Letters to the editor for Friday, Nov. 21

So much for the idea that we are afforded privacy when we vote.

With the ruling this week that rejected absentee ballots are considered "public data," Ramsey County District Judge Dale Lindman has invited widespread courting of those individuals by both campaigns. Of course, as part of that courtship, both campaigns will first work to determine whom the voter in question actually voted for.

The prospect of Senate campaign staffers contacting Minnesotans in such a manner is one that should trouble us all.

Prior to the election there was an ad run on television in which candidate Al Franken was labeled as not respecting the right to a private vote. How sad to see that in his personal desperation to find victory in the ashes of defeat, Franken is willing to destroy one of the most sacred of notions of our democracy, which is the right to a private vote.

Franken's effort will result in what will surely be open recruitment from those whose identities were made public, so long as their incorrectly cast ballots were cast in his favor.

DAN JURGENS, EDINA

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TRISH COOLEY, MAPLE GROVE

Both Star Tribune columnist Nick Coleman and U.S. Rep. James Oberstar do not believe in the conclusions of the National Transportation Safety Board regarding the failure of the Interstate 35W bridge. They have objected to the findings, but have not offered any technical facts or evidence to support their view.

I have, as an aerospace engineer, read in detail a number of (aircraft) accident reports by the NTSB. I have always found them to be detailed, thorough, and based on accepted engineering and scientific principles. I do not believe either Coleman or Oberstar are engineers, and without their statement of supporting data to their claims, I take their opposition to be mere political grousing.

I respect Oberstar and most of his work. But on this issue I believe he is wrong.

DON STAUFFER, COON RAPIDS

Of course the NTSB report concluded that the 35W bridge was poorly designed. Duh! However, a bridge does not simply collapse one day.

The photos of cracked, failing gusset plates that you showed on your front page were taken in 2003 -- four years before the tragedy. Clearly, the Pawlenty administration cannot be absolved of all blame in this tragedy.

DANIEL PINKERTON, MINNEAPOLIS

When Barack Obama was elected, many rushed to buy guns, just in case restrictions got stronger. Gotta get that gun! Gun sales skyrocketed. We lost two young men last weekend who were shot. Do we really need more guns?

I'm not against guns for hunting deer, ducks, pheasants. I grew up with guns in our house, to be used for hunting and to get that critter in the chicken coop at midnight. But we do not need to have guns so we can hunt people. I realize that they will be obtained on the street if not in gun stores. But our respect for the life of another human being has dwindled to something so minute that it barely exists anymore.

ELANE KIELB, PLYMOUTH

The author of the Nov. 18 letter "The Amanda Jax case / Suing her friends was a serious legal overstep" appears to take issue with pursuing what he perceives to be a lawsuit that "should never have been brought."

The portion of the lawsuit against the "friends" of Amanda Jax was brought in order to prove the events leading up to her tragic death and to address the problem of college-aged group binge drinking. The Jax lawsuit created nationwide discussion about the epidemic of peer-pressure-induced group binge drinking.

The letter writer also incorrectly assumed that I was no longer "the Jax family attorney." The Milavetz firm and I are still the family attorneys. As for his belief that I was motivated by "national fame," the Jax case was heavily reported in the media long before the lawsuit was ever commenced.

Amanda's family and her attorneys are hopeful that this tragedy raises national awareness of the danger of group binge drinking, particularly among young people. We believe increased awareness will be the start of positive societal, college administrative and legislative change that will evolve from the sad loss of Amanda.

A narrow-minded reading of the Jax case is inadequate. Families need to have a discussion with their college-aged students before they leave home for the first time and openly discuss the dangers of group binge drinking. In addition to speaking about the danger of mixing alcohol with automobiles, parents need to emphasize the following with their kids:

• Excessive drinking can be fatal.

• Friends should look out for their friends.

• They are personally responsible for themselves, and should not place themselves in a position where they can become helpless.

ALAN S. MILAVETZ, EDINA