Netlets for Sunday, April 6

The mayor of Anoka is on to something when he asks for a little truth from our leaders regarding the economy ("Meltdown on Main," March 30). Unfortunately it is likely to be the last thing we get.

There is no easy way to tell an entire country that somehow we all got off course many years ago and it has led us to this very challenging spot in which we find ourselves. It's really hard to tell the people that somehow we have confused debt with wealth and shopping with productive work. It's very difficult to tell voters that this isn't just a little bump in the road but a major confrontation with economic reality that took years to build up and will take years to work through. It is political suicide to say that the very last thing we need is for the government to try and "help" us; there is little the government can do that won't actually make matters worse.

This is a national wake-up call telling us that we have all lived off previous American generations' hard work for too long and it's time to settle up the bills. These are the things the mayor may want to hear but I doubt he will. The last leader who tried to even suggest a little sacrifice, Jimmy Carter, was laughed at and unceremoniously thrown out of office. If you were a politician would you tell the truth to Americans?

D. ROGER PEDERSON, MINNEAPOLIS

I read your March 30 front-page article, "Hospitals learn to say sorry," with interest. In October 2004 our 9-year-old son became ill. We had him to the emergency room at Minneapolis Children's Hospitals twice. Both times we were told he had the stomach flu. Neither time were we advised to have a blood test or was further evaluation advise to determine whether his illness could be appendicitis although I mentioned to three doctors I thought this could be his problem.

Several days after the second time, we were sent home from Children's Hospital, he was diagnosed, by Woodlake Clinic, with a ruptured appendix and peritonitis. By the time of this, delayed diagnosis, it was almost too late. He spent four weeks in the hospital, had to have two surgeries, a temporary colostomy bag and a blood transfusion.

We have never had a meeting with the hospital or have been offered an apology. All of this was long after 1999, when according to the article two children's hospitals in Minnesota, started offering apologies for medical errors. All we received was a letter from an advocate stating that appendicitis was hard to diagnosis in children.

MARGARET BENKERT, ST. LOUIS PARK

I am writing in response to a March 24 article titled "Growing Locally, legislating nationally: Rules hinder state's specialty farmers" to clarify some of the statements related to the current farm bill and its impact on specialty crop growers in Minnesota. As a Minnesota potato grower, I am supporting this farm bill because this legislation makes a historic investment towards specialty crop producers and levels the playing field for the first time.

Producers of specialty crops -- fresh fruits, vegetables, potatoes, etc. -- have never received subsidies for their crops, nor do they want them. It's fundamentally unfair to allow growers who receive payments from USDA commodity programs to compete against growers who don't. No one is standing in the way of producers like myself to grow specialty crops. But he shouldn't get a subsidy for them, nor should the landowner.

Specialty crop growers across the country support the proposed farm bill that would expand access to farmers markets, increase consumption of specialty crops in local schools throughout Minnesota, and invest in important research and to keep our industry competitive in a global marketplace. The bill also dedicates resources to support local and regional needs of growers like me and the farmer mentioned in your article. The needs for Minnesota are different than other regions in the country and this farm bill enhances that investment.

This farm bill is not perfect by any means, but it makes a historic investment in specialty crops and gives our industry a seat at the table. And that's good news for all of us.

I recently returned from a vacation and read that John Hassler had died. I read "Staggerford" many years ago and every book he wrote since then.

When his novel "Grand Opening" was published, I went to a book signing. Anyone who has read "Staggerford" knows that the main character, Miles, is shot and killed at the end. As he was signing my book, I said to him "I can't believe that you killed Miles." I think I reread that paragraph 10 times knowing I must be reading it wrong. Mr. Hassler looked up and said, "I can't believe I did that either." I'm sure Miles could have been a recurring character as Agatha.

I worked in a high school for 25 years and when I read "Staggerford," I could smell the chalk dust. He will be missed by all who loved his writing.

MARLENE STUMPF, BUFFALO

As an average ability high school athlete, I learned quickly that staying in the lineup depended on how well I contributed to the team's strategy. Perhaps Sen. Hillary Clinton believes that she has so much to offer that the Democrats can win on her abilities alone ("Clinton rules out leaving race early," March 29). Her campaign rhetoric reflects this ego-centered theme: "I have the experience; I will be ready from day one; I can cross the commander-in-chief threshold." This is in stark contrast with the team-oriented "Yes, we can change" theme of Sen. Barack Obama.

We can expect to hear this and similar Clinton statements in Republican TV spots if Obama is the Democratic nominee. Perhaps Clinton is hedging her bets and angling for a senior Cabinet post in case there is a McCain presidency.