Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Sheboygan Press. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
Democracy under siege
The planned attack on our constitutional republic continues.
First, we saw the assumption of powers by the executive branch, not given to them in our Constitution, where three separate, equal and independent branches were created to balance and check on each other.
Now, we see attacks on those exercising their right to free speech and free press, and the dismantling of agencies and services like education and health care.
Threats of investigation, incarceration, lawsuits, funding cessation, employment loss and other attacks against those who question, object to and disagree with those in power, is classic authoritarian behavior.
Cutting thousands of talented public employees under the ruse of cutting fraud is outrageous.
The bedrock of a good democracy is education, which has been the enemy and target of authoritarians for centuries as a threat to keeping power.
Our nation’s colleges and universities, with centuries of academic freedom, have been the source of democratic leaders and policies, and their medical, product, scientific and other research has provided many advances we have experienced.
The recent cuts in research into many diseases still facing mankind alone is nothing short of barbaric.
Who we elect to public office is not a personality contest, but selection of those who are best informed, best educated, understand worldwide diversity, are committed to addressing and solving our many problems, and will appoint qualified people to agency leadership.
The reaction to this present purge on democracy should not be silence, but speaking up, and remembering who we elect to public office really does make a difference.
Cal Potter
Sheboygan Falls
Call for full transparency in Jeffrey Epstein case
Sheboyganites don’t always agree on politics, but we all want to protect our children from predators, no matter how rich and powerful they are.
That’s why we need full transparency with the Jeffrey Epstein case. Every name, every flight log, every sealed file should be released to the public. No more protecting the rich. No more protecting the powerful. Whether Bill Clinton, Donald Trump or anyone else is in the files, we deserve to know the truth.
It is alarming that Trump’s former personal lawyer met with convicted sex trafficker (of minors) Ghislaine Maxwell while she is in prison. Why? This is not necessary. Just release all the files, immediately.
If we’re against corruption and want to drain the swamp, then that must include everyone, at all levels, left or right. This is about protecting children.
Sheboyganites don’t always agree on politics, but we strive to do our best, to tell the truth and do the right thing, even when it’s tough. Step up, call your representatives: U.S. senators Tammy Baldwin (202-224-5653) and Ron Johnson (202-224-5323), and U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (202-225-2476), and tell them to release all the Epstein files. No exceptions. Let the chips fall where they may.
Ryan Holzem, Ph.D.
Sheboygan
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 news@sheboyganpress.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.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 Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan letter-writers address ‘democracy under siege,’ Jeffrey Epstein files
Reporting by Sheboygan Press / Sheboygan Press
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