September 10, 2009
Says state needs Thompson back as governor
The next race for governor is just around the corner. By now we have had enough of Governor Doyle. Even Governor Doyle has had enough of Governor Doyle. He has opted to scoot. A leader with a winning record doesn't do that.
We know that it is time for a change. Now, I'm not saying that we have not had changes under Doyle and his followers. We have had plenty of changes. Here is what some of those changes have been . . .
When Tommy Thompson left office, we had the lowest unemployment figures in the country. Seven years later, we now have the highest. Some change!
When Tommy Thompson left office, we were a welfare reform leader and we stopped being a welfare magnet. Governor Doyle and the Doylies want to return us to a welfare magnet. Is this the change that we wanted?
When Tommy Thompson was governor, we not only had good schools, but we were able to restrict increases in property taxes by holding down teachers' salaries to affordable levels with the QEO and revenue limits. And the teachers were not rioting in the streets. They knew that they had a governor who realized that they needed job stability and the tools to teach.
The present governor, supported by the Doylies, has done everything he can to get around these sensible limits. The result will inevitably be higher property taxes. That's a change that we don't need.
Speaking of taxes, under Thompson personal income taxes did not increase, sales taxes did not increase, and corporate taxes did not increase. The lame duck Doyle administration will have to increase taxes because Doyle wants to raise over a billion dollars of revenue from you in this budget alone. That's a lot of change and we are the chumps who will have to come up with it.
When Tommy Thompson took office we were an absolute last choice as a place to do business. If someone suggested Wisconsin as a place to locate, the idea was good for a laugh. By the time Thompson left, we were known as the Star of the Snowbelt. That was a nice change for us. Who has opened up here lately? Certainly, not one of the companies that have moved workers to other states. Companies and jobs are fleeing Wisconsin.
When Thompson left office, we had the highest number of manufacturing jobs in the history of our state. Today we are at 1983 levels for those jobs and they are still declining. We cannot see the bottom. Is that the change that we wanted?
What we need and, in fact, deserve is a governor who not only knows that "Forward" is not just the state's motto, but that it is a way of thinking. We had this with Governor Tommy Thompson. We can have it again and we should.
We don't need to be led by those who will follow failed policies they created. We need someone with a track record. We need Tommy G. Thompson.
I support Tommy G. Thompson because his policies are not just theories. They have worked. He has a track record that we can trust and be proud of.
P.S. According to records kept by the state, during the month of July 2009, Wisconsin lost 30,000 jobs. That equates to 967 jobs a day, or 40 jobs an hour, or one job lost every 29 seconds.
— Ken Artis, Black River Falls
What is status of Jump River Lions theft?
I’m just curious.
Whatever happened with the Jump River of July 4 theft investigation?
Is there a suspect? Has a fund been started to help this little town regain that stolen money for next years’ fireworks? I’ve never missed a July 4 in Jump River yet and I’m not about to start now but it just wouldn’t be the same without those fireworks.
To the guilty party or parties – don’t ever think we have forgotten.
— Michele Seeger Hendrickson, Menomonie, Jump River native
There is no perfect society where resources are shared
I've heard this before... "2 percent of the people own 98 percent of the assets in this country.” I remember a Social Problems class I took eight years ago that ran similar numbers, comparing the USA to other countries, capitalism verses socialism, etc. One theme that stuck to us students was this: no matter what, there is no Utopia, or a perfect society that shares wealth equitably. But the opportunities were far greater in our country than most others, that is, citizens and immigrants alike had more opportunities in the USA to fulfill their dreams than any other country. In fact, when running percentages it showed that the 'ruling classes' in Europe owned more (not by much, however) wealth and assets than the wealthy in America. I was living in England at the time. The Queen of England owned 1/3 of England and it's assets and properties. Most people did not own their homes and many through leasing (similar to what is happening in Hawaii) and many paid rent.
That, Jack, is one huge difference between America and other places around the world, and seems to me to be the one way to achieve at least a small share of the assets.
You spoke of the (all eight) Canadians-who can afford to live a "month or two" in Scottsdale — that don't understand why Americans are "going along with the present medical system." Of course they're happy! My friend lived in Montreal and posed one question: if the healthcare system was so good in Canada then why did their Prime Minister have heart surgery in America? Finally, you address the doctor from Egypt. Well, why do you think doctors (or anyone) emigrates to this country? My guess is because America, still, provides more access to quality healthcare, more freedoms and better quality of living compared to other places.
Your distaste for the Republicans or those even partially supporting its core beliefs is perplexing. By no means have I always voted Republican. I changed my views entirely when I lived in Europe. Why? I missed a lot of things about the USA, especially when my daughter was in the hospital. She was stuffed in a room with three other ill children, with families that didn't care to speak the language of the country they were now or were becoming citizens of (Germany). Although the doctors were competent, I was not confident my daughter was getting the best healthcare, and once she was released not much better off, I took her to the American military hospital. Within a day, she was 100 percent better.
In Germany, citizens — and newly arrived immigrants — receive an income to help cover the costs of raising a family (believe it was called 'kindergilt') for each child born. Housing was offered to newly arriving foreigners who wished to become citizens. Sounds good, right? But who pays for this? The hard working Germans, who pay roughly 40 percent taxes off their income. I got the impression that those paying the taxes did not feel they could, despite the generous, family subsidy, afford children and therefore had less or no children, because they didn't want to burden the already stretched Euro that were being squandered by those "working" the system.
I honestly don't believe Americans want this kind of system, either.
Across the country there are town hall meetings. Last week where I live, there was such a meeting with our local representative. Instead of an open discussion it seemed more like a selling —informing rather — that no matter what, this bill will be passed regardless of what the people (the opponents) or constituents voiced. And, all 12+ million illegals will be given healthcare, while many US citizens struggle to find a way to afford healthcare.
That hardly seems democratic.
Is our country a Utopia? Not at all, but I do believe some broken systems can be fixed without converting to socialistic ideologies.
Getting back to wealth, that professor of my Social Problems class made an impressionable point. If you really want to see who owns or runs this country, trace the money trail. The wealthy enjoy hiding it, keeping it, and yes Jack, hogging it! Yet they love to attach themselves to "good causes" and charities, and sell their ideologies to those voters who may be looking for a handout (for lack of better words) or change so many believed in.
I have nothing against people succeeding and becoming wealthy through hard work, whether they vote Democrat or Republican or otherwise. But when I think of the powerful, wealthy and influential people in this country, Hollywood, "old money" and, the elitists — who did not have to make a living on hard work like other 'normal' people in this country — come to mind. I believe the wealthy supported putting Obama in office. Why? Because his administration will push their agendas onto us while his supporters (like George Soros) get richer.
And it seems we won't have much say in it, either.
That is what appears to be going on in this country now, and that is not a democracy.
But I'll continue to see America (and my hometown, thank you very much) through rose colored lenses, hoping the voice of the people can influence our leaders to fix the things that do not work, yet cherish and retain the democratic system that made this country so powerful, admired (as well as envied) around the world. — Donna Maguire, Scottsdale, Ariz.
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