TARGET APOLOGY

Opinions are mixed on contribution fallout

Much has been made of the recent Target Corp. contribution to MN Forward, which supports an antigay GOP gubernatorial candidate ("Target apologizes for giving to group backing Emmer," Aug. 6). The issue should be about corporations buying elections -- not specific candidates. Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel hasn't promised that the company will stop intervening in elections. He e-mailed employees and defended the donation as focused on "business objectives" and later pledged to set up a "review process" for future donations. What are business objectives? Are they like the Tea Party movement's positions -- no taxes and cheap labor at any cost?

GREGG HARCUS, EDEN PRAIRIE

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So Target's CEO has apologized to the small but vocal minority about Target's contribution to a group that supports probusiness gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Isn't that just great? As a longtime Target customer (and one who spends a fair amount of money there), maybe I should be getting Target's apology instead, for backing down on a probusiness contribution. I'm really tired of businesses being afraid of the small minority that is attempting to force its lifestyle choices on schools, churches, businesses and families. Maybe it's time for our family to start thinking Wal-Mart.

LARRY A. SORENSON, ARLINGTON, MINN.

Proposition 8

It is proper to deny the tyranny of the majority

Even though the majority of California voters approved Proposition 8, Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn the gay marriage ban does not mean that he is an activist judge who ignored the will of the people and engaged in creating, rather than interpreting the law, as required by the Constitution. In fact, our Constitution requires something quite different from that.

Many great thinkers, including Plato, Aristotle, James Madison, Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill have worried that the tyranny of the majority is one of the great dangers of democracy, and it is a frequent topic in the Federalist Papers so critical to the founding of this country. The reason our Constitution includes a Bill of Rights is specifically to protect minority rights from being squashed by majority opinion. A fundamental responsibility of federal judges is to ensure that no law passed by the majority or its representatives impinges on those rights.

Walker found that Proposition 8 did just that. It isn't a terrible injustice that a single judge can thwart the will of the majority; it is one of the key components of our constitutional democracy that makes our country great.

DALE LEWELLYN, APPLE VALLEY

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Objecting to the overthrow of California's unconstitutional Proposition 8, a letter writer asked, "Will a president be elected only to have the vote overruled because someone didn't like the outcome?" Actually this already happened with the appointment of President Bush by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 (by way of halting the Florida election recount).

I have often been advised to "get over it," despite the fact that the court's activism led to the squandering of the Clinton-era surplus and a Depression-sized financial crisis. Since overturning Proposition 8 is unlikely to lead to any crisis worse than overbooked California reception halls, I suggest that the letter writer begin to "get over it."

ROBERT ALBERTI, MINNEAPOLIS

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If, as the straight people think, only straight judges can give rulings on gay rights, then it makes sense that we hire more gay judges -- because, obviously, straight judges will be too prejudicial in issues regarding straight people.

GAIL KATZ, MINNEAPOLIS

GOODBYE, GLUEK

The unfortunate death of a German tradition

Regarding the phaseout of the Gluek beer brand "After 153 years, it's last call for Gluek beer," Aug. 5): In 1943, my mother started her first real job working at the Gluek Brewery in Minneapolis. She was still a student at Edison High School and had been selected by her business education teacher to start working three afternoons a week at the family-owned brewery.

She would walk from school over to the former family home that had been converted to a "corporate office" in northeast Minneapolis. There, she trained to be a bookkeeper. The four Gluek brothers -- Art, Gene, Alvin, and Louie -- ran the business so that the workers had fun. There was a lot of humor and good will, all generated by the Gluek family. Parties were part of the culture, although I doubt that anyone called it "culture" back then. They just knew how to motivate the crew to get the work done. My mom's memory is that it was the best first job anyone could ever have. The break room was in the basement and, yes, the fridge was stocked with Gluek beer. My mom and dad met, married, and settled in Richfield, where we always had Gluek beer available. Another passing of a long German tradition.

CORINNE ASCHER SHEPHERD, BLOOMINGTON

AGING BOOMERS

Story highlighted the impact of demographics

Congratulations to the Star Tribune for its coverage of the communitywide implications of our rapidly growing number of seniors ("Helping seniors stay at home," Aug. 2). The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging coalesces the resources and power of consumer, advocacy, social- and health-service organizations to advocate for positive systems change for older adults and their families in Minnesota. Sixteen leading nonprofit organizations form the council. One of the council's goals has been to increase the awareness of the impact of retiring baby boomers on our communities and to help communities respond to this new demographic.

The article presented very clearly the impact soon-to-retire boomers will have on communities.

MICHELE FEDDERLY AND Mark Hoisser

The writers are cochairs of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging.