Readers Write Jan. 14): Vikings, college degrees, hockey, Michele Bachmann, evangelicals, voter ID, Keystone pipeline

The infrastructure is in place. There will be no surprises in the soil testing.

It will cost less even if additional public money must be added to offset the extra expenses that the Vikings would have to pay, or revenue they would lose, at the University of Minnesota's TCF Stadium.

The construction would cause no disruption or congestion to the community during construction. Additionally, there is lots of available property around the Metrodome site.

The Basilica of St. Mary's site would be overpowered by this giant stadium. Construction would negatively impact the grandeur and ambiance that it now has.

The soils have not been tested. The stadium would be shoehorned into a very small area. The parking problems would be huge.

The Farmers Market area would cost the most, and disrupt a lot of businesses. The soil has not been tested to find out what additional costs might be needed to remove polluted soil or pay for the additional pilings that would be needed to build on the former Bassett Creek wetlands.

Building on the Farmers Market site would renew the quest to include the Caring and Sharing Hands site by condemning our property for the project before or after the stadium has been built.

MARY JO COPELAND, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, SHARING AND CARING HANDS

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The higher-education system can be a web of problems. I get it. Most of us get it. Nathan Marks does not ("That college degree paid off -- for the schools, not for me," Jan. 10).

To take aim at colleges and universities about the inability to land jobs is not unusual. But rather than explaining why and how schools are robbing youth, Marks litters his opinion with whining complaints and a sense of entitlement.

The value of a diploma is meant to go beyond salary. While colleges and universities do a good (and arguably evil) job at up-selling and marketing life for soon-to-be college grads, jobs have never been guaranteed.

Marks needs an attitude adjustment.

ASHLEY ADAM, MINNEAPOLIS

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It's heartbreaking to hear of the permanent disabling of any athlete, especially at the youth level. Pledges and penalties will not bring back lives. It's time that hockey sideboards are cushioned to minimize the impact of direct, full-force checking from behind.

E.C. DEHMER, ST. PAUL

I read with interest the story in which U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann was being compared to Margaret Thatcher, the former prime minister ("Will Iowans buy Bachmann as 'Iron Lady'?, Jan. 2).

Bachmann calling herself an 'Iron Lady' was like former Vice President Dan Quayle comparing himself to President John F. Kennedy. Neither Bachmann nor Quayle were close to being like these former leaders.

Should we draw up a list of better comparisons?

JOHN SORENSON, MANKATO, MINN.

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HILVIE OSTROW, MINNEAPOLIS

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Minnesota Republicans are pushing for more rigorous voter identification, but their reasons aren't good. Data shows there's no widespread fraud problem and that our current voter identification rules are working.

The problem Republicans are claiming to fix is tiny. Analysis after analysis has shown that their proposed photo ID law would not have stopped the few convicted felons who wrongly voted in Minnesota, or that stopping these few voters would have changed any election outcome.

Further, they are not trumpeting or even supporting a bill to educate and notify felons of their voting rights (or lack thereof).

DAVE PAULSON, MINNETONKA

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The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the Keystone XL pipeline project. The chamber, as the state's largest business advocacy organization, is committed to strengthening the business environment in Minnesota.

As part of this philosophy, the chamber is a member of the Partnership to Fuel America, an organization that's addressing economic development opportunities by ensuring that our energy resources for these opportunities are reliable, affordable and efficient.

Jobs created in energy development, such as Keystone XL, provide economic growth, generate tax revenue and spur regional growth.

TONY KWILAS, ST. PAUL

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Some school districts still struggle with the fact that some students are gay ("No fast answers in neutrality policy debate," Jan. 11). If this presents a dilemma or creates a controversy, it's only because people aren't facing the facts.

The starting point for any honest conversation about the issue of gay rights is that sexual orientation isn't something we choose. If we acknowledge this truth and have the strength to let our humanity prevail over our dogma, there will be no question about what to do.