Since the Corporation-funded "We the People" and Wisconsin Broadcasters Association chose not to allow Green Party candidate Nelson Eisman to participate in the debates, we the people were left without hearing from all three candidates for governor.
The following two editorials - the first by Eisman's campaign manager and the second by Eisman himself - identify what Eisman would do as governor. So that other voters have the opportunity to become aware of what the third candidate for governor is all about before casting their ballot, please forward this on to someone else after you have read it. Thanks. Mike Neuman -------------- Herrick: Eisman gives voters a choice STEVE HERRICK October 30, 2006 There is an old saying that America doesn't need a third party, America needs a second party. Granted, the Democrats and Republicans differ on gay rights and abortion. However, on issues like campaign finance reform, renewable energy, college tuition, the war in Iraq, health care, crime, drugs, economic development, corporate taxation, government outsourcing, ethics reform, and more, the positions of Jim Doyle and Mark Green are closer to each other than either is to Nelson Eisman of the Green Party. Is that because Eisman's ideas are outlandish? Ed Thompson doesn't think so. Handing him a campaign contribution, Thompson told Eisman, "You're the only one in this race talking common sense." Here's some common sense - honest government. Doyle and Green bicker about who is more ethically challenged, but only Eisman wants to end the legal corruption of corporate campaign contributions through publicly-financed elections. He would also eliminate government waste and fraud by rewarding whistleblowers, not punishing them. Eisman calls for universal health care. There are advantages for Wisconsin besides the obvious. For example, the biggest obstacle to job creation is expensive health premiums, which universal health eliminates. This expands the tax base and makes Wisconsin better for business. Doyle and Green worked renewable energy into the last "debate," after polls showed Eisman's numbers climbing. Their vision, however, is underwhelming. Eisman, in contrast, calls for conservation, expanded mass transit, and development and manufacturing of solar and other renewables here in Wisconsin. Eisman proposes to eliminate the sales tax completely, as well as the property tax on primary residences. That revenue would be made up in the income tax, but not by the poor. In fact, people making under $25,000 would pay no income tax at all. Up to $250,000, the tax rate would be around 5 percent to 6 percent, and above that, whatever it takes to balance the budget. That would probably be about 10 percent, a rate the rich already pay in some states. There are other issues on which Eisman is conspicuously different from the corporate parties. One is his strong opposition to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Another is calling for an immediate tuition freeze for in-state UW students, and tuition reduction in coming years. Still another is his support for instant-runoff voting. Eisman wants to expand the discourse in this campaign. He accepted five debate invitations from civic- minded organizations, such as the League of Women Voters. Doyle and Green, in contrast, only appeared in the "We the People" and Wisconsin Broadcasters Association "debates," which allowed them to avoid facing Eisman. As they learn of Eisman's exclusion, Wisconsinites tell our campaign they are outraged - regardless of who they plan to vote for - because debates are for the benefit of the voters, not the candidates. Until the voters see all the candidates and hear all their ideas, the democratic process in Wisconsin remains fundamentally flawed. Herrick is campaign manager for Nelson Eisman, the Green Party candidate for governor. http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/column/other/index.php? ntid=105317&ntpid=2 ----------- Next Nelson (eisman) Team Will Make Environment Key The Capital Times :: EDITORIAL :: A10 Thursday, October 19, 2006 As governor, Gaylord Nelson made Wisconsin a leader in environmental protection. As senator, he gave the world Earth Day. Recent Wisconsin governors have reversed much of what Gaylord Nelson accomplished. As your next governor, I will pick up where Gaylord Nelson left off. The next Nelson administration -- the Nelson Eisman administration -- will return Wisconsin to our rightful place as a global environmental leader. One of the main reasons I am running for governor is to restore state standards for energy and transportation planning and environmental protection. We have seen the results of moving these responsibilities from our government to for-profit corporations. We have seen the results of politicians in the pockets of their lobbyists and the corruption and cronyism that plague our state. Our energy costs keep rising and the power company profits increase as our environment declines. Four more dirty coal plants are being developed. Our fish are too toxic to consume. What will be the impact on our public health and economic prosperity? Who will pay to clean up this mess? The Public Service Commission has delayed approval of the plans submitted by the American Transmission Co., but this is no assurance that ATC will be stopped. I am the only gubernatorial candidate who is a member of SOUL (Save Our Unique Lands), which has rallied to stop ATC. I am the only one speaking out for conservation, renewable energy and environmental protection. I will restore the integrity and purpose of the public intervenor, the Department of Natural Resource and the PSC. More important, I will restore the role of citizen participation in planning, rule making, agency oversight and staff selection. Groups like the Wisconsin Interconnected Distributed Resources Collaboration and SOUL have studied how everything fits together and the state needs this input to guide us into a sustainable future. We need new energy and transportation policies that emphasize conservation and new energy technologies. Solar, wind, hydrogen and other technologies, along with mass transit, will help us create a sustainable environment and economy. Transportation is a large contributor to pollution. The Nelson Eisman administration will redirect highway funds to promote new programs to encourage biking, walking, mass transit and carpooling for commuters. The Eisman administration will address water issues as a top priority. We value our lakes and rivers, and depend on them for drinking water, agriculture and recreation. Signs of distress in the state include poor water quality, pollutants such as mercury in lakes, excessive pumping of water that drains lakes and water tables, storm water overflows, and discharges of sewage into the Great Lakes. We have a proud history of environmental protection and need to restore the value we place on appropriate controls. Incentives and fines both need to be increased. We need to ban "energy hog" appliances and encourage our manufacturers of energy-efficient products. Our investments in conservation, efficiency and environmental protections will delay the need for more power plants and protect our future. Please help me win election this Nov. 7 so we can harness the power of the people of Wisconsin to run our government for the people and for a sustainable future. See my Web site, www.voteEisman.org, and join the Wisconsin Green Party. \ Nelson Eisman is the Green Party candidate for governor. http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php ref=/tct/2006/10/19/0610190311.php _______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
