Readers Write (Jan. 9): Hockey, taxes, politicians

I'm deeply sorry for the tragedy that has befallen Jack Jablonski and his family ("Family says hockey player won't be able to walk again," Jan. 5), and it is remarkable to see how much support he is being given by the community.

However, the response also amazes me in that there are many people suffering down the street and across the world who go unacknowledged every day.

Why isn't there the same response for people without food, for people without any form of shelter in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul, or for the thousands of citizens of African countries dying of AIDS every day?

I am not trying to belittle Jablonski's untimely injury, but rather to bring attention to a different perspective. He may very well take his new circumstance and do something constructive to better his situation and those around him.

All I'm asking is for society not to choose which tragedies are worthy of such a response and support, but rather to give equal attention to the misfortunes occurring throughout our lives, so that we can look for solutions to all of them.

AUDREY HANSON, EDEN PRAIRIE

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Numerous polls do show that the majority in favor of increasing taxes on the upper 2 percent, and on cigarettes -- probably because they are not in that income bracket or don't smoke.

It is only when they are asked if they would be willing to pay taxes on clothing that the numbers start to shrink.

It seems people are happy to let others pay more but are not interested in being taxed more themselves.

MARK DESTACHE, ST. PAUL

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I don't begrudge Romney's success, but the writer missed a very important factor in his accumulation of wealth: the fact that his father was also very wealthy. So while he has some great accomplishments, it must be noted that he earned them the very old-fashioned way: He inherited it.

NICK DOLPHIN, MINNEAPOLIS

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Having been born and raised in Minnesota and being on the faculty of Oral Roberts University when Michele Bachmann was a student there, I have followed with interest her quest for the presidency.

In this process, I checked various websites that evaluate the accuracy of statements made by public officials.

Among others in the race: Ron Paul had 37 percent mostly or totally false, Mitt Romney had 39 percent, Rick Santorum had 40 percent, Rick Perry had 47 percent, and President Obama had 29 percent.

With Bachmann and Perry at the bottom of the vote totals in Iowa, apparently Iowa has spoken. It said that the voting public doesn't want public officials that are not even close to speaking the truth.

PAUL BRYNTESON, SUN CITY WEST, ARIZ.

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I'm glad to see that President Obama has appointed the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. It ain't pretty how it was accomplished, but it was necessary in the face of Republican intransigence.

CHRIS GEGAX, MINNEAPOLIS

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The other day, Obama had this to say about his self-imposed, fractured relationship with Congress: "When Congress refuses to act ... then I have an obligation as president to do what I can without them."

No, Mr. Obama, you don't. Down that path lies the likes of Hugo Chavez, Vladimir Putin and other plutocrats who believe that the ends justify the means.