Robin Rouby
Monroe
To the editor:
So, the 2017 national job numbers are in and despite looking fairly good on the surface, a deeper look into them shows that job growth actually slowed to a six-year low during Donald Trump's first term. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, under Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature's "leadership," Wisconsin's job growth lags behind the majority of states - again. Not only that, but a closer inspection of other numbers reveals that our unemployment rate only looks as good as it does because Wisconsin has the dubious honor of having one of the highest percentages in population loss in the country - again. Large numbers of people are continuing to leave Wisconsin in search of higher paying jobs and better opportunities. That's probably the key factor that makes Wisconsin's unemployment numbers "look good" when they actually aren't.
In comparison, Minnesota, under the leadership of a progressive Democratic governor, has a much stronger state economy and fantastic job-growth numbers compared to ours. Why? Because Scott Walker and the Republicans who control our state chose to go the route Kansas went. Kansas, now almost completely bankrupt from giving all it's revenue away in tax cuts instead of reinvesting the revenue in the state's needs and citizens' well-being, is the perfect example of a failed economic model.
I guess the people of Wisconsin have to ask themselves - based on these realities - if eight years of GOP fiscal policies have made any real difference in their pocketbooks. Are they really better off than they were eight years ago - or are they still waiting for these magical Republican fiscal policies to kick in?
The rich are indeed doing great. But if regular folks are being totally honest about their own financial situation, they'll answer that question "No." There has been no appreciable increase in people's wages, or good jobs - and the state is slowly falling apart from lack of revenue as it keeps going deeper and deeper into debt.
The folks who continue to put party politics ahead of their own best interests, who are not being totally honest with themselves, will probably answer "Yes" - even while they continue to complain about the lack of opportunities and high paying jobs.
The bottom line is: How long will Wisconsin keep waiting for Republican fiscal policies to work before they admit they haven't and never will? Eight years, or 12?
Monroe
To the editor:
So, the 2017 national job numbers are in and despite looking fairly good on the surface, a deeper look into them shows that job growth actually slowed to a six-year low during Donald Trump's first term. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, under Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled legislature's "leadership," Wisconsin's job growth lags behind the majority of states - again. Not only that, but a closer inspection of other numbers reveals that our unemployment rate only looks as good as it does because Wisconsin has the dubious honor of having one of the highest percentages in population loss in the country - again. Large numbers of people are continuing to leave Wisconsin in search of higher paying jobs and better opportunities. That's probably the key factor that makes Wisconsin's unemployment numbers "look good" when they actually aren't.
In comparison, Minnesota, under the leadership of a progressive Democratic governor, has a much stronger state economy and fantastic job-growth numbers compared to ours. Why? Because Scott Walker and the Republicans who control our state chose to go the route Kansas went. Kansas, now almost completely bankrupt from giving all it's revenue away in tax cuts instead of reinvesting the revenue in the state's needs and citizens' well-being, is the perfect example of a failed economic model.
I guess the people of Wisconsin have to ask themselves - based on these realities - if eight years of GOP fiscal policies have made any real difference in their pocketbooks. Are they really better off than they were eight years ago - or are they still waiting for these magical Republican fiscal policies to kick in?
The rich are indeed doing great. But if regular folks are being totally honest about their own financial situation, they'll answer that question "No." There has been no appreciable increase in people's wages, or good jobs - and the state is slowly falling apart from lack of revenue as it keeps going deeper and deeper into debt.
The folks who continue to put party politics ahead of their own best interests, who are not being totally honest with themselves, will probably answer "Yes" - even while they continue to complain about the lack of opportunities and high paying jobs.
The bottom line is: How long will Wisconsin keep waiting for Republican fiscal policies to work before they admit they haven't and never will? Eight years, or 12?
