Letter: Go to the politicians pushing for MidStates Corridor
This letter is inspired by seeing someone with both a a pro-Trump sign and an anti-Mid State Corridor sign on their front lawn.
I’ve seen a few letters to the editor both in the Free Press and the Herald suggesting that the Mid-States Corridor is being pushed by a shadowy cabal of nameless and faceless politicians and bureaucrats who seek to only oppress the good honest working people of Dubois county.
They have names you know.
Mike Braun and Mark Messmer have been pushing for the corridor since the very beginning. I feel I should remind the people of this county that Messmer authored the bill that made this project a reality in 2017 and Braun was a major supporter of the bill. Dubois County and Indiana as a whole rewarded Braun with a position in the U.S. Senate and providing Messmer another term in the Indiana Senate. Should I have to convince you dear reader, lest I be accused of fake news, Messmer and Braun, well rather a representative of Braun’s office, both appeared in public to celebrate the progress on the corridor just this last year. https://newsnowdc.com/2019/07/09/mid-states-corridor-regional-development-authority-announces-initiation-tier-1-study-mid-states-corridor-project-today/
Perhaps the most commonly written letters to the editor in this area are against the corridor because it will upend the livelihoods and history of many families who can trace their history the first settlers of this area, but yet I never see that the people responsible for the highway are ever held accountable. Have any of these families who stand to lose their farms or two hundred plus year estates ever pressured Messmer and Braun on why they are pushing these measures? How Messmer and Braun are pushing corporate interests over the lives of their constituents? By my knowledge, these two politicians who are otherwise revered in this area, have never addressed the people who stand to lose from this project.
I’m a relatively recent transplant in the area and I have no skin in the game. I just find the whole situation odd. It would restore a large amount of my confidence if these two actually sat down and spoke with those who attended the recent rally against the corridor and reassured them that the corridor was a benefit to them. Instead it seems like they have better things to do.
For those who have written these impassioned stories over the last few years – maybe stop posting pleas to the empty airwaves and start pressuring the source. Or vote Democrat but everyone knows that isn’t going to happen. I also will suggest that Dubois county voters pay attention to more about the candidates up for election rather than if a “D” or an “R” is next to their name in the next election.
John Kirkham, Jasper
So, what your saying is “Vote Democrat” to stop the road, but look past the “D” and the “R” at the voting booth?
Can’t Republicans simply vote against Messmer and Braun, but still vote for other Republicans? And many Republicans that voted in 2016 weren’t exactly aware of the plans of the Mid State Corridor.
If you re-read the letter, you may notice that it says “…maybe stop posting pleas to the empty airwaves and start pressuring the source. Or vote Democrat… ”
The vote Democrat is the second option listed, not the first recommendation.
If voters aren’t aware of the platforms and stances of the politicians they vote for, that is 100% on them. Braun’s second issue listed on his webpage (https://www.mikebraunforindiana.com/issues/) is to grow business. That’s what this is doing. No one should be surprised that the priority is for economic growth over the individual.
So Mike Braun wants to grow business, therefore is for the midstate corridor? So what you’re saying is that Democrat’s want to shrink business, kill business? Therefore that means they don’t want the mid state corridor?
You can want to “grow business” and not be for a major highway. Not sure why you think they go hand in hand.
DC, you are correct, I had no idea of this ill advised project.
John, thank you for the links to their positions.
I have never been a single issue voter, and I have never voted for a democrat. However, in this next election, both Messmer and Braun will not be receiving my vote.
Me either. And since neither guys (Braun and Messmer) are up for a vote in the next election, no one will be voting for them.:-)
You can vote out Braun in 2024 and you can vote out Messmer in 2022.
Thank you to John Kirkham for so eloquently providing the voice of common sense and reason!
I’m for Trump. I was for Braun and Messmer , but not anymore . I wrote to both offices about the corridor . Of course I got no response. Braun is also shady towards law enforcement . My support of Trump has nothing to do with the other two disappointments .