Opinion - The Daily Cardinal

OPINION

Parents TV Council targets wrong shows

By Adee Feiner | Sep. 25, 2013

Last week, FX’s hit series “Sons of Anarchy” aired its Season 6 premiere to landmark numbers. Despite what even the creator of the show admitted was a disturbing episode, “Sons of Anarchy” drew in 8.32 million viewers in its 10 p.m. time slot, setting a record for any show on FX. Packed into the hour were guns, rape and other multitudes of gross, sometimes downright squeamish scenes. So it’s no surprise that immediately following the premiere, the Parents Television Council blasted the network and creator for airing such an offensive and insensitive episode. Oh, here we go.

CAMPUS NEWS

Letter To The Editor: Shared Governance offers shot to change university

By David Gardner | Sep. 25, 2013

Last week, The Daily Cardinal issued a call to action in response to potential changes to Shared Governance at UW. As a student representative on several Shared Governance committees, and the Chair of the ASM this year, it is my responsibility to ensure students continue to have the opportunity to enrich our great University, and leave a legacy on campus. Shared Governance has a winning track record for its victories on campus. To defend this principle, we must keep winning the race.

OPINION

Global warming report exaggerates effects

By Steven Nemcek | Sep. 24, 2013

This Friday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be releasing a 2,000 page report on the current scientific opinion regarding climate change. Unfortunately, there has been a preponderance of evidence to suggest the report is being dishonestly composed. The Telegraph reported Saturday that while the IPCC report will suggest that the likelihood that man is the source of global warming has risen from 90 to 95 percent certainty, top climate scientists are struggling to explain why global warming has been slowing since 1998. Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter for The Telegraph writes, “Documents seen by the Associated Press (AP) show attempts at political interference in the final report,” and that “several governments that reviewed the draft objected to how the issue was tackled. The documents, according to AP, show Germany called for the reference to the slowdown to be deleted while the US urged scientists to include as its ‘leading hypothesis’ that the reduction in warming is linked to more heat being transferred to the deep ocean.”

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Genevieve Globus' 'Blurred Lines' article aligns itself with PAVE's strong message

By Kari Hajduk | Sep. 23, 2013

My name is Kari and I am the Communications Coordinator for PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) here at UW-Madison. PAVE is a student-run organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking through education and activism.

OPINION

Republican Party needs to get back to the basics to remain relevant

By Jeff Birnkrant | Sep. 23, 2013

Political views kept private are no views at all, just mere thoughts. Until one takes action and speaks out, then you’re truly not doing yourself justice. I recently decided to take matters into my own hands, as it seems the Republican Party is going down in flames. The only true way progress can be made on strengthening a party that is so divided is by speaking the truth to those of the party who ruin it for the rest of us. What happened to the Republicans who ended the Vietnam War and started welfare programs across the country? They have vanished or switched parties. Now we are left with this moderate, pragmatic type of Conservative who really embodies no views of his or her own and will adapt to public opinion for votes. Or you have your run-of-the-mill extreme Conservative who takes cover under a Libertarian umbrella whenever accosted. Almost like how Jon Stewart can hide behind his comedic veil when ripping politicians to shreds.

OPINION

US must shift focus to domestic issues

By Chandler Denhart | Sep. 23, 2013

Commonly heard sayings in our country these days include, “‘Murica,” “We’re the best”, and “America, hell yeah.” Often, phrases echoing the same idea are declared by the many proud citizens of the United States. We inhabit the world with a slightly raised chin, and perhaps rightfully so. The idea of America being the greatest country on Earth has been prevalent for quite some time, continually being reinforced by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, response to national tragedies like the Twin Towers attack and other unifying events such as natural disasters. Why is it that we are so great? Is it because we are ranked No. 17 in global education as reported by the International Business Times? Perhaps it is due to our No. 174 ranking in infant mortality? I think the fact that we spend the second-most money on Healthcare compared to the world, yet are ranked No. 51 in life expectancy, is a contributing factor. Don’t take my word for it, though, let us look at the facts.

OPINION

Congress fails to adequately represent women and minorities

By By Genevieve Globus | Sep. 19, 2013

Around the world, quotas have been implemented into different countries’ government and parliament systems for the people in power to more accurately reflect the population of that country. Despite the quota’s ability to get women and minority groups more accurately represented, the United States continues to reject implementing quotas into its Congressional branch.

OPINION

Losing shared governance is losing our voice

By The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board | Sep. 18, 2013

Whether we’re aware of it or not, members of the University of Wisconsin System community are part of something unique. We are part of a system in which students, staff and faculty are each given the opportunity to have a say in the decisions made that impact the educational community they participate in through the idea of “shared governance.” But changes to this structure are a matter of “when, not if.”

OPINION

College costs must be taken more seriously in legislature

By Andrew Haffner and Alex Holland | Sep. 18, 2013

Last week, state Senate and Assembly Democrats walked down State Street to hear students’ perspectives on the current student loan crisis. The event featured state Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, as well as state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, and state Rep. Chris Taylor, D- Madison, among several others.

OPINION

Nina Davuluri, Miss American Progress

By Veena Tripathi | Sep. 18, 2013

I am sure many of you have already heard about the negative backlash against the new Miss America, Nina Davuluri. If you have not, here are some excerpts from Twitter of some things that were said Sunday night, complete with my own sarcastic commentary.

OPINION

State's reaction to protesters is too aggressive

By The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board | Sep. 16, 2013

For the past two years and eight months, there have been people protesting against Gov. Scott Walker at the Capitol building more or less every day. That is remarkable for many reasons, but last month, when what appears to be a non-belligerent attendee at a typical protest was violently thrown to the ground and arrested by no less than five Capitol Police officers, it was proof that, remarkably, tensions still run incredibly high and what the administration is doing to quell the standoff is not working.

OPINION

Increasing minimum wage detrimental

By Steven Nemcek | Sep. 16, 2013

It seems to be a sick, dramatic irony that the protesting proponents for a higher minimum wage, or a “living wage” as the left has now incongruously deemed it, are acting in accordance with principles of ritualistic self-sacrifice. Minimum wage laws destroy low-skilled jobs and hurt the very economic class the “do-gooders” are trying to save. The very real efforts of these practitioners of self-immolation give metaphorical credence to the eternal aphorism “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” While unfortunate, much of progressive history has been steeped with racist and sexist policy. From eugenics advocacy, race-based abortion advancement and defending Jim Crow laws, to special legislation purporting that women must work fewer hours because they were responsible for bearing future generations (and thus were collective property), well-meaning progressives seem to be eternally on the wrong side of history. This time is no different. The persistent push for increasing minimum wage laws hurts low-skilled laborers who are more represented in the lower income brackets.

OPINION

Bias toward women in the classroom must be eliminated

By Genevieve Globus | Sep. 13, 2013

As a nerdy, opinionated middle-schooler who mostly surrounded myself with other nerds, I was surprisingly unaware of the biases that affected my teachers and classmates each day. I was well aware of the fact that women were discriminated against in the world, but I always thought of it as a far- off issue, something that didn’t affect me.

OPINION

I dare you to read this entire thing

By Jesse Kiley and Haleigh Amant | Sep. 13, 2013

In trying to think of a relevant issue my student readers would enjoy, I realized scoping current events for something I could form an opinion about just wasn’t cutting it. Instead, I chose to look to the expert —myself and my peers. We’re the experts. We know what is relevant to students because we are the students. Not that this is a normal occurrence in our apartment, but last night my roommates and I engaged in a conversation that was extremely relevant and inspired this column today.

OPINION

Letter: Syrian intervention a matter of power display by the U.S.

By Bruce Grau | Sep. 12, 2013

On Monday night 60 people gathered in front of Tammy Baldwin’s office to request her to vote “no” against any military option against Syria for alleged gas attacks that murdered thousands of innocents.

OPINION

Cyrus' new antics are questionable

By Michael Penn | Sep. 12, 2013

Miley Ray Cyrus is the furthest thing from stupid. In fact, she’s far from desperation as well. Once the comfort of reruns and Disney contracts became unappealing, perhaps it was time for a new era to come upon her image. After effectively forging a career based on her persona based on her real life where she lives two lives, perhaps Miley grew frustrated with the pacifier of the public eye. Is it shameful? People grow up; discover their sexuality, act outlandish and irrational and uncaring of who sees.

OPINION

Letter to the editor: Moped crashes could be avoided with safety precautions

By David Pabst | Sep. 11, 2013

Your newspaper recently published information about a University of Wisconsin-Madison student who was injured after his moped was struck by a car on campus. The driver of the car said he did not see the moped as he was attempting to turn at an intersection. The moped rider was not wearing a helmet and suffered significant injuries.

OPINION

‘Blurred Lines’ creates dangerously blurred lines for sexual assault

By Genevieve Globus and Haleigh Amant | Sep. 11, 2013

The song “Blurred Lines,” by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams, which has been at the top of the American charts for weeks, is a perfect example of how American popular culture promotes rape and sexual violence against women. The song has grown famous for its extremely offensive lyrics and a music video so sexually explicit YouTube has blocked it. Aside from this, the song features lines that objectify and degrade women, and suggest that women’s voices simply don’t matter.

OPINION

Syrian compliance would be victory

By Alex Holland | Sep. 11, 2013

For the last couple weeks a scene from the West Wing has been etched into my head. The scene is in the first season and comes after the Bartlet administration has been struggling to pass any legislation. After a conversation in the Oval Office, President Bartlet and his chief of staff Leo McGarry decide to “let Bartlet be Bartlet.” Leo goes to his office and tells the high level staff, “We’re gonna put the ball in the air. If we’re gonna walk into walls, I want us running into ’em full speed.” For the last couple weeks, it appears President Barack Obama, with Secretary of State John Kerry on his side, has been running at full speed.

COLUMNS

Column: Switch to X Games tour removes unifying event from action sports

By Brett Bachman | Sep. 10, 2013

Modern action sports, as a whole, are a money-centric operation.