From Judy Stieber
Dodgeville
Less than two years ago, Americans voted and elected a Democratic president and Congressional majority. Republican mantras of less government, less spending, less regulation, and lower taxes had failed. We were in the midst of a financial meltdown, a collapsing housing bubble and people were losing their jobs. The newly elected president and Congress have worked hard on a broad agenda to stop the financial freefall, rebuild failing infrastructure, reduce our dependency on oil by developing other energy sources, reform healthcare, and improve education - all of which would help those who had lost jobs.
Republicans adopted the cynical strategy to simply say "no." They created new shadowy organizations to raise big money so they could say the "no" word louder and more often before the important 2010 elections. "No" didn't help solve the crises in America inherited by the president and Congress. It didn't get people back to work.
America did not become the world's strongest democracy by saying "no" to government, "no" to railroads and new infrastructure, "no" to education, "no" to tolerance. America invested in education, new technology, and forward thinking legislation that helped create the strong middle class. It wasn't always pretty, but America grew and prospered with workers and entrepreneurs and people with ideas who came here from all over the world.
Until Republicans come up with something better than "no," they don't deserve our vote. I rather like "yes we can." I'm voting for Democrats like John Simonson and Carol Beal because they have an affirmative agenda, Tom Barrett who knows high-speed rail is a good investment in Wisconsin's future, and for a smart, independent thinker like Russ Feingold.
Dodgeville
Less than two years ago, Americans voted and elected a Democratic president and Congressional majority. Republican mantras of less government, less spending, less regulation, and lower taxes had failed. We were in the midst of a financial meltdown, a collapsing housing bubble and people were losing their jobs. The newly elected president and Congress have worked hard on a broad agenda to stop the financial freefall, rebuild failing infrastructure, reduce our dependency on oil by developing other energy sources, reform healthcare, and improve education - all of which would help those who had lost jobs.
Republicans adopted the cynical strategy to simply say "no." They created new shadowy organizations to raise big money so they could say the "no" word louder and more often before the important 2010 elections. "No" didn't help solve the crises in America inherited by the president and Congress. It didn't get people back to work.
America did not become the world's strongest democracy by saying "no" to government, "no" to railroads and new infrastructure, "no" to education, "no" to tolerance. America invested in education, new technology, and forward thinking legislation that helped create the strong middle class. It wasn't always pretty, but America grew and prospered with workers and entrepreneurs and people with ideas who came here from all over the world.
Until Republicans come up with something better than "no," they don't deserve our vote. I rather like "yes we can." I'm voting for Democrats like John Simonson and Carol Beal because they have an affirmative agenda, Tom Barrett who knows high-speed rail is a good investment in Wisconsin's future, and for a smart, independent thinker like Russ Feingold.
