Letters

Mayor's words weren't racist

The Star Tribune's coverage ("Mayor says comment wasn't slur," April 27) of the Ham Lake mayor's allegedly "racial remark" points out just how far some folks will take something out of context and use if for personal gain.

Actually, Mayor Paul Meunier's biggest mistake was in misreading the depths of the antipathy toward him as displayed by the Ham Lake City Council. Their willingness to seize upon an innocent remark and attempt to use it for political/personal advantage is truly a testimony to their collective shallow and scheming characters. ...

Fortunately for the mayor, he did not say something like "Feeling like Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn" or, perhaps, "Like General Houston at the Alamo." Think of the racial and ethnic implications; the opportunities to make political hay would be enormous!

Shakespeare titled one of his plays "Much Ado About Nothing," which certainly seems to fit this situation. He also populated some of his plays with "Fairies," but in these days of acutely painful hypersensitivity, best call 'em "Aerial Spirits" on the playbill.

DAVID J. GAMBLE, ANOKA

Concerning high fuel prices, one thing that could be tried again is lowering the national speed limit to 55 like was done during the last fuel crisis in the 1970s. Less fuel is consumed, therefore the supply is increased, helping to reduce the pressure on prices. In addition, there would be an added safety benefit of fewer accidents and more lives saved per year. I think it would be worth trying.

DAVID SMITH, CHAMPLIN

Farm subsidies should end. We have moved beyond the need for this form of government welfare. When this subject is debated at the State Capitol, all we hear about is that we "need to protect the family farm."

We pay farmers to not grow crops and raise livestock. And we pay for overproduction.

But when you look at who is collecting the money you can see that the top 20 recipients of these government handouts are corporations ("Minnesota's most-subsidized farmers," Star Tribune Whistleblower blog, April 29). I do not see Ma and Pa Kettle's name in that group. It is time to end these payments and let the plow fall where it may.

BRIAN GRONQUIST, ANDOVER

Our society needs to put the decisionmakers back in charge of making the decisions. It seems everyone has an opinion on every issue confronting us. This is a good but we need to rely on our elected representatives to know the issues well enough to make informed decisions. Referendums are just bad policy. This policy was made by politicians who lack the courage to make decisions.

A segment of our society believe we should decide issues individually. Our schools are suffering as a consequence. We elected our representatives to represent us. We have to count on them to research the issues, balance that against the public good and make a decision that benefits us as a whole. One party's platform can not represent everyone on every issue. We need to debate the results of referendums on our society.

JON KINARD, COON RAPIDS

Somebody should tell Hannah [Montana]:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

JAMES DECHENE, BIG LAKE