Opinion - The Daily Cardinal

OPINION

Government shutdown is an embarrassment

By Whitney Newman and The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board | Oct. 3, 2013

Well, it happened again. The spoiled rich kids threw a fit because they couldn’t get their way, and now everyone around them is scrambling to pick up their mess. Except this isn’t a movie, it’s the real world, and it isn’t high school, it’s Congress. To quote Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., “You don’t get to hold the entire economy, the entire country hostage because you don’t like the outcome of an election.” Yet, seemingly, that is exactly what was done. This absurdly childish behavior has many implications for us, both as students at a public research university and as citizens of the country as well as the world.

OPINION

In order to manifest world peace, Japan must shift attitude when remembering historic events

By Leah Cowen and Christopher Guess and Andrew Park | Oct. 2, 2013

On June 8th, 1954, a beautiful Japanese traditional bell was presented to the United Nations New York headquarters by the United Nations Associations of Japan in the name of People of Nippon. They named the bell for “absolute world peace.” However, there would be no use of tolling such a beautiful bell every year if Japan distances itself from the others. It has been approximately 68 years since the end of WWII and Japan is trying to go back to its “old glorious days” while Germany is walking the path of endless apologies and self-retrospection.

OPINION

Just give me some beer

By Jonah Sutherland | Oct. 2, 2013

It’s time the legal drinking age should be changed. I mean, come on, weed is almost legal! Yet, we still have to be 21 years of age to purchase and consume alcohol? Being of the tender age of 19 and having a late spring birthday I have quite a bit of time to wait before I can legally purchase and consume alcohol. I will admit I had a fake but now that I recently have gotten it confiscated and do not want to go through the trouble of purchasing a new one, it’s time I write this article.

FOOTBALL

Letter: Don't pay players

By Molly Reppen and David Magee | Oct. 2, 2013

As Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez sits at his desk, he looks down into his morning coffee to see if they’re still there. Sure enough, the ripples on the surface aren’t going away; in fact, they’re getting bigger. Something big is coming and it can’t be good. Mr. Alvarez isn’t alone. All but a handful of his NCAA Division I cohorts are having similar moments. Those who aren’t well, they’re not paying attention. The threat is no small threat, but a growing movement to mandate that big-time college football and men’s basketball programs pay hefty salaries to scholarship players. Should this come to pass, Wisconsin will find itself on the bottom floor of a two-tiered caste system with no means of improving its lot.

OPINION

Raise in out-of-state tuition limits accessibility to university

By Peter Geppert | Sep. 30, 2013

Student debt. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it’s unavoidable. And unless you’re one of the lucky few who attend on scholarship, most students at this university will graduate with some sort of debt. New developments at the highest level of the UW System administration could be making things better or worse for us all, that is, depending on whether the state you come from ends in “-sconsin.”

OPINION

Optimism remains for US-Iran relations

By Molly Reppen and Steven Nemcek | Sep. 30, 2013

With the main focus of the media circuits this past week being Washington’s debates about government shutdown and the debt ceiling, a rather heartening story was buried. For the first time in over 30 years, ranking government officials from the United States sat down to converse with Iran. United States Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York with China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany. The focus of the meeting was on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and whether or not talks could be resumed to restore relations between Iran and the West regarding this contentious issue.

OPINION

Film industry depicts women unrealistically

By Genevieve Globus | Sep. 30, 2013

For as long as I can remember, I have been a die-hard movie fan. From the theater, to an outdoor cinema in the park, to my couch at home, there has always been a level of excitement to watching movies that I can’t describe. Lately, however, getting lost inside the world of film has been hard for me due to our modern film industry’s obsession with portraying females as shallow, simple and man-obsessed people.

OPINION

Climate change correlates with the times

By Alex Swanson | Sep. 30, 2013

I threw a piece of paper into the garbage today. Logically, I know that’s terrible for the environment. I understand that average surface area temperatures are projected to possibly increase 3 to 10 percent by the end of the century. I also know that one fourth of the earth’s species are predicted to be on the track to extinction by 2050 according to the Nature Conservatory. But, I didn’t recycle that piece of paper.

OPINION

United States' intervention in Syria could potentially deter terrorism

By Ryan Bullen | Sep. 29, 2013

The neglect that the United States government has shown the people of Syria will only produce more danger for the American people from angry Syrian citizens taking refuge in terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda.

OPINION

Desensitization weakens gun control action

By Sean Huey | Sep. 29, 2013

You might recall that on Sept. 19, two men opened fire on a park on the south side of Chicago, wounding 13 people including a 3-year-old boy. If you think back a little further, you might also remember earlier that same week, another gunman shot and killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard, just blocks away from our nation’s Capitol. In fact, if you can recount every such incident over the last four years, you’ll find that 43 mass shootings—nearly one for every month during that time period—occurred in the United States. Still, after all the media attention, after all the political warfare, after all the empty talk of change, nothing has happened.

OPINION

Boehner is ineffective

By Alex Holland | Sep. 27, 2013

It is time Speaker John Boehner flex the muscle of his speakership. Speaker Boehner is the kid who keeps getting his lunch money stolen at recess. From the failed farm bill vote to the inability to cajole his caucus to pass a comprehensive budget resolution in conjunction with senate Democrats to Tea Party Republicans bullying him into including a clause to defund Obamacare in the resolution the House passed the other day to stop the government from shutting down, Boehner is running out of money and so is the government.

CAMPUS NEWS

As students we must do our part to stay safe

By The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board | Sep. 27, 2013

As we’re sure you are probably and hopefully aware, in the past few weeks, the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus and its surrounding community has seen an increase in strong-armed robberies taking place in off-campus housing where university students live. Suspects are robbing people at random, often threatening the victims with a weapon.

OPINION

Parents TV Council targets wrong shows

By Adee Feiner | Sep. 25, 2013

Last week, FX’s hit series “Sons of Anarchy” aired its Season 6 premiere to landmark numbers. Despite what even the creator of the show admitted was a disturbing episode, “Sons of Anarchy” drew in 8.32 million viewers in its 10 p.m. time slot, setting a record for any show on FX. Packed into the hour were guns, rape and other multitudes of gross, sometimes downright squeamish scenes. So it’s no surprise that immediately following the premiere, the Parents Television Council blasted the network and creator for airing such an offensive and insensitive episode. Oh, here we go.

CAMPUS NEWS

Letter To The Editor: Shared Governance offers shot to change university

By David Gardner | Sep. 25, 2013

Last week, The Daily Cardinal issued a call to action in response to potential changes to Shared Governance at UW. As a student representative on several Shared Governance committees, and the Chair of the ASM this year, it is my responsibility to ensure students continue to have the opportunity to enrich our great University, and leave a legacy on campus. Shared Governance has a winning track record for its victories on campus. To defend this principle, we must keep winning the race.

OPINION

Global warming report exaggerates effects

By Steven Nemcek | Sep. 24, 2013

This Friday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be releasing a 2,000 page report on the current scientific opinion regarding climate change. Unfortunately, there has been a preponderance of evidence to suggest the report is being dishonestly composed. The Telegraph reported Saturday that while the IPCC report will suggest that the likelihood that man is the source of global warming has risen from 90 to 95 percent certainty, top climate scientists are struggling to explain why global warming has been slowing since 1998. Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter for The Telegraph writes, “Documents seen by the Associated Press (AP) show attempts at political interference in the final report,” and that “several governments that reviewed the draft objected to how the issue was tackled. The documents, according to AP, show Germany called for the reference to the slowdown to be deleted while the US urged scientists to include as its ‘leading hypothesis’ that the reduction in warming is linked to more heat being transferred to the deep ocean.”

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Genevieve Globus' 'Blurred Lines' article aligns itself with PAVE's strong message

By Kari Hajduk | Sep. 23, 2013

My name is Kari and I am the Communications Coordinator for PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) here at UW-Madison. PAVE is a student-run organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking through education and activism.

OPINION

Republican Party needs to get back to the basics to remain relevant

By Jeff Birnkrant | Sep. 23, 2013

Political views kept private are no views at all, just mere thoughts. Until one takes action and speaks out, then you’re truly not doing yourself justice. I recently decided to take matters into my own hands, as it seems the Republican Party is going down in flames. The only true way progress can be made on strengthening a party that is so divided is by speaking the truth to those of the party who ruin it for the rest of us. What happened to the Republicans who ended the Vietnam War and started welfare programs across the country? They have vanished or switched parties. Now we are left with this moderate, pragmatic type of Conservative who really embodies no views of his or her own and will adapt to public opinion for votes. Or you have your run-of-the-mill extreme Conservative who takes cover under a Libertarian umbrella whenever accosted. Almost like how Jon Stewart can hide behind his comedic veil when ripping politicians to shreds.

OPINION

US must shift focus to domestic issues

By Chandler Denhart | Sep. 23, 2013

Commonly heard sayings in our country these days include, “‘Murica,” “We’re the best”, and “America, hell yeah.” Often, phrases echoing the same idea are declared by the many proud citizens of the United States. We inhabit the world with a slightly raised chin, and perhaps rightfully so. The idea of America being the greatest country on Earth has been prevalent for quite some time, continually being reinforced by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, response to national tragedies like the Twin Towers attack and other unifying events such as natural disasters. Why is it that we are so great? Is it because we are ranked No. 17 in global education as reported by the International Business Times? Perhaps it is due to our No. 174 ranking in infant mortality? I think the fact that we spend the second-most money on Healthcare compared to the world, yet are ranked No. 51 in life expectancy, is a contributing factor. Don’t take my word for it, though, let us look at the facts.

OPINION

Congress fails to adequately represent women and minorities

By By Genevieve Globus | Sep. 19, 2013

Around the world, quotas have been implemented into different countries’ government and parliament systems for the people in power to more accurately reflect the population of that country. Despite the quota’s ability to get women and minority groups more accurately represented, the United States continues to reject implementing quotas into its Congressional branch.

OPINION

Losing shared governance is losing our voice

By The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board | Sep. 18, 2013

Whether we’re aware of it or not, members of the University of Wisconsin System community are part of something unique. We are part of a system in which students, staff and faculty are each given the opportunity to have a say in the decisions made that impact the educational community they participate in through the idea of “shared governance.” But changes to this structure are a matter of “when, not if.”