AUGUST 15, 2012 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9
Letters to the editor •
Knockout punch
I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but the meth heads are going down in Polk County. What I mean by going down is, they’re getting arrested. People that are selling the illegal drug methamphetamine or trafficking it to support their habit are being
busted right and left by our Polk County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff ain’t messing around and you meth heads better get out of Dodge! I noticed they took down (arrested) a couple of longtime suppliers that were bringing methamphetamine from the Cities. Then the PCSD raided a house in my friend’s neighborhood, just last month. I also have been noticing a lot of meth-re-
lated arrests on the PCSD weekly booking report. I feel our sheriff is really using his resources in battling meth here in Polk County. He’s got the funds, a few new investigators, awesome patrol sergeants and highly motivated deputies. All the right commutations coming together for the knockout punch. I realize that we can never stop the illegal drug altogether, but we can make it harder
for these meth heads to spread their disease to our young people. As a concerned citizen, I’m glad to see it. We the people can do our part by reporting it. Thanks PCSD. Jessee Mattocks Balsam Lake
From “very excited” to predicting “disaster”
What Wisconsin says about Paul Ryan
by Shawn Johnson Wisconsin Public Radio JANESVILLE – News that Paul Ryan was chosen as Mitt Romney’s running mate had people in his hometown of Janesville abuzz Saturday morning, Aug. 11. But the strong feelings Ryan provokes elsewhere for and against his policies were also evident. On her way into the Janesville post office, Corrine Smith had a smile on her face. She and her husband are both big Ryan supporters, and they were thrilled when they heard the news. “Actually, I heard about it early this morning, and I did not tell my husband; he was in the office working,” she says. “And I heard him this morning Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., speaks when he heard and let out a ‘Whoo!’ So, very excited Saturday, Aug. 11, in Norfolk, Va., after being named Mitt Romney’s about the pick.” Smith says that’s partly vice presidential running mate. because Ryan’s a “local Photo by Win McNamee / Getty Imboy.” Her family has even ages run into Ryan and his family at Chuck E. Cheese’s. But Smith says it’s Ryan’s platform that she really likes. She says she believes in charity, but not from the government. “That should be the position of people, humanity as a race, that we help one another, but not necessarily the position of government,” she says, “that you take what I’ve worked really hard to earn and give it to somebody else.” Al Banner of Janesville says he has supported Ryan ever since he was first elected 14 years ago. He says he likes that Ryan’s eager to take on difficult issues. “He talks like I talk. He feels like I feel,” Banner says. “At least that’s what he brings to us.” For some of Romney’s sharpest critics, like Sue McKillips, the Ryan pick is troubling. “I think it shows Mitt Romney’s true colors,” she says. For McKillips, Ryan’s budget proposals are designed to benefit people like him, but not like her. “If you don’t depend on your Social Security check or any other government programs, you’re going to be fine if you’re one of the wealthiest in this country,” she says. “But if you’re just one of the working stiffs like the rest of us, then beware, because I see it as a total disaster.”
Wisconsin being a swing state, there are also undecided voters like Dawn Thorn, who says Romney’s choice of Ryan does not seal the deal for her. “He’s an impressive guy. He’s done a lot,” she says. “But I’m leery because I’m not very confident anymore in any of the candidates.” Thorn has been unemployed for a few years now and says these are scary economic times. She says she needs to hear more from all the candidates. “I have to hear what they have to say, I don’t want to hear a lot of talking bad about the other person. Let’s hear what you have to offer me,” she says. Thorn says she knows it’s a lot to ask for honesty and openness in politics, but she’d like as much as she can get.
Ryan adds stark choice on health care to GOP ticket
by Julie Rovner Wisconsin Public Radio WASHINGTON, D.C. - One thing Republican Mitt Romney’s choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate will certainly do is elevate issues like Medicare and Medicaid to the top of the election agenda. As the nation gets closer to Election Day, Ryan’s addition to the GOP ticket will present the public with a dramatic choice about the role the government should play in health care. One thing the Wisconsin congressman never does is apologize for thinking big. “We also think we have a moral obligation to try and fix this country’s big problems before they get out of our control,” Ryan said in February on ABC’s “This Week.” Ryan is referring, among other things, to the budget plan he wrote and helped muscle through the House — twice. His plan would cut taxes, create private accounts for Social Security and, perhaps most notably, make major changes to the Medicare and Medicaid health programs. The Medicare changes in particular are dramatic. Starting a decade from now, seniors would get a set amount of money rather than automatic coverage. They could use that to choose from a range of health plans. “Doing it this way harnesses the power of choice and competition,” Ryan said at a news conference last December. “Our goal here is to have the senior citizen, the beneficiary, be the nucleus of this program.” The amount of money the senior gets, however, wouldn’t necessarily go up as fast as medical costs. Ryan and those who support his idea say that choice and competition would maintain the benefits. Others, including President Obama, aren’t so sure. “It says instead of guaranteed health care, you will get a
Songs celebrating the quirkiness of rural and small-town life to be featured
when he wasn’t jumping in SHELL LAKE — From puddles. In high school, he rural Ontario, My Sweet Pasang in rock and blues bands, tootie is an acoustic-roots then picked up the guitar group that brings twining after listening to artists like vocal harmonies, monstrous Bruce Cockburn and Chet fingerstyle guitar, sizzling Atkins and gained an interest fiddle, percussion and abunin roots and jazz. Young’s dant charisma together in one tremendous dexterity and agperfect package. gressive approach to fingerComplete with tall tales style guitar has been and corny jokes, it’s a moddescribed as “virtuosic” by ern-day music hall show that BBC critic James Harrox, and Driftwood Magazine de“jaw dropping” by the Folk scribes as “two-parts exemplary musicianship, one-part and Acoustic Exchange. vaudeville comedy.” Sandra High on the Niagara EsSwannell has been playing carpment, surrounded by the violin her whole life. sheep and dairy farmers, My When she was 4 years old Sweet Patootie creates songs she’d attend kindergarten in that celebrate the quirkiness the morning and practice viof rural and small-town life. olin all afternoon. Her diverse They will bring their travelmusical background ranges ing road show to The Potter’s My Sweet Patootie – Photo submitted from recording with Shed in Shell Lake on Friday, Canada’s legendary Stompin’ Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. This is a Tom Connors to writing a series of musical sketches for free concert. Information can be found at thePotters string orchestra. Terry Young was one of those little kids Shed.com or by calling 715-468-4122. — submitted who liked to sing every day walking home from school
voucher,” Obama said in a speech last spring in which he blasted Ryan’s budget plan. “If that voucher isn’t worth enough to buy the insurance that’s available in the open marketplace, well tough luck, you’re on your own.” On Medicaid, Ryan’s proposal would give states far more flexibility to decide how and who to cover, but also less money to do it with. In an appearance on “PBS News Hour,” Ryan said that what they’re trying to do is couple Medicaid reforms with reforms in other programs such as food stamps, housing assistance, education and job training. “We are trying to couple these things by sending them back to the states in block grants so the states can combine these dollars and reform the tattered social safety net,” he said. Analysts, however, say the cuts would be so large, about a one-third reduction over 10 years, states would have no choice other than to cut benefits or drop people from the rolls. Obama has said that this could put some elderly and poor people at risk. At least one thing that’s clear about Ryan’s vision for health care compared to Obama’s is that they’re different. No one will mistake one for the other, says Aaron Carroll, a pediatrician and professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine who blogs on health economics. He says this campaign should give voters a clear choice. “I think what Ryan puts forward is a vision of much less government involvement in things like Medicare and Medicaid, especially from the federal level,” Carroll says. What’s less clear, however, Carroll says, is whether the nation really is ready to have what Ryan likes to refer to as an “adult conversation” about how to control entitlement spending. “We probably can, but not in politics,” he says. “Because in politics, of course, people want to win, and you win by scaring people into thinking [about] what the other side will do.” In 2010, Republicans tried to scare seniors about Obama’s health law and Medicare. This time around, it will be the Democrats who will try to turn the tables.
THANK YOU
A BIG THANK-YOU to everyone who helped to make the 9th-Annual Lamar Festival joyful, warm, friendly, peaceful and fun!
A Host of Enthusiastic Volunteers Benevolent Foundation, Business and Individual Donors 59 Amazing Performing Artists All the Big-Hearted Guests Who Donated at the Gate The Dedicated Lamar Board And Everyone Who Attended!
Steve Bont Brian Liggett Kathleen Melin Mike Drury Kate Drury Brooke Dierkhising Melody Wahlberg Dan Worrell Tristane Long Meg Farrington Gina Sarow Kris Schmid Dave Brown - Valley Sound Kelley Hagenbuch St. Croix Valley Foundation Royal Bank of Canada Wisconsin Arts Board National Endowment for the Arts Sunshine Piano Parlor Bont Chiropractic Legacy Solar L & C Autoworks Wal-Mart El-Stinko Lucky Party Rental Joyce McKenzie Schwan’s Mya Montieth Motivational Moves Healing Ways The Yoga Barn Reach Out and Reconnect F & A Dairy Coffee Time Clayton’s Hardware and Radio Shack Cedar Lake Reflections Tea Grecco’s Winterboo Pottery Balsam Lake Pottery Kathy Clark Bergmann Farms Burnett Dairy Somerset Chiropractic Village Pizzeria Tires Plus Falls Photo Paradise Landing The Vegetarian
City of Saint Croix Falls filmfly.com Dan Dan the Plumber Man Bernick’s Brink’s Market Daeffler’s Meats David Butler Central Bank Ryan Johnson Ania Grandbois Wilma Gray Annette Williamson Molly Loughlin Dori Allee Mara Militech Nicola Kapala Tanna Worrell Judie Subert Mike Morin Mary Curran Luann Kleppe Rhonda Lundeen Bev Sederlund Vicki O’Day Pamela Vruwink Barb Delaney Maria Carlson Loreen Clayton-Morrell Mirabelle Vezina Vicki O’Day Debbie Melin Karin Adams Jean Schermer Tammie Wishard Brad Wishard Nathanial Seifert Cody (Nathanial’s friend) Joe Radamaker Drew Wheeler Nolan O’Brien Kyle Koschial Natrone Anthony Julius Brown Royale Peabody Isaac Bont Polk County Sportsmen’s Club Cynthia Rintala Marc Cutter Cindi Cutter Dan Clark Cole Zrostlik and the Art Camp Kids
Gina Sarow Jackie Reynolds LeAnn Sylvester Dave Sarow Maurine Melin Leah Wahlberg Sheila Berklund Mike Seifert Debbie Melin Natalie Trudeau Marilyn Toraason Carmen Brian Anita Bont Josh Schmidt Erin Schmidt Eileen Gutzmer Michelle Flaherty Colleen Allen Zoe Allen Kennedy Gehrman Riley Gehrman Emma Drury Owen Drury David Butler Jason Holtz Rita Dahms Joyce McKenzie Sarah Adams Eileen Jordahl Ray Standke River City Cloggers Pink Ladies Barbershop Quartet Festival Theatre Loose Canon Rhythm Section Don Karsky Amanda Duthie Thomas Johanson Barbie Luepke Sig Daddy and the Dew Daugs Batucada do norte Beyond the Rhythm Anna Luepke Trapeze Disaster Nick Wishard Romes DJ A-Scratch Russell Pederson Illumination Fire Troupe The Barley Jacks
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