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“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” Mahatma Gandhi

Republican politicians pontificate about “making America great” but their actions speak louder than their words.

It is painfully obvious to anyone not blinded by their propaganda that the current administration is destroying any greatness – or goodness – that our country might have had in the past.

Their policies and actions are hurting people at home and abroad, and are turning our country into an international pariah.

We should be ashamed and voters should be throwing out all the MAGA sycophants who have allowed this to happen.

The midterm elections, on Nov. 3, will determine the fate of our democracy. If voters of all political persuasions don’t throw the bums out in large numbers and by large margins, Trump’s authoritarian dictatorship will succeed.

For the voters in NW Wisconsin this means voting for Fred Clark – the adult on the ballot for the House of Representatives.

On his campaign website Fred says, “What’s happening in Washington today doesn’t reflect who we are, and it’s not what we need...” He will work in the legislature to curb Trump’s abuses of power and restore the constitutional checks and balances of Congress.

Michael Alfonso has made it abundantly clear that he will “deliver the MAGA agenda” if elected ( a quote from his website), He is “Trump endorsed” and a loyal Trump toady. He will do nothing to hold Trump or his administration accountable.

I wrote two weeks ago that Michael is too young, has no qualifications and no relevant experience indicating he can do the job. Nothing in his background shows he has the knowledge or judgment to be able to make important decisions about complicated social, legal, scientific, military or foreign policy issues.

Being in over his head, he will inevitably become a puppet voting as the puppet master directs.
Even more disturbing is Michael’s choice of a hero. On his website he admits to being “deeply inspired by the courage of Charlie Kirk, who risked his life to speak the truth on American campuses.”

This statement proves Michael is gullible, easily manipulated and lacks good judgment.

Charlie Kirk was a classic tent revival, TV evangelist huckster. Rather than risking “his life speaking the truth” he was noted for peddling conspiracy theories, misinformation, quack pandemic cures and divisive culture war bigotry.

According to a Pro-Publica investigation, Turning Point USA (one of Kirk’s propaganda businesses) brought in $39.2 million in 2020. Kirk made $325,000 and bought an $855,000 condo in Longboat Key, Florida.

There is a sucker born every minute and Charlie was a master conman.

Being gullible and lacking knowledge or experience, how is Alfonso going to make sound judgments when the lobbyists come selling another weapons system boondoggle or Wall Street financial scam or claims that billionaire tax cuts will create jobs?

The midterm election is a referendum on Donald Trump. But “taking our country back” requires more than electing sensible people to Congress.

We also must defeat the right wing extremists at the state level. In Wisconsin this means electing David Crowley governor and ending Republican control of the Assembly and Senate.

In prior articles I established that Tom Tiffany is a Trump true believer and enabler. Now we need to look at the legislative races for NW Wisconsin.

In the 73rd Assembly district race incumbent Democrat Angela Stroud is opposed by Republican Frank Kostka. This is a contest between an energetic, progressive, well informed young woman (45 years old) and a conservative, old school Republican good-old-boy (76 years old).

Angela has brought new thinking and creativity to the Assembly. Frank will bring a reliable vote for the failed and harmful policies of the current Republican controlled legislature.

Angela Stroud has been an excellent representative. She is well educated, articulate, knowledgeable (and not just opinionated) on all the issues and constantly out in the district meeting with constituents.
More importantly, she genuinely cares about people. She genuinely strives to improve the lives of her constituents and find bipartisan solutions to the state’s problems.

Frank Koska certainly has a lot of real-world experience. He seems like a decent person. But a good representative in today’s complicated, technical, global economy needs more than good intentions.
On the issues like school funding, voucher schools, public finances and environmental protection, Koska’s partisan talking points about reducing taxes and creating jobs isn’t what is needed.

In the 74th Assembly district, Chanz Green, the Republican incumbent, is opposed by Democrat Paul Johnson. Chanz is a former Ashland city employee and owns a bar in Cable. He has the standard Republican positions on taxes, jobs, gun rights and “parental choice” for public schools. He is the status quo candidate, who occupies the Assembly seat and votes the party line.

Don’t expect any change or progress from Mr. Green.

Paul Johnson is a retired law enforcement officer, has been on the Spooner Area School Board, the Washburn County Board and is a currently a small business owner. He supports better funding for public schools, affordable healthcare and environmental protection. He thinks rural areas need state support for better and less costly ambulance services.

A vote for Paul is a vote to end 16 years of Republican control of the legislature which is the reason local schools and public services are having problems.

In the 25th Senate district Republican Erik Severson and Democrat Charly Ray are competing for an open seat.

Erik Severson is a former two-term Assembly member, a medical doctor and a typical free market conservative. He blames all problems – inflation, property taxes, school funding or high health insurance and drug costs – on “wasteful government spending,” “regulatory burdens” and “Madison politicians.” His solutions are mostly failed Republican talking points.

Democrat Charly Ray is a former forester and professional environmentalist. He served on the Town of Bayview Board for 10 years and is in his fourth term on the Bayfield County Board. He and his wife own a Bayfield bookstore. He is a progressive Democrat. His issues are adequate school funding, affordable healthcare, environmental protection and local control on land use issues.

This race is about whether we will end or continue Republican control of the legislature.

On Nov. 3, voters must decide the future. Will Donald Trump’s corruption and abuses of power be stopped?

Will the legacy of Scott Walker finally end?

Will people take back the country and Wisconsin from the billionaire plutocracy?