OCNN launches Voter Information Project

The Oshkosh Community News Network will sponsor a Voter Information Project (VIP) to encourage citizen awareness of and participation in the 2005 city elections for Common Council and mayor.

The centerpiece of this effort will be online debates, much like the 54th District Candidates Forum that took place during the fall 2004 campaign. The online debates will be supplemented by various other kinds of information and activities, including online FAQs, interviews with city leaders and one or more town hall meetings where citizens will be encouraged to learn about policy issues and help frame alternative approaches. All of these activities will be reported on and/or provided through OCNN’s Web site, OshkoshNews.org.

In April 2005 Oshkosh voters will—for the first time in almost half a century—directly elect a mayor. This change could be far more than a minor procedural shift as it could lead to significant change in city policies and priorities. Issues such as downtown redevelopment, recreational facilities, tax rates and city service delivery could emerge as factors in the decision that voters make.

In addition certain intangibles will be in play in the election for mayor since the first person to hold this newly re-established post will create precedents for successors in terms of how the role is envisioned and discharged. For all these reasons, it is critically important that voters have access to accurate and timely information about the candidates, their positions and their plans for the future.

Already a large number of citizens have indicated an interest in running for mayor and Common Council. The Oshkosh Community News Network believes that Web technology provides the best methodology for citizens to learn about these candidates.

The Oshkosh Community News Network will be working with the Oshkosh League of Women Voters and the Oshkosh Public Library in presenting VIP. In the coming weeks, a series of special Web pages will be created for VIP.

If you would like more information or would like to participate in VIP, please contact Miles Maguire at oshkoshnews@sbcglobal.net.

The Truth About Tax Cuts

Cheap labor conservatives are passing around an email message meant to justify Bush's tax cuts for the rich. This is an answer to that message.


Here's part of the original:


Subject: The TRUTH about tax cuts


Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.


Suppose that every day, ten men go out for dinner. The bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:


The first four men-the poorest-would pay nothing;
The fifth would pay $1:
The sixth would pay $3;
The seventh $7;
The eighth $12;
The ninth $18.
The tenth man -- the richest -- would pay $59.


That's what they decided to do. The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement -- until one day, the owner threw them a curve.


"Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20." So now dinner for the ten only cost $80.


In the nasty and brutish universe inhabited by right wingers, the men go on to argue about how much of a reduction each should get, and end up physically beating on the richest man, who then quits coming to dinner.

Fortunately, I live in a different universe. In my universe, the men decide that there are at least a couple of ways to distribute the savings-or even increases in the price of the dinner, for that matter-equitably. Maybe they actually consulted a woman on the matter.

One of the ways to distribute increases or decreases equitably is to use income growth as a measure. The rich man's income has grown much faster than the others, and in fact the four with the lowest incomes have even experienced a decrease in real income. The richest man has also had the greatest growth in wealth accumulation. After all, the poorest four spend everything they have on food and shelter for their families, the absolute minimum required for human existence, and have nothing left over. The higher the men's income, the more wealth they can accumulate.

The richest man also realized that he benefits disproportionately from the system. He knew that the entire infrastructure of the country serves him as an individual, and also serves the companies he owns stock in. He realized that he takes advantage of the educational system every time one of those companies hires an employee. He understood that the companies he owns use government administrative functions and courts far beyond the needs of the poor. He may even have seen that his companies aren't paying their way completely. Maybe those companies are polluting, rather than cleaning up their waste. Maybe those companies aren't paying a living wage to all of their employees, causing the need for extra social services provided by the government.

And the richest man realized, once he thought about it, that as smart as he was and as hard as he had worked-damn hard, as a matter of fact-there was still an element of luck in his financial success. A lot of people were as smart as he, or even smarter, and had worked as hard as he, or harder, but hadn't done as well. So if good luck was part of his success, maybe bad luck was part of what made poor people poor. Doesn't he owe something back? Of course he does, and his religion tells him so. I say that with confidence, even though I don't know what his religion is. I say it because every major religion and moral philosophy demands that we help our neighbor.

This whole exercise taught the richest man that people with the lowest incomes don't pay enough in taxes-because they don't MAKE enough. He resolved then and there to work with other rich people and employers to increase their incomes. After all, the poor will then be able to buy more products made by his companies, and may even at some point be able to take pride in buying their own dinners. And maybe another benefit of increasing incomes would be less crime, so the richest man could get rid of some of the watchtowers and searchlights protecting his property.

In my universe there was no need to beat up the richest man, or anyone else. There was no need for anyone to quit coming to the restaurant.

As a matter of fact, I'm led to believe that they all lived happily ever after.

-Carolyn Kay

University has room at the top

Campus newspaper reports another vice chancellor is resigning at UW-O, which is currently looking to fill the posts of vice chancellor/provost, dean of nursing and dean of education.

Palmeri's Oshkosh Newsmakers of 2004

by Tony Palmeri

December 22, 2004

Presidential election years have a tendency to bring out the worst and best in any community. The year 2004 was no different. Oshkosh was no different. Apathy on the part of too many citizens, inane and insulting letters to editor coming from people who do claim to care, mainstream news media that provide shallow or misleading coverage of candidates and issues, Democratic and Republican party activists who insult our intelligence by urging us to vote only for party label, Democrats and Republicans offering the same tired politics as usual, too many yard signs, too much awful political literature mailed or delivered to households--all these and more were among the worst we experienced in Oshkosh in 2004.

But we also experienced some of the best: students voting in high numbers, independent and third party candidacies rejecting politics as usual and mobilizing grassroots citizen activism, visits to town by at least 5 presidential candidates (George Bush, David Cobb of the Greens, Independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Michael Badnarik, Socialist Walt Brown) and Democrat VP nominee John Edwards, an independent and a Green Party candidate for the 54th assembly district earning 13% of the vote between them while spending 10 times less than the Democrat and Republican (proving that voters are hungry for alternatives), lots of young people working on campaigns, online news and public access television providing credible alternatives to the mainstream press, and a Grand Opera House debate between US Senate candidates Feingold and Michels.

Not all of the Oshkosh newsmakers of 2004 mentioned below were active in the presidential campaigns. But each made a significant contribution to the city, either by raising consciousness, provoking positive change, or showing principled leadership. And now the newsmakers:

*Fighting the Establishment: Paul Esslinger. For the first time in about 50 years, Oshkosh voters this coming April will have the chance to elect a mayor. Were it not for the heroic efforts of Oshkosh Common Councilor Paul Esslinger, the voters would not have this chance. Esslinger spearheaded the effort the get a referendum question on the November ballot asking the voters if they wanted to elect the mayor, and a majority said yes. The effort to get the referendum question on the November ballot required Esslinger to go head to head against those establishment interests that throw the term "progress" around to justify the squandering of taxpayer money for the benefit of favored builders and developers. Esslinger tried to incorporate veto power into the mayor position, but was unfortunately defeated in that quest by the five "progressive" (yeah, right) members of the Council. Still, electing a mayor will have a major impact on Oshkosh politics; mayoral candidates will be expected to give their views on the direction of the city, and even though they will lack formal powers the fact that they will be elected by the public will give them a bully pulpit from which to move the city in their preferred direction.

*Fighting Ignorance: Kay Springstrogh and Mike Kahl. Last March, State Representative Carol Owens and State Senator Carol Roessler led the legislative effort in Madison to write discrimination into the state constitution with their sponsorship of AJR-66, a fiercely anti-gay measure. In response, Oshkosh residents Kay Springstroh and Mike Kahl founded QH20 ("Queer on the Water") for the purpose of raising consciousness about the issues of gay marriage, civil unions, and gay rights in general. On May 2nd, QH2O held a wildly successful rally at Opera House Square Park in Oshkosh that was attended by more than 200 citizens. With the corrupt Wisconsin legislature more concerned with gay people and guns than with balancing the state budget, I think it is safe to say that we will need Springstroh and Kahl to lead again in 2005.

*Fighting Two-Party Dominance: Carol Ann Rittenhouse. For the first time in history, the Wisconsin Green Party nominated a candidate to run for the 6th Congressional District, a seat held for 25 mediocre years by Republican Tom Petri. Carol is a grandmother, a successful businesswoman, and one of the most decent human beings you will ever meet. Some of my most enjoyable moments during my own Green Party campaign for state assembly in 2004 were the times I spend campaigning with Carol. Though not a very polished politician, Carol speaks from the heart and is a deeply considerate and moral person. She's the kind of woman that the Democrats and Republicans typically ask to make phone calls or stuff envelopes. For giving Oshkosh voters a chance to vote for a real person committed to social and economic justice, ecology, peace and nonviolence, and grassroots democracy, Carol Ann Rittenhouse is one of the newsmakers of 2004.

*Fighting For Alternative Media: Miles Maguire. UW Oshkosh professor Miles Maguire in 2004 was the driving force behind the creation of the Oshkosh Community News Network (OCNN) (www.oshkoshnews.org), an experiment in online journalism. The OCNN believes that "the traditional media are not doing an adequate job in covering and delivering the news and that alternative approaches are needed to promote an informed and active citizenry." Amen. Maguire, a professor of Journalism, created weblog space on the OCNN site, and was able to get the 4 candidates for the 54th assembly district to post multiple blogs. The blog experiment received much positive attention from a variety of media sources, and probably represents the future of political campaigning in America. Maguire is to be commended for getting the candidate blog ball rolling right here in Sawdust City.

*Fighting For Funds: Tom Keefe. Since 2001 Tom Keefe has served as president of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation and executive director of development. Before coming to UW Oshkosh he was executive director of the Catholic Aid Foundation of St. Paul, Minn., and before that served as associate vice president of institutional advancement at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. In 2004 Keefe spearheaded the Oshkosh Sports Complex project to collaboratively provide sports facilities for the university and three local high schools. No taxpayer dollars are involved in the project, even though it will be put to much greater use and create more economic activity than the Riverside Park amphitheater that five members of the Oshkosh Common Council insist must be financed in-part by taxpayer dollars. Perhaps the Common Council's "Fab Five" should contact Mr. Keefe for a lesson in how to raise private funds.

Tom Keefe was also a leaser in the effort to secure the Foundation's purchase of the Newman Center. The new "Foundation Center" has helped alleviate the severe campus space crunch while providing a home for the new Women's Center. Not all faculty and students agree with the direction the UW Oshkosh Foundation has taken under Keefe, but no one can deny that he has brought an aggressive and effective fundraising style to that office that was sorely lacking in the past.

*Fighting For Civics: Andy Robinson. In 2004 the New Voters Project (NVP) registered thousands of young voters on the UW Oshkosh campus and in the community. The NVP campus director, Andy Robinson, deserves multiple gold stars for his efforts. I had the opportunity to speak with many NVP student interns, and all of them praised Andy for his dedication, work ethic, and commitment to the cause of voting. I can say without exaggeration that the civic culture at UW Oshkosh will never be the same as a result of Andy's efforts in 2004.

*Fighting For Principle: Perry Graves. When former president Ronald Reagan passed away in June, mainstream media unleashed a torrent of praise the likes of which had not been seen since the death of Mother Theresa. For more than a week, it was difficult to say or write anything negative about Reagan. Local debate about Reagan's presidential legacy only came about because of the action of United Auto Workers Local 578 President Perry Graves. Remembering Reagan's harsh treatment of Labor and refusing to be bullied into conforming to the establishment media's unbalanced portrayal of the Gipper, Graves refused to fly the flag at half-mast at the Union Hall. Graves' action led to some nasty letters to the local newspaper, including some from union members, but I think he has to be given much credit for sticking to his principles and provoking a much needed debate about the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Perhaps organized labor would not be as weak as it is today if more union leaders had the guts to take some flack for what they believe in.

*Fighting For Poverty Awareness: Carla Eichinger. Or was it swimming for poverty awareness? In early August of 2004 recent UW Oshkosh graduate Carla Eichinger swam almost 10 miles across Lake Winnebago, from from the swimming beach at Menominee Park to Quinney Road in Calumet County. Her goal was to raise funds that allow area children free swimming lessons at the Oshkosh YMCA. Later in August an event was held at South Park in Oshkosh to help raise funds for Carla's cause, and it allowed several speakers including myself to begin a community discussion about poverty.

I've deliberately identified all of the 2004 newsmakers as "fighters," a word choice influenced by a recent speech delivered by Bill Moyers on receiving Harvard Medical School's Global Environment Citizen Award. Near the end of the speech, Mr. Moyers tells of looking at photographs of his grandchildren on his desk and coming to the realization that with our actions we are stealing their future. He concludes that we must "fight for the future that we want. And the will to fight is the antidote to despair, the cure for cynicism, and the answer to those faces looking back at me from those photographs on my desk." I want to thank the Oshkosh Newsmakers of 2004 for showing us how to fight that fight.

Tony Palmeri welcomes your feedback.

What Christmas is about

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. The angels bring the tidings to the shepherds: Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Jesus represents the hope of humanity that we will yet find a way out of the mess we've made on this beautiful planet. We have the potential within us, exemplified by Him, to speak truth to power and suffer the consequences, even death on a cross. We have the ability to love one another and forgive one another for past wrongs. We have the ability to cooperate, compromise and consider the common good rather than our own egotistic needs.

Humanity carries an aggressive set of genes that manifest in some people more than others. In some prisons, such people are labelled "predators" and are segregated from the main population. They are often successful in business and politics.

The US has been taken over by an especially predatory group of people, who arrogantly flaunt every law and standard of decency, and who love war, while proclaiming themselves to be chosen by God. But Jesus came for the poor and needy, and He came to bring peace. Things can change quickly, as His mother Mary said:

The Almighty has shown the strength of His arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
Luke 1 : 21
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/122204.htm

In the name of the Prince of Peace,
Carol Woman

Common Council without common sense!!

As a concerned taxpayer in Oshkosh I must comment on the actions of our Oshkosh Common Council. It seems to be a common theme this council has that even my three year old daughter can relate to “Momma duck (the Chamber) goes “quack, quack” and all 5 little ducklings (you guess who) line up.”

This current council has five members who have voted for service fees, removing street lights, closing pools, etc… all to reduce tax rates. These same people have also voted to raise the tax levy by entering into public / private projects which are partially funded by taxpayer’s money. The most published project, the Riverside amphitheater, has continued to drain the pockets of the Oshkosh taxpayers throughout its first phase.

At the Dec.14 meeting, the council again used its wisdom to eliminate a bid process for work on this project so it would be completed three months earlier. Is it really necessary to put this on the fast track since they have not even secured the management or decided on the concessions vendor? Evidence of a lack of planning or as Mr. Poeschl stated, “Putting the cart before the horse.” Even more importantly this move also eliminated the ability of local contractors to submit a competitive bid to do the work and simply awarded the project to C.R. Meyer.

As a taxpayer, I would like to apologize to these contractors for the potential loss of work on this project. It makes you wonder what phase two will cost us. Do we waive future bids and once again utilize C.R. Meyer in order to expedite progress on future expansion as this and uniformity were cited as the reasoning used to waive the bidding process. I think this is a reasonable question since we all know we are in for more irresponsible spending.

At a time when shared revenue is being cut, cost of living is going up and jobs are being lost in the area, most taxpayers cannot afford this irresponsible spending. We have many streets in poor condition, sewer problems and aging city vehicles, which we can’t afford to replace.

Yet, the majority of the council feels we can tap into the general fund for $675,000 to build restrooms in our new park. Understand this money will not affect your taxes because it is unused tax monies from previous years. During some of these same years we cut services and instituted fees. Maybe Councilor Mattox can figure out how many Butter burgers each taxpayer needs to give up in 2005 to fund buying police vehicles or turn on some lights to provide a brighter outlook for all of Oshkosh.

I understand that we are trying to create a better vision for our downtown but if we want to venture into further development we need to listen with an open ear to our taxpayers concerns. Maybe we could look at how UW-Oshkosh proceeded with the development of their sports complex. It seems to me that this was a well thought out plan. I don’t want to be viewed as one of the so called people who is “biting the hand that feeds it” so I do want to say thank you to the donors. I don’t think they envisioned the turmoil that has occurred with their donation. The problem the taxpayers have is with our councils actions.

In closing, I’m proud to throw myself into the ranks of a so called “Cobblestoner.” You can belittle these cobblestoners for not agreeing with the special interest groups ideas but in reality you are only hiding the fact that they care about “Joe Citizen.” They care about making this city fiscally responsible with their tax dollars and being like stone, it takes a lot of pressure to make them crack.

As the elections are approaching in February I hope for the taxpayer’s sake that they take the time to vote. Remember during the primary your vote is just as important, if not more important, without your support your candidates may not make it to the spring election. It’s truly time for change!!

Mike Domke-- Oshkosh Common Council --Candidate

domkes@new.rr.com (920) 232-5401

BreatheFree Oshkosh seeks funds

The local anti-smoking group is looking to raise $5,000 through a direct-mail campaign.

In a letter dated Dec. 6, Kenneth M. Viste Jr., a local physician, argues that financial support to pay lawyer fees is all that is needed to overturn the temporary restraining order that is blocking enforcement of the city's law on smoke-free restaurants.

"The issues raised in the restaurant owners' suit are technicalities that have been rejected in previous court cases," Viste writes. "The courts will generally support the will of the people through elections in such cases, and we are confident of ultimate victory."

New issue of Oshkosh West Index is now online

You can find it here.

Dr. Christmas is coming!

Gerry Grzyb, a UW Oshkosh sociology professor who is aka Dr. Christmas, will present his 16th annual Christmas music show starting Sunday, Dec. 19.

The show will air from 1-6 p.m. (or longer) each day through Christmas Eve on WRST. That's 90.3 on the FM dial.

New A-T on line

The latest issue, the last of the semester, is here.

Moving ahead on stormwater fixes

The city is moving ahead with a plan to construct a detention basis near Murdock and Main, according to the city manager's weekly newsletter.

County residents need more veggies

The Wisconsin Public Health and Health Policy Institute has released health report cards (PDF) for all of Wisconsin's counties.

Among the findings:

* Winnebago County ranks in the top quartile of Wisconsin counties for overall health but maybe shouldn't. We rank in the second quartile for determinants of good health.

* 8.6 percent of county residents are in fair to poor health.

* County residents have good access to health care but bad health behaviors and an exposure to a bad environment.

* We binge drink and smoke too much.

* Our children have a high exposure to lead.

Waive the Riverside Park bid process

BRYAN L. BAIN
Candidate, Oshkosh Common Council

CONTACT: Bryan Bain (920) 651-9329
bbain1@new.rr.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 13, 2004

I am excited to learn of the $1 million anonymous donation to the Riverside Park amphitheatre project. This is a phenomenal gift that the Oshkosh community should welcome with open arms.

I want to thank the anonymous donor and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation for the matching $300,000 donation. This $1.3 million investment will ensure the completion of the amphitheatre project, possibly even sooner than expected, and allows the city to continue to invest in quality of life enhancements during challenging budget times without stretching the taxpayer. It also demonstrates the success we can have with collaborative public and private partnerships. However, there is an additional step that must be made to move this project forward.

The Oshkosh Common Council will consider Tuesday waiving its normal bid process and award C.R. Meyer the additional contract. We have seen thus far the caliber of the work performed and continuing with C.R. Meyer will maintain this and an overall continuity in the project.

The council has an opportunity to accelerate this project, which could allow the community to enjoy the benefits of it sooner than expected. This results in a win-win situation! I encourage the council not to delay the progress and urge them to support waiving the bid process.

TABOR: Solution or Prescription for Crisis?

The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR):
A Solution to Wisconsin's Fiscal Problems
or a Prescription for Future Fiscal Crises?


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Wisconsin Legislature is currently considering a proposal for a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR). This constitutional amendment, if enacted, would tie annual increases in spending by all governmental bodies in Wisconsin to population growth and the rate of inflation or some other specified index. It would also require passage of referenda for any spending increase in excess of the limits, for any tax change that causes net revenue gains, and for most government borrowing.

Supporters of the TABOR amendment argue that an amendment is necessary because:
* Tax burdens in Wisconsin have climbed to excessive rates,
* The over-taxation of businesses is hurting economic development in the state, and
* State and local government spending in Wisconsin has gotten out of hand.
In this paper, I argue that none of the above assertions can be justified by the facts.


There is no evidence to suggest that our system of fiscal decision making is broken, or needs the kind of radical transformation that TABOR would bring.


Consider the following:
* School property tax rates have fallen by nearly 50 percent since 1991.
* The property tax burden (tax relative to median household income) on the median value house has actually fallen since 1994.
* Although it is true that Wisconsin has had a high state and local tax burden relative to other states, the state's burden is due in large part to the fact that Wisconsin has a relatively low level of fees and charges (including tuition). When general revenue from both taxes and fees is considered, Wisconsin ranked 15 th among all states.
* There is ample evidence from numerous studies that taxes are only one of a great many factors that influence business location decisions.
* A well-trained labor force and high-quality public services are of equal or greater importance to businesses.
* Businesses in Wisconsin face a relatively low tax burden. In fact, Wisconsin ranks 49 th in business taxes as a share of state and local taxes, and 35 th in business taxes relative to corporate profits.
* Wisconsin is not a particularly high spending state. In 2002, Wisconsin ranked 19 th in state and local government spending relative to personal income.

Historically, the growth rate of Wisconsin's economy has outpaced the rate of inflation. Thus, ii by linking the growth of per capita or per pupil spending to the rate of inflation, TABOR will result in expenditures on public services becoming over time an increasingly smaller part of the economy.

The cost of providing many public services, but particularly education and health care, tends to rise faster than the rate of inflation. In order to attract teachers, doctors, nurses, and other public employees, governments must pay competitive salaries, and with rising productivity average real (inflation adjusted) wages increase. Faced with costs that rise faster than the rate of inflation, all governments in Wisconsin would be forced to steadily reduce the public services they provide.

To predict the likely impact of a TABOR amendment, I calculated how much governments in Wisconsin would have been able to spend if TABOR had been implemented in 1986. The version of a TABOR amendment used in my simulations assume growth in state per capita spending is limited to the rate of inflation, the growth of school district per pupil spending to the rate of inflation plus one percent, and the rate of municipal and county government spending to inflation plus the percentage increase in property values due to new construction.

The results of the simulations indicate that:
* In 2003, state government spending would have been two-thirds of actual state spending. Given that many parts of the budget are impossible or very difficult to reduce, e.g. pension contribution, debt service, corrections, TABOR would likely result in drastic reductions in funding for the University of Wisconsin System, likely elimination of the state's Shared Revenue program, which provides grants to municipal and county governments, and reductions in state government support of K-12 education.
* If TABOR had been in place since 1986, by 2003 public school spending in Wisconsin would have been 20 percent lower than the current level of spending.
* By 2003 TABOR-limited spending of municipal and county governments would have been only 7 percent below actual spending, reflecting in part the fact that local government and county spending, on average, grew much more slowly than spending on public education.


TABOR, however, would have a particularly restrictive impact on municipalities which experienced little economic growth. Supporters of TABOR argue that if voters want to spend more than the TABOR limits they can authorize extra spending through referenda.

Budgetary decisions, however, are complex, and it is unlike that most voters would have the time or expertise to study the issues closely. It is more likely that many voters will be influenced by "bumper sticker" campaigns financed by various groups that want to influence their vote. Low voter turnout, especially in local elections, increases the chance that fiscal decisions in Wisconsin will represent the views of a relative small portion of the electorate.


Opposition to TABOR does not imply that Wisconsin does not face serious fiscal challenges. There are, however, much more effective policies to address these problems than the adoption of a TABOR amendment.
* Problem 1: The tendency of the legislature to make spending commitments, but fail to identify funding sources. Policy response: Follow the lead of the U.S. Congress and enact "pay as you go" budgetary rules.
* Problem 2: The failure to be prepared for the fiscal consequences of economic downturns. Policy response: Follow the example of most other states, and make a commitment to place money in a rainy day fund during periods of economic prosperity.
* Problem 3: Many Wisconsin residents continue to face high property tax burdens. Policy response: By cutting property tax rates, TABOR provides completely untargeted property tax relief.

The legislature should address the problem of high property tax burdens by designing tightly targeted property tax relief to those most in need. There is little doubt that over time TABOR would result in big reductions in programs that help the state's most vulnerable citizens, result in serious downsizing of the University of Wisconsin System, seriously reduce the ability of the public schools to provide a quality education for our children, and risk substantial damage to our environment. And there is little question that these reductions in government services would in the long run do serious harm to the state's economy and jeopardize the future prosperity of its citizens.

- Andrew Reschovsky

Human rights

This Friday, December 10, is International Human Rights Day. With the Republicans in the state Legislature clamoring to pass the so-called 'Taxpayer Bill of Rights,' now would seem like a good time to consider what basic rights we all really deserve.

Housing is a human right. Education is a human right. A healthy environment is a human right. Restricting state spending below the level of inflation may be important to some people, but it is NOT a human right.

One human right we do not discuss often is the right to organize and join with others-like the need to have a good job that pays a living wage, provides health care benefits, and treats the worker with respect. Article 23 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, signed by more than 100 countries (including the U.S.) on December 10, 1948, states that, "Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his/her interests."

Yet, as we know, corporations and elected officials often do not respect that human right to organize, and the U.S. labor movement is facing incredibly tough times. But workers continue to organize. The janitors of a Madison company called Clean Power are organizing with SEIU Local 1 to demand good-paying, full-time jobs with security, following the successful model of Justice for Janitors campaigns in other cities. Clean Power, like most corporations, has responded by intimidating union supporters and impugning the union's motives.

On Friday, in honor of International Human Rights Day, the Justice for Janitors campaign will have a rally at the Capitol at noon to demand that Clean Power agree to neutrality in the campaign. Janitors and community members will stand up for their human rights and the human rights of all people. Join us in solidarity and celebrate the continuing struggle for real human rights.

- Josh Healey

Can't tell the players without a scorecard

As of this morning at 11:30, 21 residents had taken out nomination papers, the first step toward running for mayor or common council.

Here is who is in the running at the moment.

FOR MAYOR

Frank Tower
Paul Esslinger
John Daggett
William Castle
John Weinsheim
Mark Madison
Kyle Reppert

FOR COMMON COUNCIL

Jeremy White
Joe Jungwirth
Meredith Scheuermann
Mike Domke
Brian Poeschl
Bryan Bain
Rob Abitz
Cheryl Hentz
Jenny Ryan
Bob Poeschl
Deborah Wendt
Shirley Mattox
Michael Norton
Mariana Stout

The names are listed in order of when the candidates took out nomination papers.

Washington Post weighs in on citizen journalism

If you know anything about citizen journalism, there's probably nothing here that you don't already know.

What's interesting is that this "new kind of journalism" is getting national recognition in the mainstream press.

New issue of the Advance-Titan online

A new issue of the Advance-Titan is now online!

Here are some of the stories in this issue:

News
Hurricane-induced tomato prices put a stain on the market
University closes Albee Hall pool
Car hits students crossing onto Algoma Blvd.
University vandalism costly
Four remain in provost and COEHS dean search
Grievance commission proposed
When the lights go down in the city
Privacy concerns arise with proposal
College of Nursing Dean Merritt Knox retires
Campus wire
Busted!
News in brief

Features
Model UN illustrates stable success
Help for holiday present hunters
Oshkosh offers authentic Mexican food

Arts & Entertainment
... And the term 'Lifepartners' is funny
Shakespeare production plays with passion of youth
Nas' "Street's Disciple" places him among NYC's elite
New Handsome Boy album is one of year's best
Spielburg's plane movie crashes into mediocrity

Opinion
No baby sitter needed
Comedians an answer to R.U.B.'s problems
Point/counterpoint
"Black Friday" or "Buy Nothing Day?"
Polk library listens to the students
From the mailbag

Lighter Side
Beware of the tomato famine
How can steroids help me personally?
The Gripe Line

Sports
Women's basketball 6-0
Men's basketball wounds Eagles
Wrestling falls to Stevens Point, splits meet at La Crosse
Mineral Springs Water Company Titans of the Week

Christian Killers?

There is no doubt that many of the soldiers responsible for the recent death and destruction in Fallujah are Christians. And there is no doubt that many Americans who call for more death and destruction in Iraq and elsewhere are Christians as well.

Christian Killers.

The phrase should be a contradiction in terms. If someone referred to Christian adulterers, Christian drug addicts, Christian prostitutes, Christian pimps, Christian gangsta rappers, or Christian acid rockers, most Christians would get an extremely perplexed look on their face. But when Christians in the military continue killing for the state, and Christians not in the military call for more killing in the name of the state, many Christians don't even raise an eyebrow.

Under what circumstances, then, is a Christian justified in or excused from killing another human being? Is it ever all right for a Christian to be a "killer"? As I see it, there are four circumstances under which a Christian could justifiably kill or be excused from killing: capital punishment, self-defense, accidents, and "just" wars.

Most Christians would wholeheartedly agree with these first three propositions. The problem is with war; specifically, the fact that all wars are not created equal. The vast majority of wars in the world's history have been destructive, unjust, and immoral. Obviously, an aggressive, preemptive war against a country with no navy or air force, an economy in ruins after a decade of sanctions, and that was no threat to the United States is not a just war.

A Christian fighting for the U.S. Government in Iraq doesn't fall under any of these circumstances.

After Bush launched his nebulous "war on terrorism" by having Afghanistan bombed back to the Stone Age to supposedly rid the world of Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, he announced to the world his "axis of evil" and went to war against Iraq to, depending on what day it was, rid the world of the evil Saddam Hussein or because Iraq violated U.N. resolutions or to destroy Iraq's supposed stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction or because of the perceived connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq or to liberate the Iraqi people or to bring democracy to Iraq.

What, then, is a Christian to do? What should any citizen do? Even though it is no longer posted in the public schools, most people know the answer: "Thou shalt not kill" Stop killing or supporting or making excuses for those who do. Quit ignoring the fact that the United States has a global empire of troops and bases that inevitably leads to more killing. Realize that it is the interventionist foreign policy of the United States that is the main reason why the world hates us. Acknowledge that the reason more countries don't hate us is because we bribe them with foreign aid (after the money is first confiscated from U.S. taxpayers).

Perhaps I should close by saying that I have never advocated, nor am I now advocating, nor do I intend to advocate in the future, any armed resistance to the government or any aggression against the government in any way. The pen is mightier than the sword.

What is a Christian (or anyone) going to do when he faces God at the Judgment and has to give an account of his actions? Suppose he is asked a simple question: "Why did you kill those people defending their homes in Iraq?" And suppose he replied: "Because the U.S. government told me to." What do you suppose would be the Lord's reaction to such a reply? But what else could a man say? He could not say that the United States was under attack. He could not say that Iraq was a threat to the United States. He could not say that he was protecting his family. He could not say that he was protecting his property. He could not even legitimately say that he was protecting himself, since he was in fact a trespasser on someone else's property intending to do the owner great bodily harm.

"Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deuteronomy 27:25).


- Laurence M. Vance

“Eye on Oshkosh” host Hentz to run for Common Council

For a little more than two years now I have been proud and honored to host Eye on Oshkosh - and in doing so, have helped enlighten the citizens of Oshkosh about the ridiculous spending ways of the majority of our current Common Council members...

With the exception of Paul Esslinger and Brian Poeschl, our city council members have displayed an attitude of "spend now and figure out how to pay for it later." They seem unable to distinguish between needs and wants and they don't seem to care that they are indebting the hardworking citizens of this community for projects that often are not well thought-out or carefully planned.

A certain amount of spending on development is necessary - but it must be done prudently and judiciously. So far, that has not appeared to be the case with many of the projects this council has approved or actions it has taken.

The good people of Oshkosh have said they are fed up with the council's "business as usual" attitude and many have asked me to consider running for a Common Council seat. So, after giving it much thought and discussing it with those closest to me, I have decided to throw my hat into the ring and seek a city council position. We don't need to stop progress altogether, but we do need to turn things around so we stop the runaway spending locomotive of recent years.

In addition, there are a couple of relatively new groups in Oshkosh which are tied, directly or indirectly, to the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce. These groups are "Propel" and "Progress Oshkosh." It is already clear that members of these Chamber-sponsored organizations will be running for the Common Council and possibly even the mayoral seat. It is reasonable to assume that if these people are elected we will likely face more of the same "business as usual" approach in the city of Oshkosh. We cannot afford for this to continue and I am asking for your help in stopping the pork-barrel spending.

If you would like to get involved with my campaign by signing or circulating nomination papers for me; by making a donation to the campaign; or by getting involved in any other way, I would welcome your support. Feel free to contact me at: hosts@eyeonoshkosh.com; 426-4123; or Cheryl Hentz, PO Box 1628, Oshkosh, WI 54903-1628.

Individually we cannot bring about much change; but together we can accomplish great things and get the city back on track where there are not so many unhappy, overtaxed and frustrated residents.

I encourage you to get involved with, or at least support, candidates who most represent your own philosophies about what a local leader should be. We need your help to ensure that we don't continue putting people into office that will spend your hard-earned money without asking enough questions before doing so. Enough is enough!

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

Cheryl Hentz
Host/Producer of "Eye on Oshkosh" and
Candidate for the Oshkosh Common Council

Christmas Nights Planetarium Show THIS Friday!

Come visit the Buckstaff Planetarium, decorated for the holiday season!

Christmas Nights

Friday, December 3rd at 7 AND 8 PM

Cost: $3/adult and $2/children & UWO students

What IS the Christmas star? How did the sky appear to the Magi (who were astrologers) in years 2 and 3 B.C.? What was the sky like on the night that Christians celebrate as the birth of Jesus? Come learn the answers to these questions and more, while viewing the ancient skies in the dome of the Buckstaff Planetarium!

All are welcome to this public event. Reservations are not required. Private bookings for this show are also available for large groups. For more information, please call Science Outreach at 424- 0287 or write to sciout@uwosh.edu.

Economic effects of smoking ban

Steve Barney writes:

"I sent the following letter to the editor for publication in the Oshkosh Northwestern near the end of August, but they refused to publish it."

I applaud the Oshkosh Northwestern's editorials of July 7 and 29, calling on the Oshkosh City Council to take the high moral ground and ban smoking in the workplace generally, including restaurants and taverns, for the sake of public health, enforceability, and fairness to business.

Personally, I have repeatedly asked, verbally and in writing, a number of Oshkosh taverns to go smoke free voluntarily, with disappointing results. This is despite the encouraging example of Kelly's Martini Bar, the lone smoke-free tavern in Wausau, where, according to the April 22 issue of The Capital Times (Madison), business is booming.

After a recent conversation with Councilor Frank Tower, I did a little research into his factual claim that a restaurant or workplace smoking ban would be economically bad for the city's restaurant and tavern businesses, and I have found strong evidence that his concern is over-wrought. While Councilor Tower may be basing his opinion on nothing but anecdotal statements from those opposed to the late smoking ban, studies by the Center for Disease Control, and other independent, objective and peer-reviewed studies of smoke-free restaurant laws around the country, show there is no long-term negative impact on restaurant sales or employment from these laws. This includes a whole series of studies published in the January 1999 issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, which show the merit of this public health policy. Last April, a review of all the studies in the English language of the economic impact of smoking bans on the hospitality industry found, again, "no negative impact."

If you remain skeptical, please listen to the compelling testimony for the recently passed workplace smoking ban in Madison, which is available on-line in the streaming video archive of the Madison Common Council meeting of April 20, 2004 (begins at 2:3130).