Letters to the editor for Monday, Feb. 11

On Super Tuesday in Minnesota -- population of 5.2 million -- about 212,000 people voted in the Democratic caucus. In Missouri -- population of 5.9 million -- about 820,000 Democrats voted in its primary.

Given the need to involve as many Minnesota voters as possible in selecting candidates, this disparity points to the need to scrap the caucus system in favor of a primary for presidential candidates.

RICHARD BEACH, MINNEAPOLIS

Ultimate in democracy I adamantly disagree with the notion expressed in the Feb. 6 editorial that our caucus system is antidemocratic.

I arrived at my DFL caucus place Tuesday night to find a madhouse. I located the right room and asked whether any party officials were present. Finding only partially trained, overwhelmed volunteers, I helped organize the caucus. I have been to several and knew what had to be done.

We had, like communities across the state, a record turnout. Even so, we started the meeting on time, and everyone got to submit their preference. We organized ourselves, discussed important political issues and took tallied preference votes. We elected enough delegates to move on to the next level. We even had four people volunteer to be election judges! All of this occurred between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Democracy is not secret-ballot voting; democracy means the authority to govern rests in the people. On Tuesday, we saw a vivid demonstration of that principle.

JOHN MAHONEY, EXCELSIOR

We should ban super-delegates' influence on choosing the party candidates. The last time I checked Barack Obama had earned more delegates through the nominating process, but Hillary Clinton was ahead due to super-delegates.

So the people can choose one candidate and the party insiders can override it and select another? Why bother having an election at all?

ANGIE STEHR, ST. PAUL

Your Feb. 6 letter of the day asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency several pointed questions about the quality and safety of the trailers Hurricane Katrina victims are currently living in.

As tragic as the disaster was, when do people become responsible for their own housing? I have also visited the area and seen the devastation firsthand. Most of the affected people eventually moved on and took responsibility for their own lives.

I would argue that our government is responsible for helping its citizens temporarily during times of crisis and not allowing them to live off the taxpayers for years on end.

PAUL NIEBELING, WOODBURY

The Feb. 5 editorial celebrating a video that mocks Ralph Nader provides quite the laugh. It asks why Nader doesn't just join the Democratic Party and run like a real presidential candidate.

It is quite ridiculous to call the Democrats his natural allies. The two remaining Democratic candidates share more in common, politically speaking, with their Republican counterparts than Nader.

BOBBY KAHN, MINNEAPOLIS

A needed voice Although I will never vote for him, there is nothing "laughable" about Ralph Nader's campaign for president.

Thankfully, our Constitution gives anyone the right to run as long as they possess the legal qualifications to do so. And Nader is not some Joe Blow from Podunk, USA. He is a serious man with serious concerns for our country.

Nader's observations on the inner workings of our government are both important and relevant. He does not "undermine the democratic process"; he embraces and exemplifies it.

And, yes, he does exploit it -- just as does every candidate for political office.

Regarding Sen. Norm Coleman's Feb. 5 commentary, "When politics take a back seat, Congress can get things done," I think we can all be thankful that this tragic situation has been handled relatively well to date. However, shouldn't this have been the norm?

Absolutely nothing of importance in this country is accomplished without some major crisis or panic or catastrophe. We talk about what great organizers and planners we are, yet without fail it takes a Pearl Harbor or a 9/11 to actually make us face issues that we simply choose to ignore.

Other countries come here to study our crisis management techniques. I suspect that we will provide some outstanding case studies soon if we don't start to confront some looming problems.