Opinion

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Burke must work on expanding outreach

Wisconsin voters would be foolish to fall for Scott Walker’s attempt to make his opponent, former Trek Bicycle CEO Mary Burke, appear incompetent. At this point, the race is still a toss up, but Wisconsin just made history by electing Tammy Baldwin, an out and proud lesbian, to the U.S. Senate in 2012. That’s why, as a realistic socialist and regular optimist, I believe Wisconsin is totally capable of making history again. But the voters have to actually get to the polls, and that requires registering. And while Mary Burke has spent enough of her own money on this campaign, she would be well advised to rely mainly on her speech from now until Election Day. After all, it’s free (usually) and it means a lot more to voters than negative advertisements like a grown man standing in a hole and then somehow blaming her for being stuck in it, as Gov. Scott Walker’s most recent ad does. Walker’s ads are rather creepy, if you catch my drift.

Music critiques lack perspective

Being a fan of rock and roll from the 1960s, I occasionally visit YouTube to listen to albums and songs from the decade. Sometimes during these digital jaunts (and against my better judgment) I make my way over to the comments section to see what my fellow YouTubers have to say about the music. Usually all I find are genuine words of approval towards the music and its creators from die-hard fans, but every now and then I come across a particularly cantankerous individual who has taken the commenting opportunity to bemoan the state of contemporary popular music.

Newest EA Sports games split opinions

HeForShe: Time to act

Population growth and overconsumption require innovative solutions

As our world has entered into the 21st century, the issue of global birth rates are prevalent in both developed and developing nations. According to the demographic transition model, as a nation becomes more industrialized and economically advanced, its birth rate will decline due to the rising costs of living standards and urban living space that discourages making a large family. In one way, the low birth rate could be perceived as a good omen since it shows how advanced and developed the nation has become. The problem rises when couples start to not reproduce enough to replace the previous generation, providing countries with a lack of workforce to sustain their economic legacies. I personally believe we should be concerned about this issue, but should not fear the worst.

Vegetarian meal options remain poor

It is hard to put into words the increasing frustration I felt the three times I went up to the sandwich shop at Gordon’s and asked for a sandwich with tofurky, a tofu based turkey substitute. In response I have heard, “I don’t think we have that”, “Sorry, it’s frozen right now”, and “What is that” and each time I smiled and said nevermind when they asked me if I want something else, but what I would really like to say, more than anything, is,“Then why is it clearly displayed as a choice with all the other meats you serve at least a hundred times a day on a daily basis.”  This in addition to waiting eight minutes for veggie burgers, eating a disproportionate amount of rice bowls, and waiting for the day the vegetarian taco filling actually exists is what many vegetarian students at UW-Madison face when they elect to eat in the dining halls.  

India’s MOM makes it to Mars, cheapest yet

With the news of India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), also known as Mangalyaan (Hindi for “Mars-Craft”), successfully taking orbit around Mars, it is clear there is a new technological powerhouse on the horizon. 

MOM on Mars, forgets kids on Earth

With a successful insertion in Martian orbit through its Mars Orbital Mission (MOM)  Sept. 23, India joins only the United States, Russia and the European Space Agency as the only countries to successfully send a mission to Mars. Being an extraordinary scientific achievement, it’s understandably a source of national pride for India. At the same time, about 620 million people in India do not have access to adequate toilets, and the $74 million price tag for the Mars mission could have been put to better use. India’s space program has been beneficial in typhoon warnings and monsoon predictions, so it has definitely benefited the country, but many probably feel the money put towards the Mars mission could have been put toward improving the country instead. 

Letter to the Editor: Climate change: Pentagon forecasts grim future

Climate change and world peace will each be highlighted on Sunday September 21, the International Day of Peace. In our nuclear-armed, temperature-rising, resource-depleting world these issues are intricately related and represent the greatest threats to our planet. It is not coincidence that they be highlighted together. We must make the connection between peace on the planet and peace with the environment. Sunday’s People’s Climate March will empower citizens the world over to demonstrate the will of the people and demand action as global leaders convene in New York on Tuesday for the U.N. Climate Summit.

Full-time employees deserve a living income, raise in the minimum wage

The recent occurrences of fast food employees striking across the nation to raise their wages to $15 an hour brings to the forefront of political discourse the real value of a worker, a topic of discussion that has been missing in mainstream media for far too long. This discourse can get ugly sometimes, though, when people who are against raising the minimum wage use personally charged arguments in an attempt to validate their points. They might say, “I worked for $7.25 an hour, and if I can do that so can others!” or “Why should we pay McDonald’s workers $15 an hour? Their jobs are so easy; half of them don’t speak English anyway, and sometimes they get my order wrong!” These sorts of statements, or others displaying similar animosity toward fast food employees, are nothing more than loud, condescending, and useless noise. They tend to come from right-wing political commentators, but in all fairness, what else can you expect from them anymore?

Selling arms to rebels: History should guide policy

Early on Tuesday morning, President Barack Obama made a statement in which he confirmed the United States, along with a coalition of five other Middle East countries, had begun to attack the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) headquarters in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa. 

Social media app Yik Yak continues to draw controversy and praise

Expectations for a perfect roommate remain foolish

Campus alcohol policy remains dated and ineffective

A recent objective of the administration has been to change the university's culture surrounding alcohol and other substance usage. Basically, the university would like to change the school’s reputation as a huge party school. 

North Korea hints at societal changes and new openness

It is undeniably true that North Korea is mostly known for its glooms, which include, but are not limited to, human rights violations, dictatorship, starvation,  Stalinist communism and isolationist  diplomatic policies. Based on those descriptions, many will assume that North Korea could be considered one of the most tyrannical regimes in modern history, especially today. However, one should not assume that it is still the complete hermit kingdom of years past. 

New voter ID law is misguided

Voting, an essential and fundamental part of our country’s past and present, became more difficult Friday after a panel of three federal appeals court judges brought a controversial state law out of legal limbo.

Be a badger, sell your tickets for face value

As many Badgers are aware, yesterday was the day which student basketball tickets went on sale. After last year’s roller coaster ride of a season, which ended just two points short of a trip to the  national championship, its no wonder the tickets were a hot item, completely selling out in just five minutes. Needless to say, there is a lot of anticipation flooding campus about the upcoming season. Undoubtedly there  will be those left heartbroken when they discover they just weren’t lucky enough to snag their guaranteed place in the Kohl Center this winter. Who can blame them for feeling so distraught when the Badgers go up against the likes of Duke, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana,  and Nebraska at home this season.

Letter To The Editor: Photo ID requirement for voting returns for fall election

Last Friday, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to reinstate Act 23, a law that requires Wisconsin voters to present photo identification on Election Day. The law, which passed in 2011 and was previously ruled unconstitutional, places an undue burden on the right to vote. This burden disproportionately affects minorities and people of lower income, who may not have access to the required identification. 

Letter to the Editor: U.S. foreign policy simply reincarnation of old

After thousands of years of bloody wars among contending tribes, regions, and nations, is it finally possible to dispense with the chauvinist ideas of the past?  

Letter To The Editor: U.S. involvement in Middle East needs to create a peaceful narrative