When I first became a columnist for the Badger Herald, I was
asked to not solely focus on ASM issues; this has not been a
problem, because while our student government is a laughingstock,
it has been upstaged this year by the Madison City Council.

The City Council has been very busy this year. It has weighed in
on Tibet, the USA Patriot Act and now the possible war with Iraq.
While these are important issues, they are important for our U.S.
Congress to discuss (i.e. people like U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl and U.S.
Rep. Paul Ryan).

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said, “If passed, [the
resolution] would influence higher levels of government … we as a
local government take positions as elected representatives for our
constituents and forward those positions onto other public bodies
that are dealing with these issues.”

This is nonsense. City officials receive no more recognition on
international issues than I do or any other University of Wisconsin
student.

While few of you reading this have ever closely watched a City
Council election race — myself included — I don’t recall seeing
anyone campaign on national issues. Alders such as Verveer and Tom
Powell do not campaign on these issues because they know City
Council has no relevant voice on national or international
policy.

In fact, Ald. Tom Powell, District 5, a sponsor of both the bill
condemning the USA Patriot Act and the resolution against the
United States going to war with Iraq, has expressed concern that
the council is increasing its attention on national and
international issues while lessening its focus on local issues.

Mr. Powell, wake up — you cannot complain about City Council’s
lack of focus on local issues when you are the one sponsoring these
meaningless, time-consuming resolutions.

If you do not like what our federal government is doing, write
your member of Congress. I discussed last week how you would
certainly have a sympathetic ear if you were to contact
Congresswoman Baldwin.

It is rather interesting City Council is now weighing in on
international issues, because I don’t recall the top-secret
congressional intelligence briefings being open to members of the
Madison, Wis., City Council. Yet, Mr. Powell, Mr. Verveer and
others are thickheaded enough to think we elected them to represent
our views on international issues, and we want them to chime in on
the debate as “Madison’s official position” on a potential war.

What is equally comical is Mayor Sue Bauman’s attempt in the
past year or so to try align herself farther to the left, in a
desperate attempt to gain support from Progressive Dane in what
will be her failed re-election attempt. This has alienated
students, though, as she has supported City Council’s Iraq
resolution and was too weak to take a stand against Chancellor
Wiley on drink specials.

Progressive Dane’s ability to elect city and county officials,
primarily through student support, is truly impressive. Its ability
to not represent students is even more impressive.

It was elected officials from Progressive Dane that voted to
kill the State Street Redesign Project last year. Some members are
still fighting hard to take away drink specials and strongly
supported the smoking ban that will take affect in 2006
(conveniently four years from now, when most current students have
graduated). This is also the political party taking a stand against
a war with Iraq, commenting on Tibet and decrying the Patriot Act,
one year late.

Progressive Dane has elected individuals by talking a good game
during the election season. Their candidates campaign on issues
such as tenant rights, support for a living wage and protecting
students.

Once candidates are elected, though, these issues take a back
seat to issues students are adamantly against (i.e. the
drink-special ban) and other pet causes such as anti-war sentiments
that have nothing to do with Iraq — this sentiment was present
after we were attacked Sept. 11, 2001. Groups that coalition with
Progressive Dane, like the Madison Area Peace Coalition, even then
expected us to sit on our hands and not defend ourselves against
terrorism.

Progressive Dane’s claim to represent “the people” is hollow.
Special-interests groups such as the Madison Area Peace Coalition
control its agenda.

Again, students are left wondering, who will represent them?

Matt Modell ([email protected]) is a senior
majoring in journalism and political science. He is in Washington,
D.C., this semester for an internship.