YOUR LETTERS

City Pages occasionally prints letters to the editor when there is room in the paper. Send any letters to brian.kowalski@mmclocal.com. ough there is no speci c length requirement, letters have a better chance of running if they are between 250-400 words in length. Be advised that letters advocating for a speci c candidate come with a charge per Multi-Media Channels’ policy.

Don’t put taxpayers on the hook for student loans

Dear Editor, I am against student loan forgiveness on principle. As a taxpayer I don’t want to be on the hook for someone else’s loan. After graduating with my college degree, I budgeted and refrained from major purchases for three years until my loans were paid off . Paying off my loans felt great, almost as great as it felt to walk across the stage at graduation. What happened to taking responsibility for personal decisions? I knowingly signed paperwork that stated the debt I was agreeing to pay back after graduation. Five-digit debt was the consequence, and motivator to work and live on a tight budget until the debt was gone. Th e fi rst action to take after getting a job after college should be to fi gure out how fast you can pay off the student loans, instead of accruing more debt, i.e. car loan. Living lean can be boring, however, the payoff is freedom! Th e Federal Government forgiving student loan debt is an irresponsible use of taxpayer money. Not all taxpayers have taken out student loans. Th e ones who have paid their loans back do not want to pay back someone else’s loans. For those of you who have student loans, please budget your earnings to pay back your debt. To those of you considering taking out student loans, think about how you are going to pay them back.

—Margaret Att o, Wausau

IPCC Report: It’s now or never to avoid climate disaster

Too often we humans fail to plan ahead, or successfully address simultaneous multiple problems, particularly if we are not directly aff ected. With the ongoing global pandemic, war in Ukraine, and rampant infl ation, now comes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change (www.ipcc.ch).

Th is latest Report bluntly warns that it’s now or never to stave off the worst eff ects of climate change. Th e conclusion of the planet’s leading scientists is: we must end rising greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 to keep average global heating under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7F); beyond which severe climate and environmental impacts will increase, adversely aff ecting billions of people. Th e bad news is our continuing addiction to fossil fuels is already causing increased property damage, supply chain disruptions, food shortages, and refugee crises. Th e good news is we know what must be done and have the technology to change current climate trends.

Th e needed changes will be costly, but the cost of inaction will be far greater; for human life and suff ering, planetary ecosystems, and money. Climate scientists and economists agree that the cost of change is an investment to avoid the far greater cost of a less livable planet. If we know the consequences of our current habits, and know what must be done, the question is: when will we fi nd suffi cient public and political will to do what is needed?

—John Lindell, Bayfi eld

Are you eligible for $25 in farmers' market vouchers?

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Begins June 1st

Seniors 60 years or older living in Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, and Wood counties could be eligible to receive $25 in vouchers to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at local farmers’ markets through the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Income eligibility per household apply: 1-person household $2,096 per month or less 2-person household $2,823 per month or less

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Call for more information 888-486-9545

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, it Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering the USDA program are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)6329992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by Mall: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D. C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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N7198 US HWY 45 | WITTENBERG, WI