September 17, 2009
Those who want flowers should water them
Is it that hard to water a basket filled with flowers?
It's something the city and the Friends of the Downtown have been at each other over for years now, and for some, me included, it surprises why it's been a battle and yet the larger person hasn't stepped up to the plate to bat.
Up early and into the office usually everyday at 6:30 a.m., a typical summer morning for me usually consists of coffee, dodging deer and waving to the young town worker whose first job everyday is to water the hanging baskets that extend out from the street lamp poles in downtown Minocqua.
Occasionally then throughout the day, you'll see the downtown business owners themselves out, atop a ladder, spreading some more H2O onto the plants. Why, because they look pretty and people like looking at pretty things ... It's simple!
The attitude "I'm not going to do something because it's not my job" is a bunch of BS.
Some people take looking at pretty things much more seriously than others. For the downtown business owner who hears the comment - "those baskets outside are just beautiful" - it's easy to see how they put more value into facades and such when it's the downtown business owner who is most benefitted from the nice looking baskets.
If a flower needs water, give it some damn water. Don't sit there and curse and swear that the person who's supposed to be doing it isn't.
If the City of Medford doesn't want to take the hanging baskets in downtown seriously, I don't think it's too much to ask that those people who want to see them maintained, do. Take the saddle off of the Medford city employees friends, it's easy to see you're kicking a dead one.
— Douglas Etten, Minocqua
Invites people to check out local show
Several months ago Charter Communications reassigned community TV systems in our area to a "community" of channels, including number 994 in Medford.
Actually there are ten channels in this community, including 984 at Stevens Point. As a volunteer for the Point channel, let me invite Medford viewers to stop by our place on the dial and see what we have to offer. You might be surprised on the number of interesting programs, including The Show, a variety type program I've been producing for a dozen year.
The Show is presented every Friday evening at 8:00 and Saturdays at 2:00 and 6:30 p.m. It would be nice to have Medford area viewers join our audience.
— Dan Schobert, Plover
Majority of people just want health care for everyone
A two party system shouldn't be between liars and wimps.
Thank you Donna Maguire for pointing out that the US version of socialized medicine (Military) is better, in your opinion, than Germany's socialized medicine. The majority of us just want to extend that kind of coverage to all of the citizens of the United States. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) the US is No. 37 in health care but we are No. 1 in how much we pay for health care. No one envies us anymore.
Germany has a progressive tax system so only people who earn over $76,600 pay 40 percent. Anything under is taxed at 14 percent or 0 percent. It's disingenuous of you to insinuate that they are taxed into poverty. In addition, they don't have to pay medical/insurance bills.
As for George Soros, you seem to imply that the right wing hasn't got rich bastards on their side. Or do you mean that Rupert Murdoch, the rich Australian that owns a list of media as long as your arm that financially backs the right wing, is a good guy and George Soros, who's slightly left, is the bad guy? Fine, take them all out of the equation. One man, one vote. But right now the Supreme Court is hearing arguments to give corporations more financial leeway to sway elections. Bush appointee, John Roberts, has said he “has no problem” with that. This is the same John Roberts who stated, right after he was appointed to the Supreme Court that he wants a raise. He brings this up quite regularly. Is he susceptible to bribes by corporations? When Scalia went on a “junket” in 2005, ABC news asked if he was violating the ethics code. But “Scalia's trip did not violate the Supreme Court ethics code because there is no Supreme Court code of ethics.“ No ethics, therefore no violations. Sort of like no laws equals no crimes. And these are the only five people whose votes were counted in 2000 in the selection of Captain AWOL and five Deferment Dick.
Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, don't it?
Corporate lobbying started with Grant (R) surged under Reagan (R) and doubled to 34,750 under GWB. Republicans dance with those that bought 'em.
I can understand why people want less government involvement because we've seen with Bush/Cheney what utter incompetence can do. FEMA with Katrina. DOD with Iraq and Afghanistan wars, military intercept planes that didn't stop the twin tower attacks, deregulation of banking leading to a collapse in the housing market, the list in the last administration, was endless. Willful destruction or total incompetence? Either way the majority of Americans didn't want to see it continue and 50 to 65 percent consistently back President Obama.
If Republicans were serious about not wanting socialist programs in the US, I am sure a lawyer could provide them with a legally binding contract where they could give up their Social Security, Veterans’ benefits and Medicare. The money they would have collected would go to pay for the Bush/Cheney illegal wars since the military is the only socialist program they can whole heartedly back.
Time after time I have proven that the right wing lies or obfuscates. Time after time they retaliate with more lies or innuendo.
Lucky for Donna, Arizona (along with about nine other states) is trying to pass a bill banning nationalized health care which would include Medicare and Veterans’ benefits by definition.
“When a man is honestly mistaken and hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or he will cease being honest.” (Abraham Lincoln, progressive Republican) I think Donna and the other 20 percenters have ceased to be honest a long time ago. I feel no need to pretend that they are a viable party anymore and neither should you.
— Linda Osolkowski, Rib Lake
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