"A descent into poverty for millions," read the Sept. 17 headline. More than 43 million Americans live in poverty; one in five American children live in families experiencing poverty, and Minnesota's rate of poverty increased from 8.7 percent to 10.5 percent in the last three years. The article noted the burgeoning supply of homeless people in our state. Given all the attention on the recession and subsequent increases in poverty for Minnesota's children, I was disappointed to find that none of the gubernatorial candidates' websites mention interventions and policy recommendations targeted to extremely poor Minnesotans. Is it too much to ask that candidates devote website space or issues briefs specifically to abating poverty and ending homelessness? At the very least, I'd like to read the candidates' policy recommendations on reducing the level of poverty in Minnesota beyond obscure promises for more jobs. Competing ideas and solutions for Minnesota should not be monopolized for the middle class.

RICHARD A. HOOKS WAYMAN, MINNEAPOLIS