Readers Write for Tuesday, Dec. 1

I have been putting up Christmas displays for 40 plus years. I know people enjoy them, as strangers approach me in the community and express their appreciation. However, not everyone enjoys the display. Sunday night someone came through the yard and broke some of the decorations.

Now, I suppose it could be the old guy who walks by now and then or those two ladies who come through the neighborhood on their walks. But I am going to be politically incorrect and point an accusing finger toward the youth in the neighborhood. As I get older, I am looking for a reason to stop climbing ladders and going through the work of setting up the decorations and taking them down.

I have repaired the damage; however, if it happens again, this will be my last year. Unlike storybook endings, the bad guys win once in a while.

DENNY PRESTON, COON RAPIDS

While Walter Mondale and David Lillehaug suggest that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's use of unallotment is political in nature and cruel in spirit (Opinion Exchange, Nov. 29), consider these points:

• The governor throughout the session urged the Legislature to pass a budget that would not include raising taxes on an already stretched population. He also warned them of the consequences if they could not come together.

• The writers suggest that unallotment "rules out compromise in a special session." Why must we always wait for a special session to get anything done? The Legislature had plenty of time to do this. What is more bothersome is the attitude of the writers who typical of their party are not afraid to spend more taxpayer money for a costly special session.

The writers should be ashamed of themselves for suggesting that the use of unallotment targets "low-income people, the sick and disabled, schools and basic local government services." The governor's use of unallotment targets an ineffective Legislature and spend-thrift Democrats who have little concern for mortgaging our children's future.

TOM HOLTZ, MINNEAPOLIS

The Nov. 28 Letter of the Day and a Nov. 29 commentary article use a lot of words to defend Xcel Energy's use of corporate aircraft without saying anything pertinent. All the writers need to do is explain why the 28 daily, nonstop flights from Minneapolis to Denver and the 23 daily, nonstop flights from Denver to Minneapolis will not satisfy Xcel's corporate travel requirements more economically than the corporate jets.

LOWELL CARPENTER, MAPLE GROVE

I taught in the public schools for 17 years. Both of my children were enrolled in public schools. I believe in public education. My older son is still in public schools. However, my younger son enrolled last year in Cyber Village Academy, the first IB charter school in Minnesota, because traditional public schools weren't meeting his needs. We needed an alternative and we were very fortunate to find it.

MELISSA MELNICK, ST. LOUIS PARK

Why doesn't Zygi Wilf do some fundraising to build his team a new stadium? When I was in first grade, 10 years ago, my school wanted a new playground. My dad and other parents took it upon themselves to find the money to build it.

Since Vikings players use their celebrity status to raise money for charitable causes (which they should), maybe they could use their celebrity status to organize a fundraiser to build their own "playground."

GRACIA ALGER, MINNEAPOLIS

Finding employment is one of the biggest challenges facing returning servicemen and servicewomen. I urge Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the Legislature and the Minnesota congressional delegation to forget about party differences and organize a series of job fairs around Minnesota to help our returning vets. National Public Radio recently reported on one in New York that was deemed a major success.