Readers write (April 4): Budget, teachers, governor, James Lileks

The following are some recent headlines:

•Senate committee passes deep-cutting health bill
•House votes to reduce spending for Twin Cities transit
•GOP plans may mean mothballing some state parks
•Legislature approves deep cuts for higher-education systems
•Senate approves labor cuts
•Senate OKs cuts in care for poor
•House OKs bill freezing funds for special education
•Legislators detail plan for roofed Vikings stadium

As you can see, most are about cuts to areas in which Minnesotans used to show pride. Health care, education, labor, taking care of the poor -- these are all areas where the state used to be a leader. It may still be leading, but in doing poorer, not in doing better.

However, the last article shows we can still help multimillionaires when they need it. Does anyone besides me feel sad about that?

TERRY VAN DENBURGH, ANOKA

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I think the Republicans have won the budget battle no matter what the Democrats do to combat budget cuts.

No mention whatsoever of tax increases. They have been taken off the table so effectively that they are no longer even considered an option for balancing budgets.

Here's a reminder about financial planning. There are two ways to balance a budget.

One is to reduce expenses, and the other is to increase revenue. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is right. We should not be spending money that we don't have.

The trouble with her is that she's not saying anything about how the government can raise more money.

DAVID M. PERLMAN, NEW HOPE

It appears to be very popular today to blame teachers for the ills of education. I'd like to make a proposal. Before anyone is allowed to criticize teachers, they must spend time volunteering in a classroom, as I do.

They'll be amazed at what teachers are required to deal with. I have no doubt that there are teachers that are not as effective as they should be, but I have never met one.

I believe, however, that broad measures aren't the proper solution.

JOHN ZIMMERMAN, LAKEVILLE

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Unless I'm very mistaken, local government entities in this state are prohibited from collecting a local sales tax except in special circumstances in which the Legislature grants specific approval. Local government entities gave up sales tax authority decades ago.

Why? Because local government aid (LGA) was conceived to meet the needs that such taxes would be used to address.

The upside? One can travel around the state without encountering a smorgasbord of sales taxes.

This letter was a good example of how citizens are generally ignorant of the complexities of tax and revenue issues and of the efficacy of LGA in balancing living standards across the state.

EVERETT FLYNN, RICHFIELD

The article about Gov. Mark Dayton's visit to north Minneapolis ("Governor holds a 'long-overdue' talk with blacks," March 31) made a point of emphasizing that this type of meeting was not only rare but had not been done by any governor in "24 years."

While I applaud Dayton's efforts and have publicly praised his leadership, I take strong exception to the newspaper's observations relative to other governors.

First of all, north Minneapolis is not a distant foreign nation but rather a vital and vibrant part of the city. I visited Head Start facilities when I announced full funding for this preschool program in my first year of office.

There were other trips to schools and community gatherings for a variety of purposes, including the extensive work done promoting school choice.

Frankly, this piece of legislation would never have passed without the active support of the Council on Black Minnesotans and other councils representing Minnesota's minority populations. This involved meetings in the neighborhoods, at the Capitol and at the Governor's Residence.

ARNE H. CARLSON, PLYMOUTH

The writer was governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999.

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As I read James Lileks' March 27 column ("Given enough aging time, every house is historic"), I was thinking of my host family's house. It is almost 70 years old, and it is very beautiful.

But, it is hard to preserve. For instance, the heating system does not work very well. So, our family is thinking of moving out.

But cities need the taxes, so construction never stops. The area keeps changing. As Lileks said, it is time to take some pictures and make a scrapbook.