Readers write (April 17): Obama, natural gas, lawmakers' priorities, Tom Emmer, integration funds, Katherine Kersten

President Obama joined the debate about reducing our growing federal debt the other day when he released his plan ("We all need to make sacrifices," April 14).

He was even nice enough to invite Republican Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who has released his own plan, to sit in the front row. I was hopeful that we were about to enter a period when our "leaders" would engage in a serious but respectful debate.

Instead, Obama essentially called Ryan's plan and those who would support it un-American. Conservatives were pitting "children with autism or Down syndrome" against "every millionaire and billionaire in our society."

Apparently we conservatives just don't care about the poor. So much for the mature debate.

As a conservative, a Republican and a former Peace Corps volunteer, I have seen what a failed society looks like.

This massive government debt, if left unchecked, will crush our economy and our ability to provide for the neediest. That is what I believe drives Paul Ryan, and I know it is what drives me.

So, Mr. President, by all means critique conservative ideas, but please don't question our motives.

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The story on natural gas was no surprise to those of us who have been active in the global warming debate ("Natural gas loses some green sheen," April 12). The only real solution is to stop burning fossil fuels -- all of them.

The way to speed the transition to clean energy is to put a price on carbon. Returning the revenue from a carbon fee to all households will enable us to make this transition without harming the economy.

Do we have the guts to do this?

KAY NELSON, RICHFIELD

The story about Minnesotans jumping on bikes and buses because of higher gas prices missed a key fact ("Gas prices drive new habits," April 12).

Last month, the Minnesota House passed a bill that would slash $130 million from transit funding. We may see bus service in the metro area cut up to 17 percent, plus a fare hike. This at a time when we need public transit the most.

Sure, we have to make choices this session. Priorities are out of whack, however, when elected officials choose to cut essential services that benefit working Minnesotans so that high-income folks can keep paying less total taxes than the rest of us.

STEVE FIEBIGER, BURNSVILLE

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But if Republicans attack the middle class by abolishing collective bargaining, then it's just "fiscal prudence."

JOHN DEITERING, BUFFALO, MINN.

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The story on how school integration funds are being challenged shows that much needs to be done to close the achievement gap ("Scott County schools move toward integration goals," March 20).

The article stated that the goals of the integration program are not clear. How can that be?

African-American and Hispanic students were also more likely to drop out of high school than were their white peers. The funding shouldn't be taken away from the districts.

JEN JOHNSON, ANDOVER, MINN.

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I'm disturbed by Katherine Kersten's latest column on last week's White Privilege Conference ("Always room in the budget for white guilt," April 10).

I challenge her to explain why Minnesota has the highest percentage of disproportionate minority confinement in the country.

I challenge her to explain research showing that nonwhite job applicants with the same or even better résumés are overwhelmingly turned away from employment opportunities.

I would ask that Kersten not use the words "bootstraps" or "same opportunities" in her responses.

BRIAN PORTZEN, EAGAN

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In a country where the social safety net we've constructed over a century of hard-fought civil rights is being stripped away and attacked politically, I'm shocked that conservatives like Kersten would dare to mock our education system's attempts to dismantle racism. How dare you!

Whiteness means inherent privilege in our society, and ignoring this truth perpetuates unearned privilege for those who have it.

DAVID COLEMAN, DELANO, MINN.

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Two statistics that may disrupt Kersten's laughter.

First, black men are 6.5 times more likely to be in prison than white men (Department of Justice).

Conferences, dialogue, community action and legislation are antidotes to the oppressive status quo. Get involved.

We, the people, make change happen.

JOAN HAAN, ST. PAUL

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