Editor:

Starting Nov. 15, Salvation Army Bell Ringers will be outnumbered by protesters seeking signatures to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker. Here are a few things to consider when someone asks you to sign a petition:

• What has Governor Walker done in Wisconsin to cause this recall? Did he flee the state?

• Was he derelict in his duty to balance the state’s budget?

• Can Governor Walker cause me to lose my Social Security or Medicare? (No, Wisconsin legislators can’t take a federal program away from anyone in Wisconsin.)

• Do you support fiscally responsible government that turned a $3.6 billion deficit to a $100 million surplus, or do you support fiscally irresponsible government? Are you happy with balanced state and local school budgets?

If the person asks you to sign a petition to support Governor Walker, read the paper being pushed in front of you. If it says “recall petition,” ask the person why he/she is misleading you.

Do you think that everyone in Wisconsin wants to see misleading TV and radio ads for months on end? How much would a special election cost local municipalities to recall Governor Walker, because this would be a costly non-budgeted item? Would a special election cost local jobs? When would a special election be held? Would it occur the same time as primary, or on a different date? Do you support school districts that can now hire additional teachers for all children because the Budget Repair Bill is actually working? How many legislators do Democrats intend to recall? Are you glad that collective bargaining is no longer mandatory, and teachers now have a choice as to union membership? How many unions have actually voted to recertify?

Democrats could not elect a liberal to the Supreme Court, nor return the Senate to Democratic control with the summer recall elections. So what makes you think the effort to recall Governor Walker might succeed? Are you being paid to collect signatures? If so, who is paying you? Do you think that it’s legal for state employees, while at work, to collect signatures to recall elected officials? Is that against election laws? Did you know that the summer recalls cost both Republican and Democrat parties $30 million? Who/what will pay for more recall elections? Union dues? Who would be a Democratic candidate that could win against a governor who balances the state budget?

Shirley Kufeldt, Conover