Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
Fiddling while Rome burns
Legend has it that Roman Emperor Nero played his lyre while watching the six-day fire that destroyed Rome in A.D. 64. Since then, the saying “Fiddling while Rome burns” has come to mean a leader who amuses himself with frivolous, self-indulgent activities in a time of national crisis.
Fast forward 2,000 years or so, and this is an accurate summary of what is going on in the Oval Office these days. Minus the fiddle, I mean.
For example, the U.S. national debt is now approximately $39 trillion. The annual interest on this debt will be an astonishing $1.2 trillion in 2026, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. These interest payments are the government’s second-largest expenditure, even more than what we spend on the military. Only Social Security payments are higher.
Speaking of Social Security, the program has been paying out more than it collects in tax revenues since 2010. The shortfall is being met by drawing down reserves in its trust fund. Without congressional action, this fund is projected to be exhausted by 2035, perhaps as early as 2032. If this happens, benefits will need to be reduced by around 20% to be in line with annual revenues.
These are just two examples of urgent priorities that require decisive leadership. But our unwell president continues to fiddle away precious time with trivial projects. A ballroom. A triumphal arch. A UFC fight at the White House.
We voters must demand the president and Congress stop fiddling and start governing.
Steve Lankton
Manitowoc
Concerns about the use of political labels in public debate
Many political labels are little more than name-calling. Their purpose is often to divide, dismiss and demean. Labels can carry contempt and be used to shut down discussion rather than encourage it.
“Far-right extremist” is one example. Democratic politicians, media commentators and progressive activists often use this term — and others like it — to describe supporters of President Trump and members of the Republican Party.
By using these labels, they unfairly characterize millions of Americans who hold conservative views on issues such as immigration, taxes, education, religious freedom and public safety. Too often, disagreeing with progressive policies is portrayed as ignorance, intolerance or extremism. Questioning government decisions or media narratives is sometimes treated as proof of bad intentions rather than a legitimate difference of opinion.
Political labels once helped identify different philosophies and priorities. Today, many are used primarily to stigmatize and silence. History shows that reducing people to negative stereotypes deepens division and makes productive dialogue more difficult.
Terms such as “racist,” “bigot,” “fascist” or “extremist” are often applied broadly to individuals whose views simply differ from progressive opinions. When public leaders and influential institutions use such language, they contribute to polarization rather than understanding and make it harder for Americans to find common ground.
Tom Jachimstal
Manitowoc
Satirical call for stronger support of dairy in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the Dairy State — and June is Dairy Month. What I find disturbing is that lactose intolerance has gone unchecked — lactose-intolerant people are just running loose on the streets. I haven’t heard either party registering in opposition to lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance stinks.
We should be a lactose-appreciative state. Throughout time, lactose has sustained newborns — not just humans, but all mammals. Lactose intolerance is anti-life. Being that Wisconsin is the Dairy State, lactose has been a mainstay of our economy. Lactose intolerance is anti-business. Lactose intolerance produces noxious gas, and other dangerous things. Seeing that Wisconsin has a law for everything else, I’m astonished that we don’t have a law forbidding lactose intolerance.
My own uncle is, openly, lactose intolerant. He tells me he won’t eat cheese, won’t drink milk and won’t even partake in ICE CREAM! Can you believe that?! Just openly rejecting anything with lactose in it. That kind of hatred is unacceptable.
We need to get tough on lactose intolerance. We should have a law, like Vermont has — dairy has to be served with apple pie, I believe. We should go a step further as the Dairy State. Dairy MUST be served at EVERY meal. Since we all love law enforcement, police could go to every residence and inspect every meal — call them Ice Cream Enforcement (ICE, for short) or Dairy Enforcement Investigators (DEI, for short). Not only would this show lactose appreciation but it would show support to law enforcement officers — by creating tens of thousands of new law enforcement jobs. Anyone found to not serve (and consume) dairy could have their rights taken, be jailed or even be deported (I suggest Illinois, so it’d be easier to visit my uncle). Wisconsin is no place for lactose intolerance.
Let it be known that you’re vehemently against intolerance.
On Wisconsin!
Tom Denk
Reedsville
Concerns about MPSD academic performance and district priorities
As I have previously written, in my view the decline in MPSD student proficiency is a direct result of teachers’ failures to master remote education techniques and utilize Educational Technology tools in classrooms to teach core subjects.
As a former teacher and school board member, I have witnessed our public schools transform from student-centered learning environments into largely union-driven adult jobs programs over the last few decades. Accountability to students and parents has been lost, and the consequences are devastating.
Students entering kindergarten without basic knowledge of numbers, letters, shapes and colors never being caught up. They fail the third-grade standardized reading test and were pushed through the system until they failed freshman English, then, embarrassed, dropped out.
While I do not promote an anti-union view — respecting Wisconsin’s rich labor history — I believe it has gone too far. Local public school districts face millions in budget deficits because of declining enrollment, while private school enrollment increases.
MPSD’s 2026 DPI district ranking is 2/10. Student proficiency is abysmal: math is at 27% versus the 40% state average, and reading is at 29% versus the 38% state average.
A recent MPSD school board member’s campaign sign urged to “Stay the Course,” but what if that course is a downward spiral?
As former Detroit and Milwaukee school Superintendent Dr. Howard Fuller once stated of an MPS system where a majority of students were not proficient in any subject at any grade level, that it was not fixable.
Is this where Manitowoc is headed now?
Michael F. Pitsch
Francis Creek
Our letters policy
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc letters weigh debt, dairy satire and school concerns
Reporting by Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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By Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter | USA TODAY Network
