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Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
We’re not achieving our federal objectives
Weeks into the Trump/Vance term, presidential election signs are still widely displayed.
Obvious federal objectives include a strong national economy, education, consistent laws with fair enforcement, an efficient military and domestic operations, and friendships with other countries.
We are not achieving these goals by siding with Putin and naming Ukraine a dictatorship.
It does not help to tell NATO we will not honor our past treaties for mutual defense.
Imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico is sure to make produce, car parts and building materials more expensive.
Slashing the federal workforce, starting with USAID and the U.S. Forest Service, is of no benefit to farmers who sold food to USAID for starving people in war-torn countries or families who visit our national parks and monuments.
Massive cuts at the Veterans Administration will not make our commitment to military servicemen better.
Wholesale slashing of the Department of Education and Health and Human Services staff will not strengthen our schools or make national health better.
Firing 1,000 IRS staff does not increase efficiency when every dollar that had been spent on tax law enforcement had increased recovery from ultra-wealthy by ten-fold.
Retirees and disabled folks must be wondering whether Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security programs that sustain daily living will be retained.
Elected representatives must reaffirm truths about the evil of the Putin expansionist empire, the value of NATO and North American partners, the importance of strong trading partners, and only fair job firings in both private and public sectors.
Kenneth Bower, Ph.D.
Manitowoc
Wisconsin property tax law must be made fair
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations, Chapter 70, mandates cities and towns reassess property value at least every five years.
In 2023, Manitowoc did just that, resulting in a property tax increase for every homeowner in town.
And now, adding insult to injury, Manitowoc is doing it again.
This assault upon owners of property is an ugly display of raw power, and provides local and state officials a legal path to expand government, that is, spend, spend, spend.
Ownership of property is core to America and fundamental to freedom, and when law and regulation erodes individual liberty expressed in home ownership, something is terribly wrong.
Elected officials in counties, cities and towns must listen to their people, limit the size of government, not expand, and reduce the tax burden of homeowners while focusing on essentials like police, firefighters, utilities, bridges and roads.
Here’s an idea: assess property at the time of sale only, not every year, two or five, then adjust the tax burden accordingly. Such a method would return fairness to the homeowner, particularly those on a fixed income, like the retired, and provide fiscal stability to hardworking, taxpaying citizens.
Grandparents should not be forced to sell their home because of an unjust, government-overreach, property tax increase.
Remember, government is supposed to work for the people, not the other way around.
James K. Blakely
Manitowoc
DOC changes more responsible than building new warehouse for people
Since Gov. Tony Evers held a press conference on proposed changes for the Department of Corrections, I’ve been thinking about them.
There’s been a lot of talk over the years about closing down Green Bay Correctional Institution, but nothing has ever come of it.
Now, there’s quite an extensive plan to make necessary changes to the Department of Corrections. It’s predicated on reducing the prison population — something that needs to be done anyway, for the safety of incarcerated people and DOC staff.
Public safety will be addressed by allowing incarcerated people to earn their way out of prison early and gain skills needed to be productive members of society.
The governor’s plan is more fiscally responsible than building a new warehouse for people would be.
Instead of picking apart the governor’s plan, I’m asking what we can do, as a society, to help make this happen.
People involved in the system must have their needs addressed — and a chance to redeem themselves. Instead of judging them on something from the past, let’s look toward the future.
After someone has done their time, let’s help them to be the person we want them to be. Get involved — that’s the only way we’re going to have better, safer communities.
Tom Denk
Reedsville
Our letters policy
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.