Next Tuesday, voters from 31 Wisconsin cities, villages and towns will have the opportunity to register their opinions of the war in Iraq at the ballot box. Troops Home Now referenda will show up on local ballots in Madison, Monona, Mount Horeb and Baraboo, as well as in cities as far away as Hayward and Sister Bay.

Wisconsin voters should vote 'yes' on the Troops Home Now question for a number of reasons. The war has continued for three years now with no end in sight. Of the 2,324 American soldiers that have been killed, 51 of them are from Wisconsin. Iraqi civilian death estimates range from 33,773 to 37,895. The U.S. Congress will have appropriated $251 billion for the Iraq war by March 31. The human and economic costs of the war so far have been enormous.

In contrast, our gains in Iraq are limited, and the Bush administration's promise of a free, safe country with a democratic government is far from being fully realized. The true War on Terror has fallen to the wayside, as our resources and energy continue to be focused on Iraq. Don't forget that Osama bin Laden still hasn't been captured. And what's equally disappointing is that the Final Report 9/11 Commission Recommendations, released in Dec. 2005, yielded a C minus average and 5 Fs.

Peace activists often feel helpless when it comes to the war in Iraq. Up until this year, most of Congress stood strongly behind President Bush and his decision to continue the occupation of the country, despite the mounting violence and death count. As the occupation continues with no end in sight, however, members of Congress are starting to soften their stances. They're listening more to their constituents who are asking how much longer the war will go on. Troops Home Now referenda in Wisconsin and across the country are the perfect tool for peace activists to use to send a strong message to members of Congress that they aren't happy with the way things are going.

A 'yes' vote on Madison's Troops Home Now referendum will carry no legal weight, but it will send a clear message to policymakers who have the power to affect the course of the war in Iraq. Madison residents are lucky to be represented by two particularly outspoken critics of the war, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and Sen. Russ Feingold. Our vote affirming our support for Troops Home Now will send them the message to stay their course in advocating for a definitive timeline for the war. In some other parts of the state, a 'yes' vote will send a message to representatives that their constituents want Congress to act to bring an end into sight.

Your vote on this issue is symbolic, but contributing to the impact of 31 Wisconsin cities, villages and towns around the state voting 'yes' to Troops Home Now is what we stand to gain. Vote 'yes' to Troops Home Now April 4.

Liz Sanger ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in violin performance and English.