Letters

Pray for justice for Father Cassidy

As a St. Ann parishioner, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Knight and the staff of your newspaper for the article that you posted in your November issue about Father Terry Cassidy. Bravo to you for going public with the truth! I know that Father Terry is innocent and that this whole thing is the diocese’s way of getting rid of him. So sad but true! I just hope and pray that by going public with this that it will maybe trigger some sort of an investigation into the shady goings on within our Diocese. Thank you again for saying what we are all too afraid to say (due to repercussions from our diocese). God Bless you all!

   Tina Lepretre

   Peoria

 

Closed until further notice

The gate was locked. The sign said “Closed.” Closed?! We stood there in disbelief. As Wisconsin residents (for the past five years), my wife and I had returned to the incredible museum at Dickson Mounds. Illinois’ Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is apparently attempting to show that he is a fiscal conservative, and is saving tax dollars by closing museums?! That’s right, he has actually closed all Illinois State Museums. The symbolism is troubling.

Dickson Mounds: Closed! This was the same place where countless school kids have learned about Illinois’ past and developed an interest in science. The same place where we volunteered many years ago to play ‘old-timey’ music on dulcimer and autoharp when the museum’s first floor was open to the weather. The same place where I performed cowboy music annually with the trio “Bunkhouse Buckeroos” to full-houses at the excellent Hickory Ridge Coffee House. The same place where Republican Gov. Jim Edgar presided over a restoration, making it interpretive of present day Native Americans (we were there for the ribbon cutting). The same place where plans were underway to interpret the incredible wetland restoration at nearby Emiquon.

Dickson Mounds was a first rate destination for eco-tours. I had volunteered several times to lead groups. Here people can see beautiful and diverse migratory birds along the Illinois River flyway. The Museum provided a perfect rest stop where participants could learn about the human history of this amazing area, dating back thousands of years. It attracted tourism to Havana and Lewistown, providing cash flow to businesses in this unique region. Closed?!

As Wisconsin residents, we’ve seen this same short-sighted fiscal philosophy from our Republican Gov. Scott Walker. He cut tax support from State Parks and eliminated over a dozen science positions from the state DNR. What he doesn’t understand is that parks and natural areas aren’t an expense, but rather an investment. They generate tens of millions of dollars, shoring up local economies. Their upkeep is essential. The DNR is supposed to oversee environmental quality. This is not a luxury, but rather the foundation of a sound economy. Under Walker’s leadership, the Badger State has now been ranked near the bottom of the heap in job growth among Midwest states. Could it possibly be that Rauner sees Walker as a role model?

Leadership in the public sector isn’t for everyone. Republican President Herbert Hoover had been a very successful business man. But under his leadership, the country plunged into the Great Depression, and he was ill equipped to fix it. Success in business has little to do with success in government. These are very, VERY different concepts. It took a special inspirational leader — Franklin Roosevelt — to right the ship of state. In his first inaugural address he set the tone: “There is nothing to fear but fear itself!”

Corporate success has to do with profits, government success has to do with long-term benefits such as economic health, environmental health and public health. The private sector isn’t responsible for programs for the poor, museums, education or recreation any more than they deal with soil erosion, water and air quality, defense, highways or public safety. And all of these investments cost money.

The “Koch Machine” has funneled millions of dollars into Wisconsin’s elections. In Illinois, Rauner and his cohorts used their considerable wealth to dominate corporate owned media. The governorships in both states weren’t won, they were purchased. This has to be fixed! Elections need to be publicly funded, so that political leadership can reflect (and better serve) everybody.

This process should start with the repeal of ironically named “Citizens United.” The people of Illinois and Wisconsin need look no farther than Minnesota to learn how to keep museums, parks, and the Departments of Natural Resources adequately funded. Their Democrat Gov. Mark Dayton’s, secret is to simply insure that the wealthy also pay their fair share of taxes.

The basic problem has been tax cuts, heavily weighted to protect the richest residents. This is known as “trickle-down.” It really amounts to “reverse Robin Hood,” funneling wealth to the wealthiest and away from the poor and the middle class.

It’s time to turn this around; remove the locks and open the gates!

Dale Goodner

Algoma, WI (formerly Peoria)

 



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