To the editor,
In a democracy, the will of the people is supposed to be the law of the land. But what if elected representatives focus more on their own desire for control and power than their responsibility to the people they are supposed to represent?
Rigged gerrymandered maps in Wisconsin have resulted in majority control of the state legislature by Republicans for a decade, even when statewide elections often favor Democratic candidates. Finally the Wisconsin Supreme Court has stepped in and said, “Enough!” Now the court is in the process of helping establish new district lines to make our maps more fair, responsive and reflective of the will of the people.
Over this past decade, Wisconsin’s Republican-gerrymandered control has left many important citizen priorities ignored.
For example, Republicans voted down receiving $1.6 billion from the federal government in a spiteful refusal of “Obamacare” Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion. To date, Wisconsin remains one of only 10 states refusing to participate.
Again, if some Republicans would have joined Democrats after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, Wisconsin women would still have access to reproductive health care, instead of being forced to travel to other states, or worse, reverting to “the old ways” of dangerous, unhealthy and illegal abortions.
Governor Evers has declared 2024 “The Year of The Worker” in recognition of the hard work and dedication of workers across the state. Part of the plan: an increase to the minimum wage. This year, almost half the states in the nation are increasing their minimum wage — to between $10 and $17 an hour. Wisconsin’s minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2008. Will Republican legislators show any support for even this one signature goal of the Democratic governor’s plan? Or will they stand in lockstep against it in a show of party solidarity and control? Let’s watch and find out.
Democracy does not require our legislators to be of one mind and inflexible on policy 100% of the time. In fact, it is built into our American form of government that we have healthy debate on issues. But, if one party attempts to “corner the market” on control of the government, when do we start calling it for what it is – authoritarian rule? A lock on legislative control is not the American way. Fair maps can’t come soon enough.
Jan Koch, Shawano
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