Readers Write: Keillor's reply regarding Lake Wobegon as Trump country, Minnesota's political geography, farmers vs. fens, American Health Care Act, French election, goat rescue, renaming Lake Calhoun

John C. Chalberg is absolutely right that the people of Lake Wobegon voted for Donald J. Trump last November ("Keillor's no Trump fan; what of Lake Wobegon?" May 9), though it is also true that their enthusiasm was muted and has become even more so since he took office. They are waiting to see what he does. So far, the picture is not encouraging.

As for Mr. Chalberg's idea that the Democratic Party is elitist, you have to look at the Trumpcare bill passed by the Republican House that will effectively take health insurance away from millions of people, including people who voted for Mr. Trump, who promised health care for "everybody" that is "much less expensive and better." (The bill also gives a tidy bonus to people earning more than a million dollars a year.) Health care is not an elitist matter; mortality is a great leveler. Anyone can get hit by critical illness, a stroke, heart disease, and when you call 911 and the EMTs arrive, you are desperate to get what you need. This is even more true in outstate towns where excellent health care may be hours away. The Democratic Party holds that health care is a basic right these days, what with all that government has done to support research and medical education and the hospital industry. What Medicare did for older people like me should be extended to the rest of you. The good people of Lake Wobegon may have voted for Mr. Trump, but they don't care to die for him.

For those of us who are political junkies, the Star Tribune stories May 8 about U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar ("Klobuchar in Iowa stirs speculation," front page) and by Garrison Keillor ("At night, on the open road, all seems possible," Opinion Exchange) were a nice way to start the week. Both understand political geography. Amy Klobuchar's venture into Iowa proves what a smart Midwesterner understands: that jobs, education and rural broadband are economic issues that rural and urban voters can agree on. And she's smart enough to heed the warning that Minnesota Republican Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan issued in the article that "in Republican circles, she's known as the senator of small things." Small things are important to thousands of voters, but Carnahan has revealed what will be the Republican strategy in Amy's re-election campaign.

Keillor's article is, in essence, the celebration of small things that make Minnesota what it is. He's made a career of celebrating and making jokes about small things that characterize Minnesota and make him the successful and insightful man he is. That's what endears so many Minnesotans and national readers and radio listeners to him. Too many politicians ignore political geography, as the last election proved.

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In the name of all that is right and decent I beg you; please do not start spooling up the 2020 presidential campaign coverage. Until Amy Klobuchar and anyone else inclined to succeed Donald Trump tattoos "I am running" on their foreheads, ignore their attendance and remarks at every fish fry, moose skinning, frog gigging, shad planking or horse spooking in Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin or wherever. We are all exhausted by the water torture of the never-ending campaign.

According to the Farmland Information Center, Minnesota has 41,970 total square miles of agricultural land, including 26,795 square miles classified as prime farmland. The state's 200 endangered calcareous fens wetlands cannot survive without a constant supply of groundwater. Altogether, they take up a whopping total of 5 square miles. The Legislature is giving away free permits to farmers in Pipestone County to pump groundwater near fens for 15 years ("It's farmers vs. fens as water battle heats up," May 6). If the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cancels the permits after five years, the state will reimburse farmers for the part of the costs of their irrigation systems. If their private use of water, a public resource, kills the fens, which belong to all of us, will the farmers pay the state for the irreparable damage? How much?

Among those in jeopardy are people struggling to overcome the grip of addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

I find it particularly egregious that three members of the House delegation from Minnesota voted to support the House bill.

These three (Jason Lewis, Erik Paulsen and Tom Emmer) are from a state with a reputation for treating addiction as the health care issue it is.

Ironically, Paulsen's district includes the renowned adolescent treatment facility operated by Hazelden Betty Ford.

And Lewis and Emmer represent districts that include facilities that are focused on meeting the needs of young people and adults addicted to dangerous substances like alcohol, cocaine and opioids.

Vive la France for an intelligent and thoughtful vote.

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There is no joy in Moscow, the mighty Putin has struck out!

Given Friday's rescue of Gordy the goat ("Police separate the goat from the thieves," May 6) and the somewhat strained relationship any police department can have periodically with some of the people it serves and protects, perhaps the new motto of the St. Paul Police Department ought to be: "We get your goat, one way or the other."

I am in favor of the name change for Bde Maka Ska and I am sure that it will eventually become natural to use the new name instead of Lake Calhoun. This being said, I do not understand the need to always use the Dakota word for "lake" as part of the name. If the objective is rapid acceptance and usage of the new name, then signage that reads "Lake (Bde) Maka Ska" would seem a better choice. It certainly eliminates the redundancy of saying "Lake Bde Maka Ska." Also, it would simplify the changing of other names associated with the lake where the word lake is frequently omitted. For example, the roads around the Lake are E. Calhoun Pkwy. and W. Calhoun Pkwy. and could easily be changed to E. and W. Maka Ska Pkwys.