Readers Write (Nov. 30): Vikings, Cyber Monday, Eden Prairie schools, tax reform

Do not be deceived by the latest Vikings stadium plan, "But For." Diverting the income taxes paid by Vikings players, employees and visiting players (in addition to the sales taxes generated within the stadium) to funding the stadium is simply a cleverly repackaged taxpayer-funded subsidy.

These taxes currently go to the general fund, and their loss will simply result in additional revenue shortages that will need to be made up by all taxpayers. Ask legislators who favor this approach how they intend to make up the lost revenues. (Maybe they'll cut spending?)

The accurate application of "But For" is to increase ticket prices, concession prices, luxury-suite prices and advertising rates to fund the stadium. These are truly revenues that would not be realized "but for" the existence of the stadium.

MIKE KORELTZ, BLOOMINGTON

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The Vikings' proposal is so ingenious it should be widely copied.

For example, consider how such a strategy could benefit the public school system. State taxes paid by teachers and administrators and families of students could be diverted to pay for schools.

That would enable our public schools to borrow $1 billion to $2 billion, about what the Minneapolis schools estimate is needed for new construction, repair, renovation and modernization of their facilities.

Once we accept that taxes from a specific business or sector or even neighborhood can be diverted from the public good to private gain, the mind boggles at the financing possibilities.

Indeed, if everyone took advantage of this newfound source of funds, might we live to see a time when government itself disappears while taxes continue?

Farfetched? Perhaps. Bizarre? Certainly. But this is the type of futuristic thinking the Vikings' imaginative proposal inspires.

DAVID MORRIS, MINNEAPOLIS

Thank you for publishing the superb counterpoint about the further encroachment of work into private life ("There's a price to be paid for unfriendly employer priorities," Nov. 29). Meaningful work is one of the most important roles humans play. It is not the only reason we exist.

In our dual roles as workers and consumers, we are pummeled with contradictory messages. Just to pick one example, we hear the drumbeat for "Cyber Monday" on one hand and on the other are informed that many employers monitor the time employees spend shopping online at work.

The idea that, even in a recession, we should just shut up and be glad to have jobs is a soul-killer ("Take this job and ... be glad you have it," editorial, Nov. 23).

Why is it that the income and wealth gaps are at historic highs? Could it be that the working class is so thoroughly cowed by the rich that we are afraid to stand up and ask for our true value? Or do we really believe that our CEO merits a salary 400 times greater than ours?

While capitalism is the best economic arrangement mankind has yet devised, the evidence that our interpretation of it is so damaging to so many of its participants should make us step back for a moment and ask if we are willing to accept it "as is."

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Former Eden Prarie school board member Ann Haines' article defending the district's former school superintendent ("There were smart reasons for Eden Prairie adjustments," Nov. 27) reveals one major problem with many previous Eden Prairie board members -- they lacked the ability to counter Melissa Krull's big dreams with some much-needed skepticism.

Just because the superintendent is passionate about something and the goal is worthy doesn't mean that everything that can be done must be done or should be done.

Skeptical school board members could have asked: Are the gains that might occur for one group of children statistically significant enough or worth the disruption that another group of children will have to endure? Are there alternatives that will accomplish the same goal with less disruption?

Sadly, Haines answers these questions indirectly by revealing that significant gains in test scores had already occurred -- before any boundary changes were implemented.

They had heard the sales pitch used to sell the community on the need for a Spanish immersion school in 2006, a school that was now being used to justify the need for more efficient use of school buildings but was also, ironically, exempt from redistribution of low-income students that Krull felt was imperative to close the achievement gap in the rest of the district.

Knowledge of some history breeds skepticism and a lack of trust. That's all it takes to motivate parents to seek a much-needed change in leadership.

ELLEN HOERLE, EDEN PRAIRIE

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While I agree with the Nov. 29 editorial that we should continue to examine our state-local tax structure ("State tax reform is a rebalancing act"), fairness is in the eyes of the beholder. One person's tax loophole is another's tax incentive.

Why the exemption for clothing? While clothing is a necessity, our casual lifestyles and cheap imports mean that the poor spend little, and the rich surely don't need an exemption for their $1,000 suits.

There are needed adjustments to the state income tax and property tax. Let's have that dialogue.