Muddled Thinking Won't Advance Reform

March 19, 2002

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial (March 13, 2002) chides "black supervisors and their supporters" who boisterously protested a proposal to reduce the size of the county board at a recent committee meeting. The editorial suggests that county residents are in a mood for reform and that "the reform issues transcend race."

While many good ideas for reform have been floated, and more ideas are sure to arise, reform does not operate in a vacuum.

While reform should result in good government that's efficient, it must above all result in a government that is democratic and constitutional. "Making the trains run on time" at any cost is unacceptable.

"Reform issues transcend race" is a muddled expression at best. I suspect the "black supervisors" the editorial refers to are demanding a meaningful franchise and an accountable government. Isn't that what everyone wants?

Reform will fail if all the people can't participate (at least through their elected representatives) in the process and in government. After all if government and elected officials aren't responsive to all the people, to whom do they respond? Call us naïve, but the ACLU doesn't know of any other system we should aspire to establish.

Chris Ahmuty
Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin