Dear Editor,

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could talk politics with family and friends again, without campaign admen and social media manipulating us, and dividing us?

My home mailbox and inbox is full of messages from the GOP, claiming to know what I stand for. Speaking as a Mother, Grandmother, a Democrat, and a Healthcare provider here in Southwest Wisconsin, I would like to set the record straight.

We support our sheriff, police, their staff and the rule of law. We have some of the best, including our own Micheal Peterson. We all need excellent, safe policing. We support reasonable Gun safety measures and expanded mental health care. It is no secret that untreated mental illness and drug addiction fuel crime. We support national law enforcement’s effort to bring to justice those that attacked the Capital and assaulted our rule of law.

We support small businesses, farmers, the return of manufacturing to the USA and inflation control. Inflation is worldwide, and the reasons are complex. We need protection from price gouging from corporations raking in billions in profits, especially at the gas pump.

We support affordable Health care insurance for all. Half of all personal and family bankruptcies are still due to illness. It is heartbreaking when families lose their homes because they can’t pay medical bills. I know from my medical practice that small problems left untreated can become big problems, and result in visits to the ER or hospitalization. I cannot understand why Howard Marklein and Todd Novak vote against Badgercare expansion? Our own tax dollars stay in Washington because of their refusal. This is cruel and causes needless suffering and expense.

We support Medicare and Social security. It’s OUR money, saved from OUR paychecks. Multi millionaires like Ron Johnson don’t have a clue. Middle class folks depend on both for retirement.

We support secure borders, and common sense Ag work visas to hire the year round workforce needed for local dairy farms and cheese factories. Many undocumented workers help keep these going in SW WI and they deserve to live without fear.

We support excellent public schools and teachers. What better investment than our kids?

We support free and fair elections and our dedicated poll workers. The handful who commit voter fraud deserve jail time.

We are proud patriots who support our veterans and men and women on active duty.

We support reproductive freedom, especially access to birth control, which the supreme court is considering banning.

We support clean water, clean air, tackling climate change and keeping wild places wild for hunting and fishing.

This election, ignore the sleazy ads with their crappy photos, lies and misquotes.

The campaign Flyers and emails sent by Assemblyman Todd Novak are disrespectful, false and disgusting. We are smarter than that.

Vote on November 8th for Leah Spicer, Pat Skogen, Tony Evers, Mandela Barnes and Mark Pocan. Sensible, hard working Democrats that will work for all of us.

Sincerely,

Liz Bothfeld,

Dodgeville