It's time. Redskins must go. Name replacements being mentioned are: Power, Warhawks, Senators and the current and apparent frontrunner, Bravehearts. Just imagine Mel Gibson on the sideline in a kilt and with a sword.
Washington Spies would be popular right now, but I prefer something more traditional such as Knights from "The Natural," but 32 colleges already use that nickname. Glory is good, but it was used recently by a Virginia women's fast-pitch team. My last two fantasy teams were the Capitalists (D.C. has the Capitals hockey team) and the New Dealers. My wife likes the Washington Monument. Washington Liberty has a lot of patriotic appeal.
My favorite, though, would be the Washington Generals, but this nickname would have to shared with Washington and Lee University in Alexandria, Va. Which leaves me with my final choice: the Washington Union. Maybe we could send a message to all of those elected representatives within the Beltway that governing this country should be a team sport. When America wins, everyone wins.
Timothy B. Daley
Union Grove
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Gogebic projects raises questions
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, "Weakness in mining sends Caterpillar shares down" on Oct. 24, is an indicator why the Cline Group is so intent on mining taconite in Wisconsin (Page 1D).
Much of the decline in the coal mining industry, the source of Cline's wealth, can be attributed to the conversion of power plants from coal to natural gas. Its subsidiary, Gogebic Taconite, is planning to dig the largest open pit iron ore mine in the country in the Penokee Hills of northern Wisconsin.
There is increasing data that taconite workers experience an increased rate of mesothelioma, a form of cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos ("Mine may face another hurdle," Oct. 18). This doesn't seem to bother Republican legislators in Wisconsin as they push to relieve blasting restriction on mines, both taconite and sand, endangering the health of mine workers and citizens in the mining areas.
There seems to be an element in the Legislature that has sold Wisconsin to mining interests. The support for Gogebic under the pretense of 700 jobs for Wisconsin, while 3,000 jobs could be had at the proposed casino in Kenosha with little support from the Legislature, causes one to wonder.
I can only hope that the John Doe investigation now under way will review why Gogebic gets such favorable support from some legislators.
Gerald F. Miller
Lake Mills
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That's some 'incentive pay'
Regarding the article "Health execs' pay formula changing," the term "nonprofit" certainly does not apply to the chief executives of our health care systems (Page 1A, Oct. 27).
With compensations as high as more than $2 million a year and retirement bonanzas going as high as $6 million, a light is shone on rising health care costs. When I have asked business executives whether their enormous salaries could perchance signal greed, I am told that is not the case. It is called "incentive pay."
I would like to insist: If it takes millions of dollars to give these execs incentive to do their jobs, why don't they find work they are more interested in? Why couldn't the execs of systems such as Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and Aurora Healthcare be incentivized to work for $500,000 a year. That would be more than $9,000 a week, which would be enough to get most people out of bed and off to work in the morning.
Daniel C. Maguire
Milwaukee
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Now we know
After reading the front-page article regarding health execs' pay of $1 million to $2 million or more a year, with the potential for large bonuses and multimillion-dollar retirement packages, we now know why these health systems are "nonprofit" ("Health execs' pay formula changing").
The executives take the money.
Robert Schwarz
Menomonee Falls
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States rights
We have reached a critical junction in the course of our future. Our freedom and liberty are being threatened at every turn as our leaders continue to strip constitutional powers from the states. This power grab by both parties at the national level has crippled this economy and has set us up for a less than promising future.
Our federal tax dollars should no longer be used to give billions in aid to foreign countries and operate hundreds of bases overseas. The feds should have no say in who we marry or how we buy health insurance. They should not restrict the right of states to defend themselves against illegal immigration or set up voting laws to prevent fraud.
Education and drug enforcement should be handed over to the states. With all of these powers at the state level, we will have 50 individual case studies for which policies and programs work. Competition between states will only make us all better as states work hard to offer the best mix of taxes and services to keep and attract residents. Hard work and personal responsibility will make a comeback if we push back now and begin to get the feds out of our lives.
Matt Kresel
Hudson
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