Letter: Walker not looking out for Wisconsin by Lonah Reissmann
Editor:
I don’t know how many of you have seen the video of Governor Walker talking to Diane Hendricks the billionaire owner of ABC Supply in Beloit, but I was appalled at the brazen disregard for the working person of Wisconsin in this conversation. He basically promised to divide and conquer, and that he would destroy collective bargaining. He now says he wants all Wisconsinites to believe that he has not tried to divide and conquer. Does he see himself as Atilla the Hun of Wisconsin?
I have never been a union member, so I do not have them to speak for me, but I do see that they have a value. Fifty years ago my father worked to organize a union where he worked, and they had to meet in barns and garages to make sure that employers would not find out they were organizing or they would lose their jobs. Why should anyone have to hide to try to improve their life? If I go looking for a better job, should I be afraid my current boss will find out and fire me?
I have seen criticism of the benefits that public employees have. Would you give up pay raises to get better benefits? I would, so why are they condemned for the benefits that they chose over pay raises?
I laugh at the ads that say Scott Walker has balanced the budget by using the tactics that he has. The problem with this issue is that balancing the budget is a state law, so it has always been done by all governors, Democrat and Republican alike. The jobs issue is a funny issue too. We have seen the jobs vanish from Wisconsin, the plants close. I frankly would believe the federal governments comparisons of job gains and losses before the rhetoric of campaign ads on the issue of jobs.
We all know that these tough times that our country is going through is effecting all of us, but to make the weakest and most defenseless of us all pay more is just wrong. Why is it that the rich refuse to pay their fair share? Diane Hendricks’ company paid no state income taxes from 2005 to 2009, and they had income of $5 billion. What is wrong with this picture? Are the Koch brothers setting up foundations to help inner city kids, or poor seniors to get medical aid or recognize great teachers? No, they are bankrolling candidates like Scott Walker to improve the rich lifestyle they love and increase their power.
Lonah Reissmann, Rhinelander
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