On the Issues

There was no pretense in Ben Manski’s voice when he said his life’s work is to start a new progressive movement in the United States.

In an interview with The Badger Herald, Manski highlighted his achievements as an activist at the University of Wisconsin and beyond, and what electing the first Green Party state representative would mean for Wisconsin and the 77th District.

Manski was more than happy to trace Wisconsin’s progressive history. He pointed to his campaign pin on his lapel, with a beacon as the “I” in “Manski.”

Next week, Madison students will have the opportunity to make national news by voting to keep Wisconsin on track to becoming a national leader in education, sustainability and social justice. As this year’s election cycle at long last comes to a close, young people across the state will have the power to move Wisconsin back to the dogmatic and failed free-marketeering of yesterday, or toward the smart, progressive governance that has been the state’s staple for over a century.

Either candidate for Wisconsin's 77th district, Democrat Brett Hulsey or the Green Party's Ben Manski, will represent a liberal vote in the assembly. On a great deal of environmental and social issues Manski and Hulsey seem to be in agreement and would reflect the opinions of Madison and Middleton voters.

But given Manski's commitment to UW-Madison and Hulsey's troubling stances on important immigration issues, we as students are compelled to endorse Manski.

A joint appeal from Matt Gonzalez, former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and David Cobb, 2004 Green Party presidential nominee, representing different strands of the green movement, uniting to support Manski for Wisconsin:

Friends,

What would it take to elect an independent, green progressive to a major legislative body, someone who has the courage and strength to stand up to the lobbyists and the corporations, yet also has a history of bringing progressive minded people together to fight the good fight?