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Dear Editor:
In the future, the history books will probably have the "last word" on Unique Covid 19 Virus-how it started, how it ended, how many were infected, how many died, and what lasting changes it made to our lives. After 6 months, assuming I don't get infected, my greatest "take away" from my Covid experience is zooming. It's relatively easy to learn, and enables the user to see and hear friends and acquaintances in real time and any place. You can learn, be entertained, engage in decision making, and share ideas. Try it; you'll like it!
Although I have never set up a zoom session, it must be quite simple because participants can relax and be themselves in their own homes. It allows interaction, so that exchanges can be effective and pleasant. My last zoom meeting was Monday, June 29th, at noon with Mandela Barnes, the Lieutenant Governor, and Angelito Terorio of Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. Terorio embodied his organization by affirming that while the national election is overpowering, "elections have consequences at every level."
Terorio's questions to the Lieutenant Governor prompted him to disclose his early political career in Milwaukee and outside of Wisconsin. His approach to politics is "don't get mad, get elected." After hearing and seeing Mandela on zoom, I felt acquainted-and confident that we could, perhaps, be friends. I certainly would not be afraid to ask him a question. He really does want to focus on what resonates with people, and he didn't hesitate to state that "science is going to lead the day" on climate and environmental issues, though he admitted that the biggest obstacles to mitigating climate change are the present make-up of our state legislature and the White House. Governor Evers has appointed his Lieutenant Governor as chair of his Task Force on Climate Change.
Mandela Barnes is certainly aware that Wisconsin is important nationally as a swing state, but that doesn't deter him from focusing on climate and working to help Wisconsin regain its former position of leader in environmental justice. "We have far more to gain than to lose when it comes to clean energy. Long a fan of public transit, he "never had confidence in Fox Con. He finds KPOs destructive to rural communities and the environment, and he is aware that we need new building/construction standards to protect the environment. He hopes to have the climate change plan in place by October. But,Mandela doesn't want to preclude cleaning up our environment ahead of time-2035 is even better than 2050.
So, let zoom be your Covid souvenir, it's fun, free, and friendly-
Join me in zooming soon,
Anne Bachner
Dodgeville, WI