I worked fine for me, Les. I have noticed that the
forum has been pretty quiet on this issue, while the letters in both papers have
been many.
I've been trying to get my head around why folks
would not want to support our public schools and I've been talking to people
about their views.
Bottom line for the fixed and lower income folks
I've spoken to is they don't want a tax increase. They wonder why they should
have to pay for "extracurriculars" like sports, drama, music, art, etc.
Well, it sounds like if the referendum fails, many
families will be paying for an extra day of childcare if the district goes to a
4 day week. I wonder how much that will cost families compared to the
taxes? Of course it will only affect the families with young
children. (sarcasm begins here) They shouldn't have had them if they
couldn't afford them.
Maybe the same should hold true for Medicare or
Social Security then. Let's do away with the FICA taxes for families
with young children--they could use that money for extra childcare or
"extracurricular" activities for their children. Let those over 65 find
income and funding for their medical care elsewhere--why should we have to
pay? Let them spend that $2 a day that the district wants on their medical
bills and forget about Medicare--that shouldn't be our problem--we have to make
sure our kids get an education and those seniors shouldn't have to pay for
schools because they won't see any direct benefit.
Why don't we just pit different interest groups
against each other and see who ends up on top? Will it be seniors?
Folks who need round the clock care? Children? Mentally ill or disabled
individuals? (end of sarcasm)
Is this what our country is all about?
Unfortunately it seems that it's only every one for him/herself when it's the
"other"--if it's "my" life that's going to be impacted, well, that's another
story.
What ever happened to communities pulling
together? How would our farming predecessors here in the Midwest have made
it if it had been "every family for themselves" instead of barn raising and
threshing crews?
To me, paying my fair share of income and property
taxes is one way I contribute so that the whole community benefits. I just don't
get why others don't seem to think they need to contribute to the well-being of
our community. That seems to be the bottom line that is justified with
anger and false claims and accusations toward elected officials with whom they
disagree. It is very sad for our community, but I know that I will vote my
conscience on Tuesday and I am willing to do my fair share so that we have a
school system to be proud of in our community.
Kathy Seifert
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 7:17
AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Vote on Nov.
8th!
[Winona Online Democracy]
I tried to get the WDN to publish this but its way too long
and they said NO. It was getting near their deadline for inclusion
in the paper before the referendum and I did not have time to
rewrite.
Here is my response to Linda Fort's Editorial last week (I
hope this link works for everybody.)
-Leslie Hittner
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