I was dismayed to read the misrepresentation and misinformation in Kyle Robisch's Friday column. Representing the Fall 2007 Progress Party as pompous and not distinguishing it from the new Progress Party is intellectually dishonest. And certainly, Robisch must have noticed in the past year or so the partisan bickering between Orange & Blue and Gator, now Unite. The butting of heads was clearly displayed during Wednesday's presidential concluding remarks, Sunday's debate and many other times.
The new Progress Party has successfully stood above the "politics of old." In fact, I would put them in a category much different, and more noble, from "politics." A significant number of the people running and helping the party are brand new to this game, unlike Robisch, but I consider that refreshing to the "fundamentally broken SG." But Progress is not all new; we have some of the best veteran SG politicians who have already swum against the tide.
Streaming Senate video sessions is not "petty" at all. One thing Robisch missed when gathering what the students want is a transparent and accountable SG. Having more people see what is going on is an easy and inexpensive way toward this noble and democratic goal of fixing SG. The main problem with this system is that about 80 percent of students do not vote because they are jaded or do not even know what SG does.
Finally, to cut this short, I do not believe Unite brings "promise." After four years here, I have always seen one party with the most glossy flyers, the most forced votes and the same promises, but little if anything ever happens. This year, that party is Unite.
Progress, on the other hand, is not the typical indie or oppositional party. The executive candidates have sworn off their potential salaries because they know others can use that money more than they can. For those I have met in the Progress Party, these issues are not talking points for an election. These are personal issues that we truly care about.
Thomas Reynolds is a political science and religion senior.
