Letters to the editor

Dear editor, The following is a letter to Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green): Dear Senator Marklein; Vote NO on  Senate Bills 621 and 622 which propose maps of election districts for Wisconsin senators and representatives.   These proposed  maps do not recognize Sauk County voters. The way these proposed district maps are drawn means a state senator or representative cannot possibly represent the all the voters of Sauk County--the County in which you live! The proposed map for senate rips Sauk County practically in half (with a tiny bit put into a 3rd  senate district).  The proposed map for state assembly distributes Sauk County voters among FOUR (4)! representatives.  These maps dilute the value of our votes.   I am sure that it will be impossible for any elected state representative to pay adequate attention to Sauk County issues when they have parts of several other counties to pay attention to.  The distorted assembly district maps split Sauk County among FOUR (4)! districts.  How can Sauk County, or Iowa County, or Richland, or Columbia counties get their interests represented when the attention of a senator or representative is so scattered? I am sure our Sauk County Board of Supervisors will have a hard time advocating Sauk County’s interest when it is not a high priority for the senators and representatives who have to pay attention to parts of other counties.   A concerned citizen will find it difficult to have to contact MULTIPLE senators or representatives about an issue affecting Sauk County.  A resident of Baraboo would have to contact two senators and two representatives. A truly fair set of election districts would keep counties all in one district as much as possible.   A fair map would recognize that civic political life is exercised through our political subdivisions: towns, villages, cities, counties, and then up to our representatives and senators. Only minor adjustments would be needed to be sure population in each district is approximately the same.  Do not betray your own county and neighbors.   Linda Donnelly Spring Green   Dear editor, I am calling all of our citizens to remind us that, regardless of our individual political party affiliation, the key issue is found in the U.S. Constitution that is intended to address this country as a democratic republic. There were some historically specific legal limitations in the formative years, like property ownership, black slavery, and, until the 20th century,  women. This foundation document has weathered many political storms, but was progressively designed to  “create a more perfect union,”  to address this nation as a Democratic Republic with democracy as its foundation. It has come to mean all the people, regardless of partisan political affiliation. So-called gerrymandering is a practice by which a specific  political party secures its statewide dominance by drawing  district lines around minority party populations that give them a numerical majority and nullifies another party’s votes. This practice is unconstitutional, but the partisan U.S. Supreme Court has left it up to the states to determine, a  highly questionable decision by a highly partisan majority. Currently, the State of Wisconsin is gerrymandered by a secretive group under former Governor Scott Walker. Now, our local state senator and assemblyman are in office, thanks to this re-drawing of voting districts. To be honestly re-elected, They must publicly chooser to stand for a Democratic Republic that favors a fair distribution of districts based on true and honest population distribution. Alan Green  Plain   Dear editor, To the Spring Green Village Board: As much as we appreciate the warm fall weather, we know it signals something much less pleasant.  The reality of global warming has finally sunk in with the majority of Americans, as wildfires, floods and hurricanes ravage millions of us.  We are not immune.  This week’s climate conference is a good time to think about what we in Spring Green might do.   Many communities are working to develop resiliency.  Madison is considering turning part of a golf course into a “sustainability campus” to focus on “recycling and resale business.” (Wisconsin State Journal, 10/30/2021).  Cities are investing in trees because they lower temperatures and reduce electricity consumption.  Many have bought electric vehicles.  And others have distributed rain barrels, started composting programs and moved local government toward energy efficiency with solar panels.  Gas powered (two-stroke) engines as in small mowers and leaf blowers are the worst polluters and should be phased out as soon as possible. (The electric alternatives are readily available.) As the “new kid on the block” here, I may be unaware of current plans intended to move us forward.  So perhaps we are already planning actions like more trees, rain barrels or biking improvements to balance out the increased pavement and ATV routes.   How about a Resiliency Committee with citizen members that can look at the innovation we need to prepare for the future?  I’m sure there are members on the board who are keenly interested in this effort. Barbara Morford Spring Green   Dear editor, Remember John Lennon singing Imagine?  He wanted us to imagine a world with peace and brotherhood and kindness.  So, Imagine!  Imagine a Wisconsin legislature that works for the benefit of all of us.   Instead, we have unprincipled politicians who instead investigate over and over and over an election that has been proven to be fair and honest. It would be reasonable to say, “There is no evidence to the contrary.  The election was fair.”  But, nope, our Republican senators said, “Hey, our investigation didn’t say what we wanted it to say..  Let’s use the taxpayer’s money and check it again.” Understand,  they are wasting our money!  Our money that could be used for childcare, education, for better internet and cell phone service for all of us!  Why isn’t Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), the chair of the powerful Joint Finance Committee, interested in funding our needs, instead of wasting money on trying to find/invent fraud in previous elections?  Why doesn’t he instead support improved pay to counties, so counties could pay for the unfunded mandates he helped create. Why doesn’t he support and create a committee to create fair maps so we all would be represented honestly and evenly? What’s next?  What money wasting, time wasting committee will they create next? If our current legislature won’t support the good, honest, hard working people of Wisconsin, perhaps it’s time to imagine one that does….and use our voting power to create one. Barbara Voyce Lone Rock