Letters to the editor for Thursday, March 12

In his March 7 opinion column, "The GOP had better get serious," Jim Ramstad attacks his "former Republican colleagues in the U.S. House" for opposing President Obama's reckless spending and big-government policies and says, "Following the lead of extremists like Rush Limbaugh is a prescription for disaster."

But Rush Limbaugh is not really an extremist. He may be obnoxious at times, but most of what he says about the Democrats' big-government, pro-socialist agenda is correct. And so we see that Jim Ramstad never was really a Republican at all and not even a "moderate," but a big-government liberal.

Apparently Ramstad would like Obama to succeed in a government takeover of health care and the destruction of the drug and health care industries. Maybe he wants to see the destruction of the oil, energy and auto industries and their replacement by more expensive "green energy" industries. He is probably looking forward to our government-owned car company producing the new Lada (the Soviet government car). But I don't want Obama to succeed in destroying the industries that have made America great.

JOHN ZIMMERSCHIED, MINNEAPOLIS

Regarding a March 8 front-page article: To deem physician house calls a luxury without conducting a thorough cost-saving analysis is like a physician treating the wrong illness.

If this country is to effectively have meaningful health reform, begin with diagnosing the underlying ailment, and pragmatically assess all systemic causes.

Start with an open-minded, frank discussion of what ails it. Start with recognizing the health care system is really sick care -- focused more on treating illness rather than prevention.

As our society increasingly demands and utilizes life extending measures -- addressing the quality-of-life issues created thusly -- prescribing cost-effective yet humane measures is paramount. Dr. Edward Ratner is doing just that.

REBECCA WINEGARDEN, MAPLE GROVE

"Red tag sale" may take on a whole new meaning any day now. The American auto industry is without a doubt in a recession -- more like a free fall. New car sales are at their lowest in 25 years. Domestic brand market share is at an all-time low. Imported carmakers are winning in fuel efficiency, reliability, desirability and profitability.

Last week the Environmental Protection Agency held its only public hearing to consider granting states the waiver needed to adopt the stricter Clean Car standards for tailpipe emissions.

I am an auto dealer. I hope the EPA grants this waiver, and I also hope that the Minnesota Legislature will adopt these Clean Car standards this spring -- rather than wait for a new national standard whose parameters are not yet set and whose timing is not yet determined.

Here's the bottom line: If dealers want a business that will survive, and thrive, in a future of volatile gas prices and undeniable climate change, the cars we sell will have to change.

RIC FOHRMAN, GOLDEN VALLEY;

GENERAL MANAGER, AUTO POINT, LTD.

Has the government, in its haste to protect us from ourselves, produced another bad bill? Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are battling over how to limit children's exposure to lead. The commission warned Congress that the limits in the new law banning lead were too tight. But Congress passed it anyway, making it illegal to provide children with many toys, books and clothing. This has adversely affected thrift stores and garage sales, the only places many families can afford to buy children's clothes.

Many members of Congress are upset at how the commission is applying the law, even though Congress was warned. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says that the commission needs to step up and do the right thing. The commission wouldn't have to do that if Congress had done its work correctly in the first place.

MIKE MCLean, Richfield

A question for all members of Congress, but especially to the Republicans who are the ones complaining now: Why expect President Obama to stop the "earmarks problem"? Members of Congress are putting the earmarks into bills; why don't they just stop the process?