READER OPINION-Reader offers call to action, and local option

This is the article Patty wrote for the newspaper in case you did not see it.

4/16/2010 12:04:00 PM
READER OPINION-Reader offers call to action, and local option

To the editor, A Call to Action Have you heard? The State of Wisconsin closed its 2008/2009 books with a $2.71 billion deficit in its general fund. This according to Todd Berry, President of Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance. In an article titled "The $2.7 billion state deficit no one told you about" in the Conservative Digest, he further states that this is the fifth consecutive year that the GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices) shortfall exceeded $2 billion and the ninth that it has topped $1 billion. Pew Trusts recently named Wisconsin one of the ten states most in "fiscal peril."

We're in the midst of a recession. The situation isn't getting better. Unemployment isn't going down, jobs aren't coming back and people all over this state are hurting. Nearly 1 in 10 people are out of work. Yet, we have a governor who is not listening to the people when it comes to cutting back on some of the funding, earmarks, and pet projects. Doyle has already purchased the trains for his high- speed train project, an $810 million federal government handout that will cost us, the citizens of Wisconsin, billions for the upkeep and maintenance. He has been pushing the global warming bill, which will increase costs (at a minimal guesstimate of $16 billion a year) to each and every one of us. Why do I bring these issues up? Why do I want to remind anyone of the difficult times we're living in and the problems we have? Because we can do something about it! You see each of us has a duty to do what we can when we can. Part of that duty is getting out to vote. We only had a 22% voter turnout on April 6, 2010. Does this make it okay for the 78% who didn't vote to complain about how bad things are going? I think not. If you don't use your voice, you lose it. We have become complacent about the government and the idea that we can't change anything. If we don't vote, don't attend City Council meetings, School Board meetings, or get involved in our community, how can we expect the mayor or the School Board to know what we want, expect, or are concerned about? When we get involved at a community level, the ripple effect is far-reaching. You can find people who want to make a difference working together to deal with the difficult issues head-on. One of those groups is right here in Kiel. Calling themselves "Wisconsin Citizen's Involvement," these local citizens are supporting candidates with Constitutional values, supporting officials who have shown exceptional leadership, and attending meetings to make their concerns known. If you're interested in the group, visit their blog at http://wisconsincitizens.blogspot.com/ to see their updates and learn how you too, can get involved. They meet once a month, their next meeting will be held on April 22, 6 p.m. at the Stoelting House in Kiel.

Patty Kubetz

link: http://www.tcnewsonline.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=12183&SectionID=10&SubSectionID=18&S=1