Manitowoc letters to the editor on politics, county service, books – Herald Times Reporter

Here are this week’s letters to the editor of the Herald Times Reporter. See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views.
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“The Center will not hold” is a verse from the poem “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats.
It also speaks to the political center, where many establishment Democrats live.
These legacy Dems avoid running too much to the right, or too much to the left. Often, their nemesis isn’t the GOP but the progressives in their own party.
Progressives are seen as a threat to the corporate big-money ties, like those from the Israeli lobbying group, AIPAC. Many Dems also believe the center is where the coveted and elusive “independent voter” lives, who they take pains not to frighten with social issues like affordable health care.
But the “center” has become a mirage, and the old-school Democrats are failing to see that it will not hold.
This can be seen in how they reacted with skepticism toward the candidacy of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and had ignored the on-fire senatorial candidacy of Graham Platner of Maine.
But voters see the bigger picture: they see the inequality all around them.
Voters want policies that bolster affordability, that hold billionaires to task. They want laws passed that will reign in an uncontrolled federal police force, and efforts made to hold every Trump official criminally accountable.
We will vote Blue because, as Yeats later writes, “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
The midterms will be a Blue Wave, but a wave built on demands and expectations, not on politics as usual.
James Mullins
Manitowoc
Donald Trump reposted an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ descending from heaven to heal the sick. This is not particularly remarkable. Prior to holding public office, Trump had established himself in the public eye as a symbol of narcissism and greed, a cartoonishly absurd figure whose singular goal was to put his name on big buildings. He was, and is, an obvious conman.
Yet, despite his obvious lies and his glaring emptiness, there are people who think he is a hero.
And it’s because they don’t really care. Trump is obviously not a Christian, a moral actor, smart in business, a capable communicator, a tough guy or a policy genius.
He’s an old man sitting on a gold toilet, tweeting about celebrities who are mean to him, while American soldiers and Iranian civilians die in a war that has no purpose and no goal.
But it doesn’t matter. This version of American fascism has no real point or purpose: no goals or morals, just a list of enemies to smite. Trump is not Hitler; he’s Kim Jong Il, a ridiculous emperor-god who would be laughed off the planet if he weren’t responsible for suffering and capable of much more.
I mostly just wish for a simpler time when our politicians at least pretended to be normal human beings.
Jon Levendusky
Manitowoc
America 250: America marks 250 years in 2026. What does it mean to you?
In the Sunday, April 19, Herald Times Reporter, Bob Ziegelbauer had a letter thanking Manitowoc County as his term as county executive ends. 
The County of Manitowoc has been fortunate to have such a talent as Bob has been. In my communication with him, we did not always agree, but he always took the time to listen to my viewpoint and explain his. 
Bob graduated from The Wharton School of Finance and could have made five to 10 times more money with this background than he did as County Executive. He rather chose to serve the citizens of Manitowoc County.
In his letter, rather than highlight his accomplishments, he pointed out that the real credit should go to the county employees, department heads and his colleagues on the County Board. I don’t disagree with this, but Bob was being modest in his contributions to the county. 
Thanks, Bob, for what you have done for the county and continued success in your future endeavors. 
George V. Reis
Two Rivers
Little Free Libraries is a nonprofit organization that builds communities by inspiring readers through expanding book access. LFL is for all, especially children, worldwide. Todd Bol started LFL in Hudson, Wisconsin, now with headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. There are 150,000 registered Little Free Libraries across 115 countries. Dr. Russell Schnell built one in Antarctica in 2020. LFL is now on seven continents.
Manitowoc has about 30 chartered Little Free Libraries. A chartered library displays a number on the front of the book box, indicating it is a member of the organization and works together with thousands of others. LFL grants libraries to high-need areas, such as isolated rural areas and economically distressed urban areas. LFL promotes book diversity so everyone can see themselves in a specific character, community or storyline.
I’ve been a steward of a little free library in Manitowoc for three years. More than 1,600 books have been given to others through my library. The motto is “take a book, leave a book.” The people in my neighborhood, my community and my family have been extremely generous to this endeavor. If you are a parent, grandparent, retired teacher, book lover or collector, please check your shelves for books your children have outgrown and donate them to a chartered LFL near you. Give a kid a book this summer! Patrons love contemporary, popular books in trade back. Donate a book you loved, because someone else will love it, too. Let’s make Manitowoc a city filled with readers.
Barbara G. Chadek
Manitowoc
Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to htrnews@htrnews.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@usatodayco.com. Letters must meet specific guidelines, including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest. All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter, their city of residence and a contact phone number. Letters are edited as needed for style, grammar, length, fairness, accuracy and libel.

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