November 19 2008
Thank you, kind stranger
To the Editor:
An honest, thoughtful person gave my billfold (with keys attached) to the postmaster when they saw it hanging from my post office box. I don’t know who it was but I want that person to know their gesture of kindness was very much appreciated.
My deepest gratitude goes out to that anonymous person and also to John Gessler. You, and people like you, make this community a pleasant place to live. Thank you.
Marge Westrich,
Abbotsford
Donation should inspire
To the Editor:
I would like to just start by saying…YES! Thanks to someone who heard my cry for help, $5,000 has been donated from the Shortner Family Trust to be used as the seed money for the suffering Unity Memorial Hall. Not only is the hall suffering, but so is the spirit of the people who live there. I have made many calls trying to get people in Unity interested in attending board meetings, but it seems the past is too big for many to put behind them. These are good people and maybe it is easier for me than them to say, but here I go…the past is the past. It is called that because it is over with and it is time to move on.
I believe that the spirit of a small town can be uplifted and I would like to encourage those who are interested to take note that a positive force has begun here in Unity. It is called The Unity Lions Club. I always thought that it was for old people, but I must be old now…because me and my husband are joining. In my ignorance I wasn’t aware of the good that can come when a Lions Club is in the community. The Lions Club is the largest voluntary service organization in the world. They build ramps for the handicapped and I am told that the camp at Rosholt is their pride and joy. It is a special place for special people.
This is just a small part of what is possible in such a club. Locally they can do much for a town who is suffering from lack of enthusiasm and funds. The meetings are attended by few, yet many have joined. Where are you? Many are burdened by much and it is hard to take the push that can make one part of their community. My mother and grandmother both died of cancer and they suffered much. They were imperfect people, but they often said, “life is good if you don’t weaken.” They did not mean that we must be strong, but I have learned that their message was one of caring. We must not stop caring!
Along with the notification of the $5,000 donation to Unity Memorial Hall which I received in the mail, also enclosed were these simple words. “What a man does for himself dies within him. What he does for his community lives forever.”
So finally in ending this letter to the editor are my simple words: Heart of Unity, where are you?
Sue Hubing
Unity
Note: Lions Club meetings are every third Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church basement in Unity.
Obama is no “God”
To the Editor:
Well, I guess it’s happened. The God-like Obama has won the election. Watching the crowds on TV cheering their hero are the same people that would be breaking windows and burning cars if Obama had lost. Obama has promised everything to everyone. He will give better welfare and free gas for your car. He will cancel the Patriot Act and close Gitmo. He will pull the troops out of Iraq. He will cut the military budget, which is what the Dems always do.
President Bush is hated by the Dems even though we haven’t been attacked at home since 9/11.
The American taxpayer has bailed out the banks and the credit card companies are crying for their share. This is just the beginning with the Dems in charge. Before long the newspapers will be calling for a bail-out.
The fact is President Bush has saved this country as Winston Churchill did in England in WWII. People have short memories as proved when Churchill didn’t get re-elected after WWII.
If America gets hit again because of Obama’s policies then all of the people that voted for him should be made to help pick up the bodies of their fellow Americans.
The Dems have created a God out of a community organizer. All that is left to say is God help us all.
Thomas Vesely
Marshfield
Board makes bad decision
To the Editor:
The Clark County Board may have finally done something right. It took me a while to discover the brilliance of the idea. Sixteen board members voted to reduce the budget contribution to Clark County Economic Development Corporation by $50,000, effectively preventing the organization from helping get new and better jobs for Clark County, promoting retail business and tourism and providing professional economic development expertise to county municipalities and economic development groups.
What an idea! Without job and business growth we eliminate all kinds of future county budget problems. We can save money on roads and bridges because there will be less traffic. There can be large personnel cuts in county government because there will be less people to serve. Zoning and planning can disappear completely because there will be no new growth to worry about and no planning will need to be done. The Register of Deeds office will need very few employees because there will be few property sales. The new county sales tax will be a “non-issue” because most of our purchases will have to be made outside the county. Our municipalities will not have to find financing for sewer and water systems; less streets will have to be improved or plowed because the houses will be empty. School taxes can be almost eliminated because there will be no kids, so no need for schools.
The genius of this idea to control and eliminate future expenses really shines when you look at the long term effects. The existing businesses in the county will eventually disappear giving us more cost savings. As businesses and schools close, it will be harder to attract employees. That will leave retirees as the main population group, and we all know that folks who get Social Security and pensions generally have more ability to pay their taxes than wage earners and require fewer services.
Why didn’t we think of this before? The economic development groups would have been able to spend their time hunting, fishing, shopping or looking for a better job (out of the county). We helped attract and provide services for new businesses like Weathershield, Midwest Aluminum, OEM; creating a bunch of new jobs and more budget problems for the county. If this idea had surfaced before we formed CCEDC in the early 90’s, we would be well on our way to eliminating business and employees from Clark County and be relishing in the obvious budget savings.
My compliments to those 16 board members on their innovative approach to county budget control and the brilliance of the idea: “Don’t invest in Clark County’s future, then we won’t have a future to worry about.”
Don Pentz,
Sr. Vice President - State Bank of Withee
Member - Board of Directors - Clark County Economic Development Corp.
November 12, 2008
VA may discontinue care
To the Editor:
Attention all veterans. It appears we may be in danger of losing a very important federal benefit, one that will impact a large number of veterans in a very negative way. A large number of Vietnam veterans are likely to lose their eligibility for VA health care, and this is a call to arms to prevent that from happening. We need your help.
Vietnam veterans as a population have been “guaranteed” enrollment to VA health care for sometime now based on their presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The VA healthcare system has eight different priority levels of veteran populations, with all but Priority Group 8 currently eligible for enrollment. At the present time, Vietnam veterans are automatically considered Priority Group 6 veterans and can be enrolled into the system regardless of their disability status or financial condition. This is based on authority given the VA which, unfortunately, expired in December 2002. While VA has seen fit to continue the enrollments regardless of the expiration, there are administrative afforts within VA to discontinue treatment under this authority and that looks likely to happen in the near future. The only way this can be prevented is to provide VA with new legal authority.
We need to do two things. First, we need to get the word out to all Vietnam veterans this is happening and that if they are not yet enrolled in VA health care, they need to be, and quick. The window of opportunity is closing, and we need to get as many enrolled as possible before it shuts. There will be no advance warning by VA. Based on past practices, veterans already within the VA healthcare system will be “grandfathered” and not dropped. Vietnam veterans living in Clark County and not yet enrolled in the VA medical system should contact the Clark County Veterans Service Office immediately for assistance (715-743-5160), or go to the nearest VA medical facility with DD-214 in hand for on site enrollment. If you do not live in Clark County, you can call our office to find the name and number of the CVSO in your county. Secondly, we need all veterans, not just Vietnam veterans, to contact their political representatives and ask for their assistance in resolving this issue. It can only be corrected politically, and if enough veterans get involved, we can insure that our Vietnam Veterans are allowed continue enrollment in the VA medical system based on their exposure to Agent Orange.
Clark County Veterans Service Office
Neillsville
Ron has it right
I don’t agree totally with Mr. Graffunder’s letter to the editor.
Congressman Ron Paul from Texas has been addressing these issues for 20 years. You come very late to the party!
Congressman Paul asked years ago to audit the federal reserve, balance budgets, stay out of foreign entanglements, abortion is murder, homosexuality is a contradiction, etc.
Huge movements in the stock market are not by accident!
Thomas Lang
Spencer
God help us
Here it is election day and I sit patiently waiting for the mailman to come and deliver my weekly edition of the Tribune Phonograph. Now mind you it comes to me on most weeks on Monday but it was delayed probably from all the Obama propaganda and master plans about all the infrastructure reconstruction that won’t be taking place if he becomes president. Now I know that I won’t get to read this in the paper till after the results are in and that part of our political process has taken place but I was moved to write a small response to Chuck’s insightful letter. Especially the part about the “National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank.” Gee, wonder where good ole’ Barry is going to get the 600 billion dollars to fund this bank. Hmm, maybe he’s going to tax the living heck out of us. Let’s see first thing that’s going to go are the Bush tax cuts. Now I doubt that about $4,000 more per taxpayer in the good State of Wisconsin is going to get us close to that 600 billion dollar mark so I guess that means he’s going to have to take more from good people from other states. Maybe Minnesota or Illinois. Or maybe the state of North Carolina where I live. But wait, I think we all have infrastructure that needs fixing here too. Guess we’re just going to have to up the ante some and just take some more money from all us hard working Americans and then we can get’er done. I’ve formed a conclusion that you’re just a Bush hater, Chuck, and I think that I’m going to keep your letter to the editor and send it back to the Tribune to print again in the future and we’ll all see if you were as insightful as you thought you were. But by that time I’m hoping that you feel the shame of the blind support you and all the other Democrats have thrown to the Democratic Party and not to being a true American.
Geoffrey D. Kieser
Fayetteville, N.C.
Keep workers working
To the Editor:
There is a simple way to keep thousands of Wisconsin men and women working without adding a dime to the state budget.
These are dark times for many businesses with the construction industry particularly hard hit. Tight credit and cautious developers have combined to halt numerous private building projects. More than 5,000 workers have been sent home to wait until things improve. For them this promises to be an anxious holiday season.
At the same time that Wisconsin’s construction industry is suffering, state government continues to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to buy land. This year alone the governor has given the DNR the green light to borrow $60 million for land buys under the Stewardship program. Created in 1989, the Stewardship program preserves millions of acres of environmentally sensitive lands. DNR now owns 1.4 million acres or 4 percent of all the land in Wisconsin.
Buying and preserving land, while perhaps a worthwhile goal, does not put a single person to work. Is land banking something we have the luxury to continue while so many Wisconsin families are hurting?
Let’s suspend bonding to buy land. Let’ use that money to build things. Let’s eat into the backlog of infrastructure projects: sewerage treatment plants, roads, bridges and buildings.
Doing this will keep skilled, well paid workers working; truck drivers, cement finishers, glazers, electricians, etc. And the benefits will go well beyond these people. Getting these people working will send waves throughout the economy. What economists refer to as the multiplier effect, the rest of us call buying groceries, shopping for Christmas and paying taxes. In stark contrast, there is no multiplier from buying land and taking it off of the tax rolls.
Let’s not wait, let’s do it now. The governor could convene the Legislature before Thanksgiving. If the DNR were directed to stop buying land today, we could get $20 million working this winter. Or, better yet, they could move the bonding scheduled for the next budget forward to get $166 million working. This wouldn’t mean spending any more money, just spending it differently.
Let’s not limit this effort to construction projects on state government’s to-do list. Counties and local governments have long lists of important infrastructure projects that need just as much attention. Let’s include them in this initiative to get construction workers back on the job throughout Wisconsin.
And finally, let’s commit to restoring the Stewardship program when our economy returns to the upswing. But until then, let’s use a little common sense to get our workers back on job sites throughout Wisconsin.
George Lightbourn,
Executive Vice President
Wisconsin Policy Research Institute
November 05, 2008
Say thanks to veterans
Veteran’s Day is November 11th so please do not forget to say “thank you” to our veterans. Most of us have no idea what our soldiers go through, and they need our support.
My daughter talks to me about her experience in Iraq, but sometimes I feel so helpless because I have not been in her shoes. I found this poem that makes me think of what she must feel at times. I wish I knew the person who wrote it. I am sure he/she is a soldier.
Some wounds of war
are never seen
They’re buried deep within
No open wound
No purple heart
No blemish on the skin
But these are wounds
That leave a scar
Upon our very soul
They tear our hearts
Cause misery
And take a heavy toll
Our bloodless wounds
Cause us to ask
Oh God, what was it for
We go through life
Not knowing why
We have these wounds of war.
On this day your courage and your service to our country are being proudly remembered.
Thank you to all of you who have served and are serving our country.
Thank you SGT Jessica Smith!
Mom and Joe
Lyn and Joe Mueller
Colby
All politicians to blame
To the Editor:
This is a letter to all our shameless and incompetent politicians on Capitol Hill. This includes all Democrats and Republicans and Independents alike. No exceptions to any political party. I am 72 years old and I have heard the same old political rhetoric about lowering taxes, better schools, more jobs, a better health plan since I was able to understand this political garbage.
Now you politicians have taken it to a new level. You have destroyed the working people’s ability to better him or her self and destroyed small businesses that are the very backbone of this great nation. You have destroyed their jobs as well as their life long savings for retirement. You have destroyed thousands of home owners and sent them to the streets with only the clothes on their and their children’s backs, you must really be proud of yourselves.
You politicians take a pay raise every year and fatten your retirement fund. You also point fingers at one another for doing such a terrible job on Capitol Hill. However, you should point your finger at yourself for doing such a horrible job running Capitol Hill in such a careless manner. There are no words to express to such a dismal performance. Each and every one of you so-called politicians are nothing less than scud buds that have loaded your pockets at taxpayers expense.
The American public should mandate that there shall be only a two-term politician, the same as the president of this great nation. This will stop the buddy system and greed. The American public should also mandate that every politician on Capitol Hill shall forfeit all future pay raises and contributions to their retirement fund as well as pay for 1/2 of their health insurance for the next five years.
This would be only a small price for you politicians to pay for your rotten performance. The American public entrusted you to run Capitol Hill efficiently and with dignity and to protect the American public’s interest. You politicians have taken this great nation to an all-time low. Shame on you. You give the American people reason to not trust any of you people with anything. You don’t deserve our trust.
Ronald Graffunder,
Abbotsford
AIG, others bilking public
To the Editor:
The complaints of the insurance industry have been never-ending. Insurance company CEOs demanded no regulation, no oversight, and no accountability. Often, they got exactly what they asked for. On the other hand, policyholders got treated with hardball tactics as insurance companies denied and delayed its way out of paying just claims.
And now, the American public is getting stiffed again.
The king of all insurance companies, AIG, trampled over consumers and other businesses for years, and now, the government and taxpayers are bailing them out. Apparently, the reward for greed and misbehavior is a golden parachute, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
AIG is not a bastion of the American economy, but has skirted the rules and taken advantage of a lack of regulation to prey upon American consumers and businesses. Commentators described AIG as “the new Enron” for its litany of corporate fraud. AIG has paid out billions in fines and settlements to the SEC, IRS, and DOJ. Even in America’s greatest times of need, AIG was found to be exploiting Hurricane Andrew and September 11th to raise rates and “capitalize” on the marketplace.
A report from the American Association for Justice found AIG to be the third worst insurer in America, with Allstate ranking as the worst. So it’s only fitting that former Allstate CEO Edward Liddy has been tapped to take over AIG. While at Allstate, Liddy set the bar for corporate abuse of policyholders and using hardball tactics to deny claims.
AIG and other insurance companies frequently rail against trial lawyers and how litigation is hurting their bottom line. By pushing through tort reform in many states, insurance companies got what they wanted: the ability to trample over policyholders without being held accountable. This is what happens when a dangerously unregulated insurance industry is allowed to run wild: greed bites off its own tail.
Before being forced out in June, the last AIG CEO received a $68 million compensation package. The former heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will each receive around $5 million through their pensions and 401(k) alone. Lehman’s CEO received a $22 million bonus in March. Now all have tinkered or already collapsed. And in the last couple of months, reports have shown how corporations have funded executive benefits by manipulating rank-and-file pensions, two-thirds of major U.S. companies pay no federal income tax, and the median pay of S&P 500 CEOs has risen to $8.4 million.
And we’re paying for all of it.
Next time you hear the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or WMC calling for tort reform or pinning America’s ills on trial lawyers, think about AIG. Look where the lack of oversight, regulation, and accountability have left us today.
Christine Bremer Muggli is the President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice (formerly the Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers), Wisconsin’s largest statewide voluntary attorney organization defending the civil justice system.
Christine Bremer Muggli
President of Wisconsin Association for Justice
Wausau
October 29, 2008
Obama better for economy
It is time to elect a “Build-America President.” Wisconsin’s economy, like that in much of the country, is falling on hard times. Both candidates for president talk about the need to create new jobs but only Barack Obama has the plan to put people right back to work.
Obama recognizes the value of rebuilding our aging infrastructure. Every corner of this state has roads in need of repair, bridges that are in danger of falling, dams that need strengthening and public water and sewerage systems that need updating.
What Obama knows is that when you put people to work rebuilding infrastructure you are providing good family supporting jobs with decent benefits. This work is ready to go. You don’t have to wait for some trickle down economic theory to eventually create jobs. Needs for rebuilding infrastructure can be found in every community in this state.
One of the major priorities of Sen. Obama if he becomes president is to create something he calls a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that would invest $600 billion during the next 10 years to create nearly two million new jobs. Many of these would be in the construction industry and would happen right here in rural Wisconsin. He wants to “Build-America.”
It is that kind of common sense plan that I believe can get our country and state moving again. I hope you will join me in voting for Obama for president.
Chuck Warner
Medford
Suder fights for farmers
To the Editor:
As a farmer, I took offense to Ms. Feiten’s nasty letter against Rep. Scott Suder. Diane, check your facts first!
Scott created the WHEDA Beginning Farmers program with local ag lender Brad Guse to give young people the incentives and assistance they need to make a go of it on the farm. He worked with Democrats to pass it and even got Governor Doyle to sign it. To say he voted against this program he worked so hard to create is a complete LIE!
Here is Scott’s real record on farm related issues. He put party politics aside and worked with Sen. Kreitlow, a Democrat, to sponsor a renewable fuels bill that has the potential to create thousands of good paying jobs while lessening our dependence on foreign oil. Scott understands we can no longer depend on foreign dictators and terror-supporting governments for our energy future.
Scott worked with Sen. Russ Decker, another Democrat, to get state funding for a dairy science degree program at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. Through this program farmers can take classes at their local tech school to help them expand or modernize their farming operation.
To keep kids interested and involved in agriculture Scott fought to increase county fair premiums by $200,000 over the next two years. This funding will go a long ways to helping kids bring their animals to the many exhibits we all enjoy at our local fairs.
Thanks to Scott, farmers now have more health insurance options through the Co-Op Care Program. By choosing to pool our resources and share risk, farmers can buy quality health insurance at a reasonable price.
Although the nasty attacks on Scott will never end, I know he is a good man who fights for us and our rural values.
Holly Strickland
Owen
Save Memorial Hall
To the Editor:
I am hoping this letter will be informative to the community I live in. I attended a recent board meeting at the Unity Memorial Hall as a concerned citizen. The topic of interest for my husband and I was what will be done to renovate the existing hall or what it will cost to build a new hall. I know for us, renovating the existing hall is most important. I am on a committee that is trying to get this project to a point where we can find a way to do something about our existing hall. We are working with the board and believe that the time has come to quit talking about it and move forward. The problem as I see it is not that the village does not want to do anything, but where will the money come from to do something one way or another? Marawood Builders have been contacted by the village clerk and so far we have a verbal statement as to what renovating the existing hall will cost. We also have an idea about what building a new hall would cost. Keep in mind that nothing is absolute and this is still in the working stage. At the board meeting we talked about bringing this project to an advisory referendum; the next referendum would be in April of 2009.
Those of you who have lived in this community for most of your lives have seen many seasons come and go and have partaken in various events in the Unity Memorial Hall. I remember roller skating there, going to the Fireman’s Dances, and my own wedding and the wedding of my daughter was celebrated there. My memories are just a few of the ones that echo in the walls of the hall.
How important is this hall to the community? Come to a meeting and express your interest and help us to find a way to raise the money for this project. Meeting are held every second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. We are named Unity. Could we be just that? United with a purpose! Could we quit pointing fingers and putting the blame on others for what we think should or should not be happening in our community? Could we start to work together and be united here in Unity, Wisconsin?
Our community doesn’t have a source of revenue at this time, so how about starting with a fundraiser? These funds would be kept in a special account strictly for the renovation or rebuilding of a new hall. We have to start someplace and even a small start is better than nothing at all. Rummage for a Reason was born in the Unity Memorial Hall and for the past several years much needed money has been donated to the area food pantries. I believe in community and working to help one another. I am sick of the negativity that destroys hope for something better.
Laugh at me, but memorials at the time of my death could be donated to this project. What a memory that would be! I am begging my community to come together and start believing in something they can be proud of. It can’t be done alone. We need ideas, donations, workers, enthusiasm and for us to take pride in the hard work of the people who have walked this path before us. They gave us a place to make memories and called it the Unity Memorial Hall. Most of all we need hope.
Sue Hubing
Unity
October 22, 2008
Backing Scott Suder
To the Editor:
All voters should make a comparison of the facts. We here in the 69th assembly district have been very fortunate to have Scott Suder representing us in Madison. Scott has led the way in sponsoring and passing bills that have benefited the economy and the citizens of Clark County and the State on Wisconsin. Just to name a few:
Scott was instrumental in obtaining funds to expand Fabricating Specialists, resulting in 30 new jobs.
Scott approved $1.4 million in state assistance for farmers and small businesses in rural Wisconsin
Scott also voted for Badger Care Plus, which gives every child access to health care.
Scott worked very hard obtaining federal and state funding for a new dental clinic in Neillsville, which brings in more jobs and much needed dental care for low income families. Scott also fought to protect SeniorCare.
Scott has led the effort to pass and fully fund the toughest child sex-predator law in the nation.
These are just a few of the many things Scott has done for Clark County, the 69th District, and the State of Wisconsin.
With someone who works as hard as Scott Suder on our side why would we want to put an inexperienced, unproved, untested person in his place? Remember, “If it is not broken don’t fix it.”
Oh, I forgot to mention Scott has done all this while serving in the Air Force National Guard.
We know Scott Suder has the energy it takes to get the job done.
Support and vote for Scott Suder on Nov. 4.
Earl Hoffman,
Greenwood
Obama still a thug
To the Editor:
There is a picture of the terrorist William Ayers standing on top of an American flag. This guy is also a teacher at one of our colleges. He is also a good friend of Obama. Obama denies it but he is lying.
The Dems smear machine has found something really serious about Sarah Palin. They say she used her position in Alaska to put pressure to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from his job. “We have got her now squealed the dems.” We will look until we find something no matter how stupid it is, say the Dems.
The Dems sent investigators to North Vietnam to see if McCain was really tortured while as a P.O.W. They talked to a 84 year old guard from the Hanoi Hilton. The guard said that McCain wasn't tortured. Of course the Dems believe the guard as you would expect.
Obama is a very good salesman and he has all the Dems convinced that he is God-like and he will save America.
I can just imagine Obama posing in front of a mirror tying to look God-like. Being God-like is not believable when you are just fine with abortion.
This brings to mind another leader who posed in front of a mirror and strutted around like a peacock. His name was Adolph Hitler.
As Obama once said about lipstick on a pig — you still have a pig. In this case you can put the phrase God-like in front of Obama’s name but you are still left with a thug from Chicago.
Thomas Vesely,
Marshfield
Suder stands on his record
To the Editor:
Rather than trade political barbs with my opponent in this letter, I have chosen to let my record of positive change and real reform speak for itself.
In a tough economic environment I worked with Democrats and Republicans to place the public’s interests ahead of partisan politics. We have worked together to strengthen our economy, provide health care options to working families, and protect children.
I have a record of reaching across party lines in order to create jobs and encourage economic development. Together with Democratic Sen. Pat Kreitlow we were able to save our local technology and agricultural zone programs. Although members of my own party wanted to cut this funding, I fought back to make sure we kept them in operation.
I worked with business and community leaders in Neillsville to secure state funding for the Fabricating Specialists expansion. The creation of 30 jobs in Clark County is welcome news in difficult times.
As a member of the Rural Economic Development Board, I’ve approved $1.4 million in state assistance for farmers and small businesses in rural Wisconsin, including several expansions in our area.
And when the DOT wanted to delay Highway 13 construction I fought to keep the project on track and on time.
I voted for BadgerCare Plus, which gives every child access to health insurance — in the process 98 percent of Wisconsinites will have medical coverage. I fought to protect SeniorCare, Medicare, and BadgerCare to provide for our most vulnerable. I voted to expand FamilyCare to allow our seniors to receive quality care in their own homes. I also fought to make all health insurance premiums tax-free by 2012.
To help reduce physician shortages I fought for and won $400,000 to get the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine up and running. This innovative program will encourage young doctors to begin and end their practice in rural clinics.
Many of our families struggle to find a dentist, leading to expensive emergency room visits for preventable tooth diseases. To address this growing problem I worked with Russ Decker, Democratic leader of the Senate, to invest $3 million in Community Health Centers. These clinics treat thousands of patients regardless of their ability to pay.
With this funding, the Marshfield Family Health Center, in cooperation with Memorial Medical Center, will build a 10,000 square foot dental clinic in Neillsville that will provide dental care to hundreds of working families. The clinic will create jobs for Clark County and serve patients in a 100 square mile radius.
Finally, I led the effort to pass and fully fund the toughest child sex-predator law in the nation. With mandatory prison sentences of 25 years to life and lifetime GPS tracking for any person who rapes a child Wisconsin is now a sex-predator’s worst nightmare!
It has been an honor to represent the hardworking people of the 69th District. Based on my bi-partisan record of success I am respectfully asking for your vote to continue to be your voice for common sense in the State Assembly. Thank you.
Scott Suder
State Representative
Wrong kind of change
To the Editor:
We as human beings can get caught up in the rhetoric of the political season, but as people of faith it’s vital that we always keep in mind the big picture. The Bible speaks about the reality of spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-12), but that is not to imply that one political party is of God and the other of the devil. That would be ludicrous. Our politicians, like all of us, are not perfect. The Bible also says that we are all sinners, saved by grace (Romans 3:23-24). But that being said, there is one major issue that needs to be seriously considered as we prepare to vote in this election, and that is regarding the type of ‘change’ we want as a nation. Other countries would like nothing better than to see our country become like theirs regarding a world view (socialism, communism, religiously). The United States of America is historically unique in our form of government and the freedoms we grant our citizens. A major concern that I have, along with millions of other Americans, is that the very foundations of what our Founding Fathers built this great country on are being eroded by the influence of groups and organizations that have anti-American and socialistic tendencies that don’t have our best interest at heart. A big question that we need to ask ourselves as Americans is: “Why is Barak Obama being endorsed publicly and supported financially by so many extremely liberal people and organizations, including terrorists (Hamas leader Ahmed Yousuf) and communists (Fidel Castro)?”
During this election cycle we have heard the same talking points and rhetoric that we’ve grown accustomed to from both sides of the aisle, along with the mantra of “change” for what seems like months on end. What Americans need to ask themselves is “What kind of “change” do we need…and want?”
Rest assured that God is sovereign and in control. But as a country we need to be praying fervently for His wisdom regarding what would be best for us and future generations.
Larry Lecheler,
Abbotsford
Voting for Swiggum
To the Editor:
I have served with Tim Swiggum since 2001 on the Owen City Council. He has shown very good instincts in helping the Owen-Withee community to move forward. I am a Republican voter and will be supporting Tim Swiggum in this election. Although he is a Democrat, he can see through to the heart of an issue. He will deal with problems with common sense. He is not interested in blaming others for the problem and stays focused on finding a solution to the problem. He will not toe the party line. He will vote with the people over the party and do the right thing. Scott Suder has continually voted the party line. Even though I am Republican, I don’t see either party being on the right side all of the time. Tim Swiggum will vote for the best interests of the constituents.
I own and operate Badger Gunsmithing in Owen. I have been a gun rights activist since I can remember. Tim Swiggum is not interested in regulating gun ownership in any way. I have never heard him talk down the 2nd Amendment, and he will not vote to restrict gun owners’ rights. When the subject has come up, Tim has always sided with the sportsmen and gun owners. This issue is important to me and I trust Tim Swiggum to protect our rights.
I have watched Tim work with businesses time and time again. He has been able to help them maneuver through the red tape to get their business going. He is very respectful to the situation and knows very well how to bring the plan to fruition. He is never selfish to keep the credit to himself and he has made the whole community look good. I am voting for Tim Swiggum because he will make job creation a priority.
Tom Nelson
Owen
FCC proposal troubling
To the Editor:
For many of us, cell phones have become a necessary component of everyday life, helping us do business, stay in touch with the people who matter most to us and call for help in emergencies.
In Abbotsford and across Wisconsin, public safety officers depend on wireless service to respond quickly to emergency situations. We rely on cell phones to assist in search and rescue operations, address domestic violence situations, prevent criminal activity and communicate in areas where police radio is unsecure or unavailable.
That’s why a recent proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is so troubling to me – and potentially dangerous for rural Wisconsin.
In smaller communities like Abbotsford, wireless carriers cannot always justify the costs of building new cell towers. However, there is a federal program called the Universal Service Fund (USF) that helps build reliable communications networks in rural areas.
Unfortunately, the FCC is considering drastic cuts to the USF that could eliminate more than half the support we now receive in Wisconsin. Statewide, we could lose up to $35 million in annual USF support, jeopardizing dozens of new cell sites every year.
There is much work to be done in Wisconsin to bring reliable cell phone networks to our rural areas. Cutting the USF for wireless will not help this work, and will not help us improve public safety. Visit www.ConnectingRuralAmerica.org to learn more and take action.
Casey Perry,
Executive Director Wisconsin Troopers Association
Can Suder be trusted?
To the Editor:
I have to wonder how many other people in the community have been reading the various articles regarding Scott Suder and his claims his girlfriend was bouncing checks and broke into his home. From the articles I have read in the [Clark County] Press and Tribune papers, it appears the police believe his girlfriend for the most part and Mr. Suder had given her permission to write out checks. The biggest problem I have with this whole mess is if Mr. Suder was so careless with his money and his checkbook, then how on earth can any of us in his district trust him to handle our state funds and make the decisions we expect him to make on our behalf? As I recall, he had not caught up on his checkbook for a couple months and was not sure where it was at all times. Then how can any of us trust him to handle our state operations either?
The next issue I also have is if this is a public official and from the information the police have stated in the papers was correct that Mr. Suder’s girlfriend claimed she was given permission to write the checks, then why haven’t several of the people in the local community responded to these issues? The people who cashed these checks. If she was not given permission to cash all these checks, then why wouldn’t someone somewhere around town have mentioned this to Mr. Suder? I think to put everyone’s mind at ease Mr. Suder should take a sort of complimentary lie detector test prior to the upcoming election day to more than prove that his allegations are 100 percent true and correct. Now Mr. Suder will say that a lie detector test is inconclusive but, Mr. Suder, you were one of those I believe who pushed for the Dept. of Corrections to use them on inmates to ensure they were telling the truth in their programs. So if the Dept. of Corrections sees them as good enough, then I am sure you too would have no problem taking one of these tests, just for good measure, to prove that you too are on the up and up.
Gary Waters
Oshkosh Prison
October 15, 2008
Display flag properly
To the Editor:
Recently the Colby Lions Club installed a very nice flag pole and have Old Glory proudly flying from the pole. Thank you for the nice addition to the City of Colby. Unfortunately, when going by after dark, the flag has not been properly illuminated. Proper flag etiquette calls for the flag to be illuminated during the hours of darkness. If this cannot be achieved, maybe the Lions could establish a list of members who will be responsible to lower Old Glory each evening at dusk and raise it each morning.
Perhaps someone from the Lions could check with the VFW for the proper display of the American flag. Thanks again to the Lions for a very nice addition to the community, but, please display the flag correctly.
Jane Holman,
Colby
Still voting for Ron Paul
To the Editor:
I recently returned from a trip to Texas, then Minneapolis, and “politics” was a hot topic. The question everyone had was “who am I going to vote for?” It seems this time around we have no good choices. Both promise things, but when you start checking their records, it gets murky.
I get a lot of newsletters from various places, I listen to shortwave programs, and I get the American Free Press. And when I’m visiting other people with cable (I don’t have it), I watch Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck and Keith Olberman. The other night I watched Bill Moyers on public TV with an excellent guest, Andrew Bacevich, who wrote a book “The Limits of Power.” He was so fascinating I sent for the DVD.
With the recent Wall Street fiasco and the responses from the candidates, I really don’t feel confident. And even though he probably won’t win, I’m still voting for Ron Paul. Another choice might be Chuck Baldwin who is running on the Constitution Party ticket. Our two-party system is worn out. There are still a few decent ones left in both parties, but on the whole, they’re not listening to any of us. If we had term limits, it might be better, but since they all like their jobs, just who is going to legislate term limits?
Chuck Baldwin sounds pretty good. He would clamp down on illegal immigration, he’s opposed to the North American Union and the huge NAFTA Superhighway, is pro-life, and would like to end our participation in the U.N and World Court. He’ll be on our ballot.
McCain is for the NAFTA Superhighway, as work has already started on it in Arizona. He is also for the National I.D card, complete with computer chip.
I’ve been watching Obama and Biden, but learned that they want stricter gun laws. Not a good thing in my book.
We’re all Americans first. We’ve got to stop bickering about party politics and stand together against the corporate picks. Our forefathers must be rolling in their graves. Our Constitution has been sliced and diced, and we just sit back and let it happen.
Esther Niedzwiecki,
Owen
October 8, 2008
Clearing up water issues
To the Editor:
This is a clarification regarding last week's article in the Tribune Phonograph regarding the water recycle proposal for Abbotsford’s industrial park. The research that I presented to the council was from Orange County, Calif., not Florida, and the treated wastewater is injected back into a seawater barrier that prevents seawater seepage into their water supply. Their process appears to be similar to the process proposed by the city engineering firm with the exception of the final step. That step - and a very important part of the process - is where the treated wastewater is pumped back underground into the aquifer for nature to take over the process.
At a public meeting our city engineer assured us that his proposed plan has been in use in California and Florida for years and produces exceptional water above our current standards and no health problems have resulted. What he failed to mention at the meeting is that our plan differs from others because those communities do not use their recycled water for drinking or food processing, but for irrigation, landscaping, fire protection, cooling systems, etc. From my research and opinions I have received from various contacts, I have found that the only place in the US that recycles wastewater into drinking water is Orange County, Calif., but their process includes pumping the treated wastewater back into the underground aquifer for nature to finish the process – it does not go directly into the distribution system or water tower. I was also surprised that the DNR rep who attended the meeting made no objections to the plan until a week later at a meeting attended by various community leaders, but not the council or the public.
After hearing about the DNR’s concern I began researching the process and asking questions of professionals in this field about the safety of our plan for food processing and consumers in the industrial park. I also forwarded a question to the EPA that was posed to me by a constituent as to whether or not pharmaceuticals can be removed by the treatment process. The EPA does not require drinking water plants to monitor or treat for pharmaceuticals because they currently do not have a drinking water standard established for pharmaceutical contaminants under the Safe Drinking Water Act. They also mentioned that recycling of wastewater into potable water essentially skips a “normal” step in the process – sending treated wastewater back into the environment before taking it back in for drinking water treatment.
When I inquired of the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection if they use their treated water for drinking water, they made the following statement, “Although reclaimed water meets almost all of the drinking water standards and is safe for human contact, it is not intended for use as drinking water."
Another contact from the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, Madison, replied that he knows of no municipality anywhere that uses this process for food processing or drinking water. He reiterated Orange County's process of infiltrating to groundwater or discharging to surface water. He also states that to his knowledge UV oxidation does not completely destroy viable viral particles and may create new chemicals (e.g. trihalomethanes). He also expressed concern about human error and equipment failures and lastly commented that the plan is a large expense for a small community to be spending to service an industrial park's water requirements.
So far, none of my contacts are encouraging the plan. It was noted that this type of plan is used in Namibia, Africa, but they only use system intermittently in summer peak demand times or during emergencies. The wastewater from the industrial area is diverted into a different treatment plant not used for the drinking water supply.
Abbotsford is facing a water shortage. It is a serious issue and we must find a solution, but making a hasty decision without further research is not the answer. Health is my concern; you can not put a price on health. Is the proposed process safe and does it justify the cost? We can not form a definite conclusion because no one has implemented a plan like ours and studied it. It is a fact that communities that have been using recycled water for non-potable uses for the past 10 years or more have not implemented the plan into their drinking water supply. Orange County’s Groundwater Replenishment system went online in December of 2007.
I encourage anyone who has concerns about this process to research and educate yourself, attend council and Water/Sewer meetings, ask questions and most importantly share your concerns with your ward alderppersons.
Sue Sossaman
Abbotsford, Ward 2 Alderperson
Who is to blame?
To the Editor:
Lots is being said in relation to how the economy is going and what should be done to get things started. What has created it? Wars. Moon shots in outer space. Big shots hoarding the money and wanting more and more. Personal greed. I asked my sister-in-law “Who are the big shots?” She said: “Those who are making $250,000 and above.” My idea was somewhat lower! I have always said that two heads is better than one at a time.
A real good idea coming to my mind this morning is that lower class of people pay one-fourth of the debt while the big shots pay three-fourths of the national debt.
Richard Edlund
Dorchester
October 1, 2008
Vote pro-life in November
To the Editor:
I find it interesting to hear that many voters are having difficulty deciding which candidates to vote for in the upcoming election!
I, personally, find it very simple. I just look at the candidate’s stand on abortion: the killing of innocent unborn babies. Could there be any issue of more importance than the rampant killing of human beings? Could you honestly say that the economy or environmental questions are more important than the life of a God-created human being? Can you?
To mark the ballot for a pro-choice candidate is giving your approval to the killing of innocent babies. You then have the blood of the hundreds of babies killed each day in this country on our hands! Do you want that?
This killing has been going on since 1972, 36 years, when it as upheld by law. We have been turning our backs, closing our eyes to this senseless killing too long. It has turned into an industry. Selling of baby parts, doctors being paid to kill rather than save lives, organizations using the killings to make millions of dollars, some from taxpayers money and even encouraging expectant mothers to abort their babies before they are born!
It has to stop! We must make a statement to the politicians by voting pro-life and let them know our feelings.
By voting pro-life you would not be marking our ballot with a yes to the killing. You would not have the blood of these condemned babies on your hands.
Choose the candidate who is against abortion - pro-life. One who would work to appoint judges to the Supreme Court, who would overturn the horrendous Roe vs. Wade decision. One who would be openly vocal about (his, her) thoughts on abortion.
We must take action. It’s up to me, you and your readers to say “enough is enough.”
Voting pro-life is an important first step. Let’s take it! Vote pro-life candidates John McCain and Sarah Palin.
Carolyn Steiner
Withee
Fed Reserve defying law
To the Editor:
I’m writing in response to Robert Clipper’s “Economy Needs Change.” Indeed the economy does need change, but neither candidate will invoke the change needed. The Constitution, Article 1, Section 10, paragraph 1, says: “No State shall...coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debt.”
Shocking as it may be, the Federal Reserve is neither federal, nor a reserve. It is a private banking company that we have allowed to print our unconstitutional Monopoly money since 1913. I advise you get out your encyclopedias and look up plank #5 of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto.
The unconstitutional Federal Reserve Income Tax Act was also passed in 1913. Look up Congressman Charles Lindbergh on Wikipedia to get his take on the Federal Reserve Act. While you’re there or still have that encyclopedia out you may as well look at plank #2 and the rest of them just for kicks. After all, Communism fell with the Soviet Union.
The Federal Reserve also makes money, lending to our government during wars. There’s a list of eerie similarities between Kennedy and Lincoln, but the fact that both of them printed constitutionally authorized money instead of going to the bankers is usually not mentioned on that list, probably an oversight.
We don’t need an “Amero” to solve our financial crisis. We need presidents and congressmen who work in our best interests and follow the Constitution. That isn’t happening. Instead of voting on their own pay raises, having business conflicts of interest, and secret policy, we should have single term limits with the people of the state taking care of the Congressman’s family so he’ll take care of us while he makes moderately above middle wage, so he remembers who he’s working for, WE THE PEOPLE.
Travis Lee Nelson
Abbotsford
Swiggum outlines positions
To the Editor:
Although the 69th District covers a lot of communities, it very much does have the familiar feeling that we are all in it together. Every community has much in common with its neighbors from 5 to 50 miles away. We have it pretty good, but we continue to face the squeeze of the economy from all directions. Our costs continue to rise but we are not able to earn enough to keep our quality of life from eroding. Gasoline prices fluctuate drastically, causing everything else to go up. Our health insurance premiums continue to rise at a record pace, causing us to settle for less quality yet pay more for coverage. No matter how efficient and responsible a local municipality or school district works within its budget, property taxes continue to rise. Our economy locally has not been affected as much as in other areas. We have most certainly had some low points with business closings but we have shown the versatility to rebound. We must stop placing blame on our local officials for budget woes when our legislature set the law and the funding requirements that continue to tie the hands of local officials. Local control is limited through the many mandates passed on by the federal and state governments yet expected to be funded by the local property taxpayer.
Agriculture is our most valued industry in the area, which should come as no surprise. It would be fair to say that our economy is driven by agriculture and many of us have worked in one way or another on a farm or in a processing facility. We make our living off the land, whether we pull the plow and milk the cow or work in the many shops that service the farms. The money made from agriculture cycles through our communities many times, keeping other businesses moving forward.
I am pro-life, pro-family, pro- business and pro gun ownership. I will work harder for the people of the 69th Assembly District than our current representative. I have been doing it for seven years in the City of Owen and already have working relationships throughout the district. The United Communities of Clark County is a group formed to help our communities work together. I believe the reality of that teamwork is what keeps our partnership growing. Economic development is a major goal of all cities and villages if they want the tax burden to remain as low as possible.
We need the legislature to address the rising costs of health insurance and energy if we are to ever see actual property tax relief. We need our representatives to understand that continually handing out tax breaks to the wealthy is not helping those who work hard yet have less and less. It is time to address the issues that are holding back the less fortunate from realizing the American Dream. It is time for change.
Tim Swiggum
Candidate for 69th Assembly
Owen
September 24, 2008
Praying for Palin
To the Editor:
I’m writing in response to Thomas V’s letter endorsing Palin. I must full heartedly agree with his assessment on her character. While I will not be voting for either of the primary candidates, I will be praying a lot for Sarah Palin. I encourage everyone else to do the same. The playing field is going to dramatically shift should she become our next V.P.
I liken her to Esther of The Old Testament who found favor in the King’s eyes and as a result rooted out Haman when she discovered his plans to kill her uncle and the rest of the Jews because he wouldn't bow down to Him and would only bow to the one true God.
Far be it for me to write a letter suggesting that such persecution is coming our way, but I’m sure there’s something corrupt. At some level happening in our government, somewhere and there is always resistance when someone tries to clean it up. Please pray to Jesus for guidance, wisdom and strength for Sarah Palin. Do continue to do what is right, not what is easy.
Travis Lee Nelson,
Abbotsford
Thanks to donors
To the Editor:
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their response to the American Red Cross blood drive held on Sept. 15 at the Abbotsford High School. It was a tremendous response, as 85 units were collected. Especially impressive was the number of first time donors - 17! Many of those were high school students but there were also several adults from the community who contributed for their first time. Thank you to all who donated. I’m hoping to see all of you on a regular basis so that I can get to know you all by name. I hope donating gives you the same good feeling it does me each time I give.
Also, thanks to everyone else involved - volunteers, custodial staff, and those who donated cookies and cheese for the refreshment area. It takes many cogs for the wheel to turn smoothly and I’m fortunate to have each of you.
Special recognition goes to those donors who attained gallon levels: Dick Brandl of Colby with 11 gallons, Daniel Hershberger of Stetsonville with seven gallons, and N.O. Jackson of Abbotsford with four gallons. Congratulations!
Please mark your calendar for Dec. 8 when we will again be at the Abbotsford High School.
Karen LaPine,
Abbotsford Lions/Blood Drive Coordinator
Learn about solar
To the Editor:
As fall and winter approach, many of us not only brace for the weather but also higher energy bills. As we face the winter months, there are readily available options to make our home or businesses a bit more green and energy efficient.
In our backyard, there are a number of individuals who have been creative in cutting energy use in their homes or businesses, and are willing to share their ideas with the public during the Wisconsin Solar Tour, October 3 and 4.
We’re two of these individuals. In our home, we have incorporated the following technologies: Solar electric, passive solar design, and solar domestic hot water. We invite you to our home on Oct. 4 to learn more about it.
Some tour stops have sites with super-insulation, passive solar design, energy efficient appliances, and more. Some homes and business owners have also incorporated renewable energy technologies such as solar hot water systems, solar electric, or wind turbines.
On Friday, Oct. 3, businesses are open to the public from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, homes are open to the public from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
During these tour times, you can stop by the sites at your leisure and talk with the home or business owners, see their systems and get tips on energy efficiency.
For a complete listing of sites and details on the bus tours, visit www.the-
mrea.org or call the Midwest Renewable Energy Association at 715-592-6595.
Jane Holman,
Colby
Economy needs change
To the Editor:
Problems of the economy and the plans: Senator McCain says that Obama does not have an economic plan but is this true? We are now going to have a 700 billion to 1.4 trillion dollar bailout for the U.S. economy and why is that necessary? If nothing is done, the whole system of debt financing will fail and the banking system will fail. Is the economy solid now? The answer is NO!
There are two competing plans: Laissez faire capitalism (privatization of the economy) with trickle down and tax cuts for big business and, contrarily, the government controlled models and where law rules and competition keeps prices low and limits thieving wheeler dealer financiers who write contracts that steal from the uneducated with a pen in place of a gun. All governments are social and all legal systems are set up to provide fairness to all. Without fairness no government will succeed. There must be some wealth provided for all, with jobs for all people, not riches provided for those who are already rich.
Our economy has been in the dumps for years now and kept running with easy credit and low-interest banking based upon real estate wealth as a commodity for all people. However, the bank is now busted and the real estate bubble is gone and wealth must be immediately pumped back into the economy or depression will come. The economy is not sound and has not been sound for years because big business has not been investing in the American economy enough to keep it working. The anti-trust legislation put in by Teddy Roosevelt is being circumvented by moving the workings of the trusts offshore where they can not be controlled under U.S. law.
Obama has a plan and that is to reverse the system and bring back sanity and jobs to the United States of America. Empty rhetoric stating that our economy is healthy will not work anymore. Jobs are the real incentive for all people to work hard and find success here in America.
Robert Clipper,
Bruce
McCain/Palin is best ticket
To the Editor:
In the Keating five scandal, John McCain is the only one who testified. That says a lot for John McCain.
The people of Alaska wanted a sports arena in their community so the people voted it. That’s not bankrupt (Randy Rannow in Sept. 10 Tribune-Phonograph). That’s Mayor Palin letting the people have what they wanted.
Now because of Governor Palin every person is getting a check for $3,269.00. My friend from Alaska said spread the word. We are sorry to see her go, but the country needs her!
Lila Stewart,
Boyds Creek, Tenn.
September 17, 2008
Palin scares the Dems
To the Editor:
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well watching one of Sarah’s daughters hold her little brother and seeing her smoothing the baby’s hair down with her hand is worth a million words. Watching these little kids reminds me of our own family many years ago.
Sarah Palin and her husband and family is something the Dems better not try to hurt, but you know how the Dems are. I just love to watch Sarah give a speech. She is a decent and honest person and will make a wonderful V.P. or president if necessary. The Dems are terrified of her and they will stop at nothing to find dirt.
Sarah represents all women in America who have chosen to have babies and not to kill them in abortion.
Politicians’ big problem is they talk too much and say very little. I don’t believe this tactic will move any voter one way or another, but this picture of Sarah and her family will!
Thomas Vesely
Marshfield
Clinton flip-flops on Obama
To the Editor:
During the Democratic campaign, Senator Clinton said that Senator Obama was not electable and Senator Biden has said that Senator Obama was not ready for the presidency.
Senator Clinton has now decided to back Senator Obama for president! She said she will encourage the millions of her voters and followers to back Senator Obama as well. I don’t believe Senator Clinton will get all her followers to vote for Senator Obama. Just because she has changed her mind doesn’t mean her followers will. She has a habit of changing her mind.
I don’t believe that Senator Obama trusts Senator Clinton to campaign or back him for the presidency. I believe the only way that Senator Obama might believe she is backing him is if she would make a donation toward his campaign fund.
During the campaign they both said things that they probably now wish they hadn’t said. And now they are seemingly friends and are working together to elect Senator Obama for president!
They disagreed on many of the issues relating to the problems facing our country and now must come together to find the best solution to solving them.
Senator Obama said that he would name his VP choice at the Democratic Convention and when Senator Obama introduced him, he said that this is president Joe Biden!
The only thing we know for sure is that Senator Joe Biden is not our president, as Obama said!
Francis Fochs
Wausau
Labor can make change
To the Editor:
Charles Dickens’ classic novel “A Tale of Two Cities” was written nearly 150 years ago, about a time of great turmoil and immense change in Europe. Its opening lines are:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,
We had everything before us, we had nothing before us….
What could better describe our situation on Labor Day 2008?
The worst of times? Certainly since the Depression of the 1930s. Consider the following:
• We are losing half a million family-supporting manufacturing jobs every year, over 3 million since George Bush became president.
• Median household income, adjusted for inflation, is not increasing; it's falling! In fact it fell about $1,000 between 2000 and 2006.
• 38 million Americans did not have health insurance when George Bush took office; today, 47 million Americans lack health insurance—and the cost of health insurance for those of us who have it has doubled.
The decline in living standards for 90 percent of the American people is dramatic. In Wisconsin, we continue to see a stunning loss of good-paying union jobs. Many of these losses are the result of rules of international trade written to benefit multinational corporations at the expense of working people. Others are due to short-sighted corporate decisions made by people concerned only with corporate profits, people with no concern for the health of our communities or the economic fate of our working families.
What we are losing here is any sense of civil society, in which hard work is fairly compensated and the many components of society work together in the interest of all.
So how could these also be the best of times?
Because more of us understand what is happening to our country. Because gradually more people are realizing that it doesn’t have to be this way. Because union members all over America are getting better organized than we’ve ever been to make sure that “business as usual” comes to sudden halt.
And because in the elections this November we have the best opportunity to make major changes in our state and national policies and priorities than we’ve had in many decades.
Working people are taking these elections seriously, and we plan to work like we’ve never worked before to turn around America. We must:
• Rapidly end the disastrous war in Iraq, which is driving us ever further in debt and which makes it impossible to deal with the serious social and economic problems we have here at home.
• Move quickly to change our health care system so that no one goes without the care they need.
• Change the economic and tax priorities of our country so that we who work for a living see our standard of living rise and once again have a realistic hope that our children will be even better off than we are.
• Reform our trade policies so that they benefit workers here and abroad, not the multinational corporations that divide workers against each other and drive us into a race to see just how far wages in all countries can be reduced.
• Restore fairness to our labor laws so that if a majority of workers at a workplace want a union, they'll get it – without the employer interference and intimidation they face today. (more than half of all workers without a union say they want one).
Change does not happen by accident. The rich and powerful have been aggressively making changes that benefit only them. Working people absolutely must force change that benefits us.
The people who do the work of this country have a choice.
We can continue to have the worst of times.
Or we can move forward, rise up, and demand change that serves our interests – and we can have the hope of experiencing the best of times.
David Newby, President
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
September 10, 2008
GOP offers nothing new
To the Editor:
As I listened to the various voices speak at the GOP convention, I experienced déjà vu. I recall hearing the same words, same tone, and same intentionally deceitful rhetoric coming from George Bush over the past eight years.
George Bush led the collapse of a baseball team, led the collapse of an oil company, and leads the failed policies of this great nation. Are you better off now that you were before George Bush?
John McBush and Governor Palin, Oh ya, as Mayor Palin she led the city into bankruptcy. It is clear that John McBush does not understand economics; he has said so himself. More than 98 votes that I reviewed from logs in the United States Senate also tell the same story. For example, “no” on middle-class tax cuts (2006) and “yes” to tax cuts for the rich (2008). The top economic advisor for John McBush indicates the American people are only imagining bad economic times.
I do not believe John McCain is a maverick and has forgotten his lessons learned when he was identified as a Keating 5 Senator (taxpayer bailout of a failed S&L), and of course there’s Governor Palin, who bankrupted her community as mayor. And what about Palin’s family values and ability to properly manage these responsibilities?
We the people have a choice. More of the same failed policies, or opportunities to reinvent, reinvigorate this great nation.
My vote is for change and I urge you to support responsible change too.
Randy Rannow
Abbotsford
Suder right on health care
To the Editor:
In response to Mr. Simpson’s recent attack of Rep. Suder’s common sense stance against government-run health care. I wanted to make sure your readers had some of the facts about the $18 billion government run Healthy WI program that Mr. Simpson conveniently left out of his nasty rant
First, Mr. Simpson forgot to address Rep. Suder’s concern that illegal aliens will be immediately given free healthcare coverage at the taxpayers’ expense if Healthy WI becomes law. You heard that right; criminals living here in violation of the law will be among the first recipients of care on our dime! Wisconsin would soon become a magnet state for illegal aliens who hear about their opportunity for free health care.
Next, for Mr. Simpson to even mention Medicare and “efficiency” in the same breath is like calling the DNR respectful and responsible. Let’s take a closer look at just how “efficient” the government has been with running a healthcare program. According to recent news reports, Medicare’s current unfunded liabilities stand at over $85 trillion (that’s 12 zeroes)! To make matters worse, just this week the New York Times reported that despite what Medicare’s top government officials have said, $2.8 billion a year is lost to fraudulent and improper claims for medical equipment alone. Massive fraud and trillion dollar deficits – yep, turning our health care system over to the government would be a real model of efficiency.
Finally, I find it quite disgusting for Mr. Simpson to use the Miller family’s situation to accomplish his partisan political attacks. Despite Mr. Simpson’s thoughts that the Millers are “praying for change from their neighbors,” I wanted him to know that that is what we do here in rural Wisconsin. We take care of our friends, neighbors, and fellow citizens in their time of need through whatever means possible. And we don’t need someone from Oregon telling us that we need the government to step in and save us.
Cleve Bowen
Greenwood
Constitution still vital
To the Editor:
Just over two weeks ago, I got a call from a guy named Steve. He and some other people were walking across Wisconsin from Green Bay to Minneapolis promoting the Constitution. They called their mission “The Great American Walk For Freedom.” They were in several small towns along the way and would be in Withee. So I went. I was glad I did. These people are sick of the way things are going in Washington and have been taking part in such efforts across the country. They presented a two-hour-long talk on the Constitution, how it came to be, what it means to all of us and how our current leaders in Washington have been chipping away at it. My usual dwindling hope for the future of our country was given a boost. Maybe we can turn things around after all. There is a Web site if anyone wants more information at www.Walk4
Freedom.com or freedommessage@
sbcglobal.net.
Later, I received yet another interesting piece. On Sept. 16 an effort is being started to bring the North American Union (the paper that Mr. Bush signed with Mexico and Canada to basically obliterate the sovereignty of our country and change the dollar to an Amero) and the huge NAFTA Trans-Texas and Ciscor super-highway systems (from Mexico to Canada) to an end. Called the “Great North American Phone-In,” we are all being asked to simply call our U.S. Congressional leaders and say you oppose the North American Union and the huge NAFTA super-highway. And that you support H.Con.Res. #40. It first needs more sponsors, then it has to get to the floor. So, we need Dave Obey’s attention and then you can call any of the other house members. His number is (202)-225-3365. We need this gone. That’s Sept. 16. Pass the word to relatives and friends in other states. Some in Congress say they don’t know anything about the North American Union. That’s bull. If they don’t, they are sleeping on the job and need to be outsourced. The Web site for the phone-in is www.americanpolicy.org.
Esther Niedzwiecki
Owen
Obama is dangerous
To the Editor:
I am not writing this letter about political positions but about principles on which this nation was founded. I am sounding an alarm! A giant (our great nation) is being disarmed and dissected! Go online to: www.macs mind.com/wordpress/2008/02/27/obama-plans-to-disarm-america. I have copied, to the best of my ability, word for word, the speech of presidential candidate Obama. Here it is!
1. “I am the only major candidate who has opposed this war from the beginning. And if president, I will end it.”
2. “I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending. I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems. I will not weaponize space. I will slow our development of future combat systems. And I will institute an independent defense priorities board to ensure that the quadrennial defense review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.”
3. “I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons. I will seek a global ban on the production of thistle material. And I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBM’s off hair trigger alerts and to achieve deep cuts in nuclear arsenals.”
If you want to know what this man says about the Bible go to: www.youtube.com/v/4FCNKwHRCQM. Check out the connecting links. We dare not hide our heads in the sand of ignorance!
Lydia Chorpening
Shell Lake