Readers Write: EPA, the Epstein files, Stillwater Prison

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

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Having just read the front-page article on July 24 (“EPA aims to scrap key policy on climate,”), I’ll be getting into my car and driving away blowing plumes of COs from my exhaust into the air and incrementally changing the composition of the atmosphere. It makes me think why don’t all of us who used to smoke light up a cigarette and pooh pooh all the data that it causes cancer. The science is clear we’re hypercharging the planet with burning fossil fuels and the warning signs are stark. What are we thinking?

My wife loves our dogs to death, cringes at polar bears not having enough ice to live any longer in the Arctic and then makes another order from Amazon. My friends, who stand for the environment, jump on planes so they can keep up with their bucket list. Americans who used to lead the world in clear thinking are now behaving schizoid and believing only what they want to hear.

You want to hear an even more radical comparison about ignoring our environment? Compare it to slavery. It’s as sinful, as damaging, as destructive and if we don’t address it, it will tear us apart. Just like we banned slavery we can ban toxic effects on the environment. As they say, abolition not only freed the slaves but it freed the people who brought it about. Let it start for us by feeling a sickening gut punch every time we get in our cars.

Don Hauge, New Brighton

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The agency that is supposed to be protecting our environment and our health is denying basic science. It is an undeniable fact that allowing the fossil fuel industry to treat our atmosphere like an open sewer has been a major driver of climate change. The American Medical Association declares “ ... climate change a public health crisis that threatens the health and well-being of all individuals.” And according to the United Nations, “Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”

Rise up, resist and raise your voice. The future of humanity depends on all of us demanding that our government work to protect our health and safety rather than lining the robber baron’s coffers.

Veda Kanitz, Lakeville

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So the Trump administration plans to end the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. This will be on top of its efforts to kill alternative energy sources in favor of more coal and oil production, shut off scientific research on climate change and convince the public that the environment is just fine. All this is in spite of daily accounts of more extreme weather events that are right in line with the understanding of how the greenhouse effect works. After all, that excess trapped heat has to go somewhere. Jeffrey Clark, the author of this latest proposal, says the president has “enlightened leadership.” Perhaps, but the denial of science does not change reality. Galileo may have been forced to recant but the earth still moves. And the atmosphere keeps warming. To ignore nature while working to make the planet worse is a crime against everyone; both those who are now here and those who will come after us.

Regarding Trump’s name appearing repeatedly in the Epstein files, in the words of the 1960s TV character Gomer Pyle, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!”

Marjorie Rackliffe, Hopkins

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Aside from the fanciful notion of pursuing truth, the entire Epstein/Trump investigation should be dropped once and for all. The current resident of the White House will just slime out of things as he always does.

Paul Waytz, Minneapolis

The cast of incompetents in the U.S. House of Representatives is at it again. Those elected to do the “people’s work” had to call the most recent session short because they can’t get beyond a deceased pedophile. Oh, the drama. Last I checked these mistakenly elected reps had other important issues to consider such as deportations, environmental disasters, foreign conflicts, budget issues, attacks on education and Medicare. The list goes on.

It’s clear they are primarily beholden to the conspiracy theorists who elected them. Once they clear up this Epstein issue they can move on to the next top national priority, which according to them is the investigation of Joe Biden’s use of the autopen. Wasn’t old Ronnie a little addled towards the end? There’s time yet for this group of incompetents to move on to that investigation next.

Is there any hope that someday we’ll elect a U.S. representative that continues to roll up their sleeves and just get the job done on an annual basis? I’ll vote for whichever party has the most well intentioned hard workers, working on behalf of most of the people they represent, from shore to shore in this wonderful nation. These current jokers and House Speaker Mike Johnson can continue their recess indefinitely.

John Pierce, Ely, Minn.

How terrible to think that we Minnesotans have for so long tolerated this actual torture of prisoners (and guards) in Stillwater Prison. That is, the lack of air conditioning. Just think of being cooped up inside anyplace and unable to cool down or leave and find a cooler spot for during the days and nights of summer (“The public has heard many opinions, except ours — the prisoners,” July 23). Great that the place will be closed but nowhere near soon enough.

Lucyan Mech, Lauderdale

What a joy it was to find Jeremiah Christopher Whitten’s beautifully written piece about our four-legged friends (“Stories from Doggie Drive Time in St. Louis Park,” July 23).

I love that the author’s morning commute is so pup-focused that while folks share a crowded space and don’t know each other’s names, they can still laugh and coexist in the best way possible — through their dogs.

Kudos to you, Mr. Whitten, and may you always enjoy the commute. On behalf of us readers, please (along with Mookie), keep the traffic updates coming!