letters

That is probably because it is a leader in curtailing smoking and secondhand smoke and keeps a good watch on air pollutants.

Radon detection and remediation is a big business, and an expensive process. A homeowner might find better ways to spend these dollars and set aside any fear of being at great risk from this naturally occurring gas.

Robert Veitch, Minneapolis

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FEDERAL BUDGET

Does it matter who takes a hit? Absolutely

A Feb. 26 letter writer, discussing President Obama’s criticism of sequestration, wants to know why “taking $80 billion from a few [in higher taxes] is a whiffle, while taking $80 billion from 300 million people is doomsday.”

I think it’s because taking more taxes from millionaires and billionaires does not leave them in dire straits. Or any straits, for that matter.

However, taking any money from the middle or lower classes pushes most of those people one step closer to no health care, no food, no home.

Hope that helps.

D.G. Callender, Edina

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PUBLIC SERVICE

Too much is riding on perceived conflicts

I was disappointed to see the mayor of Red Wing resign under pressure. In a representative democracy, we rely on citizens to lead. This means that real people with real jobs must commit time to run various levels of government. In some cases, these positions are compensated, and in very few cases they may provide a livable wage.

In this case, the mayor chose to continue his job as a lobbyist and represent an industry that he felt could bring valuable economic development to some communities. How does this constitute a conflict of interest? If he were a professional activist who lobbied against the frac-sand industry, would that have been viewed as a conflict? A teacher promoting education? A farmer promoting agriculture?

We have to accept that each person has a set of opinions and beliefs, and that if theirs are different from yours, it doesn’t mean they aren’t fit to serve.

Matt Herman, Rogers