It’s pretty obvious that the media has a profound effect on the American public in swaying political decisions of some (mostly undecided) voters. But what about pop culture?

If we can get the exposure of the importance of voting out to the majority of 18-24-year-olds (by any means necessary), it’s better than nothing. Groups like the New Voters Project have done a wonderful job at emphasizing this point, with their slogan “Make Them Pay Attention to Us.” However, medians such as Rock the Vote, Choose or Lose, Vote or Die and even T-shirts such as “Vote, F*cker” or “Youth Have the Power” have done wonders for getting this message out as well.

I congratulate ASM and the University of Wisconsin for bringing Rock the Vote here to raise political awareness. I’d even go so far to thank them for bringing Michael Moore here as well. Because regardless of what you think of Moore’s beliefs, I truly saw the political spectrum of Madison at its finest when he spoke. There was a section of protesting College Republicans, adamant ISO members and Nader supporters passing out their information, and the crowd of Democrats, the overwhelming majority, serving as a nice barrier between the two.

Jordan Burghardt
([email protected])
UW-Madison junior, double majoring in political science and sociology

An open letter to Ralph Nader and his supporters

Dear Mr. Nader:

The upcoming presidential election is sure to be a close and bitter contest, with or without your participation. I am sure you are aware that in many key states, your participation in the 2000 contest may have pulled enough votes away from the Democratic ticket to cost the Dems a state or two.

I am a mostly liberal, absolutely proud American and I agree with you on many of the key issues that face Americans today. I am also aware of the fact that a third-party candidate has absolutely no chance of winning the presidential election; this year, four years from now or four years after that.

I have friends who voted for you in 2000. They did so because they felt there was little difference between the major candidates. They now express regret and admit that this was not true. To claim that there was little difference between the major candidates is ridiculous! To pretend that Gore would have used the same methods that Bush used to respond to 9/11 is absurd! It is an equally absurd claim this time around.

While you are busy making a valiant stand for less special-interest control in government, back in the real world all you are doing is helping the Republicans win another four years in the driver’s seat. Aren’t you an environmentalist? How many more environmental regulations will Bush roll back in the next four years? How many more impingements on our constitutional rights will he make? How many ultra right-wing judges will he appoint? How many preemptive unilateral invasions made under false pretenses? How much higher will he allow the debt to go in order to give another tax break to the rich? Doesn’t the thought of this make you sick? Can you and your supporters really sleep comfortably at night knowing that you played a role, perhaps a decisive role, in letting this happen? If after the election, you and your supporters are toasting a great moral victory by pulling 5 percent of the vote from the Democrats, the man laughing all the way to the White House will be none other than Dubya himself.

The Republicans have spent their own money and resources to get you on the ballot in the swing states. Doesn’t this speak volumes as to what your real role in this election will be?

Please, please don’t do this to me, to the environment, to our country. Don’t help give Bush the power to make four more years of bad decisions. Please do not run and do support John Kerry in his attempt to win back the White House from the Republicans.

Joshua Krauss
([email protected])