Building bridges
In a recent online column (Citizen Dave: “The Democrats Deserve to Be in the Minority,” 11/16/ 2015), Dave Cieslewicz made several disparaging comments towards Democratic legislators who provided crucial votes to reduce delay on vital road construction projects and ensure the timely maintenance of our state’s highways and bridges.
The South Central Building Trades Council could not disagree more with those assertions. On behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin — those who work on the roads, travel the roads and rely on the roads — those legislators absolutely did the right thing. While the solution, approving $350 million in bonding without increasing revenue, was far from ideal, keeping major highway projects moving forward and ensuring that necessary repairs are made to our roads and bridges was crucial for our state’s economy, our citizens’ safety, and for maintaining well-paying jobs in a volatile sector of the economy.
The notion that Democrats got nothing in exchange is petty. In a time when partisanship is at a historic high and common-sense solutions to real problems seem impossible, these legislators didn’t try to horse trade on an opportunity to do the right thing, and that should be commended. Their willingness to support a temporary fix while providing strong criticism of the lack of a long-term solution did at least receive a promise from the Joint Finance Committee co-chair to lead discussion towards revenue increases to support transportation funding before the next budget. That’s more than anyone has gotten so far.
Wisconsin’s roads are ranked third worst in the nation. Bad roads hurt the economy and jeopardize safety. Supporting infrastructure funding creates jobs, helps the economy and keeps people safe. Democrats did the right thing, and we applaud their willingness to stand up for working men and women in Wisconsin.
To give in to political notions that would rather let the state’s infrastructure crumble in hopes that voters will lay blame and vote the other party out come November is both shortsighted and dangerous to the citizens of Wisconsin. We need to thank the Democrats who showed enormous leadership in this situation and made sure this important funding authorization passed. Let’s get past the political games and work towards solutions that benefit our state.
Dave Branson, Executive director, Building and Construction Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin (via email)
Voodoo economics
Citizen Dave raises valid points (“Scott Walker’s Job Strategy Is a Failure,” 11/12/2015).
The Republican mantra and strategy is that tax cuts will fuel growth and keep businesses from leaving our state. Supply-side economics, labeled voodoo economics by Bush 41, was a Republican strategy that was supposed to create a ripple effect from the top down, generating new business, growth, jobs and good wages. What it really created was an environment for mergers and acquisitions, which just redistributed income back to the top. Case in point: Oscar Mayer. Instead of cutting taxes, how about a strategy that encourages small and medium-size business to stay in Wisconsin with tax credits, as well as apprenticeship programs, training and mentoring, green production and buying local? Republican tax cuts and small government redistributes wealth to the top, which doesn’t benefit middle-class Republicans, Democrats or independents. If Wisconsin was “open for business,” how could anyone let Talgo walk away? Is Miller next? The Republican-controlled Legislature is more concerned with building its infrastructure and not our transportation infrastructure.
Governor Dave?
Brent Wood (via email)
Boom and bust
Marc Eisen’s comments about the metal mining industry (“The Great Snipe Hunt,” 11/19/2015) apply equally to fossil fuels. Yet we are continually bombarded with inflated promises of “jobs, jobs, jobs” and economic prosperity from pipelines, shipping terminals and new oil and gas development. Boom towns grow where there’s petroleum in the ground, but the jobs don’t go to local people, and the development strains local infrastructure and social structure. Moreover, the conclusion of boom is always bust.
The same environmental degradation and public health issues accompany all extractive technologies. In addition, in the case of fossil fuels, there’s the inexorable march toward a climate disaster that can’t be turned back unless we leave that black stuff in the ground.
Don’t look into the earth for black gold. Look into the sky for wind and sunlight. Put a tax on the fossils and return it to the people.
Carol Steinhart (via email)
Separated at birth
I didn’t know that Barry Alvarez was really a Sontaran — at least he looks like one on this week’s cover!
Cynthia E. Olson (via email)
