News & Articles

Embarrased by Vos

Here are two questions: 1.Do you contact the Wisconsin Legislators? 2. Do the legislators respond? Recently, I sent an email to Assembly Speaker Vos regarding statements Vos has made during and after the 2023-2025 budget session. Here are some of the statements I addressed in the email.

Speaker Vos said he is embarrassed to be an alumni of UW-Whitewater. He stated he and his fellow Republicans will withhold the $32 million allocated to the UW-System in the 2023-2025 budget. What is his reason? He disagrees with the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs that are happening throughout the UW-System. wrn.com/2023/06/vos-embarrassed-by-dei-efforts-at-uw-system/ I sent Speaker Vos a link of famous people, from all walks of life, who graduated from UW-Madison and other Wisconsin universities. Just think of how the alumni of the UW-System have impacted the quality of life for millions of people all over the world. Here is one link: uwalumni.com./alumni-achievements/ Speaker Vos has greatly benefited from his UW educational experience. His net worth is about $1.6 million. “In 2020, his popcorn business, Robin J. Vos Enterprises, received more than $150,000 in coronavirus relief from the Paycheck Protection Program. Vos has an ownership stake of $4.8 million in rental properties in Whitewater.” I stated in the email that I am a grateful alumni of the UW-System. I am thankful I had the honor to be an elementary school teacher. I had the honor, through NTC, to teach Hmong adults who came to Wausau. They spoke of the horrors and deaths of loved ones while they lived in Laos during the Vietnam War. The Hmong were recruited by the CIA to be the “Secret Army.” I have learned so much from my students from all walks of life. So often the Hmong students cried as they described fleeing Laos and going to Thailand where they were in encampments behind barbed wire for several years. At the end of the email, I asked Speaker Vos: “Are you grateful for the opportunities you have had? So many of our fellow Wisconsinites haven’t had these opportunities. And yet, you have the audacity to say you are ashamed.” I will send another email to Speaker Vos regarding his refusal to accept the Medicaid funds to expand BadgerCarePlus. As a Legislator in the state Assembly, Speaker Vos receives a salary of $57,408 per year. https://legis.wisconsin.gov/lhro/benefits/ This link explains the benefits the Legislators receive including healthcare coverage. I was taught that we have three equal branches of government: Executive, Legislative and the Courts: How can one man who is Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly have so much control over the lives of about 5 million Wisconsinites? Please contact Speaker Vos and your Legislators. They need to hear from all of us. https://legis.wisconsin.gov/about/contact Thank you.

Joyce Luedke  – Weston, Wisconsin  

Drabik and “socialism”

A year ago, maybe more, I decided to see what Wikipedia had to say about “socialism,” in general. I was surprised to find listed 10 or 12 different varieties of “socialism,” many similar, but some not. In my many years of schooling, I’d never run across this information. As I understand it, Bernie Sanders supports, promotes and practices “Democratic Socialism.” Hitler (and Trump) promote, support and practice “National Socialism” or Nazi-ism.  (This form of governing is most often connected to oligarchs and dictators.) For many years, Trump has been using the term “socialism” as a “dog-whistle” for his base, inciting them to hate and anger, while never being challenged to define what he means by the term.  Does any rational person think Trump would give a cogent, understandable answer? In reality, I doubt he cares what the definition is, as long as he can use it to rile his base, and get them to blame others or their problems.  It seems Mr. Drabik is on a similar path. Using a term he assumes he understands, but never defining it. Most “human beings” make assumptions.  Apparently, so did Mr. Drabik. His first assumption was he knew what “socialism” is. His second assumption was that his first assumption was correct.  It’s the second assumption that causes most problems for most humans because it keeps us from verifying the correctness of our first assumptions.

Gary Burt  – Marble, Minnesota  

China and Tesla lead in EV technology

Recent polls indicate 50% of the public are interested in battery electric vehicles (BEVs).  However, a majority of US new car sales are internal combustion engine (ICE) powered.  Interest has not translated into a huge shift to electric vehicles in the US market.  US BEV sales have increased recently, but still consist of only 7% of new auto sales.  Primary buyer concerns are: shorter BEV driving range compared to ICE powered vehicles, and limited recharging infrastructure.  Most BEVs are rated in the mid-250 to low 300-mile range.  Longer range (low 400 mile) capable BEVs are in the luxury car price range.  Thus, range anxiety remains a major obstacle to increased BEV sales.  Additionally, legacy auto manufacturers (Ford, GM, Toyota etc.) continue to produce primarily ICE powered vehicles and have not invested in improved battery technology or supported a nationwide recharging network. The lone US exception, Tesla, now dominates BEV sales in the US and globally.  Because of legacy auto companies’ slowness, Chinese Corporations (e.g., CATL and BYD) now lead in state-of-the-art battery technology.  They now produce battery packs rated at 500-600 range.  This advanced battery technology is fueling an expanding Chinese auto manufacturing industry that has taken over the Chinese car market (at the expense of US, European and Japanese auto manufacturers).  China car companies are expanding in the global market and are now the largest exporter of autos.  Legacy auto manufacturers find themselves playing catch up to stay competitive, or even remain viable, in the fast-changing global move away from fossil fuel powered vehicles.

John Lindell – Bayfield, Wisconsin