Pubdate: Mon, 16 Oct 2006
Source: UWM Post, The (Milwaukee, WI Edu)
Copyright: 2006 The UWM Post
Contact:  http://www.uwmpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2130
Author: Tyler Casey, Campus Life Editor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

GREEN PARTY GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE SPEAKS AT UWM

Eisman Presents Ideas, Hopes For State At Student Forum

Green Party gubernatorial candidate Nelson Eisman spoke to students 
about his plans for the future of Wisconsin on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Eisman talked about the domination of corporate interests in 
politics, his goal for universal health care in Wisconsin and 
reformation of public education and law enforcement at the state 
level in an event sponsored by the University of 
Wisconsin-Milwaukee's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

"We need to start thinking critically about what's fair in our 
state," Eisman said.

Eisman criticized Gov. Jim Doyle and Republican candidate Mark Green 
for not allowing him a chance to debate them in any of the televised 
gubernatorial debates. He accused both of them of bowing to special 
interests and corporations.

"I would bring discourse to debates that go against their corporate interests."

In addition to the two major parties and their candidates, Eisman 
also had words for corporations, specifically "big pharma" and the 
health care industry. Eisman's platform calls for universal, 
government-funded health care for the entire state. He said it was 
"nuts" that 46 percent of people in Wisconsin have preventative health care.

"You shouldn't have to get sick to get health care," he said.

He also called for a change in the way the state approaches law 
enforcement. Under Eisman's plan, Wisconsin would focus on 
rehabilitating inmates, making state prisons exclusively for violent 
offenders and decriminalizing certain drugs. He said that locking up 
anyone involved in a marijuana offense was a "waste of a cell."

"I think we've lost the war on drugs and we should declare amnesty," he said.

SPJ President Bradley Wooten invited both Green and Doyle to come to 
UWM, with Green said to be receptive to the idea. Wooten said that 
Green eventually declined the invitation after talking with people 
from Doyle's campaign.

He called it "ridiculous" that candidates who campaign on reaching 
out to Wisconsin's youth chose not to come to a public forum on a 
Wisconsin college campus.

"Mark Green makes commercials about this 'idea drain' of young people 
leaving the state," Wooten said. "That's because (politicians) are 
ignoring us."

Eisman echoed Wooten's sentiments, saying that the established 
parties' methods of polling disregard the voices of young people. He 
feels that polls that only contact previous midterm election voters 
through home phone lines are blocking out college students, many of 
whom are first-time voters who only have cell phones.

"Young voters won't get called for the polls, and young people are 
the most likely to vote for the Green Party," Eisman said.

Eisman ended the speech by outlining his party's ideals and 
encouraged those in attendance to work for a change.

"Your generation needs to turn this country around."

The Wisconsin gubernatorial election is Tuesday, Nov. 7.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman