SCHOOL RANKINGS

Law school's outrage misses larger point

Since when isn't telling the truth its own reward? Yet Thomas Mengler, dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, issued an open letter whining that U.S. News and World Report's decision to "unrank" the school for submitting greatly inflated graduate employment data was a punishment ("St. Thomas loses coveted law school ranking over error," March 29).

Is this some Catholic entitlement/victim theology being taught? Legal ethics in general, and the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers in particular, require candor to a tribunal, which includes prompt notification of errors when they are discovered. Mengler's taking offense that the school is now being given the designation that it deserves is highly misplaced.

ROBERT BRUNO, BURNSVILLE

* * *

EMERGENCY CREWS

They provide good care when you really need it

My husband recently collapsed in our dining room. I called the 911 dispatcher and was greeted by a calm, knowledgeable individual. Soon, an emergency crew arrived. The crew members entered our home with quiet respect and took charge of the situation. The care my husband received and the respect shown to us was so outstanding that I will never forget it. He's fine now, but never again will I take for granted the helpful people out there watching our backs.

BARBARA CARLSON, MINNEAPOLIS

* * *

Health care

Individual mandate makes system fair

It's the individual mandate that gets opponents of the Affordable Care Act most riled up. They're outraged at the notion of being forced to buy health insurance. They assume that it's their right to be uninsured. This logic only makes sense if we as a nation make the decision to deny health care if people are uninsured. Currently, we care for everyone, and those of us with health insurance pay higher premiums because of it. So, rugged individualists, we're all linked together in the matter of health care, whether you like it or not.

BARBARA TUTTLE, MINNEAPOLIS.

• • •

How come Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas isn't recusing himself from this case? His wife has been one of the most ardent critics of the president's health care plans and has profited from her opposition. To assert that Thomas can remain impartial in deciding the health care issue is nonsense.

MITCH KANTER, EXCELSIOR

* * *

Welcome mat

Minnesotans need to open up to outsiders

Mary Jane Smetanka's article on Minnesota's native-born population was wonderful ("We're not from around here, are we?" March 18). Transplants don't have the sense of history of our state. They don't know the traditions that cement our communities. Like the rest of the country, Minnesota is becoming more diverse. Our communities are also becoming fragmented, isolated and lonely. We need to take the time and energy to reach outside our comfort zones to include new people in our inner circles. Teach a transplant about the St. Patrick's Day parade or Rondo Days. Take them ice fishing or include them in other Minnesota traditions. Make the expression "Minnesota nice" ring true!

SHARON E. CARLSON, ANDOVER

* * *

Extreme weather

More to the story of New Orleans' woes

An Associated Press story on global warming quoted from a report prepared by an international panel of climate scientists ("Get ready for more extreme weather," March 29). According to the story, "The report specifically points to New Orleans during 2005's Hurricane Katrina, noting that 'developed countries also suffer severe disasters because of social vulnerability and inadequate disaster protection.'" In New Orleans' case, the devastating floods that occurred in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were due to failure of federally built levees. These levees had major structural flaws.

WENDY KING, NEW ORLEANS, LA.

* * *

Voter ID

Same-day registration leads to voting fraud

It's obvious that Lori Sturdevant has never been an election judge in the metropolitan area ("Same-day registration for voters is on the block," March 25). I was appalled at what went on during elections when I was an election judge in Brooklyn Park. People showed up several times a day vouching for others and even marking their ballots. Many of the people they vouched for couldn't read or write English. I recall a man who voted for a candidate, and the person vouching for him told him to get a new ballot so he could vote for the other candidate. Same-day registration brings more fraud to the voting system than people realize. If people won't register prior to an election, then they're not really interested.

PETER KLICK, MAPLE GROVE

* * *

VIKINGS STADIUM

Labor should be targeting Target

Just when you think you've seen it all, it now appears that behind the scenes, Target has joined organized labor as battlefront allies in the war for a new Vikings stadium ("E-mails reveal under-the-radar maneuvering to land stadium," March 29). While Target Executive Vice President John Griffith strategized a battle plan, organized-labor official Dan McConnell and his foot soldiers courted Minneapolis City Council members. Squarely in their sights were the weak, undecided council members. Organized labor leaders claim that a new stadium would create 7,000 temporary construction jobs. Someone should tell McConnell that the union "bull's-eye" should be on Target, which reportedly has more than 355,000 nonunion employees.

TED GUTH, PRIOR LAKE