ILLINOIS AND MINNESOTA

There's a price for entering U.S. Senate

Illinois isn't the only state where a Senate seat is for sale. But in Minnesota, it's bought legally with attack advertising dollars.

JAMES KONDRICK, EDINA

Minnesotans' health

Make it a priority, and state will save money

That Minnesota's health ranking dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 according to United Health Foundation's report (Star Tribune, Dec. 4) is sobering, especially because this does not need to be the case.

The Minnesota Health Department has a Heart Disease Prevention Unit that has spent several years creating a comprehensive plan to prevent costly heart disease and stroke by reducing obesity, diabetes, smoking and health disparities. Unfortunately, the funding has yet to be approved to enact this prevention plan. The $250,000 per year it would take is far less than the billions of dollars the state spends each year on treating heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Furthermore, the state would have to spend little money to simply bring back physical education standards in our schools ensuring that preventative health starts with our children before bad habits are formed -- especially since a recent American Heart Association study showed that obese children have the arteries of middle-aged adults!

And finally, while the state made great strides last year in approving $47 million for public health programs, we will all need to ensure that funding is protected during the upcoming legislative session. Investing in prevention today is necessary to secure our financial and physical well-being in the future.

COURTNEY O. JORDAN, BLAINE;

CARDIOLOGIST

AYERS IN HIS OWN WORDS

Agree with one of his points at your own peril

I read the Bill Ayers' article: "Allow me to introduce myself" (Opinion Exchange, Dec. 9). Although I disagreed with the majority of actions he took in '70s, I did agree with some of his column, the content regarding guilt by association. I suppose because of this agreement, I will no longer be able to run for a public office against a "Rove" machine.

JAMES MCGurk, Taylors Falls, Minn.

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As to Mr. Ayers' protestations about not being a terrorist: The only difference between Bill Ayers and convicted terrorist Timothy McVeigh is the number of fatalities.

JACK SJOQUIST, BLOOMINGTON

OUR HUNGRY PLANET

First World waste and destruction must end

Your series on global hunger describes one of the most important issues of this century.

With nearly 7 billion people, headed for 9 or 10 billion, with half living on less than $2 a day, with millions starving, with most of us desiring a meat diet and a private vehicle, some major changes have to occur in the next few decades.

Will we curtail our meat diets? Will we abandon the automobile, which is already changing the climate and using arable land for fuel? Will the poor and middle of the world allow the rich to continue their wasteful, destructive ways?

ANDREW LARKIN, ST. CLOUD

DEAD SEA TREASURE

What's the big deal about some old writing?

Regarding "Scrolls shall come to pass through St. Paul" (Dec. 10): I haven't paid any attention to the Dead Sea Scrolls for years. I just go online now.

DICK PARKER, ROSEVILLE

OVERCOMING POVERTY

Hard work, the right attitude go a long way

Although I am not generally a fan of Katherine Kersten's far-right columns, I applaud her for writing about Adam Shepard's true-life story and book "Scratch Beginnings" (Dec. 8). What a great example for young people to follow.

There are countless examples of hard-working Americans who worked their way out of poverty through hard work and positive attitudes.

Unfortunately, there are an equal number of people who refuse to let go of their vices, who refuse to work hard or who continually make bad choices that anchor them to the welfare system and a life of poverty.

For able-bodied Americans, there should be some conditions set for adults who are receiving taxpayer money, whether that be auto industry executives who are seeking bailouts or individuals seeking welfare.

My wife and I worked our way out of poverty by working hard in low-paying jobs, not by purchasing luxury or unnecessary products, by saving every penny that we could and by going to college at night in order to pave our way to better jobs.

We had little to no help from our families, and we started our trek out of poverty with a baby in tow. It was not easy and it required many years of sacrifice, but the plan worked for us just as it has worked for countless other Americans.

Welfare is not intended to be a long-term crutch for those who are disinterested in work, for those who continually make bad choices, or for those who embrace bad vices.

Adam Shepard proved that he could single-handedly walk out of a homeless shelter and climb out of poverty with only $25 in his pocket.

His story reminds me of how my grandparents survived the Great Depression, and of how my parents lived and worked throughout their entire lives. I can only hope that our generation of Americans has that same fortitude.

CORBY PELTO, PLYMOUTH