Paul Kusuda’s column
November -- Thanksgiving??
November -- Thanksgiving??
By Paul H. Kusuda
November is the month many of us celebrate Thanksgiving. We’re thankful for what we have
and for past good things that happened. In passing, we might even think about not-so-good
things that happened. Also, high school and college football season are winding down.
Professional baseball’s World Series games are over. Professional football games are
midseason, and Superbowl teams have not surfaced yet. Golf season is over. I wonder how
spectators can afford to pay for their seats to watch professional sports, and now college
games. Tickets seem to me to be so expensive. Watching games on television is a good
leisure-time activity; however, many must relish watching games in person. Costs to watch,
including ticket, parking, food, and drinks, are borne as entertainment. Of course, many have so
many just-to-live costs that little can be diverted to such entertainment.
November is the month many of us celebrate Thanksgiving. We’re thankful for what we have
and for past good things that happened. In passing, we might even think about not-so-good
things that happened. Also, high school and college football season are winding down.
Professional baseball’s World Series games are over. Professional football games are
midseason, and Superbowl teams have not surfaced yet. Golf season is over. I wonder how
spectators can afford to pay for their seats to watch professional sports, and now college
games. Tickets seem to me to be so expensive. Watching games on television is a good
leisure-time activity; however, many must relish watching games in person. Costs to watch,
including ticket, parking, food, and drinks, are borne as entertainment. Of course, many have so
many just-to-live costs that little can be diverted to such entertainment.
There happens to be so much not to be thankful for—overseas wars, national debt, unemployment, poverty, homelessness,
illnesses, hurricane aftermaths, illegal immigration, ad nauseam. In Wisconsin, we have our own woes in addition to those
we recognize as being nationwide. Our Legislature developed a budget that reflects little or no concern for the welfare of
people who live here. It resists raising sufficient funds to enable formulation of a state budget that will meet needs for
education, comprehensive health care for all, and ability to enable all residents to achieve the goal of good living—food,
shelter, etc. THANKSGIVING?
Nationally, current economic conditions and lack of employment have resulted in a huge number of people who are at or
below the government-defined level of poverty. The latest figures set that level at $11,139 for one person or $22,314 for a
four-person household. At the poverty level, how much can be budgeted for rent, for food, for clothing, for medical and health
needs, for school expenses, for entertainment? Actually, the only recourse available is to do without; the question being, of
course, do without what? Is there an answer? Should more public funds be allocated to meet demonstrated needs? How
long will it be before employment opportunities overcome current unemployment and under-employment? Will our state
government find a way to solve the problems? So far, it seems that Wisconsin as a state government cares little about the
right of its residents to pursue happiness. So far, it seems that there is a great divide between what the people want and
need and what the Legislature budgets. THANKSGIVING?
Our Governor called for cuts to Medicaid over two years; he decided that Medicaid is too generous to those who met the
stringent financial requirements. Currently, Medicaid programs, covering about one-fifth of Wisconsin’s residents , include
Seniorcare, Badgercare, and Family Care. Adults who make more than one and one-third times the federal poverty level and
who are not pregnant or with disabilities will lose eligibility for Medicaid. THANKSGIVING?
Soon after being sworn into office, our Governor urged our Legislature to cripple public union rights including collective
bargaining. Law enforcement officers and fire fighters were exempt from the crippling; however, they joined union members
and others to demonstrate their distaste with the gubernatorial action. Democratic state senators were staunch in their
united opposition to the action and were successful in delaying the final legislative decision. The end result, however, is
that public unions in Wisconsin can now only bargain for pay increases limited to the size of increase in Consumer Price
Index. THANKSGIVING?
Starting in February 2012, Wisconsin law will require voters to show a photo ID before receiving ballots. An interesting set
of statistical information was released by the Brennan Center of the New York University Law School: The following groups
have no Wisconsin driver’s license or identification card but must have a photo ID to vote:
23% of persons 65 years of age or older
17% of White men and women
55% of African American males (78% aged 18-24)
49% of African American females (66% aged 18-24)
46% of Latino males
59 % of Latina females
The Madison City Clerk’s Office defines an acceptable voter ID as follows:
“Wisconsin driver’s license expiring after November 2, 2010
“Wisconsin DOT-issued photo ID card expiring after November 2, 2010
“U.S. passport expiring after November 2, 2010
“Military ID card expiring after November 2, 2010
“Certificate of naturalization issued within last two years
“Unexpired Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID receipt
“ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
“Unexpired identification card issued by a Wisconsin-accredited university or
college—must contain issuance date, student signature, and, expiration date
within two years of issuance. Proof of current enrollment is also required.”
Questions raised by many who wonder why voting was made so difficult in our state include: Are Division of Transportation
offices readily accessible to persons who do not now have acceptable forms of voter ID? Will office hours be convenient?
For those who must use public transportation, are DOT offices near bus stops? What can be done
for persons who cannot leave their living arrangements but who currently vote using absentee ballots? Will procedures be
such as to result in more time taken for voters to receive ballots and exercise their rights to vote? THANKSGIVING
At one time, not too many years ago, I knew that Wisconsin’s system of government and use of civil service processes
placed the state among the top in the nation. Now, I have the feeling that we have slipped horrendously and will never again
see the good government and public concern for fellow residents that was the hallmark of the previous century. Can we
illnesses, hurricane aftermaths, illegal immigration, ad nauseam. In Wisconsin, we have our own woes in addition to those
we recognize as being nationwide. Our Legislature developed a budget that reflects little or no concern for the welfare of
people who live here. It resists raising sufficient funds to enable formulation of a state budget that will meet needs for
education, comprehensive health care for all, and ability to enable all residents to achieve the goal of good living—food,
shelter, etc. THANKSGIVING?
Nationally, current economic conditions and lack of employment have resulted in a huge number of people who are at or
below the government-defined level of poverty. The latest figures set that level at $11,139 for one person or $22,314 for a
four-person household. At the poverty level, how much can be budgeted for rent, for food, for clothing, for medical and health
needs, for school expenses, for entertainment? Actually, the only recourse available is to do without; the question being, of
course, do without what? Is there an answer? Should more public funds be allocated to meet demonstrated needs? How
long will it be before employment opportunities overcome current unemployment and under-employment? Will our state
government find a way to solve the problems? So far, it seems that Wisconsin as a state government cares little about the
right of its residents to pursue happiness. So far, it seems that there is a great divide between what the people want and
need and what the Legislature budgets. THANKSGIVING?
Our Governor called for cuts to Medicaid over two years; he decided that Medicaid is too generous to those who met the
stringent financial requirements. Currently, Medicaid programs, covering about one-fifth of Wisconsin’s residents , include
Seniorcare, Badgercare, and Family Care. Adults who make more than one and one-third times the federal poverty level and
who are not pregnant or with disabilities will lose eligibility for Medicaid. THANKSGIVING?
Soon after being sworn into office, our Governor urged our Legislature to cripple public union rights including collective
bargaining. Law enforcement officers and fire fighters were exempt from the crippling; however, they joined union members
and others to demonstrate their distaste with the gubernatorial action. Democratic state senators were staunch in their
united opposition to the action and were successful in delaying the final legislative decision. The end result, however, is
that public unions in Wisconsin can now only bargain for pay increases limited to the size of increase in Consumer Price
Index. THANKSGIVING?
Starting in February 2012, Wisconsin law will require voters to show a photo ID before receiving ballots. An interesting set
of statistical information was released by the Brennan Center of the New York University Law School: The following groups
have no Wisconsin driver’s license or identification card but must have a photo ID to vote:
23% of persons 65 years of age or older
17% of White men and women
55% of African American males (78% aged 18-24)
49% of African American females (66% aged 18-24)
46% of Latino males
59 % of Latina females
The Madison City Clerk’s Office defines an acceptable voter ID as follows:
“Wisconsin driver’s license expiring after November 2, 2010
“Wisconsin DOT-issued photo ID card expiring after November 2, 2010
“U.S. passport expiring after November 2, 2010
“Military ID card expiring after November 2, 2010
“Certificate of naturalization issued within last two years
“Unexpired Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID receipt
“ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
“Unexpired identification card issued by a Wisconsin-accredited university or
college—must contain issuance date, student signature, and, expiration date
within two years of issuance. Proof of current enrollment is also required.”
Questions raised by many who wonder why voting was made so difficult in our state include: Are Division of Transportation
offices readily accessible to persons who do not now have acceptable forms of voter ID? Will office hours be convenient?
For those who must use public transportation, are DOT offices near bus stops? What can be done
for persons who cannot leave their living arrangements but who currently vote using absentee ballots? Will procedures be
such as to result in more time taken for voters to receive ballots and exercise their rights to vote? THANKSGIVING
At one time, not too many years ago, I knew that Wisconsin’s system of government and use of civil service processes
placed the state among the top in the nation. Now, I have the feeling that we have slipped horrendously and will never again
see the good government and public concern for fellow residents that was the hallmark of the previous century. Can we
hope that like Phoenix, Wisconsin will
rise again to be what it used to be in
the “Good old days”? Not in my
lifetime or that of our children,
grandchildren, or great grandchildren.
We may have much more to be
thankful for than what the current doom
and gloom seem to depict. We must
look at what we have, those who love
us, and those whom we love. We have
to hope that tomorrow will be much,
much better than today. And as Little
Orphan Annie reminds us, “Tomorrow
is just a day away!”
rise again to be what it used to be in
the “Good old days”? Not in my
lifetime or that of our children,
grandchildren, or great grandchildren.
We may have much more to be
thankful for than what the current doom
and gloom seem to depict. We must
look at what we have, those who love
us, and those whom we love. We have
to hope that tomorrow will be much,
much better than today. And as Little
Orphan Annie reminds us, “Tomorrow
is just a day away!”