Letters

Drop the gas tax, and make oil industry pay

I agree that we should drop the federal gas tax for the summer driving season. After all, on 20 gallons of gas, that will save us about $3.68 per week.

We should have big oil make up the difference and pay the gas tax to the highway trust fund. I really don't think that they would pass that extra cost on to us. Does anyone else?

SHELDON WINNIG

CRYSTAL

Society encourages, then condemns, sex

It was interesting to read about Miley Cirus and her supposed pornography in the letter of the day. Why was it pornography? I just read about a cult in Texas that married off 15-year-old girls to older men. I also read about a video game riddled with violence and sex that was the rage. People stood in line to buy it. Go to any beach and see women with little or nothing on. Go to a movie and watch sex being performed on the screen right before your eyes.

People make money on things that sell. Who is to blame? We are. If we do not participate in sales such as these then we cannot blame anyone but ourselves. It is our job to police what is out there to buy. Please think about it.

CORA BIERNAT

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

Let teens carpool

With respect to the series of articles regarding the proposed restrictions for new 16-year-old drivers, I agree wholeheartedly there needs to be some changes. Other than work, there is no reason anyone that age needs to be driving after midnight. However, with respect to limiting the number of passengers, I do have a concern. Most of my daughter's friends carpool to school. With gas at almost $4 a gallon and already too many cars on the roads, it doesn't make sense to put even more teenage drivers on the road trying to get to school.

Carpooling is good for our environment, it saves money and it would eliminate the additional cars being driven by new drivers. Most 16-year-olds are not going to take the bus, so an exception for carpooling to school makes sense.

KELLY SMUDE

BROOKLYN PARK

Time for change

It is high time that people start listening to the winds of change. It does not matter what person or party but it does matter that if you expect others to attain a certain level of behavior the favor should be obliged.

This is not political but points to every aspect of life and in life to get ahead a person does not degrade others for their beliefs but will accept them for the person.

KEN STARR

Elk River

Value of photo IDs

If, in fact, it is a financial hardship for people to obtain a photo ID for voting purposes, why don't you enact a federal photo ID program so they can have one? (Keith Ellison: High court deals blow to voting rights, May 5.) Better yet, send the millions of dollars the Democrats spend on campaign advertising to those people in Indiana and across the country so they can buy one.

You might find, however, that the people will use it for food and clothing since voting is a complete waste of time.

Mr. Scalia is so out of touch with what is happening in America his opinion does not matter. If you believe one of the hurdles is the financial hardship then Show Them the Money and buy them one.

ERIC KOHNKE

ANDOVER

What is priority?

In response to the commentary by Keith Ellison, I had to think long and hard on this issue. My conclusion was that if people were willing to die for the important duty of voting in other countries, why weren't we willing to at the very least to have a state-issued ID to do such an important thing like voting?

TIM ANDERSON

ST. ANTHONY

Help for smokers

I am very pleased with the federal government's recent recommendation of the smoking cessation drug, Chantix, to help smokers quit ("Chantix pushed for smoking cessation," May 7). Most smokers, despite their best intentions, need more than counseling to successfully quit, and as a former smoker, I know this first-hand.

I tried for over three years to quit. I tried everything from nicotine replacement therapy to stopping cold turkey, but it wasn't until my doctor suggested I try Chantix that I was able to kick the habit for good.

I have been smoke-free for nearly seven months now. My overall health and quality of life drastically improved; I can take part in activities I never would have been able to as a smoker. I am now training for a 10K with my co-workers, with the goal of running a half marathon by summer's end. None of this would have been possible if I relied entirely on counseling.

I look forward to never having to quit again.

JOE HOFFMAN

FRIDLEY