Readers write for March 21, 2010

In his commentary on agricultural subsidies ("Spreading money like manure," March 14), Mike Meyers shines light on a situation that will never be fixed as long as Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn, remains comfortably enshrined in Washington, supported by wealthy farmers who are guaranteed regular handouts of taxpayer money.

Having grown up on a farm, I have no bias against farmers, but over the years I've watched family farms take a hit as corporate operations increasingly control the industry and eliminate the small operator. Along with the huge grain acreages mentioned, dairy herds and hog and poultry farms have grown to outlandish numbers, wiping out smaller farmers and creating environmental hazards, not to mention the dismal living conditions forced on 'factory farm' animals. Then, as overproduction drives prices down, the industry lobbies for more price support -- to be paid with taxpayer dollars, of course.

Poised to vote against the much-needed health reform bill, how does Peterson justify continuation of gigantic subsidies to wealthy farmers? Perhaps it's time for him to pack up his guitar and leave his comfy Washington office to return to the real world. Times are tough, and we need representation that prioritizes the needs of the people above the clamor of lobbyists.

ALTA HANSON, SAUK CENTRE

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Mike Meyers hit the nail on the head on farm subsidies. This is government waste at its highest levels. The Agricultural Department does nothing to help the family farmer. The government should end all subsidies and let the free-enterprise system regulate this industry.

PETER KLICK, MAPLE GROVE

It seems to me that here is at least one other option -- cutting costs. This means considering pay cuts, reduced benefits and, as a last resort, layoffs. None of these options is pleasant, but the private sector has faced all of this for some time now. Pension benefits are still a perk for public workers, but they were virtually eliminated for the private workforce even before this recession.

The fact is that the public sector is entirely supported by the private sector. It is simply not possible for the public sector to maintain the status quo in the face of reduced private-sector support. Cutting services and raising taxes are unpopular, but not our only choices. The public sector must begin to make the sacrifices made in the private sector. Indeed, it's the only sustainable path forward.

JOHN ANDREWS, ST. PAUL

As a raging liberal, I was surprised to be in complete agreement with Katherine Kersten's column on electronic media and children ("How can kids think amid all that buzz?" March 14). Kersten laments that many students today can't follow an argument, pick it apart logically or justify their opinions. No wonder Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Karl Rove have such followings.

DAVID PERLMAN, NEW HOPE

Kersten should be careful what she wishes for. If young people unplug from their electronic devices and start reading books, they might grow up to become "elites."

PATRICK MCCAULEY, EDINA

I would like someone from the Tea Party movement to step forward and explain to me how denying health care to 30 million people is going to address the main cause of the Great Recession -- namely, the lax regulations that led to subsequent bailouts of the (supposedly) free-market, too-big-to-fail banks. There is a deafening silence coming from the right wing about this, as evidenced by members of Congress refusing to acknowledge President Obama's State of the Union call to reform the banking system. Does that mean that socializing the losses of Wall Street firms through massive federal bailouts and debt is more important than insuring the health and welfare of the American people? It sure looks that way to me.

JON A. GRABANSKI, HUDSON, WIS.

I'm an energy-saving and recycling fiend, but I take issue with what I've read this week about compact fluorescent bulbs being every bit as good as incandescent bulbs. In fact, it makes me wonder if the people touting their benefits have actually used them. I used CFBs in every socket that makes sense: garage, utility, ceiling mount fixtures, and at least one reading lamp per room. But in a recessed can -- the main task-lighting that most homes built in the last 15 years use? Forget it! They can't be effectively dimmed, they buzz and take at least three minutes to brighten up. The idea that I will be forced to use them come 2014? Well, it seems insane. And let's not forget the mercury they contain. How many homes are actually going to take the time to recycle rather than pitch them in the garbage?

I am so grateful for programs like the Emily Program. My daughter's life was forever changed due to treatment at an eating disorder clinic. Today she is a healthy, happy college student because of help she received as a middle-school student. To the people of Orono who opposed the clinic: May your families never know the heartache of an eating disorder. There may not be help available.