Owning an all-electric car has nothing to do with smugness or misplaced self-satisfaction, despite the snarky tone of a Dec. 16 article ("Electric cars not as green as we thought"). The simple fact is that electric vehicles are cheaper to own and run than those with an internal combustion engine, even with the recent drop in gasoline prices.

The real story is, of course, the explosion of the myth of "clean coal," which has been relentlessly sold by the mining industry despite convincing scientific evidence of fatal levels of air and water pollution directly attributable to burning coal. Not mentioned in the article is photovoltaic solar power as a source of electricity. This carbon-free energy beats all fossil fuels hands down and is now cost-competitive, as reported in the same day's Business section ("Xcel solar, gas projects get nod"). Cleaning up the grid is a worthy effort both for transportation, residential and commercial energy needs. Poorly reported research is simply a distraction.

George Hutchinson, Minneapolis
TORTURE AND MORE

Are we really, as we say, 'better' than this?

Is anyone else fed up and rising with the meme that "we [the U.S.] are better than this"? It's been severely overused lately regarding racism and torture. And we are not better than this, because this is a snapshot of how we are. The moral balance sheet shows the United States edging closer to being a dangerously indifferent and amoral country. We must stop living the lie that our nation is best of the best, particularly where social and economic justice are concerned.

I believe most of us want to be better than this. "Most" is reduced by status-quo proponents and overt and closet racists, homophobes, ageists, religious radicals, political radicals, et al.

It seems to me that a major part of our political divisiveness is the steady erosion of community in our neighborhoods, cities, states, country. The actions and voices of division are accompanied by a noise machine that makes rational thought difficult and the historic concept of "brotherhood" nearly impossible to achieve and maintain. Distraction is a primary tool of radicals.

The nonradical right and left are unlikely to find each other to shore up our foundering democracy until we sever ties to our radical factions. They've got the money, but we've got the votes. We need to use those votes to clean up this mess.

Are we better than this? Frankly, no. This conglomeration — the good, the bad, the ugly — is who we have become. Can we be better? I think we can.

Barbara J. Gilbertson, Eagan

• • •

Reading through former Vice President Dick Cheney's defense of torture reveals a central theme — one that is at the root of so much violence and turmoil in the world. It is vengeance.

Pat Krueger, St. Cloud

• • •

A gentleman from Ramsey recently wrote that he would be willing to torture someone to find his kidnapped wife or child (Readers Write, Dec. 14). I would like to ask: Would he allow me to torture his wife if she knew where my kidnapped wife was? And just how much "proof" would I need to have showing that his wife had this information before he would allow me to torture her?

Paul Anderson, Minneapolis
VIKINGS LUNCH

Don't think that your funders didn't notice

When do the Minneapolis and Hennepin County taxpayers get their free burgers and Vikings hoodies? And their vote on whether you get your stadium at all? ("Lunch was on the team," Dec. 13.)

You didn't "give" stuff away to be nice to your workers. It will be paid for many times over by the Minnesotans who are also paying you to build your stadium. As a bonus, you get lots of free publicity, as usual, from the Star Tribune. You're welcome. You must be laughing yourselves silly out there in New Jersey.

Just keep repeating: "There is such a thing as a free lunch, there is such a thing …," and you'll be fine.

Guy Strauss, Minneapolis
BILL FRENZEL

They don't make 'em like they used to

Thanks to some of Rep. Bill Frenzel's former staffers for their eulogy to him ("Life lessons from one of the great Minnesotans," Dec. 15).

I wish many of either party would emulate his newsletters. They were a summary of what Congress did, not a listing of what Bill Frenzel did.

I might still be a Republican if there had been more pragmatic Republicans like Bill Frenzel. Now I'm just a party of one.

Melvyn Magree, Duluth
NORWAY AMBASSADORSHIP

Exit Tsunis — thanks for our senators' help

As reported recently, George Tsunis withdrew his name for consideration for the ambassadorship to Norway. As many of you know, his performance at the nomination hearing early this year left many of us concerned enough to launch a serious effort to remove him from further consideration.

Our U.S. senators from Minnesota — Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken — did the right thing and announced to the president and to their colleagues that they would vote against confirmation of Tsunis. Thanks to both for their leadership!

Throughout this lengthy process, I have made the point that "we (the United States of America) deserve better." By that simple standard, Norway would also do better.

On that note, I challenge the Obama administration to nominate a new candidate, whether career diplomat or not, but if not — a person with demonstrable skills and relevant background necessary for quick confirmation. The office has been vacant too long already.

Ivar Sorensen, Minneapolis
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

There's more than one 'oasis' in Twin Cities

In response to "An oasis of healing" (Dec. 16) and Pathways' "sanctuary for people struggling with life-threatening illness": Despite the quote in the article suggesting that there is no other place like Pathways in the country, there actually is, and it is right here in Minnesota! Well Within offers holistic healing practices that explore physical, emotional, spiritual and mental resources that lead to life-affirming changes for our clients dealing with cancer and other chronic illness.

This year we celebrate 10 years of no- and low-cost holistic services to the east-metro population (and beyond). Well Within is in Woodbury, and it also provides classes and services at various outreach locations, including the Dorothy Day Center's Health Care for the Homeless program every Friday. As health care shifts from being disease-centered to a preventive care and wellness model, Minnesota leads the way with organizations such as Pathways, the Penny George Institute and Well Within.

Susan Maki, Woodbury

The writer is executive director of Well Within.