opinion

MAJORITY RULE

Pass health reform, and silence the mudslingers

Democrats have been working hard to come up with a bipartisan health care reform bill, only to be heckled by misinformed, misguided reactionaries. The puppets of right-wing fringe groups are only making things worse, for themselves and the country as a whole.

The verbal fights that are surrounding us, in town hall meetings and in the media, are not about health care. They are, instead, about the political party out of power attempting to sabotage the positive efforts of the political party in power.

So I say: Enough is enough. If right-wingers are more interested in political shenanigans than in solving the health care crisis, the majority party should just use the power the American public bestowed upon it last November.

If ramming legislation down their throats is the only means of stopping the Republican mudslinging and lies, then so be it. Don't say we didn't warn you.

JOHN FINEBERG, ST. PAUL

Our economy is in terrible shape, and it's causing people to lose their jobs, homes and retirement accounts. Partisanship should absolutely come second to making real progress on economic growth. But what is wrong with holding the Obama administration and congressional Democrats such as Oberstar accountable for passing legislation that hasn't hindered unemployment and has further ballooned the deficit? Public officials work for us, the taxpayers. It's not the other way around.

ANDY BREHM, WAYZATA

Let Minnesota lead

Here's how to stop police chase deaths

All cars in Minnesota should have chips installed in their computers before their owners can renew their licenses. This would allow police to shut down cars with a push of a button. To the people who say this infringes on my freedom, I say how about the freedom of the persons killed? Note, California is now studying doing this. I'd like to see Minnesota lead in this.

VERLYN ELLERTSON, BLAINE

Augsburg Fairview

Academy serves up a college-prep curriculum

Your Sept. 11 story about the "Star" charter public high schools, which criticized our school by name, missed several important facts that might matter to readers.

With our help this year, 18 of 20 graduates enrolled in some form of postsecondary education. That's 90 percent. Given that 97 percent of the people in our school are students of color, the vast majority are from low-income families, and many arrive after significant struggles in other schools, our percentage of graduates enrolling in a postsecondary institution is almost twice what the Minnesota Office of Higher Education reported in 2006 for students of color (the latest year for which they have statewide data).

Your story noted that our students had a low level of proficiency on statewide tests, particularly the 11th-grade math test. You did not mention that almost half of our 140 students entered last year as 11th- or 12th-graders. Of the 19 students who did not pass the math exam, 11 had been enrolled for only one to seven months. Another five students had immigrated to America in the past five years and are still developing language skills. Most of the students who enroll after 10th grade arrive one to three years behind in achievement. These students come to us still seeking a good education. We offer them a rigorous college readiness curriculum, with extensive tutoring support, in both a traditional 8-4 program.

We haven't found a way, yet, to overcome 10 or 11 years of under-education in one year. Nevertheless, students who honor our school with even one year of their lives reap the reward of meaningful academic progress.

We hope people will give our students, and school, credit for their accomplishments, even as we work on the areas needing improvement.

BILL SPIRA, MINNEAPOLIS; DIRECTOR, AUGSBURG FAIRVIEW ACADEMY

Filling the Target Center

Imagine such crowds for the usual tenants

I think the Timberwolves should think about hiring President Obama to speak at some games next season. Man, it'd be nice to see crowds like I saw Saturday for a basketball game. Fired up? Ready to go!!

SAM ROBERT SEELY, MINNEAPOLIS