‘Corporate elites’
I was reading Steve Prestegard’s Aug. 26 Etc. column. I was skimming over the first few paragraphs, actually nodding in agreement with Steve’s views regarding surveys that gave people a chance to say what kinds of businesses they would like to see come to our area. Steve was irritated at some of the comments being made and said, “the answers often demonstrate significant ignorance about business.”
Steve then did what I think he cannot help himself from doing. He devolved into his right-wing conservative ideology about, to borrow from Mitt Romney, the “makers” and “takers” in our society. Steve stated, “It may surprise some people to know that business people are not getting rich from their businesses in Platteville.” Really, Steve? I have lived in the Platteville area for 45 years and know many business owners. I have found them to be hardworking, smart, civic-minded, and in some cases, very rich. Which is fine.
Steve then took a jab at the workers in our community. He implied that they do not work as hard as their employers (40 hours compared to 24/7 for the boss). Steve said that business owners give back to their communities in countless ways. I agree, but so do many employees in our community.
Steve said there is not a single business (his words) based anywhere in the Journal’s circulation area that has more profits than employee wages. Of course, Steve has no evidence to back the statement up. But even if it were true, I believe Steve misses the point. The gap between CEO salaries and workers wages is greater than any time in American history dating back to the 1920s. The next time anyone reading this article goes to Dunkin Donuts, remember that the CEO of Dunkin Donuts makes $4,670 per hour. Yet, he says paying his employees a living wage is an outrageous idea.
Steve concludes by asserting that he would “rather be governed by any area’s chamber of commerce than that same area’s elected officials.” Steve, really? Guess what: you already are. Our government is already run by corporate elites. The number one lobbying group in Wisconsin for the first six months of 2015 was the Milwaukee Bucks ($450,000). Guess what they got from our elected officials? Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce was third at $350,000. Guess what they got? Right-to-work (for less) law passed. As our illustrious governor has said many times while passing through Wisconsin on his way to the Koch brothers estate in Kansas: Wisconsin is open for business. He could have added — if you can pay you can play.
Tom Osting
Platteville
Who and why Sanders
Who is Bernie Sanders?
Several months ago a political poll showed more than 40 percent of people in the U.S. had never heard of Bernie Sanders, candidate for President. Since then, Bernie has continued to attract large crowds to his rallies all around the country. Yet even today, due largely to the lack of coverage by the mainline media, many voters do not know who Bernie is or what he is saying about important issues.
Bernie Sanders is a U.S. senator from Vermont who is running for President on the Democratic ticket. He is gaining the support of many senior citizens as he pledges to strengthen and protect social security and Medicare, as well as protecting pensions.
Many young people are also supporting Bernie as he proposes free tuition for students who are attending public colleges and universities. If Germany and other countries can provide free college tuition for their students, why can’t the U.S.?
Numerous veterans support Bernie as he has done much as a member of Congress to help them. Bernie has a 100 percent rating on voting for veterans’ benefits. Sanders has said, “If we are willing to spend billions to fight wars, we had better be willing to spend billions to support the veterans when they return home.”
Bernie is proposing a single-payer health care plan that will cover all Americans at less cost than most people are paying now. People of all ages will reap benefits of “single payer, everyone covered” health care.
Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president is a strong grassroots movement supported by middle-class Americans of all ages, not by billionaires trying to buy elections. Sanders has said, “This campaign is not only about me, it is most of all about you. You are the ones who must be the ‘revolution’ that will move the wealth and power from the top one percent to all of us.”
Let’s join together with Bernie Sanders to be the “revolution” that will help to change the United States and the world so that all people can live together within a sustainable environment for generations to come.
More information about Bernie can be found at berniesanders.com.
John Webster
Platteville
The Platteville Journal will print most letters to the editor, regardless of the opinion presented. The Journal reserves the right to edit material that is libelous or otherwise offensive to community standards and to shorten letters The Journal determines are excessively long. All letters must be signed and the signature must appear on the printed letter, along with a contact number or email for verification. Some submitted letters may not be published due to space constraints. “Thank you” letters will not be printed. All letters and columns represent the views of the writers and not necessarily the views of The Platteville Journal.
