Letters To The Editor

Leo Kucek, Aztalan
As tanks roll into Ukraine, I am reminded of how fragile our democracy is. As Americans, we can agree to disagree, but we should stand united to ensure that all of our voices are heard and votes are counted.

Steve  Bower, Lake Mills
The people of Wisconsin believe that voting is a fundamental right of citizenship. Wisconsin voters turned out in record numbers in 2020.

Patricia Giese, Johnson Creek
It is an incredibly difficult time to be optimistic about participating in the greatest freedom we have, going to the polls. We continue to watch politicians wrangle over the boundaries of our voting districts, one side attempting to cement the gerrymandering of 2011 in place, while the other side promotes non-partisan Fair Maps.

Leslie DeMuth, Lake Mills
We all want the freedom to vote and to know that our votes count. Yet some Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin seem intent on fighting against voters.

Sandy Whisler, Lake Mills
Our democracy is built on the freedom of everyone — regardless of zip code, color of skin or economic status — to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. Our democracy works when our leaders value the input of everyone and, through robust discussion, pass laws that the majority favors.

Ken Eimers, Lake Mills
In a few days the Senate is expected to debate and hopefully pass the Freedom to Vote Act. This will decrease the influence of money in politics, curb partisan gerrymandering, and enable practical national standards for access to the ballot.

Lynn von Huben, Waterloo
Since 2011, we in Wisconsin have witnessed how partisan gerrymandering created a more lopsided, polarized legislature that lost its ability to work together and solve problems. This divide and conquer philosophy now is being applied across the country as 19 other states have enacted more than 33 bills that make it harder for people to vote and sometimes to allow partisan state legislatures to not certify the votes actually cast.

Kelli Rowley, Fort Atkinson
This pandemic has taught us so much about what’s important. Most people now see that community schools are vital places of learning and emotional support for children. But the lawmakers who control the state’s Joint Finance Committee are blocking an entire $77 million allocation of federal relief funds because not every school was able to provide an early plan for full in-person learning.

Ben Adams, Watertown
On January 6, 2021, the USA experienced the most serious challenge to our democracy since the Civil War–an insurrection against our democratic process and the peaceful transfer of power. There were violent, pre-planned disruptions in the normally mundane process when we formalized the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our chief executives.

Leslie DeMuth, Lake Mills
Almost nothing is more important to a democracy than voting. Yet across our nation, the very right to vote is under attack. Thankfully, Congress is working to pass two bills that will guarantee all eligible citizens the freedom to vote, with no exceptions.