Letters to the Editor for March 26

The Courier Press welcomes opinion letters up to 500 words from readers. Writers are limited to one letter, per topic, per month. Concise letters and those that offer a new perspective or add depth to the discussion of an issue are more likely to be printed. We reserve the right to reject letters at our discretion or edit for grammar, punctuation, length and clarity. Personal attacks, form letters or letter-writing campaigns are not accepted, and self-promoting letters from candidates for public office will not be published. If we receive numerous letters on one topic from various authors, we may select only one to be printed. Any congratulatory letters must be matters of public interest and will be tightly edited. Please include the author’s full name, address and daytime phone number in case clarification is needed. Emailed letters are encouraged and mailed submissions must be signed. Letters to the editor are not a reflection of the Courier Press’ or its staff’s stance on matters of opinion.

Dear Editor,

The Wisconsin Supreme Court continues to be a place where big issues are decided: fair legislative maps, worker rights, voting rights, environmental concerns, and reproductive rights.  That is why the April 1 election is very important.

Judge Susan Crawford believes in listening to all the facts, following the law, and protecting our constitutional rights.  As a private practice attorney, she fought on behalf of her clients for worker rights and supported women’s access to reproductive health care. She also served as a prosecutor for over 10 years. As a twice-elected circuit court judge, she has shown herself to be fair and impartial as she oversees tough cases involving homicides, sexual assault, and domestic violence issues.  Judge Crawford supports restorative justice, transparency in sentencing, and programs that hold people accountable.  She has earned the support of the WI Supreme Court majority as well as over 150 current and former judges across the state.

Meanwhile, Brad Schimel has spent his career advancing extreme political agendas which strip away our rights and protections under the law.  He was appointed to his judgeship after serving (masquerading) as attorney general for former Governor Scott Walker. As attorney general, he wasted millions of taxpayer dollars trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, attacked our reproductive freedoms, tried to limit early voting access in our major cities and allowed many violent offenders to walk free (thanks to his mismanagement of the testing for thousands of rape kits needed as evidence in sexual assault cases).

Where does he stand on the issues of today?  He believes in limiting the federal and WI DNR authority to regulate drinking water quality; has stated that the 1849 abortion ban with no exemptions for rape or incest should be upheld; continues to support the ideas of Act 10 which outlawed collective bargaining for public employees; and he supports taxpayer funded school voucher programs which are siphoning money away from our public schools. 

Vote for protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our communities and families. Vote for Judge Susan Crawford on April 1.

Janet L. Finn             

Prairie du Chien

***

To the Editor,

I am concerned about the election of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice candidate Susan Crawford. As a lawyer, she frequently sued the state of Wisconsin, and her largest client was Planned Parenthood, seeking to expand abortions statewide. She has publicly stated that if elected, she would guarantee an absolute right to abortion. At present, the language of the Wisconsin State Constitution guarantees a right to life. 

Why is it that Democrats fight to free murderers, rapists, drug dealers, and gang members who came across our southern border or keep violent criminals from the death penalty yet want to kill unborn babies?

Abortion has nothing to do with women’s health. Abortion is about population control only. The Democrats were not successful calling it population control, so they changed the words to women’s health. It sounds more compassionate, and they were more successful.

A book I read, One World Democracy (2005), is a progressive vision for enforceable global law. In this book, the authors blame the American Christian Right for rendering the United States ineffective in the United Nations efforts to control population growth around the world. A concern for women’s health was never mentioned.

Government efforts to control population are man’s solutions, not God’s. God in the book of Isaiah tells the people of Israel the reasons He was going to punish and drive them out of their land. Abortion was one of those reasons. A nation that rejects God and His Word, God will reject.

Ray Kramer

Eastman

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Dear Editor,

The current superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction, Jill Underly, says that “in 2025, Wisconsin needs somebody who can offer stability, who has already developed relationships, who can be consistent in this time of chaos and someone who’s going to stand up for public schools  — for all kids, for teachers and for families.” She believes that she has already proven that she can do it.

Underly entered office as the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic was winding down but immediately tackled the challenge. She became the number one advocate for public education by calling for increased investment throughout the budget process and starting initiatives to enhance career and technical education, advocating for more school-based mental health funding and working to improve teacher recruitment and retention.

One of her proudest accomplishments is her work on literacy. The DPI was instrumental in negotiating and funding the 2023 Wisconsin Act 20, which sought to move the state towards implementing a reading program based on the science of reading. The science of reading examines how children learn and why some struggle as it prioritizes phonics, vocabulary, building, fluency and comprehension.

Despite the claims of her opponent, Underly says that the DPI has raised standards in math and science. They have added a literacy score for all kids and have also added standards in career and technical education. The ideas touted by her opponent are a distraction from the real problems of education. Low test scores exist in communities with the most pverty. She says, “Our Legislature has underfunded and undermined public schools for the past 15 years. If student achievement is really a priority for the state, it should look towards investing literacy, math, mental health, teachers, school meals and early childhood education.”

Jill Underly has made incredible progress in the past four years, but there is still more work to be done. I urge you to vote for Jill Underly for superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction on April 1 so that she can finish the job.

Theresa Acker

Boscobel

***

Dear Editor,

After Trump (“L.L.B.S.C.K.”) takes over the Gaza Strip and Greenland, this is what his long-term plans are. First, let’s look at some geographic/demographic comparisons.

Greenland has an area of 836,330 square miles with a population of 56,609. Alaska has 663,268 square miles and a population of 704,133.

The Gaza Strip is 141 square miles and 2.1 million people. If you had an area from Wazueka to Prairie du Chien to Eastman to Steuben and back to Wauzeka, the Gaza land area would fit within those boundaries. The total Crawford County area is 599 square miles or roughly four times the size of the Gaza Strip.

Trump’s plan for Greenland after the takeover is to change the name to “Eggland” (not to be confused with “England”). Instead of giving the Statue of Liberty back to France -- as was requested -- it would be moved to “Eggland,” where the plaque on the statue will be reworded. Instead of “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” it will read “work makes one free.”

The torch will be removed, and a large egg will replace that. The 2.1 million population of Gaza will be relocated to “Eggland” to care for a projected one trillion egg-laying chickens. As Trump promised lower food prices, the goal here is to sell 13 eggs per carton for 12 cents. Elon will be put in charge of designing a new 13-egg carton.

Of course, U.S. military presence in “Eggland” will significantly increase to protect the chickens from wild bird flu or any hungry Ukranians craving some French toast or omelets.

Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip will be renamed “The Greenland Resorts and States.” The 56,000 former “Greenlanders” will be relocated to the new resorts and states for ground and facility maintenance once the golf courses, condos and time shares are completed.

Trump will have a statue made of himself swinging a golf club. It will welcome folks to the new “Greenland.” It will be one inch taller than the Statue of Liberty. It should be inscribed “L.L.B.S.C.K.”

Larry Larson

Wauzeka

***

Dear Editor,

Vote April 1, your children’s futures depend on it.

Supreme Court

My choice #1: Susan Crawford:

a. Womens rights.

b. Fairer voter representation in our state elections.

Choice #2:  Brad Schimel

a.  Abortion – never, even if mother may die.

b. Rearrange voting districts to favor one party.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Choice #1: Jill Underly 

• Expanding public education and increasing emphasis on trades such as carpentry, plumbing, carpentry.

Choice #2: Brittany Kinser

• Increasing charter schools abandoning public schools.

• Charter Schools will include religious education.  (Not determined what religion, but it will be uniform)

Ted Finn

Prairie du Chien