Corporate “greed”
The peace and quiet, farmers tending their crops and animals, clean air and water of our rural areas are disappearing. They are why we live here and corporations finally found something in our countrysides that they want at any cost to us.
High-capacity wells are what industries need and they are willing to trade our quality of life for their greed. As a result of the increase in high-capacity wells, 10 percent of Wisconsin’s springs have dried up in the last five years and rivers are drying up as well.
These days of drought and water needs let us see into the future, especially if we allow others to sell, pollute and waste the water we depend on for our survival. Water is our most valuable resource for life. CAFOs or factory farms, frack sand mining and water merchants want and use it at our expense.
Factory farms waste it and send it polluted with bacteria, antibiotics and hormones into our streams and wells for their profit and our health loss and discomfort. Frack sand mining does the same and pollutes our air with cancer causing silica dust; but they use our “cleaned” special sand as the ammunition to arm the frack well drilling corporations to destroy our rural neighbors in Pennsylvania, New York and elsewhere.
Let’s stand together and say no to these greedy and polluting industries, Urge your legislators to strengthen our environmental laws. Vote no against these industries, work with community groups and your neighbors to stop them. Most importantly, work with your townships and county to regulate sand mining as it is still under local control. We do not want to live in their factories that make them rich and impoverish our rural communities. Wisconsin is not open for business at any cost. Don’t let such corporations destroy our communities.
Rob Horwich
Town of Haney, Crawford County
Vote for women
Many Wisconsin voters are looking forward to the November elections and know of their importance. Fewer may realize the significance of the August primaries. In some races the primary may actually be the crucial election. For Lafayette County District Attorney there is no one running on the Republican side, so the winner of the primary will likely be our next D.A.
There are a number of strong women candidates running on the Democratic ticket. Tammy Baldwin is hoping to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl. Kelda Helen Roys is seeking to fill the Second Congressional District seat vacated by Baldwin. Because of redistricting, our area is now in the Second, rather than the previous Third Congressional District.
On the state level, Maureen “Mo” May-Grimm is hoping to represent the 51st Assembly District. In Lafayette County, Kate Findley is running for District Attorney to replace retiring Charlotte Doherty.
All of these women have shown great intelligence and ability and have the courage to stand up for what they believe, in the face of opposition. Roys has decided to not accept any corporate PAC money. This means she will be greatly outspent by those who receive these donations, but she will not be beholden to moneyed interests. She will continue to speak out and vote as she believes is best. This is the first step in getting big money out of politics. Check out her plans for doing that very thing on her website.
Putting more highly qualified women, such as Roys, into public office will be a first step toward making our country a place where everyone can have a decent life, rather than one where the gap between the haves and the have-nots continues to widen.
Do your research on the candidates and vote on Tuesday, August 14.
Barbara Meyer
Town of Wiota
“Deceptive Dave”
I recently received a negative ad flyer from Dave Kuhle. It appeared to me to be very deceptive about Travis Tranel.
Travis is absolutely in favor of making our state government fiscally responsible. He is very supportive of keeping jobs here in Wisconsin. He is truly concerned about doing a good job representing us in the 49th Assembly District.
The next time you hear a negative ad about Travis, you be the judge; does “Deceptive Dave” fit Mr. Kuhle? If Dave is deceptive about his primary opponent, just imagine how he could deceive us if elected.
Joe Jewison
1838 Old Lancaster Road, 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 feels 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.
