GLOBAL WARMING

Don't confuse it with the weather

"My what a cool summer, what's all this about global warming?" I've heard this sentiment expressed by numerous well-educated folks recently -- enough that I fear it's pandemic.

Global warming and climate change are both misnomers. Global climate destabilization is the best term. But since the last thing the problem needs is another rebranding in lieu of action, I'll give that soapbox a rest.

The important thing to remember is that climate is not the same as weather. Our cool summer may be an outlier, or it may be a sign of more unpredictable weather to come. All we know is that soon changes in our climate will be irreversible. The costs of inaction are too great. The U.S. House passed an historic energy bill in June, but it is collecting dust in the Senate. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken should use their spurs and speed things along.

CARL SAMUELSON, ST. PAUL

PAWLENTY'S PLAN

Seems he's forgotten about his day job

Minnesotans should be outraged that their purported governor, Tim Pawlenty, would outline his health care plan not in a Minnesota newspaper, such as the Star Tribune, but in a Washington Post opinion piece, which the Strib reprinted.

Not only does the substance of the plan concern me; it's also Pawlenty's ceaseless attempt to arrogate to himself national political status (if no one else will) in his headlong rush toward the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Invoking "my friend" Newt Gingrich even in mild criticism is all part of the act of Pawlenty trying to muscle his way onto the national political stage.

With all of the problems Minnesota faces, it's time for the governor to come home and start governing again, however poorly we may regard such governance. The people of Minnesota did not reelect a presidential candidate; they elected a governor.

To recall a long-forgotten Minnesota episode involving a congressperson, Coya Knutson, smitten with Potomac Fever who allegedly neglected her husband, Andy, back in Minnesota: "Timmy, come home!"

WILLARD B. SHAPIRA, ROSEVILLE

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Two months ago, Gov. Pawlenty single-handedly eliminated health insurance for 30,000 of the sickest, neediest Minnesotans. He can say whatever he wants to criticize health care reform, but the reality is that our governor has made the problem worse for Minnesota and worse for my patients.

DR. WILL NICHOLSON, MAPLEWOOD

PORN IN HOTELS

Families rightfully choose to go elsewhere

Leave it to a University of Minnesota professor of human sexuality to tell us "there is no demonstrated effect of pornography leading to violent sexual behavior" ("New focus on porn starts conversation," Aug. 1).

More and more families are choosing Clean Hotels that refuse to offer pay-per-view pornography. They're not only family-friendly, they're safer for women and children. If that's a boycott -- so be it. The hotel has chosen what kind of clientele it wishes to host, and we have chosen what kind of establishment in which we wish to spend our time and money.

MARY ANN KUHARSKI, ST. ANTHONY

CASH FOR CLUNKERS

Is the criticism fair -- or is it just jealousy

The headline for the Tuesday Topic of the Day read: "Readers find plenty to dislike in cash-for-clunkers program."

Your readers found so much to dislike in it, they overwhelmed several car dealerships with more clunkers than the dealers -- or the government -- could handle. Those who complain seem to have one thing in common: They can't take advantage of the program.

If the government just gave every man, woman and child in this country $4,500, I'm sure some of your readers would find something to complain about. The chief complaint would be "it's not enough."

JAMES MATHEWSON, FARIBAULT, MINN.

clinton in north korea

Lending credibility to a horrific regime

To appease Kim Jong-il, former President Bill Clinton agrees to meet, schmooze and shake hands with a dictator in order to get two American journalists freed.

I believe this is an insult to the 38,000 Americans who died in the Korean War as a result of the actions of his father, Kim Il-Sung. The result: Both Clinton and Kim get their photo ops and we get back the two stupid journalists, who shouldn't have entered North Korea in the first place.

And what about the more than 3,000 MIAs from the Korean War? I'm sure Mr. Clinton brought this up with Kim Jong-il during their photo op.

NEIL F. ANDERSON, RICHFIELD