I don't particularly like to dabble in politics. The Dirty Bird, my regular column, is the sex column on Page 2. Sure, individual politics likely play a role in individual sexual choices, but I believe there should be little global overlap between the two realms; and let me assure you, I much prefer sex to politics.
Wisconsin is closer to Brussels than one might think. Despite the geographical difference, the fate of the European Union and the Land of Cheese are closely connected, and Wisconsinites have ample reason to closely monitor the worsening debt situation in Greece and Italy. In 2010, 19 percent of Wisconsin goods exports went to the 27 member nations of the EU, more than the total exports to Canada, Japan, Brazil and China combined. In 2009, around 36,800 jobs in Wisconsin were supported by direct foreign investment from France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. And the EU as a whole accounted for $5.1 billion (37 percent) of direct foreign investment in Wisconsin in 2007.
However much it pains me to say it, I am too dependent on the Internet. I use Google and JSTOR to research papers and articles. When I miss my TV shows, I quickly rush online to see if Hulu has them. I use Facebook to keep in contact with my friend in the Army and my brother in Colorado. So when two current bills in Congress would allow the government to censor the Internet, I can't help but feel like parts of my life, however small or large, are in jeopardy.
With the recall effort more successful than anticipated, Gov. Scott Walker has been increasingly on the defensive. In particular, Walker has had to justify the 2011 Budget Repair Bill that took away collective bargaining rights for most public workers and reduced the amount of benefits they received. Thus it is natural that Walker has been spending a lot of time promoting studies claiming that the legislation has been successful in saving jobs. At least, that’s what Scott Walker wants the numbers to say. But are the findings accurate? Unfortunately for the governor, the answer is a lot less clear than he claims.
In the wake of a great economic downturn, Wisconsin has stepped up to the plate. From January through September, Wisconsin's agriculture exports increased 24 percent. Last year at this time, Wisconsin exported $1.7 billion in goods, which is child's play compared to the more than $2 billion in goods exported this year.
I have been following very intensely the Arab Spring since it began in January, in Tunisia, when Mohammed Bouazizi lit himself on fire in protest of elitist rule and oppression towards him. Since that flame started, the fire has spread throughout North Africa and the Middle East. Of all the revolutions in the region Tunisia made it out relatively unscathed in terms of mass violent oppression of the opposition, thankfully. It took merely weeks to destroy a tyranny of over two decades. Good riddance.
In the November 15, 2011 issue of the Daily Cardinal you ran an article titled, “Letter: Walker’s policies harmed state, now time for recall”. While I hesitate to engage in the overtly divisive talks concerning our current governor, I will, however, comment on this article’s claim that, “students of all ages have been hard-hit under the Walker administration”.
Lately, one of the bigger political issues in Wisconsin has been the attempt to recall Scott Walker. Regardless of success or failure, the recall’s potential impact on the state’s people is of the utmost importance to me.
When religion meets government, there is often a much-deserved hullabaloo. This occurs especially around the holiday season. People rightly worry about the government promoting one religion and discouraging others. The recent decisions by Gov. Scot Walker and President Obama have put a renewed political focus on one aspect of the holiday season: the Christmas tree.
In 2012, presidential candidates are expected raise and spend approximately eight billion dollars in campaign contributions, an increase of 20 percent from the 2008 election.President Barack Obama alone is expected to raise about one billion dollars for his campaign, and don’t expect that money to come from teaching unions or the ACLU; despite Obama’s promise of liberal change, his 2008 campaign accepted more money from the financial sector than anyone in history.
“Stop the problem before it starts.” This timeless adage has been offered as a solution to dilemmas both big and small, each time serving as valuable and effective words to live by. In the case of certain problems facing the UW-Madison campus, the situation is no different.
We are a little bit worried about this recall, and we are not alone. All you hear across this campus and across this city is that maybe organizers will get enough signatures to initiate a recall election, but there is nobody who can take down Scott Walker. For all of his critics, Walker also has loyal fans with very deep pockets, and that is a major factor in a race where campaign finance regulations are thrown out the window. He may not be well liked, but Walker certainly is feared. Unfortunately, that fear may be powerful enough to derail this whole effort.
I have been talking with my progressive friends about Gov. Scott Walker lately. I’ll be the first to admit that Walker’s policies have had mixed results at best. I stand with my progressive friends in opposing his budget cuts—after all, it is a recession which is the worst time to cut government spending. But my friends also want to hold a special recall election to kick him out of office early. I disagree.
If last week's weather is any indication that winter is finally upon us, then be wary because snow will be piling up any day now. For years, Wisconsin has used salt to keep our streets and highways safe. When salt hits ice, it causes a physical reaction that lowers the freezing point and causes the ice to melt so it is easier to plow.
The Daily Cardinal Editorial Board recently met with ASM members to discuss their upcoming internal budget, especially the request for $100,000 to fund a series of internal training sessions-we were not impressed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a much-anticipated report regarding Iran’s nuclear programs Tuesday afternoon, including hard evidence of certain military aspects of the program that suggest Iran could eventually posses a nuclear weapon. Crucially, the report released Tuesday is the most comprehensive and damning account of Iran’s nuclear program yet, and as such the report will send shockwaves throughout the international community. Reports released late last week and early this week describe Israel as preparing for a military strike against Iran, while defense planners in the United Kingdom are preparing military contingency plans if the United States or another ally chooses to resort to military force in response.
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