Reader Letters

Reader Letters | November 12, 2009

WHERE’S THE NORTH SIDE LOVE?
    I think your “neighborhood” t-shirts are a great idea, but I am dismayed by the lack of a “North Side Hill” shirt. Having grown up in this GREAT blue collar neighborhood (Paper Mill, Uniroyal, Presto, etc.) in the 50s and 60s, it does seem to be a bygone time – neighborhood grocery stores, elementary school, city “playgrounds” within walking or biking distance, and a real sense of place. We were always sort of the “poor cousins” to the east and south side kids, and I think there was an actual pride in our collective “us vs. them” status. Hell, it took us YEARS to beat Memorial at ANYTHING, but when we did that was big! So please, at least give us a t-shirt!

– Larry Klawiter, Menomonie

Editors Note: “North Side” shirts are now available, along with “West Side” and “Randall Park.” Go to shop.volumeone.org to order, or stop in at 17 S. Barstow Street.

RUSS IS SAVING US BILLIONS
    Championing fiscal responsibility is something that many politicians like to talk about, but few take action on it. Recently, our U.S. Senator Russ Feingold unveiled a fiscal responsibility plan that will save taxpayers billions of dollars. I congratulate him for making a big step in the right direction toward a more sustainable government. A major component of his new plan includes slashing into corporate welfare. For too long, large companies such as CitiBank, Pfizer, and Monsanto have been given huge government subsidies. These are the same companies that have gotten us into the current recession. Instead of handing money over to these greedy companies, we should be giving a break for the working class. Handing out public money to large corporations is never a good way to get our government budget on the right track. It is especially a bad idea now in America’s history when health insurance costs are skyrocketing due to greedy insurance and pharmaceutical companies and workers’ wages remain stagnant. In 10 years, Feingold’s new Control Spending Now Act will save an estimated half trillion dollars of our tax money by ending America’s system that benefits the rich the most. It’s about time we get a return from OUR government. We can start by guaranteeing health care for all rather than welfare for a few, greedy corporations.

– Eric Rosenquist, Eau Claire

DIY STAR WARS AUDIO!
    Hey kids and physics teachers: If you ever walk between Target and Menards, clap your hands loud between the buildings. The texture of the walls there creates a cool Star Wars laser sound effect!

– Tony Laundrie, Eau Claire