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Letters to the Editor

A perspective on board pay

I read the recent article covering the most current Dickinson County Board meeting and was taken aback by one of the items reported. The topic was related to the discussion of, and voting on, board pay. The issue to me is not that the board considered raises, but the comments by one of the supporting board members, Commissioner Barbara Kramer. Commissioner Kramer rolled out the overused statement that the pay, considering when all the commitments are taken into account, might equate to $2 per hour. In working and consulting with boards in many jurisdictions, I have heard this repeated ...

Let’s save those aluminum tabs

EDITOR: Those little aluminum tabs. You say I should save them? Here’s a good reason: Since 2000, recycling these little tabs has generated $400,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee, Wis. Revenue from recycling these tabs helps keep families near their children who are receiving medical treatment in the Milwaukee area. Since I started this project through word of mouth and businesses, I have collected and delivered 285,000 tabs. I have another 65,000 that will be delivered next week. This will put the count at 350,000. From noon to 2 p.m. May 14 the Winter Services ...

A hidden threat to midterm election

EDITOR: Many people are aware of the alleged election issues from the 2020 elections and the various legislative proposals in response. However, there is a much more impactful and larger voting rights issue that looms large. The production and distribution of ballots and related election materials is a very complex logistical process that requires specialized organizations and resources. These firms are extremely concerned that supply chain and related issues will not allow them to produce the required volume of ballots, envelopes, and other election related material for the upcoming ...

Little to admire in Bergman’s voting record

U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman showed up at a gathering honoring the outstanding U.P. gold medalist Nick Baumgartner. Nick’s “sisu” and encouragement of Iron County kids are admirable. What Congressman Bergman has been up to lately is not. Bergman voted against the Global Respect Act that would block visas for foreign persons responsible for or complicit in violating human rights due to actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics. But Jack doesn’t confine his animus against human rights to the foreign front. On Feb. 7 he voted against Ending Forced ...

Do you believe in magic?

EDITOR: How many Americans voted for 7% inflation? Raise your hand and hang your head. If you were duped into believing the vaccines would stop you from getting COVID-19 or from spreading it, go to the gas station and spend double what you were spending to fill up your gas tank … if you can still afford gas, or a car for that matter. Credit card debt in America has increased by more than $90 billion in the last year. Does anybody see where we are heading from here? Russia is crouching at the gates of Ukraine while China prepares to expand their evil empire, and America sleeps or ...

‘Hail Mary’ for health care

Recently, I found myself in a quandary. My husband and I qualify for Marketplace Insurance, but our three children qualify for Medicaid. Common sense would assume that one would have the choice between Medicaid and subsidized Marketplace Insurance. However, the reality in Michigan is that the law doesn’t allow parents to choose Medicaid or subsidized Marketplace Insurance for their children. Some would rejoice in “free health care” for their children but for me it was a matter of quality. While our family had had no problems with the medical side of Michigan’s Medicaid, the ...