Readers write (July 20): Shutdown, union bashing, Murdoch, heat

As the long fight drags on between those who believe government should match revenue and those who believe revenue should match government, I can't help but notice that the courts are conveniently compiling for us a handy list of what the state doesn't really need to be doing in the first place.

From what I can gather, many welfare payments continue, but many license renewals do not. Thus the courts seem to believe that the transfer of wealth, rather than the creation of wealth, constitutes the essential business of the state.

If this is the case, perhaps we should consider devolving business regulatory responsibilities to the cities and counties to deal with as they see fit. The state budget would thereby be spared the awful burden of providing such needless services. The citizens might then also escape the worst effects of those who aggrandize power and then refuse to exercise it.

ANTON TREUENFELS, FRIDLEY

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That phrase "essential government functions will still operate during the shutdown" drives me crazy. Shouldn't all government services and programs be essential? Government should only step in where private ventures fail or prove unprofitable.

We've seen the extensive impact our squabbling state Legislature and governor have had on profits of our state's private companies. Take Canterbury Park: It's lost millions at the hand of representatives who aren't doing their jobs.

MEREDITH ENGELEN, MINNEAPOLIS

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When the Republicans took over in January, their very first committee meetings were about shutting down the government. Obviously, they were very successful.

P.M. DRESSEL, LAKEVILLE

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THOMAS R. LOHMANN, EDINA

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It is really nauseating to read letters to the editor and watch television ads excoriating unions, especially teacher unions and their "lavish" benefits. Unions are blamed for protecting the jobs of inferior teachers, causing economic collapse of government and electing corrupt candidates with their "secret" donations. Wrong, wrong and wrong.

Unions ensure the rights of teachers being considered for firing to due process guaranteed by the Tenure Act, an act Republicans are eager to dismantle so that experienced, well-educated teachers can be replaced by cheaper, younger ones.

My "lavish" benefits consisted of affordable health care and a contract containing a salary schedule that allowed me to plan my future. I am not sure which "corrupt" candidates I helped elect, but I know that the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers was forced by its membership to drop "choice" as its stance on birth control because a large number of members opposed it.

DANIEL R. KRUEGER, MINNEAPOLIS

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Rupert Murdoch says that News of the World is only 1 percent of News Corp. Kind of makes you wonder what the other 99 percent is doing, doesn't it? Maybe our goverment should find out. But I suspect, like the English authorities, they already know.

JOHN REHWINKLE, MINNEAPOLIS

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ART HIGINBOTHAM, MINNEAPOLIS

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Don't you hate when people say, "Don't complain about the hot weather, winter will be here before you know it." I say we're Minnesotans and we've earned the right to complain about the hot weather in the summer and the cold weather in the winter. We live in the state of extremes and if it makes us feel better to complain, let us complain in peace.

KAY DENT, NORWOOD YOUNG AMERICA

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In the evening sleeping with a damp sheet, 100 percent cotton if available, brings comfort. As the water evaporates from the sheet, it pulls heat away from the body. I used this technique when I was in Ouagadougou, West Africa, where I did not have access to electricity. It worked surprisingly well.

JULIE RISSER, EDINA

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So far we've had two power outages this year. The first one happened when the weather was not as bad, but there was dangerous heat Monday and the outage lasted three hours.

We understand that it's hard to provide energy, especially when everyone is using twice as much, yet I haven't heard of any backup plans from Xcel.

And it would be very nice if Xcel would learn to be empathetic and to apologize to extremely frustrated customers who are experiencing 115-degree weather inside their homes.