Watching Wisconsin become the next Egypt is something I'm sure no one ever anticipated, yet, turmoil has been building due to legislation that would eliminate workers rights to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and all that good stuff. Rewind about 50 years before Wisconsin decided to allow public employees to unionize. Around that time, private sector employees were given the green light to bargain collectively. Nowadays, you don't see nearly as much of that happening. The reason: budgetary constraints. You see, private sector employees relied on private entities to pay their wages. Once all those resources were tapped, many businesses either took their companies elsewhere or folded altogether.
With public employees, it's an entirely different scenario since it's the taxpayers who essentially pay their wages. While we could just pack up and move out of state if we're unhappy with the taxes being raised, the burden just grows for everyone else. But the state is broke, so it's very clear that something has to change. Five decades ago, the economy in Wisconsin was entirely different, fully capable of sustaining public unions. Since then, however, more and more public employees have been hired and the ability of these people to bargain collectively has garnered them some of the highest quality benefits packages around. Through the years, the cost to the government has increased significantly.
Therein lies the problem. Public employee unions in Wisconsin don't negotiate salaries based upon the budget of the state government, thus growing the state's debt, which inevitably becomes a bigger burden on the taxpayers. Because of the difficulty of sustaining the salaries of public workers, there's no doubt in my mind that collective bargaining is part of the reason the state has gone so far into the red. Regardless, I totally understand the public employees' perspective in this whole debacle. They don't want to give up their ability to bargain collectively because, once they concede even just a little bit, chances are the government will expect more concessions in the future.
What I don't quite comprehend is that, because collective bargaining has been in place for 50 years, public workers believe they are entitled to it and it has become their right to join unions and fight for their benefits, wages, pensions and all that. Not necessarily. The way I see it, the only things that we're entitled to as Americans are our basic rights that were granted to us by the United States Constitution. Everything else is pretty much fair game. Truthfully, the practice of collective bargaining would not even exist were it not for the governing body of the State of Wisconsin. So, in essence, the government giveth and the government can taketh away.
I know it sounds malicious to put it in those terms, but I honestly do feel bad for union workers. Essentially, they're getting screwed over due to poor decisions that were made by the government five decades ago; it really is unfortunate and unfair. Perhaps, had the Wisconsin government heeded the warning of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who declared that "government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into public service," none of this would be happening right now.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Super Waste of Money
When it comes to the Super Bowl, money is typically no object. You have people shelling out thousands of dollars for tickets, parking, memorabilia and just about anything else you can think of when making the trip to the biggest football game of the season. Then, of course, you have the fans at home who throw Super Bowl parties, throwing down uncharacteristically large amounts of money on food, alcohol and, for some, new wide-screen televisions. However, on game day, the most extravagant spending of all is revealed during the in-game breaks – commercials. While companies spend millions upon millions of dollars to get their product advertised during what has become the most anticipated commercial day in history, there are some ads that leave the masses disappointed.
Among the most talked about Super Bowl commercials this year were the Volkswagen "Force" ad with the kid dressed up as Darth Vader and the Bridgestone "Carma" commercial with the life-saving beaver. Personally, my favorite commercials this year were those that featured Doritos namely the "Pug Attack" ad when the guy is taunting the dog with a chip and eventually ends up on the business end of a glass door. Regardless, the people in this country have come to know and love Super Bowl Sunday for, not only the game, but also the entertainment value of the commercials and big-name performances. While I admittedly think this year was lacking in the performance department with the Black Eyed Peas, that wasn't even one of my biggest concerns.
Remember after Christina Aguilera butchered the National Anthem (sadly, she could have saved herself some embarrassment by just lip-syncing), there was a flyover of the stadium by four F-18 Hornets? While there are many people out there wondering why the fly over even took place since the roof of Cowboys Stadium was closed, the United States Armed Forces have been doing those flyovers for years, even at domed stadiums. It doesn't make a lot of sense in that regard, but, for me, the cost for our military to perform these ceremonial flights is what makes me question their necessity. That whole five-second flyover of the Dallas Cowboys' new stomping grounds reportedly cost the government $450,000. While no one in the stadium was actually able to see the jets, part of the intent of the flyover was to entertain the at-home audiences. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I could have gone on with my life just as well had I not seen the jets soar across the sky before kickoff. And now that I know how much it cost, the entertainment value is lost on me.
After being called out on the cost, the military rebutted, saying that the Super Bowl flyovers are figured into the Navy's annual budget and deemed training exercises. Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose of training exercises, but I have a hard time accepting the fact that the government spent nearly a half a million dollars on fuel, personnel and who knows what else to fly the jets to Arlington, Texas, from Virginia Beach, Va., to perform said training. I mean, just imagine the hundreds of different ways that money could have been used to better the nation and the economy. On second thought, don't. It might make you sick to your stomach.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Among the most talked about Super Bowl commercials this year were the Volkswagen "Force" ad with the kid dressed up as Darth Vader and the Bridgestone "Carma" commercial with the life-saving beaver. Personally, my favorite commercials this year were those that featured Doritos namely the "Pug Attack" ad when the guy is taunting the dog with a chip and eventually ends up on the business end of a glass door. Regardless, the people in this country have come to know and love Super Bowl Sunday for, not only the game, but also the entertainment value of the commercials and big-name performances. While I admittedly think this year was lacking in the performance department with the Black Eyed Peas, that wasn't even one of my biggest concerns.
Remember after Christina Aguilera butchered the National Anthem (sadly, she could have saved herself some embarrassment by just lip-syncing), there was a flyover of the stadium by four F-18 Hornets? While there are many people out there wondering why the fly over even took place since the roof of Cowboys Stadium was closed, the United States Armed Forces have been doing those flyovers for years, even at domed stadiums. It doesn't make a lot of sense in that regard, but, for me, the cost for our military to perform these ceremonial flights is what makes me question their necessity. That whole five-second flyover of the Dallas Cowboys' new stomping grounds reportedly cost the government $450,000. While no one in the stadium was actually able to see the jets, part of the intent of the flyover was to entertain the at-home audiences. Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I could have gone on with my life just as well had I not seen the jets soar across the sky before kickoff. And now that I know how much it cost, the entertainment value is lost on me.
After being called out on the cost, the military rebutted, saying that the Super Bowl flyovers are figured into the Navy's annual budget and deemed training exercises. Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose of training exercises, but I have a hard time accepting the fact that the government spent nearly a half a million dollars on fuel, personnel and who knows what else to fly the jets to Arlington, Texas, from Virginia Beach, Va., to perform said training. I mean, just imagine the hundreds of different ways that money could have been used to better the nation and the economy. On second thought, don't. It might make you sick to your stomach.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Don't Alienate the Voting Public
Every year around Election Day, we hear so many commercials and paid advertisements insisting that our vote is important and that everyone should get to the polls and cast their ballot if they want to see change. So, why then, is the State of Wisconsin moving forward with legislation that will require all voters to present photo identification at the polls? While presenting a photo ID is necessary while carrying out various tasks, such as filling prescriptions, writing checks or boarding a flight, I don't understand why it should become a necessity when it comes to voting. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say the Wisconsin government will only further alienate the voting public by implementing this law.
Off the top of my head, I can think of three groups of people who will be negatively impacted by this legislation: the elderly, the poor and college students. Many elderly people who don't drive any longer have no need for a driver's license(my grandmother never had a driver's license and never drove a day in her life). With most of these individuals already living on a fixed income, it seems arrogant of the government to tell them they need to purchase a photo ID in order to vote, something they've done for decades without such requirements. Then, you have low-income families that are barely making it as it is. Most of them don't have vehicles because they cannot afford them and use public transportation to get from A to B. Their vote is just as important as anyone else's, yet, most will likely give up that right because they won't have proper identification to cast their votes. If I had a choice between purchasing a Wisconsin photo ID and putting food on my table, you'd better believe my family would come first.
Last, but certainly not least, you have the college student faction – kids who will someday become the leaders of this nation. These are the people we should be encouraging to vote, not discouraging them by making more regulations. In Wisconsin, students are considered residents of the state if they live on a UW campus for the majority of the year, which most do. I attended UW-River Falls and there were oodles of students attending the institution due to its excellent education program and its close proximity to their homes in Minnesota. However, with this new Wisconsin Voter Photo Identification Act, those students will not be able to cast their vote unless they acquire a Wisconsin ID. That's just ridiculous, if you ask me. Not only are these students paying more tuition due to reciprocity to get an education at a college of their choosing, but our government is going to require them to purchase an ID card if they wish to vote in Wisconsin? Something just doesn't add up. Perhaps, college IDs should be considered an acceptable form of identification at the polls.
If not, I think the state should issue these students – and the rest of the citizens who don't have proper identification – Wisconsin identification cards, free of charge, so they may vote. After all, it is our God-given right and people shouldn't have to pay the government in order to exercise that right. Granted, there has been talk of the state government providing the IDs at no cost, but, when you take into account the condition the economy is in, I'm not sure that would be entirely feasible. Another thing that frustrates me is the way in which this new bill will eliminate same-day voter registration. Are you kidding me? There are so many people out there who register on the day they cast ballots that it would be a travesty to do away with that convenience. Instead, everyone will have to remember to get all of their information to the state weeks in advance. With the busy schedules people have, it seems ludicrous to expect people to have to remember that, too.
Though the Photo Identification Act is, more or less, a way to cut down on voter fraud, I have a feeling it will cut down on the number of voters at the polls, instead. Sure, people should do their civic duty and make sure they have all their ducks in a row prior to Election Day, but it's becoming way too much of a hassle, if you ask me. Maybe, instead of adding more rules and regulations, the state should try to make it easier for the voting public to carry out its role in our democracy.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Off the top of my head, I can think of three groups of people who will be negatively impacted by this legislation: the elderly, the poor and college students. Many elderly people who don't drive any longer have no need for a driver's license(my grandmother never had a driver's license and never drove a day in her life). With most of these individuals already living on a fixed income, it seems arrogant of the government to tell them they need to purchase a photo ID in order to vote, something they've done for decades without such requirements. Then, you have low-income families that are barely making it as it is. Most of them don't have vehicles because they cannot afford them and use public transportation to get from A to B. Their vote is just as important as anyone else's, yet, most will likely give up that right because they won't have proper identification to cast their votes. If I had a choice between purchasing a Wisconsin photo ID and putting food on my table, you'd better believe my family would come first.
Last, but certainly not least, you have the college student faction – kids who will someday become the leaders of this nation. These are the people we should be encouraging to vote, not discouraging them by making more regulations. In Wisconsin, students are considered residents of the state if they live on a UW campus for the majority of the year, which most do. I attended UW-River Falls and there were oodles of students attending the institution due to its excellent education program and its close proximity to their homes in Minnesota. However, with this new Wisconsin Voter Photo Identification Act, those students will not be able to cast their vote unless they acquire a Wisconsin ID. That's just ridiculous, if you ask me. Not only are these students paying more tuition due to reciprocity to get an education at a college of their choosing, but our government is going to require them to purchase an ID card if they wish to vote in Wisconsin? Something just doesn't add up. Perhaps, college IDs should be considered an acceptable form of identification at the polls.
If not, I think the state should issue these students – and the rest of the citizens who don't have proper identification – Wisconsin identification cards, free of charge, so they may vote. After all, it is our God-given right and people shouldn't have to pay the government in order to exercise that right. Granted, there has been talk of the state government providing the IDs at no cost, but, when you take into account the condition the economy is in, I'm not sure that would be entirely feasible. Another thing that frustrates me is the way in which this new bill will eliminate same-day voter registration. Are you kidding me? There are so many people out there who register on the day they cast ballots that it would be a travesty to do away with that convenience. Instead, everyone will have to remember to get all of their information to the state weeks in advance. With the busy schedules people have, it seems ludicrous to expect people to have to remember that, too.
Though the Photo Identification Act is, more or less, a way to cut down on voter fraud, I have a feeling it will cut down on the number of voters at the polls, instead. Sure, people should do their civic duty and make sure they have all their ducks in a row prior to Election Day, but it's becoming way too much of a hassle, if you ask me. Maybe, instead of adding more rules and regulations, the state should try to make it easier for the voting public to carry out its role in our democracy.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
What About The Children?
Learning about the struggles that the Independence School District is going through in terms of funding has made me realize how the decaying public education system is cheating the youth of this nation of their futures. In recognizing this, I have some serious concerns regarding the way in which our state government prioritizes funding for certain entities. When you think about it, kids going through the public school system across the state are, in essence, the future of Wisconsin. If they are not provided the proper education they rightfully deserve, chances are the state will suffer – likely in more ways than one.
First of all, the declining funding from the state level will, unfortunately, mean that school districts will need to be dissolved or consolidate with other districts. Teachers will lose jobs and will seek employment in other states. Due to larger student-teacher ratios, grades and test scores will suffer, meaning students will not get the education they need to prosper in the future and thus hampering their success in the college and in the work force. And when those individuals decide to start a family, I wouldn't be surprised if they would seek to have them schooled in a state in which their children can get a quality education. So, in reality, what the Independence School District is dealing with will, ultimately, be an obstacle that many other schools will encounter if the state continues to cut funding.
Believe me, if I were a parent, I would be calling my legislators constantly to gripe about how wrong these cuts are and how harmful they will be our children. While I am on board with Gov. Scott Walker's plan to bring the business climate in Wisconsin back up to par, it seems that other areas of need are being shoved on the backburner. What's even scarier is that one Wisconsin legislator, Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, has proposed eliminating funding for 4-year-old kindergarten. That's insane. When every year of a child's youth counts – particularly when it comes to learning – it's hard to fathom that people actually think cutting such programs would be beneficial on any level.
What I think really needs to happen is our representatives in government should help contribute to saving our schools. Maybe, instead of taking health insurance, perhaps, they might consider taking a stipend. Or maybe just plain, old, goodhearted charity would be appreciated. I'll bet if each of the elected officials and justices for the state of Wisconsin donated a portion of their salary to the education fund, it would be genuinely appreciated. When Gov. Walker served as the Milwaukee County Executive, he voluntarily reduced his salary to save money, which makes me wonder if he would be willing to consider doing the same thing in his new role. It certainly would give constituents some newfound respect for politicians – and government in general. At last check, the salary for Wisconsin's governor ranked 19th in the nation. Add to that the fact that our Chief Justice makes over $150,000 a year (and the six associate justices each make about $144,000 per year), it's no wonder state expenses are exceeding its revenues.
But, I digress; something needs to change; we can't just keep pretending that referendums that increase taxes for the general public will continue to solve this problem. A great deal of families are already struggling as it is. And cutting funding to schools is about the worst thing any state government could do. Here's hoping there is some semblance of light at the end of this dreary tunnel and that politicians in Madison will begin to see the error in their ways – hopefully, sooner, rather than later.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
First of all, the declining funding from the state level will, unfortunately, mean that school districts will need to be dissolved or consolidate with other districts. Teachers will lose jobs and will seek employment in other states. Due to larger student-teacher ratios, grades and test scores will suffer, meaning students will not get the education they need to prosper in the future and thus hampering their success in the college and in the work force. And when those individuals decide to start a family, I wouldn't be surprised if they would seek to have them schooled in a state in which their children can get a quality education. So, in reality, what the Independence School District is dealing with will, ultimately, be an obstacle that many other schools will encounter if the state continues to cut funding.
Believe me, if I were a parent, I would be calling my legislators constantly to gripe about how wrong these cuts are and how harmful they will be our children. While I am on board with Gov. Scott Walker's plan to bring the business climate in Wisconsin back up to par, it seems that other areas of need are being shoved on the backburner. What's even scarier is that one Wisconsin legislator, Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, has proposed eliminating funding for 4-year-old kindergarten. That's insane. When every year of a child's youth counts – particularly when it comes to learning – it's hard to fathom that people actually think cutting such programs would be beneficial on any level.
What I think really needs to happen is our representatives in government should help contribute to saving our schools. Maybe, instead of taking health insurance, perhaps, they might consider taking a stipend. Or maybe just plain, old, goodhearted charity would be appreciated. I'll bet if each of the elected officials and justices for the state of Wisconsin donated a portion of their salary to the education fund, it would be genuinely appreciated. When Gov. Walker served as the Milwaukee County Executive, he voluntarily reduced his salary to save money, which makes me wonder if he would be willing to consider doing the same thing in his new role. It certainly would give constituents some newfound respect for politicians – and government in general. At last check, the salary for Wisconsin's governor ranked 19th in the nation. Add to that the fact that our Chief Justice makes over $150,000 a year (and the six associate justices each make about $144,000 per year), it's no wonder state expenses are exceeding its revenues.
But, I digress; something needs to change; we can't just keep pretending that referendums that increase taxes for the general public will continue to solve this problem. A great deal of families are already struggling as it is. And cutting funding to schools is about the worst thing any state government could do. Here's hoping there is some semblance of light at the end of this dreary tunnel and that politicians in Madison will begin to see the error in their ways – hopefully, sooner, rather than later.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
No Sympathy for Murderers
With the start of the trial to determine the mental state of convicted murderer Shane Hawkins, who has already been found guilty of brutally stabbing 17-year-old Jason Grau to death while he slept before dumping his body along the Chippewa River, I find myself upset with our justice system. As far as I'm concerned, someone who confesses to murder should be dealt with in the same manner as any other cold-blooded killer. It shouldn't matter what that person's mental state was at the time of the incident. There are thousands of people out there who are mentally ill and you don't see all of them using it as an excuse to go out and murder innocent people.
As one woman testified on Monday, mental state should not excuse Shane from what he did to Jason. This particular individual stated that she also suffers from mental defects, yet she insisted that Hawkins be punished to the full extent of the law. I couldn't agree more. Anyone who commits that kind of senseless act obviously isn't right in the head to begin with, regardless of their past mental issues. Whether or not a murderer knew what he or she was doing was wrong at the time the offense should be a moot point. Someone is dead; ergo, someone should be punished.
Basically, what the jury is deciding in this particular case is if Hawkins should be sent to prison or a mental institution. Already having been found guilty of murder, I don't think mental defect should entitle criminals any sort of leniency in terms of punishment. While I am aware that there is a statute of limitations associated with determining a killer's competence to stand trial, a jury has already ruled that Hawkins was capable to do so. In fact, he took the stand Monday. But what really upsets me is the fact that the judge allowed Hawkins to ramble on during his testimony about things that seemed more ludicrous than a child's nightmares about monsters in the closet.
Thanks to live streaming, I was able to listen to some of Hawkins' testimony, but it got so bizarre, I felt as though I were listening to a sci-fi book on tape. For nearly an hour, he went on about time travel, committing murder on other planets and gods telling him to kill people. At one point, he even stated that he was the first baby born in heaven 1,200 eternities ago. After listening to that, it's safe to say that he is, in fact, a delusional sort … but, I don't think that's ever been the question. Hawkins said he is fully aware that he killed the teenager and apologized to Grau before stabbing him in the neck. So, in essence, he knows that he was in the wrong.
However, what I don't quite comprehend is why our court system allowed Hawkins to go on and on like this, essentially wasting taxpayer dollars to prove what most people already figured out when details of the murder first emerged … the man is certifiably insane. I can only imagine what kinds of things are going through the minds of the victim's family as they are listening to all of this. Regardless of what the jury decides, I think Hawkins should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He robbed a young man of his life and took a son, grandson and brother from his family. And, in all honesty, I don't think any amount of time in a mental institution will be able to rehabilitate this lost soul.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
As one woman testified on Monday, mental state should not excuse Shane from what he did to Jason. This particular individual stated that she also suffers from mental defects, yet she insisted that Hawkins be punished to the full extent of the law. I couldn't agree more. Anyone who commits that kind of senseless act obviously isn't right in the head to begin with, regardless of their past mental issues. Whether or not a murderer knew what he or she was doing was wrong at the time the offense should be a moot point. Someone is dead; ergo, someone should be punished.
Basically, what the jury is deciding in this particular case is if Hawkins should be sent to prison or a mental institution. Already having been found guilty of murder, I don't think mental defect should entitle criminals any sort of leniency in terms of punishment. While I am aware that there is a statute of limitations associated with determining a killer's competence to stand trial, a jury has already ruled that Hawkins was capable to do so. In fact, he took the stand Monday. But what really upsets me is the fact that the judge allowed Hawkins to ramble on during his testimony about things that seemed more ludicrous than a child's nightmares about monsters in the closet.
Thanks to live streaming, I was able to listen to some of Hawkins' testimony, but it got so bizarre, I felt as though I were listening to a sci-fi book on tape. For nearly an hour, he went on about time travel, committing murder on other planets and gods telling him to kill people. At one point, he even stated that he was the first baby born in heaven 1,200 eternities ago. After listening to that, it's safe to say that he is, in fact, a delusional sort … but, I don't think that's ever been the question. Hawkins said he is fully aware that he killed the teenager and apologized to Grau before stabbing him in the neck. So, in essence, he knows that he was in the wrong.
However, what I don't quite comprehend is why our court system allowed Hawkins to go on and on like this, essentially wasting taxpayer dollars to prove what most people already figured out when details of the murder first emerged … the man is certifiably insane. I can only imagine what kinds of things are going through the minds of the victim's family as they are listening to all of this. Regardless of what the jury decides, I think Hawkins should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He robbed a young man of his life and took a son, grandson and brother from his family. And, in all honesty, I don't think any amount of time in a mental institution will be able to rehabilitate this lost soul.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Coincidence Or Bad Omen?
Lately, there have been a great deal of odd mass animal deaths around the world, which has led to much speculation about the cause and whether or not it could be somehow associated to the 2012 phenomenon. Scientists have linked a number of the mass bird deaths to the unusually cold weather and/or upper level hail. And that makes sense. But, what has shocked me is that it's not just fish and birds that are dying off mysteriously.
Over the weekend, 200 cows in Wisconsin were found dead in a field. Though this particular event could have been linked to a virus, it's a little disturbing that all of these mass deaths are happening so close together and in a variety of different species. I mean, there have been reports of crabs, blackbirds, buffalo, seals, penguins, bats and all different kinds of fish found dead in masses all over the world. Granted, it could be a mere coincidence, I have found it greatly unsettling to just accept that.
While I'm not big on conspiracy theories and have not bought into the fact that Dec. 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world, I've found it difficult to simply believe that these mass death trends are "natural" and "normal." And that's when I started thinking back to the episode of "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura" where the former governor of Minnesota went on a mission to learn more about the 2012 fiasco. Evidently, he found people who were building underground condos in order to survive the apocalypse. Not only that, but he discovered a so-called government bomb shelter that was being built so that prominent government officials would survive as well.
While I admit to rolling my eyes at some of the crazy things depicted in that particular episode, the fact that this is all happening now makes me wonder if the government has more involvement in the 2012 conspiracy theory than what they're leading the public to believe. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if extra attention is being paid to these animal deaths in order to instill fear in the population.
There is also reason to chalk the hype up to media coverage, as well. As scientists have speculated, this kind of thing happens all the time, but rarely garners this much attention. In all actuality, those who believe that the world will come to an end next year are likely the ones who are provoking all of the hype surrounding this so-called "Aflockalypse."
As such, I am still greatly resistant to jumping on the "End of the World" bandwagon. If it happens, so be it. And if these mass animal deaths are a sign of a forthcoming doomsday, there's really not a whole lot we can do to stop it. But, I will definitely be making plans for New Year's Eve 2012. However, if the Bears make it to and win the Super Bowl, that right there would be a sure sign that the apocalypse is near.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Over the weekend, 200 cows in Wisconsin were found dead in a field. Though this particular event could have been linked to a virus, it's a little disturbing that all of these mass deaths are happening so close together and in a variety of different species. I mean, there have been reports of crabs, blackbirds, buffalo, seals, penguins, bats and all different kinds of fish found dead in masses all over the world. Granted, it could be a mere coincidence, I have found it greatly unsettling to just accept that.
While I'm not big on conspiracy theories and have not bought into the fact that Dec. 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world, I've found it difficult to simply believe that these mass death trends are "natural" and "normal." And that's when I started thinking back to the episode of "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura" where the former governor of Minnesota went on a mission to learn more about the 2012 fiasco. Evidently, he found people who were building underground condos in order to survive the apocalypse. Not only that, but he discovered a so-called government bomb shelter that was being built so that prominent government officials would survive as well.
While I admit to rolling my eyes at some of the crazy things depicted in that particular episode, the fact that this is all happening now makes me wonder if the government has more involvement in the 2012 conspiracy theory than what they're leading the public to believe. That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if extra attention is being paid to these animal deaths in order to instill fear in the population.
There is also reason to chalk the hype up to media coverage, as well. As scientists have speculated, this kind of thing happens all the time, but rarely garners this much attention. In all actuality, those who believe that the world will come to an end next year are likely the ones who are provoking all of the hype surrounding this so-called "Aflockalypse."
As such, I am still greatly resistant to jumping on the "End of the World" bandwagon. If it happens, so be it. And if these mass animal deaths are a sign of a forthcoming doomsday, there's really not a whole lot we can do to stop it. But, I will definitely be making plans for New Year's Eve 2012. However, if the Bears make it to and win the Super Bowl, that right there would be a sure sign that the apocalypse is near.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Constituent-Politician Relationships Forever Changed
When politicians run for office, win elections and start working to make change or progress in this great nation, one would assume that, like celebrities, they become more of a public figure. Perhaps, that is why presidents and governors don't stray too far from security while making appearances and holding speaking engagements. However, with the way politics has evolved, members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are beginning to attract more attention as well. And I'm not just talking about "Sarah Palin's Alaska" here. Deemed the representatives for the people in the United States Congress, these politicians are, in a sense, the only real direct link citizens have to the White House. As such, they are put under a great deal of scrutiny by their constituents.
Saturday's shooting in Arizona, while tragic, has proved just how necessary it is that all politicians at the national level should have security with them at all times, especially when making public appearances. And this measure should be taken, not only for the representatives, but for all the supporters and innocent bystanders at these events. Granted, by doing so, a lot of changes would have to be made, the most obvious being public meet-and-greets, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" function, it may be the only way to ensure safety.
There's no doubt in my mind that, because of this incident, there will be a greater need for security at all political events, which can be both good and bad, depending on your viewpoint. My guess is that only a certain number of individuals will be able to meet with their Congressman or Congresswoman during public forums. In addition, those who attend such events will, more than likely, be subjected to security similar to that in airports – metal detectors, pat-downs and the like. However, seeing as how going to these events is not as imperative as airway transportation, I think that, if new security measures are implemented, the relationship between politicians and their constituents will change forever. It would, most definitely, take away from the one-on-one interaction citizens have had with their representatives. It would also, likely, mean people would be deterred from attending these events, in essence, lessening public involvement in government, which, as an American citizen, saddens me.
To think one bad apple will be responsible for ruining the political experience for so many others makes me cringe. As one individual commented during a breaking news broadcast Saturday, "there are a lot of nuts out there … And it's real easy for them to get their hands on guns capable of killing many people."
So sad, yet so true.
Side note: While I was greatly disheartened to learn about the shooting in Arizona, I was even more concerned that an event like this would shut down the law-making body of this country for at least a week. How do we know that's not what this assailant wanted? And, if so, we shouldn't let him win.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
Saturday's shooting in Arizona, while tragic, has proved just how necessary it is that all politicians at the national level should have security with them at all times, especially when making public appearances. And this measure should be taken, not only for the representatives, but for all the supporters and innocent bystanders at these events. Granted, by doing so, a lot of changes would have to be made, the most obvious being public meet-and-greets, like Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" function, it may be the only way to ensure safety.
There's no doubt in my mind that, because of this incident, there will be a greater need for security at all political events, which can be both good and bad, depending on your viewpoint. My guess is that only a certain number of individuals will be able to meet with their Congressman or Congresswoman during public forums. In addition, those who attend such events will, more than likely, be subjected to security similar to that in airports – metal detectors, pat-downs and the like. However, seeing as how going to these events is not as imperative as airway transportation, I think that, if new security measures are implemented, the relationship between politicians and their constituents will change forever. It would, most definitely, take away from the one-on-one interaction citizens have had with their representatives. It would also, likely, mean people would be deterred from attending these events, in essence, lessening public involvement in government, which, as an American citizen, saddens me.
To think one bad apple will be responsible for ruining the political experience for so many others makes me cringe. As one individual commented during a breaking news broadcast Saturday, "there are a lot of nuts out there … And it's real easy for them to get their hands on guns capable of killing many people."
So sad, yet so true.
Side note: While I was greatly disheartened to learn about the shooting in Arizona, I was even more concerned that an event like this would shut down the law-making body of this country for at least a week. How do we know that's not what this assailant wanted? And, if so, we shouldn't let him win.
Jennie Oemig
Staff Writer
Trempealeau County Times
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