Make a tough call, let the mocking begin

So columnist Nick Coleman has a problem with Gov. Tim Pawlenty saying "God is in charge" (Feb. 28 Star Tribune).

He then quotes a professor of theology who says, "It's hard to reconcile God in charge with a veto of health care for the poor. Maybe [Pawlenty] sees himself as the one in charge."

Really? Come on. So if someone makes a tough decision in tough times, but it is not what you wanted, then you mock him and his faith?

Unbelievable.

More government control does not equate to godliness. Usually, it is just the opposite.

KELLY COTE JASPER, EDINA

Why a state tax hike is a 'no-brainer'

The Op-Ed piece highlighting a 0.4 percent tax increase as the way to close the $1 billion budget gap is a no-brainer to this taxpayer (Feb. 21 Star Tribune). And to those who back Gov. Tim Pawlenty's rigidity on taxes, I have some questions:

My health insurance costs $1,900 a month and goes up double digits every year. But I'm not paying a "tax" for the uninsured, right?

My property taxes continue to rise but, of course, that's not a "tax" to cover state reductions in supports for local governments, right?

When my car rattles to a halt two years before its time, that's not a "tax" that could be going to fixing our highways, right?

Give me a break! People who buy Pawlenty's mantra are delusional. We have watched the quality of life in Minnesota decline since Jesse Ventura took office and sent us checks.

Is everybody happy with that?

JOHN F. HETTERICK, PLYMOUTH

Why do some people hate Sarah Palin so?

Tim McGuire's diatribe against Sarah Palin (March 2 Star Tribune) was really over the top.

The television show "Family Guy" didn't poke fun at Down syndrome children -- it specifically made fun of Sarah Palin's Down syndrome child.

Readers need to ask themselves, if a television show mocked one of your children, any one of them, personally, what would your response be? I would respond a lot more harshly than to say, "It was a kick in the gut."

McGuire alludes to the idea that maybe Palin needs psychiatric help. Maybe he needs to ask his own psychiatrist why he himself dislikes Sarah Palin so much.

It seems reasonable for people to disagree with her politics, but what's with the hatred these people seem to have toward her? It's bizarre!

DOUG CLEMENS, BLOOMINGTON