Kind wrong to back bailout

By RON SCOVILLE | De Soto
Is this the best that Ron Kind could come up with? Ron Kind voted yes on the financial bailout package. Sure, there are some good points: limiting CEO pay, more regulation of the financial industry, but do we need to give these financial institutions, which have already lost an insurmountable amount of money, another $700 billion.

It seems to me, if they could lose all this money and bring down an entire economy, they sure could lose another $700 billion. A capitalist economy is built on the principle of competition. That is what made our economy the envy of the world.

The good, well-managed companies survived. They produced a product that not only the people in this country wanted, but also those in other countries.

As a result, the United States became a dominant force in the global market (capitalism — United States vs. socialism — Russia). The package that Ron Kind is supporting is nothing short of socialism. We are giving money to poorly run companies in hopes that they can survive. This money should not be going to those that have failed, but to those that have succeeded. Where has the spirit of competition went to, the idea that the strong will survive? Ron Kind, you can do better than this.

‘Trickle down’ hasn’t worked

By MICHAEL FIELDS | Caledonia, Minn.

I’m amazed that voters could be undecided at this point when the choice seems so simple. George Bush didn’t push us to the brink of catastrophe all by himself. He was aided and abetted by every Republican out there asking us to give them yet another chance to get it right.

The Republican Party has controlled the entire government for six of the past eight years. If you think Republicans have done a good job, go ahead and reward them with your vote on November 4 — then seek treatment.

However, if you’re like the vast majority of Americans who are unhappy with the road we’re on, you can give voice to that dissatisfaction by voting Republicans out of office across the board. This can only be done by voting for a Democrat.

John McCain may be a good and decent man, and his service to this nation should be honored. But the presidency of the United States is not some sort of lifetime achievement award.

The trademark Republican philosophies of “trickle down” economics and endless war have punished we the people long enough. Isn’t it about time that we punish them for what they’ve done to this country we love so much?

Why do you print biased information?

By JOE MEIER | Onalaska, Wis.

Re: The Mark Bell letter.

Most of the time I don’t even bother to read the La Crosse Tribune, as your bias is so obvious and revolting, but I can’t figure out if Mr. Bell is biased or ignorant. So if you’ll allow me, I’ll try to set him straight on his statements:

Unfortunately, there is no I.Q. test required to vote in this country. Otherwise I suspect many would not be voting. Many people will pick up what they hear as fact, because they think they are hearing the truth. Wrong!

As apparent by Mr. Mark Bell’s comment, “Barack Obama was all of 8 years old when professor William Ayers threatened to blow up the Pentagon and Capitol Buildings in Washington, D.C.” Mark, your statement is not factual. Not only is the “only 8 years old” statement a party line, it is misleading. Obama started his political career in the Ayers living room.

Shame on you La Crosse Tribune for allowing such misinformation to be printed during such an important time in our country’s history, or perhaps that is the reason you printed it.

I’ll make it a point to stop visiting your Web site and encourage others to do the same. Fortunately, I stopped buying your print product during the last election, when you did the same thing.

Moreover, I find it very difficult to believe Mark that you’ve been a “lifelong Republican.” Why did you abandon morals so fast? Mark, you said, “Instead of trying to persuade the American people by smearing Obama’s good name, you should stick to the issues” Easy for you to say, we can’t even use Obama’s full name when it’s being smeared because many think his middle name, Hussein, is out of bounds. Isn’t good judgement, insight and morals an issue?

Additionally, Obama’s campaign has been all about change. What change has he passed while he has been in office? None, nada, zero, zip, zilch. Hillary Clinton was right about that. The only change that has been documented by anyone running for President is that of McCain and Palin.

Young voters and Barack Obama

By ANDREW LONDRE | La Crosse

To the Baby Boomers and Generation X, I write this plea.

This election has produced two choices. John McCain and Barack Obama. By now, most of us know what each candidate stands for. However, there still remains a large portion of older voters who have not decided who they are voting for, or have even decided not to vote. Their argument is this: “I’ve seen too many elections, and too many promises that weren’t delivered.”

And the argument my generation puts forward is this: First, please vote for Barack Obama. Please save my future. Of course, there is no guarantee that he will deliver on his promises. However, the only guarantee is this: If you do not vote, he certainly can’t deliver on those promises.

It’s hard for my generation to understand: Do you not care about us?

Election after election, old folks — “The Greatest Generation” — let my generation down by participating in identity-politics. Status quo suggests that that the majority of America — elderly whites — will inevitably vote for John McCain. You outnumber us now, but after you have all gone; how can you — in good conscience — not trust us when we overwhelmingly say “We want Barack Obama to lead us to a better tomorrow?”

Please, if you are thinking of not voting, for once, think about a generation not your own. You were given your chance to make the world a better place than when you found it, please clean up your mess before you leave. Obama-Biden ’08.

Let’s shake up Washington

By DAN SKILES | La Crosse

A little over two years ago, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent. Gasoline was $2 a gallon, and the Dow Jones Industrial averages hit 14,280 points. Just about two years ago the mid term elections of 2006 turned the House of Representatives over to the Democrats by a margin of 233 Democrats to 202 Republicans. The Senate as well went 51-49 for the Democrats.

Since that time, the Dow has dropped about 6,000 points, gasoline was hovering near the $4 a gallon mark and unemployment rate has risen to over 6 percent. The congressional approval rating is in the single digits. What have we been paying these people for?

It’s not just the Bush administration’s fault for this economic crisis. The blame goes mostly to the people who represent each state in Washington. If they can’t do any better than this, they need to be replaced. This election let’s shake up Washington and vote for the challengers not the Incumbents. The taxpayers deserve better.

Veterans for Obama

By STEVEN WILLIAMS | Sparta, Wis.

I am a six-year veteran of the United States Army, a retired Wisconsin State Trooper and a Democrat. I am filled with patriotism and pride for our country and the great state of Wisconsin. I believe Barack Obama is the best choice for veterans.

Our veterans should be at the forefront of national health care and deserve a VA department ready for the future challenges. Under President George Bush, we’ve seen the problems our veterans face when the VA isn’t given the resources it needs. Sadly, John McCain has supported these failed policies. John McCain is just more of the same.

Barack Obama has a plan to modernize the VA. We need to take care of all of our returning troops, and make sure military families are supported throughout the deployments of their loved ones.

The medical problems of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury should be recognized as serious wounds from Iraq and Afghanistan. As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Barack Obama passed legislation to improve care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors.

One of the most important pieces of legislation passed in this decade is the New GI Bill, which dramatically improves education benefits for our veterans. Barack Obama was a vocal advocate and co-sponsor of this bill, while John McCain opposed it.

Barack Obama is committed to making sure our returning troops and their families have the support they need as they transition back into civilian life. He will bring us the change we need.

McCain-Palin? We need better

By JENNIFER MISKOWSKI | La Crosse

Can’t McCain-Palin offer America something better?

Senator McCain served our country honorably and was mostly respected prior to this election. He clearly set aside his “maverick” past after losing the 2000 primary race. This shift was disappointing, but more troubling is the erratic, dark, and desperate personality of McCain that has been showcased recently. We are experiencing an economic disaster, we have an increasing disparity between rich and poor and we are fighting two wars.

However, in a last-ditch attempt to win the presidency, Sen. McCain has nothing of substance to offer the American people. Rallies held by Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin are littered with personal insults against Sen. Obama and either innuendos or direct commentary that suggest the Democratic candidate for President of the United States might be a terrorist.

This is absurd, dangerous and irresponsible! McCain and Palin are inciting anger in the crowds, not because they have better ideas than Obama’s, but because they hope to evoke some visceral response rooted in hate and fear. Is this the America that Gov. Palin spoke about in the vice presidential debate — the “shining city on a hill?”

I must now screen political newscasts so my children do not hear spectators at McCain/Palin rallies yell, “Kill him!” I am shocked and appalled at the tactics of Sen. McCain’s campaign. I hope and pray that the American people will have the sense to investigate the truth and the conviction to elect a president who can offer us something better.

Eliminate nuclear weapons

By ROXIE SCHLIESMAN | Holmen, Wis.

Both candidates have spoken at length about making Americans safer, and I was glad to hear them discussing the need for cleanup of loose nuclear material. But Americans were not presented with the big picture because they both failed to outline the path to a truly secure future, which is one with no nuclear weapons.

A Cold War approach to nuclear weapons, based on huge stockpiles and enemies like the USSR that no longer pose an imminent threat to the U.S., is outdated and fails to make us safe from the security threats facing the U.S. today.

For the first time in history, both presidential candidates have endorsed the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. But to truly make the world safer from the nuclear threat, the next president will need to take practical steps to back up this vision.

Nuclear weapons can wipe out millions of people, millions of families, in the blink of an eye. Fear of the terrible power of nuclear weapons has defined U.S. foreign policy for too long, from the Cold War, to the war in Iraq, and the threat of war with Iran.

Former statesmen Sam Nunn, William Perry, George Shultz and Henry Kissinger are part of an emerging bipartisan consensus urging concrete steps toward the global elimination of nuclear weapons.

Continuing to rely on nuclear weapons means continuing nuclear weapons production, placing workers at risk of severe health problems and environmental contamination.

America and the world face great challenges, and we’ll need bold American leadership as well as an unambiguous commitment to international cooperation to secure loose nuclear material, reduce the world’s arsenals, and work towards eliminating the nuclear threat.

The public is ready for a new nuclear weapons policy. Polls show that 73 percent of Americans favor global elimination of nuclear weapons and 79 percent of Americans want our government to do more to achieve this goal.

Traffic issues and merging

By MICHAEL ROLES | La Crosse

A recent letter explained that a study revealed it is more efficient to merge one for one at a traffic constriction than to form one long line early. This is intuitively true, if one thinks about it, which I had never done. You are using all lanes as long as possible. It also keeps the line of vehicles shorter, minimizing the possible blocking of intersections.

To that end, the city could put up two signs: First one says “Use all lanes up to merge point.” Then at the constriction, a “Merge here one for one” sign.

Bailout sends wrong message

By BILL CRAIL | Onalaska

Please make those responsible (any management that was involved in any way) for his mess suffer by assessing a “fine” in the amount of all monies garnered from their participation in the business that is going belly up over the amount of $100,000. Take those “fines” and use it to shore up Social Security and to help finance Healthcare for those that need it.

This bailout sends the wrong message to everyone that it is OK to not be responsible for your own actions and you do not have to worry about going broke because you will get bailed out. However, the regular citizen does not have this same protection.

Lay aside partisanship

By ROBERT GAUNKY | La Crosse

It would appear that in light of the current economic crisis, even partisanship can be laid aside. That is, for a little while at least. Lawmakers were amazingly bipartisan in shooting down the bailout plan that president Bush proposed. Despite the great outpouring of urgency from Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke, it did not pass.

Yet in spite of this short showing of solidarity, the men who would be president, along with their constituents, are still at each others throats. They may have unified their parties, but can they unify the country behind them? With the contest for the White House full of mudslinging, it’s hard to know who to vote for.

As an objective independent, I find it hard to make a choice, or see which direction to take. Why? Because I think McCain and Obama are putting up too many smoke screens, to the point where the truth can’t be seen. When are they gonna stop with the half truths, and just tell it like it is?

Rich people run the country

By BRANDON STRABLEY | La Crosse

About 15 of the richest people run this country. Recently, the government made it so they no longer had to make it public on how much money they printed. Currently they printed so much money they flooded the economy with worthless pieces of paper. Why would the richest people flood the economy? So they can be the one’s that rebuild the country and do what rich people do, get richer.

But in order to stop this, we need to stop buying anything on Fridays, and don’t drive on Sundays. Its pretty basic but what does it mean. We are all consumers, we don‘t make anything anymore, its all done for us. Commercials today say if you buy certain products you are a good citizen. And if you don’t? You’re what? Mentally ill? With gas prices they way they are we are making life decisions at the gas pump.

Do I have enough food for a week or should I put it in my gas tank? If enough people don’t buy anything on Fridays or drive on Sundays imagine what we could control. Imagine seeing hundreds of people walking or riding bikes instead of driving. Do you know how fast gas will go down because how much money they will lose for each person not driving.

Or if we don’t go out on Friday, and spend our paychecks from jobs we hate, on things we don’t need. They will be on their knees begging us to pump our tanks or buy their product. We will have control of gas prices, which will lower food prices, and then we can take it to the next step and take control to get our troops home and take this country back!

Abortion and civil rights

By MELANIE FREI | La Crosse

The issue of the 1860 presidential election of was slavery. Some people supported slavery, some people opposed it. Others really didn’t care. It was the law. But the fact is that slavery is intrinsically evil — always and everywhere, the act is always wrong. Slavery directly contradicts our fundamental right to freedom for all. We were right to end it.

The civil rights issue of the ’50s and ’60s was segregation. Some people supported segregation, some people opposed it, and others didn’t care. It was the law. But the fact is that segregation is intrinsically evil and directly contradicts our fundamental right to the pursuit of happiness. We were right to end it.

One issue of the 2008 election is abortion. Some people support abortion, some oppose it and others simply don’t care. It is the law. But the fact is that abortion is intrinsically evil because it destroys an innocent human life. Abortion directly contradicts our fundamental right to life.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There is a reason that they appear in that order. Life is the most important, liberty is next and happiness is third. Without life, freedom and happiness are irrelevant.

The question then is: “When does a baby have the rights of a human being?” Barak Obama would not answer this question. “It’s above my pay grade,” he replied. John McCain answered quickly saying, “Human rights begin the instant a human egg is fertilized.” McCain is the man I want to protect my rights.

Give the rich $1 trillion

By SCOTT REBER | La Crosse

Dear American taxpayers:

Hello. I’m Rich Hornswoggler, the CEO of a failed investment firm on Wall Street, and I desperately need your help. The recent financial crisis has hit me hard, forcing me to limit the planned expansion of my Tuscan villa. The new wing, designed at 25,000 square feet, has now been scaled back to 21,000 square feet. This places undue hardships upon my family, since we only have six other houses around the world. Other capital pressures are also mounting. My second wife, age 32, is getting on in years, and needs replacement.

How can I possibly find a younger spouse without the trading chip of an eight-figure salary? Please be reasonable. Also, my teenage daughter, who has a God-given right to mannequin features, badly needs a nose job, and we all know the costs of rhinoplasty.

Some of you may question my right to public funding, since I bilked investors out of millions and grossly mismanaged my company. Well, I hate to inform you people of this, because it might come across as elitist, but I’m of a much higher class than you. The sooner you realize this, the better off I will be. We have no time to diddle. Global markets are sinking fast. So please erase my debts and give me the trillion dollars that I so richly deserve.

Hoping to have real informaton

By RICHELLE ROTHMAN | La Crosse

As I begin my senior year of college, I find my time filling up quickly with new responsibilities. This year, on top of balancing classes, jobs and a diminished social life, I am compelled to become an informed voter; a task proving quite difficult.

I read the La Crosse Tribune looking for details on McCain’s health care stand or Obama’s plans for Iraq. Yet all I can find are details of Palin’s pregnant daughter and reports of how this party defamed that party.

While a judge of character is good to have in mind when voting, I hope by Nov. 4 my “informed” decision comes from a basic understanding of each candidate’s goals rather than a wealth of knowledge on their family history.

Critique of Paul Stark views

By MARK CLEMENTS | Genoa, Wis.

My reply to Paul Stark’s comments in the paper about health care.

In response to Mr. Stark’s remarks on how to solve the health care problems we face, I believe you should assume more responsibility yourself and do some homework on the issues facing our health care and health insurance system. You are attempting to become a Congressman of our district for goodness sake.

Please try to be better informed when asked about the status of our health care industry. That is what it is, an industry, with lobbyists, special rules and no rules for insurance companies. How much “more responsibility” do you want the middle class families to take on?

We are presently paying 20 to 27 percent our income on high deductible insurance policies and the high cost of medical care. You ask that we cut back even more to pay these high costs, which are escalating at a rate higher than our income. If we all make the sacrifices that you are proposing, where do you think our economy would go? If we all cut back to buying only the staples to live by there won’t be much of an economy left.

The health care industry is broken and needs real politicians who understand what is going on. When it costs $500 to remove a sliver or you have insurance companies that can exclude anything they want from a hospital bill with an arbitrary decision (that means there are no set or written standards), this is where you need to start.

By the way, we drink very little, we don’t smoke and we work seven days a week. We are trying to pay our bills. At least Congressman Kind acknowledges that there is a problem! Now we need to find the solution.

Rude people at parade

By BILLY ISBELL | La Crosse

My girlfriend and autistic son went to the torch light parade on Thursday in La Crosse. You would think I’m writing this to say how great a job the event was, unfortunately my reason for writing this is that they dealt with a lot of rudeness from the parade goers themselves.

Kids will be kids. They are excited to see parades and lots of on lookers were calling him names like little f’er and little bastard. These comments were from adults.

I think people need to come together and not accept these actions in the events which are supposed to be fun. Where did the world go when it was fun to be a kid and not be ridiculed by adults using profanities. The kid here is an 8-year-old autistic boy. Come on La Crosse show some maturity as adults and not ridicule kids and curse them.

Who was president then?

By JOE BRYE | La Crosse

An article in the Oct. 1, 2008 LaCrosse Tribune page A-8 Business states consumer confidence is near a 16 year low.

Remember who was president of this great country 16 years ago?

 

Advertisement