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"You know who's the majority leader of the state Senate. It's talk radio in Milwaukee, and everybody here knows it."

-- Democrat Russ Decker, on the floor of the Wisconsin state Senate.

Sen. Decker's not alone in his vocal disdain of talk radio. Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch and some elected Republicans have recently bemoaned the medium as well.

Hell, the opening paragraph of a recent Wisconsin State Journal editorial even asked: Who is leading the state Senate -- Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, or right-wing Milwaukee talk radio squawkers?

Now, the most recent controversy centers on the flood of constituent calls, letters and e-mails regarding ethanol-based automotive fuel. But the "Who the hell do these talk radio guys think they are?" argument has been around for more than a decade. In 1995, it was the Milwaukee Brewers stadium debate. Since then, Milwaukee (and now Madison) talk radio hosts have provided encouragement for constituents to contact their elected officials regarding everything from school choice to gas tax indexing.

So, what on earth is wrong with that?

Some hold the condescending view that individuals who are motivated to call and contact their legislators after hearing about an issue on the radio are mindless dupes. The Daily Kos Web site refers to them (us) as the neo-con zombie brigade. Who else holds this view? Mainly those on the losing side of the policy debates in which talk radio engages. They want power for the people -- but only their people.

Liberal elites who believe that those who listen to Limbaugh, Belling, Sykes, Wagner, etc., are brainless automatons are truly the ones who are uninformed and out of touch.

The power of talk radio does not rest in the hands of the hosts. It rests in the minds of the listeners.

Do these shows generate calls into legislative offices? No doubt. Yet, these calls are the result of constituents exercising their democratic right to choose to voice their opinion. Isn't this something to celebrate?

Does the Wisconsin State Journal want legislators to discern the motivation behind every letter, phone call, fax or e-mail they receive?

Say it was even possible. A teacher calls at the behest of her union. A husband sends an e-mail at the urging of his wife. A college student is motivated to show up to a town hall meeting after a discussion in his dorm. A business owner meets at the Capitol at the urging of his professional association. Are any of these contacts more or less significant than ones motivated by a half-hour call-in segment on a talk radio show?

As an aside, it's beyond me how anyone can bemoan both low voter turnout on Election Day and also be disgusted when thousands upon thousands of people are motivated to contact their election officials.

Elected officials who are upset over receiving swarms of constituent contacts should consider another line of work -- one where the will of the people is not so important. I wouldn't suggest talk radio, though. Unlike politicians, who can turn a deaf ear to the voices of constituents for years before having to be judge, for those in talk radio, every day is Election Day. Every day the squawkers‚ constituents vote on whether or not to tune in.

Do you know what that's called?

It's called Democracy.

Thanks for listening.

Brian Fraley is the president of The Markesan Group, LLC, a national business and political consulting firm located in downtown Milwaukee.