Instead of watching another Laguna Beach rerun on MTV this May, UW-Madison students should consider turning their sets to WisconsinEye, a new public access channel that will cover legislative affairs in the state Capitol.
If watching C-SPAN-style television sounds just short of a thrill-a-minute, that's either because real lawmakers don't measure up to sexy Hollywood lawmakers, or because state government operates at a snail's pace. More likely the latter—C-SPAN is boring for all but the nerdiest among political science majors.
But instead of grabbing the remote, Wisconsinites should consider this: All monumental legislative decisions begin in the Capitol chambers. All lawmakers debating public policy earn their right to legislate from the constituents who vote on their behalf. And all constituents have a civic obligation to keep tabs on their representatives' actions in Capitol chambers.
That's right: Voters have an obligation to follow through on the ballots they cast in November. Government may operate like a rusty machine, but it is the very machine that turns out policy affecting all Wisconsin citizens.
WisconsinEye will streamline the process of informing the electorate first-hand and hardly requires that voters spend hours in front of the television set. Increased visibility of issues will allow voters to selectively follow issues and initiatives relevant to their districts.
At $650,000, the public access channel may seem expensive for the ratings it will draw, but not a single penny will come from the state coffer. Taxpayers will earn informed legislative control free from cost and governmental influence. The channel will be available statewide and will open the Senate and Assembly chambers as well as select legislative committee hearing rooms to all who tune in.
Despite apprehension that politicians may grandstand while the cameras are rolling, the channel will provide unprecedented access to Capitol proceedings. This board shares WisconsinEye's view toward informing the electorate, and encourages students to tune into the Wisconsin Wing of government in lieu of the West Wing starting this May.
