I Value Education, Despite My Opposition to a Referendum
I detest letters to the editor like this.
If you own a home valued at $100,000, on what would you be willing to spend less than $6 a month?
If you own a home valued at $175,000, on what would you be willing to spend less than $10 a month?
If you own a home valued at $300,000, on what would you be willing to spend $17 a month?
Would you spend that amount to ensure that your children, grandchildren or neighbor’s children can go to safe, presentable, uncrowded schools?
Would you spend that amount so that children, their parents and others who have disabilities can have access to a public school building, specifically Badger Middle School?
Would you spend that amount to remedy accumulating school building maintenance problems, eliminating $29 million of deferred maintenance? Would you spend that amount to live in a desirable school district that increases the desirability of the community, which in turn increases real estate values and protects the investment you have made in your home? Would you spend that amount for all of the above? Depending on the value of your house, that $6, $10 or $17 a month buys all of the above. It buys a lot of value for you, your neighbors and your entire community. A yes vote on both school referendum questions means that you know the importance of spending money on that which has real value.
Barbara Landis West Bend
You know what, Barbara? We all already spend hundreds or thousands of dollars out of our pockets to fund the schools. Don’t you dare come to me and tell me that I somehow don’t care about the kids’ education if I don’t want to or can’t spend another few hundred dollars a year on the public schools. As I estimate, my family will spend more than $20k next year on education for private grade school, high school, college, the local public schools through our property taxes, and the rest of the state’s public schools - including the UW system - through our state income, federal income, sales, and other taxes. This doesn’t include continuing education for myself which I hope to be able to accomplish to further my career. Please take your sanctimonious accusations of niggardliness and shove them in your pie hole. I’ve had enough.
I’m having the same conversation, after Appleton successfully defeated a $10.9M permanent increase in operations spending. It’s so damned irritating and I’m with you. Salary freezes everywhere, much less hundreds of thousands of jobs lost. And WEAC continues to insist on 4 and 5% increases in compensation - even when ‘kids suffer’ (!!) due to the reduced class sizes necessary - that wouldn’t be necessary if salary increases were very modest and the health care package was bid out. It renders me almost speechless.
Posted by Jo Egelhoff on March 17, 2009 at 0410 hrs
Methinks Owen protesteth too much. Are you really so arrogant to imagine that anyone writing a letter to the editor is targeting you? But, you got to love a guy who uses the word niggardliness. I do agree with Jo that in these times of deflation, all public employees should consider foregoing salary increases. I understand it’s getting chilly in Hades.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 0900 hrs
Let’s put those numbers in their proper light.
Are you willing to pay an additional $72 per year in taxes forever?
Are you willing to pay an additional $120 per year in taxes forever?
Are you willing to pay an additional $204 per year in taxes forever?
All so that we can build buildings which won’t contribute one iota to your child’s education?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 0921 hrs
My first thought when I read this is what do we know about Barbara Landis, who is she and what is her interest here. A quick search of state contributions data base finds she contributed to Jim Doyle’s ‘06 gov. campaign. She lists herself as “retired/homemaker, non-income earner. I’m sure you folks in the West Bend area can find out more about her, she has an agenda here and it needs to be exposed.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1021 hrs
Also gave $400 to Obama as reported in the Huffington Post
I am always suspecious when someone is so eager to spend my hard earned money.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1031 hrs
Nothing too sinister and has had a “public profile” - was active in local Democrat party, ran at least once for an elected position at the county level (as a Democrat) and I think she lost, was once appointed to fill a vacated term (I think it was on the county board or maybe City council) & did not run for relection, and I think she might have served on a city citizen board. I think she has been retired for at least 10 years now.
Kind of weird how an opposing viewpoint is perceived to be so threatening and intimidating, and “the agenda” needs to be exposed.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1032 hrs
When someone’s agenda is how to spend my money on worthless things - i’d say it needs to be exposed.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1051 hrs
I’m sure you folks in the West Bend area can find out more about her, she has an agenda here and it needs to be exposed.
WOW! kneenor, maybe she is hiding and protecting Ann Frank too.
This letter wasn’t so bad compared to some I have seen over the years. The reaction to it from kneenor is more disturbing. Who cares who it is? Argue for or against the points of her position, which most have done here, don’t go sifting through her trash.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1057 hrs
What each letter to the editor fails to mention (along with all the guest views as well) is that the state budget has a repeal of the QEO and lifting of revenue caps. With Gov. Doyle and a full Democratic state legislature, this will very likely pass with little opposition. That means that any money agreed to in a referendum will be ON TOP of the increases you know are coming from the tax changes in the budget.
Please keep that in mind as you consider whether the “small investment” per month is the full picture.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1119 hrs
Don’t sift through her trash?? Tell that to “Joe the Plumber” who just happened to ask BO a question that was not appropriate, tell that to Sara Palin and her family who received an anal exam from the media. Excuse me but when someone thinks they know how to spend my money better than I do then I’m curious. By the way, has she ever held a “real job” where she actually worked for someone or something other than being a public employee. I work way too hard for wht I earn, pay my own way for everything, and I don’t need some busy body know it all telling me what I should do.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1357 hrs
HI, I’m “that” Barb. Sorry that you are all so upset about me and want to know who I am, did I ever work, etc. My ego prompts me to respond to you.
I was a computer programmer for 14 1/2 years until I lost my job because of a data center consolidation. I supported Hillary with my dollars. I have been a volunteer member of the city’s Ethics committee for something like 30 years, appointed by successive mayors. My children have gone through the West Bend school system and some grandchildren are there now. A son is on the faculty at UW-WC. If you want to talk to me, ask for me at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore where we volunteer every Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
I have no agenda other than what is good for city of West Bend and it’s children.
Happy St. Pat’s day.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1526 hrs
kneenor: let’s put Barbara on our midnight roundup list along with other dissidents, She sounds like a serious threat to society.
I am glad you picked up the reference of going through her trash to Joe the plumber. I am talking about you being just as pathetic as those who went after Joe and yes, Sarah too. But your cause is righteous so all is good. J
Happy St. Pat’s to you Barbara.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1606 hrs
There are letters in the paper every day about the school referendum. I don’t think it’s sinister, just people voicing (often) their opinions. Of course she has an agenda. She wants the referendum to pass. I disagree with her view wholeheartedly, but, for crying out loud, she’s just doing what she believes in.
I do agree with Owen that it’s getting pretty tiring hearing about how much we don’t care for kids if the referendum doesn’t pass. There are needs at the public schools, but they are going to have to be more practical about filling them and need to cut out the fluff.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1632 hrs
I have read that same letter by different people in the papers for over 40 years.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 1922 hrs
Barbara:
Kudos to you for responding, assuming that’s really you.
Keenor:
Get bent. Unless you’re a troll, then bravo.
Owen:
You’re right. It is a common tactic among political hacks to equate disagreement with hatred, dislike, or lack of values. It’s an easy way to shut down debate.
Don’t like affirmative action? You’re racist.
Don’t like the war in Iraq? You’re un-American.
Don’t like spending on education? You don’t like kids.
You don’t like welfare spending? You hate the poor.
Don’t think public spending is the wrong answer? You’re a communist.
Thank you for exposing such hackery and the douchebags who practice it.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 2037 hrs
Yes, I’m a real Barbara L. Landis, I don’t need a ghost writer and I don’t think there is BLL close by. In two months I will have lived in Washington County for 53 years.
Back in the 1970’s I ran for Register of Deeds against John Steilen (R) who embezzled an estimated $250,000 from Washington County, just think there could have been an honest Democrat in that office. I was on the county board in 1999 (circa), serving out the seat of my deceased supervisor, I then lost the seat by 15 votes.
Last fall when I wrote one Letter to the Editor there were two neo-con scathing letters attacking me, have I become your voodoo doll? That’s OK, if you need to attack a 76 year old great-grandmother and nobody else will do.
Again come and talk to me, I don’t bite, my husband and I volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in West Bend, Thursdays from 10 AM to 2 PM, just ask for Barb so you don’t have to make anything up.
I’ve never written to a blog before, but this seemed like a challenge to my integrity.Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2009 at 2116 hrs
l.o.l. “an honest democrat”.
That’s like saying “a talking frog”.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 0737 hrs
There are honest democrats? Someone get the word to Jim Doyle, Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, ....
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1143 hrs
Gman & Bill: Cheap shot. No points, no class.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1200 hrs
Welcome to B&S Barb!!!
I give Barb credit for standing up here. You folks act like she should not have a right to her opinion.
Please take your sanctimonious accusations of niggardliness and shove them in your pie hole. I’ve had enough.
It seems as though you have struck a nerve with Owen although I didn’t see his name mentioned in your letter. I am wondering why you picked this letter to attack? I suppose that attacking a 76 year old lady seemed like an easy target.
I don’t know the specifics of the referendum and it is not my business, but the viciousness of the attack is quite telling. Disagree with her opinion all you want but leave out the nasty undertones. You are generally better than that.I think that Barb deserves an apology.
You’re right. It is a common tactic among political hacks to equate disagreement with hatred, dislike, or lack of values. It’s an easy way to shut down debate.
Amen.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1217 hrs
MF,
1) I had no idea who she was when I commented on her letter, so your comment about me attacking her because she is 76 is idiotic.
2) I chose this letter as an example of a guilt tactic of the advocates of the referenda. I was attacking the argument - not her. I was bombastic about it as a literary/debate tool.
Posted by Owen on March 18, 2009 at 1230 hrs
I was bombastic about it as a literary/debate tool.
What exactly is a pie hole?
Very literary.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1325 hrs
As I estimate, my family will spend more than $20k next year on education
That’s for 3 or 4 kids?
Sounds like you are getting off a bit light.
My brother is spending almost 4x that for 2 kids in college.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1356 hrs
pjr: Don’t you know anything?
a Pi hole = 3.14159265 and goes to infinity and beyond.
I think this thread has been revealing on a number of levels. Owen doesn’t like the type of letter. No big deal. I think letters like this fires up the referendum opposition to get out and vote.
Trashing her and her privacy through other posts fires up those who agree with her and alienates those who are civil and respectful of others opinions and privacy. Ironically, it is those who disdain the injustice done to Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin are the perpetrators in this case. Pathetic.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1409 hrs
You know what, Barbara?
....
Please take your sanctimonious accusations of niggardliness and shove them in your pie hole. I’ve had enough.
I was attacking the argument - not her.
???????
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1646 hrs
Why that’s just irrational, Galt.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 18, 2009 at 1826 hrs
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