This opinion page guest column, by Katie Mileusnic Dahl, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on September 12, 2024.

I’m a democratic voter. Here’s why. 

As an individual, I value hard-work, self-exploration, and family. For my country, I hold dear many values like compassion, fairness, and justice. I believe practicing these core values improves us. 

I ask myself a series of questions about my ballot.  Will this candidate work collaboratively in a system that represents many types of people? Are they genuinely looking to build more equitable spaces for everyone? What will most directly leave the world a better place for my children and all future generations? I am also attracted to candidates who are respectful and transparent. 

These values combined with my ongoing research, interactions and life experiences, most often lead me to vote blue. I am a proud, everyday, moderate Democrat, looking for a balance between individual liberty, social justice and the common good. 

Here are the specific policies that sway my vote. 

While public policy is an exercise in tradeoffs, I will always support funding for our public schools, the nucleus of our community. From teacher support and pay to advocacy for STEM, arts education and special education, I believe in the importance of public education as a public good. Don’t avert your eyes or disregard the realness of Project 2025, which aims to eliminate the Department of Education, including Head Start programs that are meant to help low-income families who have children with disabilities.

Also, we should strengthen and fund traditional public schools over diverting resources to private or religious systems. The purpose of public education is to improve resources and promote access to quality education for all students. Two states now require religious displays or teachings; those two states are ranked 47th and 49th in educational outcomes.  This isn’t a coincidence.  Wisconsin’s rank in school spending – and outcomes – continues to fall, so I support candidates that in return support true public education.

Similarly, we need to prioritize care for our elders and the uninsured. We must turn towards the poor, the elderly, the disabled, the marginalized. We cannot honestly say we are a great nation if we are not concerned about the well-being of our fellow Americans, particularly the most vulnerable.

Right now in St. Croix County, select county supervisors recently tried to privatize and sell off our county nursing home. With consolidation increasing in the healthcare industry, there's no guarantee that those beds would remain in St. Croix County if sold. Only 3 cents of every county tax dollar goes there - where else can you get so much in return for such little investment? Privatizing everything is dangerous: soon enough these public servants with no concept of public service won’t have anything left to sell off, so they will have to raise taxes yet again. 

Everyone deserves a choice and a voice.  I choose a party that works to preserve a woman’s right to make decisions about her life without shame. I will support my daughters  and their life choices, whether that means finding domestic fulfillment as a wife and mother or as a curious exploring nomad or somewhere in between.  Being empowered by their purpose and supported by others is what matters most.  Modern womanhood is rich with varied perspectives and progress.  We must protect it.

We also need women in the workforce or our economy will fall apart.  The GOP wants more children, but blocks most bills that help them reach their potential, including child care support.  This is a very complex issue But we need to approach it from the standpoint of doing what’s best for the child.  After all, these kids are going to create the world that you and I will grow old in.

Those wanting to cut down women in power often deploy criticism of emotional expression as their weapon of choice.  Don’t fall for it.

The party of “morality and family values” has protected the interests of those that need it the lest while punishing the most vulnerable, poor nd middle class: 9 out of the 10 poorest states in the U.S. were red states in the last presidential election, according to PolitiFact, Forbes and other outlets.

I believe in an inclusive and evolving world over an exclusive and established one. The Democratic Party represents the rich racial, cultural and religious diversity of this nation, while the Republicans seem to fear this nation’s increasing diversity. I think both border security and a path to citizenship should be given equal priority when dealing with illegal immigration in the US. Remember, Democrats asked for increased funding for border security, but the GOP in Congress blocked it. They can’t let the blue team have a win and aren’t showing the commitment, responsibility or money needed. Issues require more than a political will to change; they require time, policy and money.

Climate change is real and access to clean water feels like a mandatory thing when I think about our future. Even with dollars allocated and ready to use to remove toxic chemicals from Wisconsin's water, the MAGA GOP is holding them hostage until we agree to let big corporate polluters off the hook. 

We have to confront harsh truths like this: common sense gun safety laws will not be passed unless we start voting Republicans out of office. Data shows that the states without basic gun safety laws have nearly three times the rates of gun violence as the states with the strongest gun safety laws. Stop sacrificing our children and grandchildren on the altar of the gun lobby. From 1994-2004 the federal government banned certain types of military style semi-automatic weapons and mass shootings declined. When the ban expired such shootings increased and have been growing every year. Past experience has proven we can avoid at least some mass shootings if we have good public policy.

The Bi-partisan Infrastructure Law is funding more than 150 local road and bridge improvement projects across the state. These projects will improve the lives of folks and families throughout Wisconsin. I want to see more county parks, bike trails and public transportation options in our area. The Highway 35 off-road trail is  a positive example of local projects enabled by TAP grants to improve our infrastructure. 

I support work training programs, educational opportunities and other government programs that give citizens a 'hand-up' instead of a 'hand-out'. It is possible to combine equality of opportunity with personal responsibility. We need more people leaving welfare and entering the workforce. As Joe Biden once said, “The culture of welfare must be replaced with the culture of work.”

I have respect for conservative, principled republicans. I believe in the promise of America. The challenge of this nation to create “a more perfect union” remains before us and it will only be met when we turn towards each other and our future. “A rising tide lifts all boats,” as they say.

The conservative’s story tries to convince us that free markets, deregulation, limited government, no unions, no taxes, and turning a blind eye and deaf ear to those unemployed or less fortunate (or blaming them entirely for their life scenario) will solve our problems. It won’t. As Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.” If you prefer the Bible, it teaches us that “I am my brother’s keeper.”

I believe we can reach higher, without sacrificing what we love about the rural way of life in western Wisconsin. We need to elect real leaders with real plans, with graciousness and an ability to communicate with clarity and decency. I urge you to see the long-term value in the vision of a communal pursuit of happiness – most often embodied by your local and national democratic candidates.

Government only works when opposing parties negotiate and try to strike a compromise that improves the status quo. Coming out against anything that doesn’t have absolutely everything you want doesn’t work since every problem we have requires more than political will to change.