Readers write for Sept. 22, 2010

When I read the Sept. 21 headline "Obama supporters voice their fears," I became disconcerted. I became even more disconcerted when reading the article. People of America, it took President George W. Bush eight years to create the mess we are in. Why do we expect President Obama to correct it in two?

It is not time to pick things apart. Rather, it is time for those who sought change to roll up their sleeves and work with the president. We must quit giving attention to the Tea Party people and work for the values that we believe in. A Republican Congress will restore the damage done by the Bush administration and will shatter the dream of equality of access to medical care and all of the other things brought about in the past two years.

The president has kept his promises. He is doing what we elected him to do. Now we must give his changes time to work. We must support the dream and not give up. It is going to take time.

STEVEN ARNOLD, ST. PAUL

The University of Minnesota's decision to delay or stop the release of the movie "Troubled Waters" should be an issue of great concern for the people of Minnesota ("Move to cancel film's airing draws backlash," Sept. 21).

This movie examines the issue of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone and the connections to environmental degradation from the use of agricultural chemicals.

The U's leadership appears to be concerned about the movie's bias against agricultural practices. However, by blocking the release of this movie, the U is depriving the public of both an educational resource about an important environmental issue and the opportunity for us to make our own decision about the bias (or lack thereof).

DALE HADLER, MINNEAPOLIS

Mandating flu shots for health workers would be an offensive public policy for all health care workers, given Minnesota's great history of protecting citizens' rights to make their own health care choices and to not be forced to have unwanted treatments ("Mandate flu shots for health workers," editorial, Sept. 20).

Health workers are the most-educated about the side effects and lack of efficacy of flu shots, so you will lose people in what is an essential workforce right now. Literature is packed with information about the dangers of vaccines, and whether the conventional medical view is dominant right now, states always make sure that citizen rights to refuse medical treatments of any kind are in place.

Regarding vaccines and other medical treatments, Minnesota is a leader in protecting citizens' rights because they have an exemption for forced treatments, even in the case of bioterrorism or health emergency.

Keep Minnesota's civil rights protected. Do not consider mandating medical treatments for health care workers.

I am a strong believer in justice and fairness, as I believe this is the case for many residents of Minnesota. We all want to feel safe in our communities. We all want the best for our children. And we want to know that our system of government works fairly for people of all races, colors, creeds and religions.

For nearly two years, we have been bombarded with unsettling accounts of deeds and misdeeds by the now defunct Metro Gang Strike Force. We read reports and stories about alleged illegal seizures of property of Minnesota residents, mistreatment and alleged intimidation of community members, money and illegally seized vehicles that were unaccounted for, and poor recordkeeping, to name a few. Thankfully, scandals of this magnitude do not occur frequently in Minnesota, as they serve to erode public trust and confidence in law enforcement and our system of justice.

In light of the multiple harms that have resulted from the actions of the Metro Gang Strike Force, it is important that public trust in law enforcement be rebuilt and restored, rather than being further eroded. The recent decision by the Hennepin County attorney to not prosecute members of the Metro Gang Strike Force is deeply disappointing to those of us who have fought to ensure that our system of justice is built on a foundation of fairness and accountability for all -- civilian and law enforcement alike.

This is an instance in which the voice of the people of Minnesota should be heard. As such, I add my voice to the call for Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to convene a grand jury in Hennepin County to restore faith and confidence in our justice system.

LESTER COLLINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COUNCIL ON BLACK MINNESOTANS

"Give financial responsibility to the states" is a six-word idea. (This would shift everything, and save nothing.)

Being a Finlander, I recognize the Cato theory: "Never say in one word what you could say in a dozen."

MARK VERONEN, PONSFORD, MINN.