Importance of the Dodgeville Reporter

Dear Editor,

This  Dodgeville Reporter speaks to the political health of our community.  Yes, there are terrific news outlets on the internet, radio and TV about national issues. There are few, if any other sources on small government, in our villages, our school boards, courts, and townships.  What happened at local government meetings? What is the participation in local sports. The most important is the "Your Opinion " page!  Where else can you speak to the whole community, whether you are a regular Joe and Jane. a cooky right- wing Evangelist, or a leftist who believes that all should benefit from government and wealth. This ability fosters your first amendment right to free speech,  to shape our society, and to hear that our personal opinion is not everybody's opinion.

Areas without a local newspaper are areas in which individuals are isolated from participation in democracy.  Small city presses are not businesses that make one billionaires, or even millionaires.  I salute the co-publishers J Patrick Reilly and T. Michael Reilly. The Dodgeville Reporter makes our counties a more democratic and better place to live. A small town press even helps to keep the behaviors of all our politicians more transparent. A small town press leads to small town pride.

Thank you

James Novak

Barneveld, WI