commander-in-chief, a balancer of the budget and a politician that can campaign efficiently. Kerry can do this.
Kerry has been a senator for almost 20 years and sits on the foreign relations committee. Kerry is a Vietnam veteran and also was a spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans against the War. Kerry is a man that is familiar with the international situation, yet knows the horrors of war and values the human life. Howard Dean has no national, international or military experience, and John Edwards is a newcomer to the political scene without any military experience. When Bush pulls the patriotism card, Kerry can say he actually served his country. Kerry can stand up to Bush, Jacque Chirac and Kim Jong Il. Kerry would make a fine commander-in-chief.
Kerry can also save the American economy. He is experienced-he sits on the financial committee-and his economic policy is both appealing and responsible. He plans to roll back Bush's tax cuts to the rich but hold on to those for the middle class. His Senate experience and liberal agenda prove that he knows how to handle money, yet spend on important public projects, like schools and pollution clean up.
Kerry has also shown that he knows how to campaign effectively. He has won 12 out of the last 14 primaries. And besides the current sweeping of the primaries, Kerry beat the popular Republican governor of Massachusetts in the 1996 Senate race.His populist appeal, exemplified by his slogan, ""Let's take back the White House,"" will work well in an America that is fed up with special interests and the upper class making decisions for the rest of us. This populist appeal not only makes him a mover and a shaker, but also quite attractive to progressive Danes.
John Kerry is the most progressive of the top three candidates left. A true Massachusetts liberal, Kerry has a strong voting record and agenda. For example, he was one of only 14 senators who opposed the Defense of Marriage (anti-gay) Act. Kerry is strongly pro-choice, promising to only appoint Supreme Court justices that will defend Roe v. Wade. Kerry is also against the death penalty.
However, Kerry is not perfect. He supports civil unions but not marriage for homosexual couples. While this could be a cunning move to cater pragmatically to the Left and symbolically to the Right, it could also be a sign he does not see gays as the moral equivalent of everyone else.
Kerry is the man for Wisconsin, a state rooted with progressive ideology. Kerry is the man who can put the Democrats back in power. On Tuesday, vote for the man that can beat George Bush; vote for John Kerry.
The most important reason to vote on Tuesday may not be the Democratic primaries or being able to use the (civic obligation) excuse to get out of class. On Tuesday, the next 13 years of Madison will be decided-the DeJope casino proposal will come to vote.
Should the city vote yes, the DeJope Bingo Hall on the east side will likely be transformed into a casino for at least 13 years, bringing the joys of losing lots and lots of money to just a few miles off campus. Along with this privilege, the county will be given back $3.5 million dollars of the money we lose each year. As stipulated in the ""Ray of Hope"" amendment passed by the County Board, this money will go to replenish the human services of Dane County whose budget was cut by $5 million or so over the course of last year. Another $4 million will come back to Madison itself. In turn the Ho-Chunk would be able to use gambling revenue to improve the vastly sub par living conditions of the tribe, the faltering health care and the state of education for the tribe.
Meanwhile gambling addiction would ruin lives and families throughout Dane County. And unlike the other institutions which promote addiction, the bars and smoke shops, the city as a whole and not just the individuals will suffer. Crime rates would rise. The city of Madison would become 16 percent more likely to go bankrupt. The owners of the Barrymore and Orpheum theaters have each stated that they would no longer be able to compete, and two local institutions would be forced to close. The Associated Press reports that the casino would cost the state $3 million a year.
The proposed agreement is riddled with unkowns. As a sovereign nation, the Ho-Chunk do not have to abide by federal union laws. When union issues were raised, the response was that workers would be well compensated, unions would be obsolete and the pay range would be between $12 and $14 an hour plus benefits plus tips. If this is the case, the pay will be well above with the other Ho-Chunk casinos. When the Istmus surveyed the Ho-Chunk Web site on Feb. 4 they found that of the 16 positions listed, half of them being casino jobs, only one paid within that range. The median was only $9, and seven jobs were $8 or less. While the Ho-Chunk have never backed out of a contract, Madison has been trying since November to receive assurances that the contract would be inforcable between Wisconsin and the independent Ho-Chunk Nation.
Will a casino help the Ho Chunk? Definitely. But is this the best way to help? Probably not. Expanding federal programs for rural America and include reservations in the proposals could help to, without harming the city of Madison. Would not a better way to help be low interest small-business loans? Federal health care? Education subsidies? The Ho-Chunk may need help but expanding the DeJope Bingo Hall is not the only help we can offer. We should not be helping out 260 Ho-Chunk by harming 200,000 Madisonians, turning around 2,000 of which into problem gamblers. Likewise, the county may need the $3.5 million now, but will not be in deficit forever. With a president willing to balance the budget or an economy turning around, the $5 million diverted from human services may be put back in the next couple of years. But the casino will still be there.
The casino vote may be lost with the democratic primary, but make no mistake: even though the national news story for Tuesday will be the presidential race, the futures of the city of Dane County and Madison will be voted on as well. And residents of this city, even temporary ones, should fight to keep it safe. Vote no on the DeJope Casino.
Although all the candidates running in the Dane County Board District 10 primary have a liberal agenda, citizens should vote for Robin Ryan on Feb. 17.
What distinguishes Ryan is her opposition to expand gambling at the DeJope Bingo Hall because of the social costs of a casino.
All the candidates are highly educated. Ryan has a bachelor's degree from Harvard, and a law degree and a master's in public affairs from the University of Texas.She has devoted time to Madison and Wisconsin as a volunteer at the Tenant Resource Center and a former child welfare administrator.
The Madison School District is finally holding contested elections, a promising sign that the community will become more involved in schools. A primary for one seat is being held because three people- Melania Alvarez, Gregg Mulry and Johnny Winston, Jr.-wanted the spot. Mulry has since dropped out. This primary will not determine the next school board member, but we encourage you to support Winston. Winston, though not a teacher, has worked extensively with the district and social services. He encourages more parent responsibility and attempts to bridge the minority achievement gap.
