Letters to the editor for Wednesday, Dec. 31

Shame on Minnesota Public Radio for its radio campaign complaining that it simply cannot live with the proximity of the proposed central corridor light rail to MPR studios.

President Bill Kling's emotional appeal directs listeners to MPR's website for more information, where we receive only a more expansive complaint and no thoughtful solution or detailed discussion of pros and cons and alternatives. It is a shame that when it comes down to difficult problems of public policy, one of our most respected institutions can only shout "Not in My Backyard!"

JOEL CANNON, MINNEAPOLIS

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Citizens of the Twin Cities have been working toward and waiting a very long time for the backbone of a fast, quiet transit system, and will not tolerate a last-minute campaign by MPR's Bill Kling to detour and thus jeopardize this vital project.

Where was he when the rest of us made our way to the many public information and comment meetings held over the last several years? Where is the data to support his statement about "rumblings and vibrations" from light rail? The only frequencies with volumes above current levels reported by MPR are the horns, which can be modified in sensitive areas.

LES EVERETT, ST. PAUL

In like manner, would Al-Qaida hate Christians less if America and its allies stopped bombing their cities?

ELLIOTT FARBER, APPLE VALLEY

The two U.S. Senate candidates, both of whom profess to care only about what's best for Minnesotans, seem to be intent on dragging this out as long as possible.

Here's a suggestion: Both should withdraw from the race and Gov. Tim Pawlenty should appoint Jim Ramstad as senator. I believe he is the one politician the vast majority would support. And this proposal is coming from a lifelong Democrat.

WAYNE STREGE, TAYLORS FALLS, MINN.

Let's save the state (and myself) a bunch of tax money. Our governor could appoint independent Dean Barkley as the new senator and strictly charge him to remember that he must represent all of Minnesota's voters, both the Republicans and Democrats whose votes for those candidates were so evenly divided.

We could end the recount process now, immediately, knowing that while there may still be disputes about ballots, our voting process is about as close to perfect as it could ever be.

NANCY GARWICK, RICHFIELD

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Let's have a runoff election in two weeks, with the top two vote-getters, and finalize this election.

TOM WINN, RICHFIELD

The story of 15-year-old Annshalike Hamilton, whose beaten and frozen body was found in the garage of a vacant house in Minneapolis, is incredibly sad, made even more tragic by the fact that she was pregnant (front page, Dec. 30).

The news brought to mind a song written by Tom Waits titled "Georgia Lee," which asks the question "Why wasn't God watching?" Both the song and the story of Annshalike bring me to tears, and although I never met her, I will think of Annshalike every time I listen to that song.

TOM MCMullin, Minnetonka

Countless letter writers have advocated the elimination of the middle man (i.e. health insurance companies) in favor of a single payer-based system -- the government. They would have us believe that if we just eliminated the administrative expense of insurance companies (and their profits) and negotiated even deeper discounts with the providers, the windfall in savings would be enough to provide health coverage to everyone in our state, including illegal immigrants, through a program that promises to reduce costs and increase benefits.

BCBS's website posts information reported to the state each year, with 91.3 percent of every premium dollar paid out in health care claims. That means just 8.7 percent of premium dollar went toward administration of their health plans. Even if Sen. John Marty's state-run plan could save another 5 percent in administrative costs, does anyone really believe a 5 percent savings would have a meaningful impact on the affordability of health care in our state?