The following Letters to the Editor are from the May 2024 issue of The Lenawee Voice. Letters should be 350 words or fewer and may be emailed to [email protected]. Please include your town of residence and a phone number for verification.
Are you tired of political extremism?
Today’s political positioning by our leaders and the media has resulted in extremism on both sides of the aisle. This extremism is a barrier to having an effective government. I’m sick and tired of it from both sides. We need to do better. We must do better. For the purpose of this letter, I’ll address this issue from a Lenawee County basis rather than a national one.
Congressman Tim Walberg, at a March 25 town hall answering a question about President Biden’s plans to build a pier in Gaza to provide humanitarian aid said “It’s Joe Biden’s reason we need to get humanitarian aid into Gaza. I don’t think we should…We shouldn’t be spending a dime on humanitarian aid. It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Get it over quick.”
The media jumped all over his comments. In a clarifying statement, Walberg said he was inferring that the war should come to a quick end, not that he was suggesting dropping nuclear bombs. I believe him. However, the reference about dropping nuclear bombs on the people of Gaza was a horrific choice of words. Words matter. I do believe his comment about not providing a dime in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people is his position. Such inflammatory, extremist statements are not conducive to finding common ground between people. The insensitivity of Walberg’s remarks are indicative of the extremist positions that have become increasingly frightening in their stranglehold over our domestic and foreign policies. We must expect more from our leaders.
Rather than continuing to drive wedges between us, we need to find a path that brings consensus and agreement amongst each other. That goes for our political leaders as well as the media. Let’s strive to reach a higher plateau of leadership. Let’s be better.
— Mitch Myers, Adrian
Support the Adrian library in May 7 election
The Ladies Library Association, in 1868, created what is now known as the Adrian District Library. Through the last 156 years, it has continued to grow and adapt to the changing needs of all citizens. As a retired library employee with 34 years of experience, I have observed firsthand the impact this library and its staff have on the lives of the people it serves. It is the heart of downtown Adrian, a welcoming place for everyone.
Our library promotes early literacy with its preschool programs, provides a safe haven for young people, allows individuals to improve their technology skills, assists those who aim to complete high school equivalency and college degrees, and provides support in searching for employment. The library continues to encourage, instruct, and feed curious minds.
Join me in assuring that the ADL can continue its mission “to meet the evolving needs of our community through equitable opportunities for connection, lifelong learning, and exploration.” Please vote YES to restore the millage for our library on May 7.
— Laura Berdyck, Adrian
Don’t take away farmers’ property rights
The Republican Study Committee, of which Congressman Tim Walberg is a member, recently recommended spending cuts to deal with our $34 trillion national debt. On their list is cuts to farm subsidies. For decades the federal government has supported farming communities with generous supports to bolster low crop prices. They’ve tried to increase demand by building ethanol plants to consume the oversupply. Prices for corn are still dropping and farmers are beleaguered by their dependence on this one business model.
A new demand has grown as technology brought wind and solar farms to agricultural communities. But a small segment does not want farmers to have a choice and has fought these projects, giving farmers few options. They have enacted exclusionary zoning designed for one purpose, to exclude green energy in ag districts.
The state has moved to set guidelines where developers first go to the local communities, but with the knowledge that exclusionary zoning will not be permitted, a more rational discussion based on facts can take place, with ultimate oversight by the Public Service Commission if need be.
Now we have this Citizens for Local Choice ballot initiative collecting signatures to reverse farmers’ rights to make a living on their agricultural land. Farm subsidies may be cut in the near future. Many farmers are struggling now and could use the diversification of income.
These projects will use no community services and will pay large amounts of needed tax dollars. This will fund our schools and our local governments, taking the burden off of our taxpayers. It will reduce the temptation of selling farm ground to developers that will destroy it forever.
This will not affect the majority of Michigan residents. It will diversify struggling farmers and support local ag communities. Do not sign the Local Control ballot petition.
— Paul Wohlfarth, Ottawa Lake
