Eloquence in print isn't too hard. It's a medium that, through the magic and archaic technology of Gutenberg, allows me to spend hours debating between using ""brutish"" or ""bestial"" before anyone ever reads my words. After being quoted in our university's other newspaper, I was reminded that I'm not quite as eloquent live. I must admit I sounded like Sarah Palin.
In my quote, I was discussing government and generalizing between gubernatorial candidates Tom Barrett and Scott Walker. I meant what I said about small government—it's nice. In trying to begin a non-profit, I've experienced how detrimental government red tape can be to the implementation of anything new or positive. I'm the number one fan of efficient, lean government.
However, I hesitate to embrace the conservative talking point that government should be run like a company, a sentiment Walker proselytizes. Most companies are not consistently trying to fire employees and reduce production in the way many pro-privatization conservatives, such as Walker, try to run our government. Constant growth is the definition of a successful business. In many respects, government should not be acting like a company by expanding for the sake of expansion. If we truly believe that our government is composed of ""the people,"" we must realize profit margins are not the only concern of our body politic. Walker took this to extremes when he spoke out against high speed rail funding for a line from Madison to Milwaukee because of operation costs once built. Tom Barrett has compared that to Wisconsin rejecting interstate money in the 1950s unless the federal government agreed to plow the highways.
The current recession should teach us to live better and govern leanly, and many Americans have been tightening belts and living more frugally. Vacations became staycations. Unemployment is a reality, not a statistic, for the middle class. Hell, Hummer is shutting down.
The economy will improve and the job market will bounce back from its presently gloomy state. But to prevent the return of foolish practices like spiraling consumer debts and the overextension of loans, we should be absorbing lessons from our recent frugal tendencies.
During times of economic downturn, the poorest are hit hardest and first. There must be certain government safeguards in place, not just for the cyclically poor, but also for citizens of the lower middle class who can swiftly plummet into poverty as a result of sudden illness or job loss. Wisconsin insurance programs like BadgerCare provide a safeguard for many children and women. Although former Republican governor Tommy Thompson began the idea of BadgerCare, we can't afford to have the conservative bastion Walker oversee such a program.
Even under Jim Doyle, enrollment in BadgerCare has been frozen. From public transportation to county union jobs, Walker has worked to privatize everything in his sights in Milwaukee County. He seems bent on privatizing himself right out of a job if elected governor. It's easy to imagine Gov. Walker selling the Capitol.
Wisconsin lost 130,000 jobs last year. Our unemployment rate hovers around 9 percent, nearly the national average. Actions by Walker, like his recent firing of 76 county employees, throw his promises of job creation into scrutiny. Adding workers to the unemployment line after promising to create 250,000 jobs seems politically dangerous at best.
Walker's blatant message of ""government bad, lower taxes"" is brutish and impractical. I disagree with many Democrats bashing Walker for his goal of 250,000 new jobs within four years if he is elected governor—attacking political opponents for worthy, optimistic goals does not make us look good. But the sentiment is understood. The Walker campaign does not seem well planned and instead seems content to parrot basic conservative principles. It is meant to attract tea partiers and conservatives before the Republican primary in September. Aside from the upcoming primary, there is little reason for the lack of a broader campaign on Walker's part. He has been campaigning since his failed primary bid in 2006 and had an early head start in the 2010 race against Barrett. The only explanation may be that he truly believes in an uncompromising march toward the privatization of everything once deemed communal.
Luckily for liberals, this race is not about the lesser of two evils. Democrats love Barrett, and rightly so. He garnered statewide supporters as early as 2002 with his first gubernatorial run and is beloved by Wisconsin's largest city, where he served five terms as a congressman and two as mayor. In 2008, Barrett was re-elected as mayor of Milwaukee with 79 percent of the vote.
Soon enough, the whole state will learn to like nice-guy Barrett. His Sunday ""Ask Tom"" live web chat was a good step in that direction. For a politician, he is remarkably genuine and compassionate, well-informed and has experience running a big city in rough shape.
Of late, Republicans have portrayed themselves as the party of small government, while Democrats have acted as the party of reasonable government. Nationally, many congressional Democrats have acted slowly on plans while Republicans sit off to the side squawking conservative principles. Come fall in Wisconsin, voters may be left with a much starker choice between irrational privatization and measured, people-focused government.
Jamie Stark is a sophomore majoring in journalism and political science. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
