Reader says unite to fix free speech ruling

Editor,
In 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits government restrictions on political campaign spending by corporations, labor unions and other associations. The result has been unrestricted pollution of American politics by money. The polluters’ subterfuge is edging us towards a dollar-dominated tyranny, financed by artificial persons. This portends misery for our children and grandchildren. The founders of our democratic republic would cringe, to say the least.

We can fix this, but nothing short of a Constitutional Amendment will do. We need to act, together, to remedy the situation by amending the Constitution to clarify that:

1. Only human beings are endowed with constitutional rights – not corporations, unions, nonprofits or other artificial entities, and
2. Money is not speech and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting speech.

We must generate undeniable public momentum. We cannot rely on entrenched, self-interested politicians to take the lead in reclaiming our democracy. Warning: It will take time and a lot of effort to pass this amendment, as it has the previous 27 Constitutional Amendments. Final passage will require the approval of two-thirds of the U.S. House and Senate followed by three-fourths of the states. But take heart, and take part. Strategies are underway.

A powerful start has been made by nationwide passage of over 750 local resolutions that declare, “Only humans are persons, and money is not speech.” Resolutions have passed in over 110 towns/cities/counties in Wisconsin. In the Northwoods, the (notoriously conservative) Town of Lake Tomahawk was the first to pass such a resolution in November 2016, with 91 percent of voters in favor! Let’s follow their lead. Partisan ruts have no place in this landscape. Spread the word to fellow citizens, regardless of their political leanings. Let’s work get the resolution passed in at least 10 more Northwoods townships.

Dorothy Skye, Rhinelander

Reader: Solar really works-even here

Editor,

You can do something about climate change by yourself. In 1980, I put my first two solar panels for hot water heating on my house. They are still there today working in Maple, Wisc. You can do the same thing. I built the frames to hold them on the roof. I connected the pump and sensors from a pre-fab control setup to power. I ran the pipe from the basement to the roof alongside the chimney. I added antifreeze to water to carry heat from the roof top panels to the basement water tank.

Thirty-eight years later, I’m still getting free hot water.

Yes, there have been a couple of problems along the way. After 25 years, the hot water tank had to be replaced. Sometime along the way, the expansion tank had to be replaced, but the original panels are still there working on the roof.
If it matters, long ago, probably twenty-five years ago, the system paid for itself with reduced heating costs. Think about it!

Greg St. Onge, Brule

English the official language?

Editor,
Congratulations and thank you to Alejandro Jacinto and Abigail Erin, owners of the Casa Mexicana Restaurant, on their endeavor to become more involved in the community.

Which brings to mind the following: A bill coming before Congress which would establish English as our nation’s official language.

There are anti-assimilation activists embracing official multilingualism which would be costly to the tax payers. More importantly, it would undermine the unifying role of English in the United States. Heads up, America.

Beverly McFadden, Three Lakes