Readers Write for Thursday, July 9

Ross Douthat makes a case that Gov. Sarah Palin should have said no when John McCain asked her to be his running mate (Star Tribune, July 8). He cites her lack of experience and shaky knowledge of the issues -- both national and international.

What baffles me is why we are focusing on Palin and not the party or presidential candidate who pushed her into the national spotlight long before she was ready.

Time will tell whether she can matures enough politically and personally to take another run at national office, but her recent resignation as governor of Alaska suggests little progress in that regard. But that is not the question. How could the Republican Party honestly rally around such an inexperienced governor, believing that her address to the Republican convention qualified her to be vice president? And since when do we support candidates merely on the basis of whether they can deliver a good speech?

If I were a Republican, I would be trying to find a person who has the education, experience, ideas and commitment necessary to lead this nation and coach him or her to speak effectively, not the other way around.

LEW MORAN, MINNEAPOLIS

Did you know that Sen. Al Franken used to be on "Saturday Night Live"?

It seems to be against the law to mention Franken without including his history on "SNL," or as a satirist or comedian.

Some people might not like Franken's comedy, but he was very good at it. Some people might not like his writing, but he was very good at it. Some people might not like his radio show, but he was very good at it. Why can't we believe that he has the intelligence and ability to be a good senator?

BOB KUSNETZ, ST. LOUIS PARK

Tough budget choices faced by the Hennepin County Library are especially challenging under record-breaking library use ("Library studies strategies for balancing its books," July 5). During the last economic recession, American public library use surged by 11 percent. Similar figures are seen today as families replace credit cards with library cards for meaningful education, entertainment and workforce training. Far from obsolete, our vibrant libraries are playing a critical role in resuscitating this economy, just as they have in the past.

As reported, too many of the budget options undercut the library's ability to rise to the occasion for the 1.2 million diverse residents of Hennepin County it serves. The Library Foundation of Hennepin County, which united with the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library in December, is proud to be an important part of the solution throughout the city and across the county. In 2008, with the help of our 5,000 supporters, the foundation provided more than $1.5 million in funding support for cultural programs, library initiatives, collections, technology and public awareness activities. This year we hope to do even more to support the 41 public libraries throughout Hennepin County.

During these hard economic times, community investment in libraries should be renewed -- not shelved.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF HENNEPIN COUNTY

Thank you for reporting the success of the juvenile detention alternatives program (Star Tribune, July 6). This approach has three big benefits: It gives kids who are in trouble something positive to do, it keeps crime down, and it saves money for the public.

So why don't we try treating young adults the same way? Rethinking how the justice system treats a 16-year-old is a big step; now, what could we do better with an 18-year-old?

JOHN STUART, MINNEAPOLIS;

We live in a society that thrives on gossip and celebrity news. However, I feel we should have respect for the dead. Michael Jackson is not yet buried, but news stations across the world are constantly discussing his children, possible addictions and family dramas.

We should either remember Michael Jackson as the unbelievably talented performer and caring humanitarian, or keep our more negative thoughts about Michael to ourselves.

Put yourself in his family's shoes. How would you feel if you were in the position of losing a family member?

The family deserves privacy at this challenging time.