School Consolidation

The rancorous debate over the recent school consolidation issue is over. The larger fight for adequate school funding is just beginning. This mild insurrection is a perfect example of displaced energy and frustration. After decades now of agonizing struggles, much freely given self and community sacrifice to build and maintain a quality education program for all Madison children, Madison taxpayers’ patience and funding alternatives are running thin.

Middle class Near East Side residents were pitted against middle class West Side residents; social liberals against more conservative liberals; old school board members against newer board members; and special education against special arts programming. This in-fighting unfortunately involved group name calling such as the “complainers” versus the “truly committed” and the “spineless.”

For several weeks, vigorous advocacy and dissent ---the core ingredients for a vibrant democracy --- reigned over Madison. This grass roots democracy included numerous letters and articles written; new funding and program proposals; innovative plans were drawn up to fill up empty spaces; protesters including young people, protested and filled the meeting halls, and many win-win solutions were advanced.

Paradoxically, while all this infighting was playing out at the municipal level, our State pork barrel dependent politicians and rich special interest groups were conspiring at our capitol. . They continue to work hand-in-hand to thwart and hamstring local grass roots efforts to bring about needed local public school, health care, and tax reform for all Wisconsinites.

Until the day comes again when our state representatives begin to represent all the people’s interest in place of the special interests and big business; when campaign finance reform allows you and me to run for public office; until then, we can expect more spending caps, decreasing local municipal and school autonomy, and higher taxes.

What can we do? Join the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (wisdc@wisdc.org) today. Tell your legislator to fight for the removal of local spending caps; ask him or her to speak to your group and ask your lawmaker to talk to you about his or here ten largest contributors and what he had to do to earn their support.

Tell them that unless they vote for campaign reform and cuts their dependence upon the rich and the powerful you plan to work for their defeat come the next election. Urge your local work or professional group, your church’s social justice council; your neighborhood council and local city and county representatives to help work for state campaign finance reform. Finally, ask your local school board representatives to ban together with other city and county school boards to work for campaign finance reform.

Respectfully submitted,
William R. Benedict