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After a day of very contentious and slightly threatening exchanges with people over the happenings with the government here in Wisconsin, I decided that I should write my State Senator and let him know my feelings about everything. Since he's one of the Senators who are currently hiding out of state, I doubt he will ever see it, but I thought I'd share my opinions anyhow.
I also thought that I'd post them here. Not because I expect that you all out there are dying to know what I think on this, but because I feel what I say has some importance. At least I feel it's well enough thought out for me to put it out for public viewing.
Dear Mr. Holperin
As I sat in my home today vainly searching for a job, I realized that you were sitting outside of the state NOT DOING YOURS.
I have been out of work for more than a year. I worked for the county and was laid off as a result of budget cuts. As you should know, Lincoln County doesn't have a lot of money. What we do have is a lot of unemployment. I was part of the union and I still lost my job. That's because the only option the county had was to cut jobs, because they couldn't cut anything that would allow them to keep jobs.
As you also should know the Merrill Area Public School system is on track to lay off 35 teachers due to budget shortfalls. Entire departments will be cut. Why? Because we have no money. The MAPS school is an amazing system and we have done amazing things with little money, but even we can only stretch it so far. But due to union rules, state and federal regulations, we have little choice but to lay off teachers, cut departments and (possibly) shut down schools.
While you are there, patting yourself on the back because you are "standing up for the little guy" you should realize that you are not standing up for me. No one stood up for me. And, since you were elected to represent me, you should know that hiding out in the flatlands is not what I want you to do.
So perhaps, while you sit out of state keeping our government from working, you could make time to explain what we are supposed to do? It's not like any of the "budget surplus" the state may or may not have will ever find its way back up here. What we need in this county are jobs-- jobs that will allow us to make money and pay taxes. While I'm asking for the impossible, I'd like to keep that tax money local. That way it stays where we need it and where we know best how to use it.
If anything I have said in this email is wrong or misinformed, please let me know. If you can explain how keeping the current union structure will keep the teachers currently targeted for lay off from being laid off or will allow MAPS not to cut departments I would love to hear it. If staying with the status quo will somehow bring jobs to my county and allow me and all the other unemployed of the area to become gainfully employed, please let me know.
But if it won't, then stop grandstanding and get back to work. If you have nothing better to offer, then get out of the way and let someone else try to make changes. They can't do any worse then those who went before.
*~*~*~*~
Now, I know that a great many people don't agree with me. I also know that civil discourse on the matter is not the norm. So, if you can't refrain from name calling or pejorative comments, please just post it to your own journal. If you want to disagree, that's fine. Just be intelligent and civil. I really feel that politics can be a matter of calm discussion. Thank you.
I also thought that I'd post them here. Not because I expect that you all out there are dying to know what I think on this, but because I feel what I say has some importance. At least I feel it's well enough thought out for me to put it out for public viewing.
Dear Mr. Holperin
As I sat in my home today vainly searching for a job, I realized that you were sitting outside of the state NOT DOING YOURS.
I have been out of work for more than a year. I worked for the county and was laid off as a result of budget cuts. As you should know, Lincoln County doesn't have a lot of money. What we do have is a lot of unemployment. I was part of the union and I still lost my job. That's because the only option the county had was to cut jobs, because they couldn't cut anything that would allow them to keep jobs.
As you also should know the Merrill Area Public School system is on track to lay off 35 teachers due to budget shortfalls. Entire departments will be cut. Why? Because we have no money. The MAPS school is an amazing system and we have done amazing things with little money, but even we can only stretch it so far. But due to union rules, state and federal regulations, we have little choice but to lay off teachers, cut departments and (possibly) shut down schools.
While you are there, patting yourself on the back because you are "standing up for the little guy" you should realize that you are not standing up for me. No one stood up for me. And, since you were elected to represent me, you should know that hiding out in the flatlands is not what I want you to do.
So perhaps, while you sit out of state keeping our government from working, you could make time to explain what we are supposed to do? It's not like any of the "budget surplus" the state may or may not have will ever find its way back up here. What we need in this county are jobs-- jobs that will allow us to make money and pay taxes. While I'm asking for the impossible, I'd like to keep that tax money local. That way it stays where we need it and where we know best how to use it.
If anything I have said in this email is wrong or misinformed, please let me know. If you can explain how keeping the current union structure will keep the teachers currently targeted for lay off from being laid off or will allow MAPS not to cut departments I would love to hear it. If staying with the status quo will somehow bring jobs to my county and allow me and all the other unemployed of the area to become gainfully employed, please let me know.
But if it won't, then stop grandstanding and get back to work. If you have nothing better to offer, then get out of the way and let someone else try to make changes. They can't do any worse then those who went before.
*~*~*~*~
Now, I know that a great many people don't agree with me. I also know that civil discourse on the matter is not the norm. So, if you can't refrain from name calling or pejorative comments, please just post it to your own journal. If you want to disagree, that's fine. Just be intelligent and civil. I really feel that politics can be a matter of calm discussion. Thank you.
