From Mary Eastwood, Town of Wiota, South Wayne
To the editor:
The election to recall Scott Walker and elect Tom Barrett as governor on June 5, 2012 may be the most important state election in your lifetime.
Wisconsin can take pride for being first in the nation to pass progressive labor laws protecting rights of working people, including government employees such as police and firemen, nurses, teachers and other public servants. But since Scott Walker became governor, he has recklessly eliminated these rights and divided the people of Wisconsin.
During the initial campaign for governor, Walker did not mention his plan to destroy collective bargaining rights. He admitted to a billionaire donor that his policy was to "divide and conquer." He has betrayed those who voted for him.
Walker refused to accept federal funds for the construction of a high speed railway, which would have provided numerous jobs for Wisconsin residents as well as efficient transportation between major cities. He has slashed budgets for public education, at a time when improving education is a national priority. Walker claims the elimination of collective bargaining rights of employees and cutting school funding were necessary for budgetary reasons. Although governments, both federal and state, need to cope with their debt, the time for aggressively paying it down is in periods of relative prosperity, not when we are pulling out of a recession.
It is important to end Walker's time in office before further damage to the state is done. Tom Barrett as governor will work to bring the people of Wisconsin together, restore the rights of working people and renew the Wisconsin spirit.
To the editor:
The election to recall Scott Walker and elect Tom Barrett as governor on June 5, 2012 may be the most important state election in your lifetime.
Wisconsin can take pride for being first in the nation to pass progressive labor laws protecting rights of working people, including government employees such as police and firemen, nurses, teachers and other public servants. But since Scott Walker became governor, he has recklessly eliminated these rights and divided the people of Wisconsin.
During the initial campaign for governor, Walker did not mention his plan to destroy collective bargaining rights. He admitted to a billionaire donor that his policy was to "divide and conquer." He has betrayed those who voted for him.
Walker refused to accept federal funds for the construction of a high speed railway, which would have provided numerous jobs for Wisconsin residents as well as efficient transportation between major cities. He has slashed budgets for public education, at a time when improving education is a national priority. Walker claims the elimination of collective bargaining rights of employees and cutting school funding were necessary for budgetary reasons. Although governments, both federal and state, need to cope with their debt, the time for aggressively paying it down is in periods of relative prosperity, not when we are pulling out of a recession.
It is important to end Walker's time in office before further damage to the state is done. Tom Barrett as governor will work to bring the people of Wisconsin together, restore the rights of working people and renew the Wisconsin spirit.
