Letters to the editor for Tuesday, March 31

Those who feel General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner is a high-profile casualty who doesn't deserve to be asked to step down need to see "Who Killed the Electric Car?"

This 2006 documentary film explores the who and why in the destruction of the battery electric vehicle in the United States, specifically the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s. The why of course is money, of which GM would have a lot more now had the company let its electric car stay alive.

CATHERINE STATZ, ST. PAUL

A March 29 letter writer laid blame on farmers for causing the flood of the Red River by draining their lands. I've farmed close to the Red River Valley for 50 years. About half of my land drains to the Red River and half to the Minnesota River. Without draining, most of the land in the Red River Valley wouldn't be productive.

Last year the world's supply of grains was extremely short. Through very tough conditions, too much rain, drought and cold, the American farmer produced good crops, and a shortage of food was prevented. Every year we battle frost, too much rain, not enough rain, bugs, markets and high costs. We risk everything we have to feed the world. We would like to be appreciated for providing food for the world and keeping the price of it low.

Last fall, the whole drainage system of the Red River was full because it was so wet with too much rain. When every lake and slough is full and you add more snow and rain, it will run off. In 1897, the previous record flood for the Red River, farmers weren't draining land. The record flood for the Minnesota River was in 1857, and again no drainage.

Anyone who would complain should instead thank the good Lord for giving us wonderful farmland, and the farmer for being able to produce enough food so we can go to bed at night with a full stomach.

I could only shake my head in disbelief as I read about the state workers' union complaining about Gov. Tim Pawlenty's idea of having workers take 24 furlough days (only two days a month), saying that would create a financial hardship for its members.

I get the impression that the union feels that state employees should be exempt from what many other Minnesotans are experiencing.

Due to the economy, I lost my job 11 months ago and am still looking to replace it. I would gladly switch places with one of these whiners. Do I have any takers? I didn't think so.

BRIAN MARSH, SPRING LAKE PARK

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It has been expensive enough just doing without all the federal money he leaves on the table just to look like a true-blue conservative. Why should we be paying him to try to climb a ladder that only benefits him?

DAVID K. PORTER, MINNEAPOLIS

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Our state could cut a costly outlay by replacing the governor with a parrot. Even a bird can recite "no new taxes."

PAUL THOMPSON, MANKATO

JOE KELLY, ST. PAUL

We just returned from our first trip to Washington, D.C., where we thoroughly enjoyed visiting monuments, memorials and museums and felt great patriotic pride. Although most of our experiences were positive, we were troubled by our visit to the Senate, where the significance and involvement of two senators from each state was emphasized.

We have read comments regarding "taxation without representation," but the bigger issue is that for every day we have just one senator in Washington, we are being deprived of adequate representation for our state's interests. Regardless of the outcome, it is time to put aside political agendas and allow the people of Minnesota their fundamental right to be fully represented in Washington.

DAVID AND Gail Lind, Prior Lake

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If ballots supposedly for a candidate can't be found or accounted for, then votes for that candidate should not be counted. There can't be more votes in a county than there are voters. The rules for counting absentee ballots in one county should be the same in all counties.

JIM BENDTSEN, RAMSEY

Every time I drive by Hwy. 100 and Interstate 694 and see that vast open space of parking lot and empty buildings, I think, what a perfect place for the Vikings stadium and redevelopment. If we can tear down a stadium to build a shopping mall, why can't we consider tearing down a shopping mall to build a stadium?