Here are this week’s letters to the editor of theHerald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
Support final five voting
If you dislike Wisconsin’s current election process, a better alternative is available. It’s called final five voting, or FFV.
FFV has two key elements. The first is an open (nonpartisan) primary in which all candidates from any party run on the same ballot and voters can choose any candidate regardless of their party affiliation. The top five vote-getters advance to the November general election.
The second key element is the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the general election. Voters rank their favorite candidates in order of preference — first choice, second choice and so on. The first-choice votes are tallied, and if no candidate receives a majority, the last-place candidate is eliminated and his or her votes are automatically transferred to the voter’s second-choice candidate. This process continues until one candidate receives a majority of votes and is declared the winner.
FFV will change our politics by giving voters better choices, better representation and more positive campaigns. Voters can express their true preferences without worrying about “wasting” their vote on a lesser-known candidate. Candidates must appeal to a broad coalition of voters, so partisanship is reduced.
Two states, Alaska and Maine, currently use variants of the FFV process, as well as 49 counties and cities.
A bipartisan bill instituting FFV for Wisconsin’s congressmen and senators, AB 563, is currently in the Wisconsin Legislature. Tell your legislators you support FFV as a better way to select our senators and representatives.
For more information, check out finalfivevoting.org or democracyfound.org.
Dan Vander Linden
Manitowoc
Read last week's letters to the editor: Letters to the editor on the minimum wage, property tax law, banning books and the presidential election
The coming storm
As I slept the other night, I had a dream of being in a rowboat far offshore in Lake Michigan. I was not alone; I had two political companions — as it happens, a fellow Democrat and an Independent.
We were all comfortable until a storm struck, and the cresting waves began to fill our boat. We thought, “Who will save us?”
As long as we two Democrats rowed together and the Independent bailed, we could make it to safe harbor.
But what if my fellow Democrat decided not to pull his oar? We would stay in place, going only in circles.
What if the Independent decided not to bail? We would sink right there, and all perish.
We truly needed a full team effort to save ourselves. Two-thirds participation would not do. No time to quibble, kibbitz or slack off! Then, I awoke to a real-life emergency.
We now — as a nation — need an urgent effort to save ourselves. We cannot hope someone else will pull an oar or bail the boat. We are now in an electoral storm and if we don’t get out and do something, we may all sink into an abyss of vengeance, corruption and retribution.
We need to enlist every voter to keep the felon, Donald Trump, out of office forevermore.
Commit yourself to vote for Democratic candidates. Our passage to safe harbor, security and prosperity now depends on you. Continuance of our freedoms depends upon you to step up and vote.
David Estes
Manitowoc
Time for parents to unite
I have read Christine DeMey’s letter (“Behavior of some Manitowoc school board members is upsetting,” Aug. 25 Herald Times Reporter) regarding the ALLY group and its treatment of board member Matthew Spaulding during the Aug. 5 school board meeting.
After watching the recording, I was appalled by the behavior exhibited by ALLY board members Kerry Trask and Paul Hansen. Their harassment of Spaulding for advocating parental rights is not only unacceptable, but indicative of a larger issue within the group.
It is demoralizing to see how ALLY, which is closely tied to the teachers’ union, treats those who dare to disagree with their leftist political agenda. Board members Keith Shaw and Chris Able also contribute to this toxic environment, demonstrating a blatant disregard for differing opinions. This kind of behavior should not be normalized in our school board meetings.
As a concerned parent, I urge others to pay attention to these meetings. If this is the standard of discourse we can expect, it is crucial that we speak up now before our voices are silenced. We must advocate for a respectful dialogue that includes all perspectives, especially those of parents who want to protect their rights and the rights of their children.
Let us not allow the ALLY group to dictate the narrative without challenge. This group and its partnering organization, the Manitowoc Education Association, must be broken indefinitely. It is time for parents to unite and ensure our concerns are heard and respected.
Benjamin Hall
Manitowoc
MPSD can’t kick the can down the road
Investing in infrastructure is a critical aspect of our society. Whether it is for our roads, buildings or any other type of tangible infrastructure, it is important we keep it adequate for the public.
Take roads, for example. When you are driving, you want to have a smooth experience. You do not want to be worrying about potholes that could damage your car and cause an accident. When the conditions occur for cracks and potholes to be formed, they may continue to enlarge over time, leaving an evolving danger in roads, parking lots and other drivable areas.
Now, look at buildings. In Manitowoc, our school district facilities are not in ideal shape. When you hear a corner of a school is sinking into the ground, your first thought should be to come up with and implement proper facilities plan to fix such problems, not kick the can down the road for another 20 years. When you kick the can down the road for critical infrastructure needs, that enlarges the threat to public safety. Lives could be at stake if people are inside a building, then all of a sudden, the roof collapses onto them as a result of the neglection to fix it.
When infrastructure is invested in, that is an investment in the future of our community. That is an investment in protecting the public from unnecessary harm. Let’s ensure our infrastructure receives the attention it needs at the time when it is the most crucial to fixing it.
Brayden Myer
Manitowoc
Harris’ support of policies threatens economic growth
Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for President Biden’s proposed increase to the capital gains tax is highly concerning. This tax could rise to an alarming 44.6%, being more than doubled. This drastic hike is detrimental to our economy, as it discourages investment and stifles innovation. Wealth creation is essential for economic growth, and penalizing those who invest their capital undermines the very foundation of our financial system.
Moreover, Harris’ recent comments about not taxing tips seem to lack originality and critical thought. It is troubling that she appears to adopt ideas from former President Trump, only weeks after he proposed it, without offering her own vision. This raises questions about her ability to lead and think independently within the Democratic Party. The irony is palpable: while she advocates for no tax on tips, her administration has hired 87,000 new IRS agents to enforce tax compliance, including tracking tips. This sends a mixed message to the American people.
Are we to believe the same party that seeks to expand the tax burden on investments will genuinely protect the earnings of service workers? The potential for increased scrutiny on tips contradicts the notion of fair treatment for all taxpayers.
In conclusion, Harris’ support for such policies not only threatens economic growth but also reflects a troubling lack of independent thought. We must demand better leadership that prioritizes the interests of all Americans, not just the wealthy elite like liberal Kamala Harris.
Jessica Taylor
Francis Creek
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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 tohtrnews@htrnews.comand Editor Brandon Reid atbreid@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.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc letters to the editor on school board, Trump, Harris, voting
