Letters to the editor for Sunday, Feb. 3

CAMPAIGN 2008

Go the last step

Rather than holding so-called political debates during prime time when we could be watching another reality show, let's have Jerry Springer host the debates. I can just see Sen. John McCain slugging Mitt Romney right in the nose. And, quite honestly, I'd have to put my money on Hillary over Barack. Anything would be better than what we've seen so far.

JIM BRERETON, GOLDEN VALLEY

Everyone is talking about "change" in the '08 election, even Republicans. Yet, all major GOP candidates support continuing the war in Iraq and making George W. Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy permanent. They're more concerned with squeezing every penny instead of paying for any improvements. They're trying to make the election about illegal aliens and "pork" instead of the economy and health care.

What would change under four more years of a Republican president? Only the names.

DAVID SEEBA, COON RAPIDS

Supporters of Barack Obama write that he will be a unifying force for America. I doubt it. As the most liberal member of the Senate, his message of change translates into: "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you," which is the opposite of what Republicans believe.

GEOFF DODD, DEEPHAVEN

For the last eight years, we've experienced the second generation of a Bush dynasty. I don't have a thing against Hillary Clinton, but do we really want a country in which a few select families are embedded in power? I think most of us would agree we could use some new faces in the executive branch.

JONATHAN WOLF, LONG PRAIRIE, MINN.

MAKING ETHANOL

Iowa's better way

Regarding your Jan. 28 article "Is ethanol tapping too much water?": While with a previous employer, I helped get the permits for a proposed ethanol plant in Iowa. That plant used reclaimed water from the nearby town's modern wastewater treatment plant instead of pumping groundwater.

The plant saved considerable money by not having to pump groundwater. Also, the input water was substantially warmer than groundwater, so it required less energy to heat; another cost savings. Those Iowans sure were a clever bunch -- perhaps we could learn a thing or two from them.

JOE TRNKA, BLOOMINGTON

CENTRAL CORRIDOR LRT

Design is paramount

Your Jan. 27 editorial makes an excellent point against running light rail down Washington Avenue on grade through the University of Minnesota campus. "It would make an already congested corridor less navigable, and less safe." Why doesn't this apply to the rest of the corridor?

We have already demonstrated with the Hiawatha line that we can design and build a light rail line that will make auto congestion worse. If we can't do this right, for whatever reason, we should do nothing. We should not repeat our previous mistakes and allow a poor design that will increase congestion and reduce safety on University Avenue just because we can't afford to do it right.

BILL JOHNSON, HOPKINS

The discussion of whether or not to build a tunnel under the University's East Bank campus for the Central Corridor light-rail line seems as if it is being shaped by the extremely high cost of doing so.

From having spent a number of years on the university campus, I'm aware of the availability of an obvious and very low-cost alternative that satisfies Occam's Razor rule: Build the line above ground and expand the arched walkways that are above Washington Avenue for pedestrians to use without needing to cross while having to contend with auto traffic. Those walkways are extremely low cost and easy to build, compared with the perhaps year or more needed to build a tunnel.

Above-street walkways of that sort have an advantage over normal street crossings because pedestrians don't need to stop at red lights and contend with auto traffic.

JOHN M. SCHWARZ, ST. PAUl

REBATE CHECKS

Where are priorities?

The federal government was totally unable to find a measly $7 billion a year for the next five years to increase funding for State Children's Health Insurance Program, but has no trouble shaking $150 billion in loose change out of the sofa to give taxpayers each a $300 gift. Seems a check in the mail buys more votes than does help for sick children.

THOMAS INGLEDEW, DENNISON, MINN.

I hope that each of us will do our patriotic duty and immediately spend their rebate checks in order to stimulate our economy. In fairness, though, we should only spend them on our children and grandchildren since they are the ones who will be expected to repay the $103 billion.

MIKE SCHMITT, BROOKLYN CENTER

MINNESOTA BASEBALL

It's a con

Nick Coleman's Jan. 31 column captured the sound of Minnesota hearts breaking as news of Johan Santana's trade was announced. Unfortunately, the Twins now have the reputation of being a farm team for the rest of the league. We are left with the sound of money being sucked out of Hennepin County toward the building of a new stadium that will serve to exhibit the newest players on the auction block.

If Coleman has a phone number for Carl Pohlad, I'd like to request a refund for the Santana jerseys my boys begged for during the glory days of last summer.

GAIL BRECHT, BAXTER, MINN.