Readers Write for Thursday, May 7

How tragically unsurprising that criminal gangs are spreading out into the suburbs (front page, May 5). It is a law of economics, after all, that when the government subsidizes a certain thing, we all wind up with more of that thing.

How much longer will we continue to subsidize these gangs by maintaining our drug prohibition laws on the books?

STEPHEN J. BAKER, HOPKINS

A May 5 letter writer says that people who buy foreign cars should be ashamed. As a dues-paying union member, I take pride in purchasing American rather than foreign cars.

I drive a Chevy Aveo made in Korea. My wife drives a Chevy HHR made in Mexico. And my fancy new Chrysler Crossfire was made in Germany. Before that, I had a Chevy Camaro that was made in Canada. I know that some Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus and even Mercedes-Benzes and BMWs are assembled here in America, many in union shops.

Oh well, I'm glad I buy from American car companies. Oh, wait -- Chrysler is now owned by ...whom?

STEVE CHAPLIN, PLYMOUTH

For a long time I bought American-made cars because my brother was in the business. He was allowed to arrange "employee pricing" for me during those years when it wasn't available to the public. But by the time I had sold those cars, they had cost me more to own than comparable foreign models would have. Repairs were the problem.

I realize "buying American" puts money into our economy, but it's also true that most of us who are mentally healthy try not to self-destruct. That's the rub.

JIM BARTOS, BROOKLYN PARK

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I was a Chevrolet buyer back in the '70s and early '80s. I owned a Camaro, a Malibu and a Caprice. However, I stopped buying Chevys after I purchased a new Monte Carlo that broke down shortly after it was driven off the showroom lot. The alternator was burning out every few months. When I asked GM for help, they said such things as: It's probably the gas you're buying.

RA-NAE WENDT, MAPLE GROVE

If Brett Favre ever dons the purple-and-gold, I will boycott the Vikings for the duration of his stay. That means no attending training camp, no watching games on TV or buying game tickets, and no purchasing of Vikings merchandise.

Not only has Favre been enemy No. 1 of the Vikings for a dozen-plus years, he is washed up at this point. Even were we to win with Favre in place, it would be tainted -- the season with the asterisk. And Packers fans would forever be able to hold it over us. If Favre is a Viking this year, it will be The Year That Must Not Be Named, at least for my family.

NICK JORGENSON, SIOUX FALLS

I stopped by to purchase some of the Franklin Street Bakery sweets, and needed bread. To my surprise, a large sourdough loaf was $1.99 and the same larger loaf of wheat bread only $2.49. I asked why the bread was so cheap. I was told the owner of this bakery is concerned about her near neighbors in these economic times. This is a high-end bakery, and kudos for this demonstration of generosity and kindness.

KAY KESSEL, MINNEAPOLIS

Amazing that health insurance companies have been charging women more than men for insurance. They claim that because women have children they require more medical care.

Nice that during the week that ends with Mother's Day they discovered that the stork doesn't make babies.

ARVONNE FRASER, MINNEAPOLIS

As the proud parent of a graduating senior at Notre Dame (and as a lifelong Catholic), I would like to point out a fact that seldom appears in reports of bishops' letters protesting President Obama's commencement speech at the university: Notre Dame has a history dating back to Dwight Eisenhower of inviting newly elected presidents to give the commencement address.

The Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, president emeritus of Notre Dame, played a major role in the civil-rights movement in this country; an iconic photo of him linked arm-in-arm with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at a civil-rights march graces the campus student center. This national university should feel pride in welcoming the first African-American elected to the highest office in the land.

I plan to attend my daughter's graduation, soak in her honor ceremonies and light a candle at the famed Grotto on campus in thanksgiving that John McCain, a known proponent of war, death and destruction, was not elected. Had he been, I would have been sitting through his speech on graduation day rather than Barack Obama's. I consider my timing lucky on this one.