Netlets for Monday, Oct. 20

Share the wealth ... I became an Obama supporter when I heard his speech following the Iowa caucuses last December. Since then, I have sent him a donation every month or so. Yesterday, I heard that the campaign raised $150 million in September. This is an incredible amount of money.

It seems that the campaign must be awash in funds. What if Barack stood up before the nation and said, "My supporters have been overwhelmingly generous to me. We have enough. If you want to donate more, don't send it to me. Instead, send it to a local candidate. Or, better yet, send it to your local food shelf, or another favorite charity. Our country is struggling. Our attention needs to be focused on our fellow Americans who are suffering through this difficult time."

I have never heard of a candidate having the courage to do this -- but then I've never heard of a candidate raising so much money.

My next check will be to Second Harvest in honor of Mr. Obama.

SALLY MORTENSON, ST. PAUL

... and the air time Here's an idea on how to get our economy rolling again. How about if all the politicians pulled their campaign ads on television and left the airwaves open to actual businesses to use that time to encourage us to spend our hard-earned dollars at their establishments?

THOR CARLSON, ST. PAUL, MINN.

The article discusses a recent purchase of 309 acres near Paynesville for $800,000, or about $2,500 per acre. Another option in many cases is a donated, permanent conservation easement on special lands. Here in Minnesota, the Minnesota Land Trust is a leader in this effort with more than 371 such projects across the entire state, totaling more than 33,000 acres and more than 500,000 feet of shoreline protected -- at a cost of only about $800 per acre.

These protected lands are mostly found in those areas deemed "critical landscapes," either by the Land Trust or the state of Minnesota. At any given time, the Land Trust has an additional 100 to 150 projects it could advance, if it had more resources as well. It's an extremely cost-effective way to preserve the quality of our state. The article further states that the Department of Natural Resources recommended as much as $20 million per biennium to purchase such lands. At $2,500 per acre, that would be 8,000 acres purchased; at $800 per acre, that would be 25,000 acres protected through easements.

With offices in Ely, Duluth, Red Wing and St. Paul, the Minnesota Land Trust recently received the coveted "Accreditation" for standards and practices by the national Land Trust Alliance, in Washington, D.C.

CHARLES A. MALKERSON, GOLDEN VALLEY

Bachmann has disqualified herself I just heard Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann tell Chris Matthews on "Hardball" last week that the press should undertake a "penetrating" investigation into which members of the U.S. Congress hold "anti-American" views. And then do what? Prosecute them for anti-American views?

RICHARD GIBSON, ST. LOUIS PARK

No need for another October surprise Democrats are worried about an "October surprise." Here's what the reliably objective, conservative Evans-Novak Political Report (Oct. 15) said about it: "An al Qaeda terrorist attack timed for the election, unfortunately, is not unthinkable. That could be what it takes for McCain to win."

I don't expect either a terrorist or a "terrorist" attack, because the October surprise is already here. The best way to reduce voters' anger at Republicans is with lower gas prices. That affects our concerns right where we live, and we don't think as much about the coming effects of our economy's meltdown.

I wonder if some powerful commercial interests don't want Democrats to win.