Use gas tax for drivers' education

Many schools are cutting drivers' education programs as school funding falls further into the abyss. Here is a modest proposal to save drivers' education:

Place a one-tenth of a cent tax on gasoline and use that money solely for drivers' education.

I don't think anyone would notice the difference between $3.399 and $3.40 a gallon. The only problem I see with this proposal is trusting the Legislature and governor to use the money for its intended purpose. Their record does not inspire belief in them doing the right thing.

-- Dennis Crowley, Spring Green

'Fossil' fools joke was played by fools

To those responsible for the "fossil" fools day joke -- great job! Instead of hundreds of cars on Madison streets, there were fleets of gas-sucking tow trucks. Instead of spending money on frivolous stuff like food, medicine, clothes and rent, the people whose tires you flattened had to pay tow-truck drivers.

Congratulations for inconveniencing hundreds of people who needed to get to work, school, doctor appointments, job interviews, etc. They were probably late -- that's really funny. If anyone had to get to the hospital, I guess they had to call an ambulance.

Your one flaw was that your prank failed to consider those folks who already "drive less." One of my co-workers was directly affected by your joke, and he is one of the greenest people I know. He walks, bikes and travels by bus as much as possible. Way to go, geniuses.

-- Julie Morello, Madison

Serious message trumped by prank

Wednesday's article, "More than 100 vehicles in Madison had tires deflated," was disappointing. The tire deflating incident was news, as well as an inconvenience to more than 100 people, and as one of the protestors at the Bergstrom dealership, I condemn it.

But in regard to the protest at the Bergstrom Cadillac-Hummer dealership, the State Journal failed to "connect the dots" between wars for oil, global warming, and the kind of conspicuous consumption that fossil-fueled toys like Hummers and Escalades symbolize.

If you want to report on pranks, report on the biggest prank of all, a president who incited his nation to war on false pretenses and a nation of irresponsible gas-guzzlers who pretend our unsustainable lifestyle choices have nothing to do with that war or the military occupation of the oil-rich Mideast and Central Asia.

-- Hans Noeldner, Oregon

End 'us. vs. them' race relations view

If the letter writer who addressed aspiring to the "American dream" really listened to Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race, he would realize that by encouraging Obama to "create an ethic among underemployed or unemployed blacks," he is still stuck in the old "us vs. them" version of race relations.

True progress and change will not take place if Obama is seen solely as the president of black Americans. While our future president will need to have a plan to close the gap between the haves and have nots and build a strong middle class, it will not be successful unless it involves all Americans.

I find the call for Obama to lead blacks to be racist, backward and a perfect example of why this country must continue the discussion on race that he initiated.

-- Tracy L. Stewart, Madison

Gableman proves costly attack ads win

In a sense, Justice-elect Michael Gableman should be proud of his campaign. He finally proved beyond a doubt that negative, malicious, manipulative advertising works with a small-minded, ignorant populace that votes according to the sound bites they hear on TV.

How else do you beat an incumbent in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race that would have gotten no attention at all if not for the $3 million worth of attack ads? So the ads become the story, the race gets attention, the third parties spend the money and take the heat for the transparent attacks, and the incumbent loses.

Well done, Gableman, WMC and the judges who supported you. You should be proud. It's we voters who should be ashamed of ourselves, again.

-- Steven J. Maerz, Madison

Court's laxity allows continued abuses

During the course of the last state Supreme Court campaign, it was brought to light that Judge Annette Ziegler, while sitting as a circuit court judge, violated the judicial code of ethics numerous times. It was not until after an ethics complaint had been filed and proceedings commenced that she admitted, through her attorney, that she violated the code.

To the best of my knowledge, Ziegler has not personally admitted any violations nor apologized, and the matter of discipline is presently before the court. As an attorney, I believe her license should be suspended or revoked.

The court's lack of action on Ziegler emboldened Judge Michael Gableman to run a campaign featuring "Willy Horton" type ads. He was requested by the judicial integrity committee to withdraw the ad and he refused to do so. An ethics complaint has now been filed against Gableman.

 'm sad and disgusted that such a campaign was conducted in Wisconsin, and that the person who conducted it won the election. I hope appropriate action will be taken against Gableman for the manner in which he conducted his campaign. The Supreme Court has been sitting on its hands long enough.

It is time for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to live up to the ethics and judicial standards that the people of Wisconsin have the right to expect.

-- Jim Connors, Madison

WMC participation calls for boycott

I am outraged at the role of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce in the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.

I am pro-business. I founded and run a small health care company in Madison. I hold a master's degree in business from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in economic history from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I believe the best solution usually is the market solution.

However, WMC's support for the Gableman campaign offended me. They supported a campaign that employed lies and scare mongering, and meddled with an important tenant of government -- an independent, nonpartisan judiciary -- purely for the financial gain of their members.

I am going to determine which businesses are associated with WMC and undertake a boycott of their products and services. I will encourage my friends and neighbors to do so also.

-- Revere Greist, Madison