John Peterson: GOP defies common sense
Dear Editor: What is happening politically in northeastern Wisconsin easily mirrors the electoral process in every other state. The rhetoric never changes. How can we change the frame of these cliched arguments?
Take the state Senate race in Green Bay between former Republican Ald. Chad Fradette and Democratic incumbent state Sen. Dave Hansen.
Fradette said he wants to restore "common sense" to state government. That would require him to vote with the Democrats.
Take, for example, a Democratic "common sense" proposal to increase the hospital tax. "Common sense" would require state Republicans to lift their opposition to a hospital tax that even state hospitals and business organizations fully support. In fact, a poll of 400 likely voters found that 75 percent support a proposed hospital assessment. More than half of those who vote Republican supported the assessment. That's just "common sense" to the electorate.
Maybe challenger Fradette could explain the "common sense" approach the Republicans used to be in session only 27 days over the last 15 months, considering taxpayers paid them full-time salaries and benefits. That's second from the bottom of any Assembly or state House in the country. Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch declared the two-year session a success. "Common sense" would tell me we're wasting taxpayer money on these freeloaders.
Perhaps Fradette could use a little "common sense" explaining why Senate Democrats were wasting our time pushing universal health care reform. Only in the Republican mind -- hell, only in the U.S. -- would it be horrific to force people to have health care. "Common sense" would tell you otherwise.
"Common sense" is the frame Republicans can't defend against.
John Peterson
Middleton
