Readers Write: Make America civil again, governor vs. the Legislature, police officers

I fully agree with Doug R. Berdie's commentary stressing the need to make America civil again ("Six steps to domestic tranquility," Opinion Exchange, Oct. 1). His suggestions for ways Americans can show more consideration and courtesy were spot on.

Unfortunately, some of those who are the least civil are our leaders at the national, state and local levels.

The most egregious example is our belligerent, boastful and rude president, Donald J. Trump. Accusing the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, of conspiring with the Democrats to "be nasty to Trump" after she gave him a reality check on the desperate plight of her people was a glaring example of incivility and pettiness totally unbecoming a leader. Gov. Mark Dayton's childish attempt to defund the Legislature in order to renegotiate legislation they had passed and he did not veto is another sad commentary on political civility, although the Republicans are not blameless in this legal fiasco, which only enriches lawyers at the expense of taxpayers.

On the local level, the acrimonious relationship between Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and our former police chief was another example of incivility. However, it pales in comparison to the behavior of mayoral candidate Nekima Levy-Pounds at the Park Board hearing where she disrupted the meeting and then claimed "I am not your slave," or words to that effect, when rebuked for her rude behavior by the person chairing the meeting.

With this kind of incivility displayed by those holding or seeking higher office, I am not sure that more consideration displayed by average citizens will have much effect on elevating the level of civil discourse. However, it will definitely improve the quality of life as we go about our daily activities.

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I applaud the author of "Six steps to domestic tranquility." I would like to see this article distributed, and shared in their local public media, to every college campus in the country, with extra effort made to call for college activist groups (from any and all sides of any issue) to incorporate these steps in their plans of operation. College administrators should be encouraged to make these steps part of "rules of engagement" in order for student groups to operate on campus. Accomplishing this would be a major step in bringing civility into our country's discourse.

So when my children were little and they misbehaved, I would send them to another room in the house, close enough so they could hear the family conversation and fun. I would tell them, "When you are ready to be happy and cooperate, you can rejoin us."

I also remember a friend telling me that when needy children seek attention, they will do anything for that attention — even if it is negative attention. She advised me, "Don't get on that roller coaster with them."

I would like to see all of us take this approach when our elected leader(s) seek attention: Send them out of the room, isolate them until they "decide to be happy" and don't get on the roller coaster with them. (Are you listening, media folks?)

Immature, unacceptable behavior should not receive attention, period. Every day, I see and read about instances of rewarding bad behavior with snappy comebacks, T-shirts and baseball-cap messages, social-media comments that only serve to perpetuate the negative attention sought.

Our country has many serious, complicated problems to address that need collaboration, cooperation and good, mature communication. I would love to name names, but I won't stoop to enabling bad behavior and giving negative attention.

D.J. Tice ignores in his column that Gov. Mark Dayton was elected at large by a significant majority of Minnesota voters who have also elected him as a U.S. senator and state auditor. His total public service to the people of Minnesota amounts to 16-plus years and strongly suggests the enormous respect and high regard for his skills, commitments, dedication and integrity that is held for him by his fellow citizens. His years of experience and loyalty to Minnesota cannot be ignored in this controversy.

On the other hand, it needs to be recognized that the legislators are elected to represent districts and that close to 50 percent agree with the governor's position on this issue. So it is not the governor vs. the Legislature; rather, it is more like a bare majority of legislators trying to jam their partisan program down his throat.

Admittedly, the governor is acting within his constitutional power to obtain a fair and balanced budget taking into consideration the welfare of the entire state and not just the narrow interests of a few. To meet the financial needs of the Legislature while they wrestle this out, perhaps the legislators can sacrifice their salaries, as Dayton has done in the past during his public service, and fund their political quest that way while they keep working for the people.

Since the lawsuit was brought by a tiny majority of legislators and as the Supreme Court has suggested, it is incumbent on them to find solutions to a constitutional impasse, get back to work and do that which they were elected to do — find reasonable compromise.

First of all, what a great article concerning this very important issue regarding those police officers convicted of a criminal offense who are still employed in law enforcement ("Shielded by the badge: Convicted, but still policing," Oct. 1).

Kroll is head of the largest police union in Minnesota. Kroll's attitude that it is OK to carry a gun while your personal life is a disaster is very concerning.

What a slap in the face to all of the SWAT members who are faithful and loyal to their marriages and families.

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It's interesting looking at the charges brought against Minnesota police officers since 1995, consisting of 109 felonies, 192 gross misdemeanors, and 328 misdemeanors. Police careers are a profession, and I can think of no other professions or groups that would have numbers like this.

Doesn't this study indicate that we have a problem with the bad behavior of police officers with many of the offenses being of a violent nature?