RUSH LIMBAUGH

He has a right to express his opinion

Like him or not, Rush Limbaugh's comment that he hopes President Obama fails is a prime example of free speech in America. Limbaugh objects to the direction in which Obama wants to take America. Freedoms afforded every American under the Constitution exist to allow all of us to voice our opinions on whatever topic we wish to without reprisal from the government.

CHRIS LUND, HAMBURG

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Limbaugh wants Obama to fail only because his socialist, big-government policies will ruin this country. The funny thing is, as usual, Limbaugh predicted this would happen.

JOSEPH G. FLICEK, FARIBAULT, MINN.

THE STIMULUS PLAN

Throwing money at our problem not the answer

What has happened to calm reasoning and looking for complete solutions? The stimulus plan in its current form is just a large pork project. There is very little in this bill that will do anything to help the economy. I hope that we have some courageous leaders who will say that we need to find a better solution.

I have heard countless politicians say, "We just don't have a better plan." That excuse did not work for me in high school, and it certainly should not work for Congress. Until it has a plan that makes sense, don't act. It really is that simple.

The rest of us are cutting back and being extra careful how we spend our money. Congress is spending trillions of dollars with no real hope of success. It doesn't make sense.

If I told you my plan to get out of debt was to spend as much as I can in hope that one day I will be able to pay it back, you'd think I was crazy. There is no logic in that plan. Why does Congress think it will work on a larger scale?

MELISSA KOLLASCH, JORDAN, MINN.

MINNESOTA'S WOES

If you can, put money back into our economy

Here's a request to all those whose jobs are secure: Don't pretend to be hurting if you're not, or hold back on spending because it seems like you ought to. It doesn't have to be lavish or extravagant, but go out for lunch, shop at Target, check out the skyways, go to the mall, go to a play or concert, consider a spring break vacation, throw a dinner party and maintain your charitable giving. It's the right thing to do!

SUSAN BROWN, ST. PAUL

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Suggestion for a Minnesota economic stimulus package that works immediately: Put thousands of Minnesotans to work filling potholes. Fills the needs of pocketbooks and the pavement.

JOHN JACKSON, BLOOMINGTON

PAWLENTY'S RX

Surprise! It's tax cuts

If Tim Pawlenty's house were on fire, I suspect he'd call for a corporate tax cut to deal with it.

XANDRA COE, MINNEAPOLIS

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty presents a budget that cuts business taxes in a speculative attempt to increase the favorability of the business climate. This is supposed to provide our local economy with added growth in the future. Business owners see lower taxes and think to themselves, "Hmmm, Minnesota is a wonderful place to set up shop. There are lots of smart hardworking people (more now with big layoffs happening); they will work for a song and we get to pay less in taxes, too. A heckuva deal! Maybe we should hire some of these people as we expand." The CEO can get a nice fat raise for being a visionary, can pay for his groceries and still has enough left over for a political contribution to the Republican Party. (This is known as a "win-win.")

Meanwhile, the children of these smart hardworking people face crowded classrooms, sky-high college tuition, massive debt and uncertain job prospects. They think to themselves, "Hmmm, Minnesota sure is a nice place; too bad we can't get a job that pays enough to retire all this debt. Maybe we should move someplace warmer. At least we can stand in the unemployment line and not freeze to death."

GEORGE HUTCHINSON, MINNEAPOLIS

PHOTO ID TO VOTE

Imposition of requiring one is overblown

Many people I speak to are surprised to learn that a photo ID isn't required to vote in Minnesota. A new bill has been introduced in the Legislature to require them in the future. Some still oppose it, believing it would disenfranchise those few folks unable to get an official ID.

They want us to believe that these people would be the poor, underprivileged and aged, but I'm not convinced. It seems most have little difficulty getting a state ID to drive a car, cash checks, use an EBT card or to purchase alcohol, cigarettes or a certain type of nasal decongestant. But to have an ID to vote presents too great a hardship.

Why would any American object to confirming who they are? Does anyone else get the feeling there are some in our Legislature who privately wish to enable fraudulent and illegitimate voting? Watch for the "no" votes to learn who they are.

KIRBY BECK, COON RAPIDS

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Why isn't Hollywood making movies for kids?

We recently wanted to take our 3-year-old grandson to a movie. You would think that a theater with multiple screens would show at least one G-rated movie. When we called the manager of one of our local theaters, we were told that G-rated movies are rarely made anymore.

It's too bad that the producers of movies have forgotten about our youngest generation.

JEFF AND Sue Nemerov, Coon Rapids