Dear editor,

As you may have noticed several businesses around Marshfield have recently gone out of business. This recent string of store closing has been due to online shopping. Online shopping may be cheaper but it hurts the economy of cities everywhere whether it is a small or large city. Another reason it hurts our economy is the fact that it does not have a sales tax which is a very important part to maintaining a stable state economy.

A result of mass online shopping can put local businesses out of business or force them to hire less employees; therefore, putting less money back into the economy. This can cause the city to not have enough income just to repair our roads or public buildings.

One way to help the city and state is to buy local more than just once a year and try to buy from grocers that get their produce from local farms or businesses. The reason I mention local farms and businesses is because most online shopping has other countries do their labor for cheaper cost of work so that the only thing they have to majorly pay for is shipping and the employees. Likewise, it has an effect on how many people are working because the business or factory can no longer afford to pay their workers due to goods being bought that are manufactured cheaper.

Sincerely,
Myles D. Jensen
Marshfield, WI

Dear editor,

Back in 2012, a couple—Charlie Craig and David Mullins—visited Masterpiece Cakeshop, owned by Jack Phillips. Craig and Mullins inquired about purchasing a wedding cake, but when Phillips learned the cake was to be for Mullins and Craig’s wedding, he refused service. Because Mullins and Craig are both men, Phillips explained he wouldn’t make them a wedding cake; in creating a cake for a same-sex couple, Phillips would violate his religious beliefs.

Phillips has also refused to create cakes involving alcohol, Halloween, or celebrating divorce. Mullins and Craig, feeling like they had been wrongly treated, then filed charges of discrimination against Phillips with the Colorado Civil Rights Division under the claim of violating the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The case has wound its way to the Supreme Court, as the controversy surrounding the case revolves around discrimination rights and the rights of free speech and freedom of religion.

Because Craig and Mullins entered Masterpiece Cakeshop to purchase a product—a cake—and Phillips refused to sell them one because same-sex couples are against his religion, I believe Phillips should be required to sell Craig and Mullins a wedding cake.

The cake can be viewed as an artistic piece, but I see it as a product because it is to be consumed; a cake is a food item, created to be eaten at a party or other such events.

I understand that Phillips felt uncomfortable creating a cake for a same-sex couple, and in no way should he be forced to create such a cake as long as he refuses to create wedding cakes for all his customers; creating opposite-sex wedding cakes is something Phillips currently does.

Singling out a few customers and refusing to sell them something is discrimination, and should not be tolerated.

Maureen Edwards
Marshfield, Wisconsin