Readers Write (Nov. 4): Wolves, climate change, civility, election issues, orchestras

I agree with Greg Breining that we've been captivated, to a greater or lesser degree, by the idea that we can control nature or at least manage the negative consequences of our behavior ("Have scientists fallen prey?" Oct. 28). Although Breining wrote about wolves, the same thinking can be applied to numerous issues, from the eradication of predators to the ceaseless burning of fossil fuels. This idea persists despite overwhelming evidence that things are getting very much out of control, with record-breaking heat waves, killer droughts, floods, wildfires and superstorms.

We believe that somehow our technology -- which may have caused the problem to begin with -- will save us, fueled by "green" energy or a "drill baby drill" attitude, and we won't have to change our resource-exhausting, climate-destabilizing way of life. Ecologists invite us to adopt a humbler attitude, as members rather than conquerors of the natural world. We can live simply, as the saying goes, so that others can simply live.

KURT SEABERG, Minneapolis

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There should be a wolf-hunting season this year. There has been an increase in the number of cattle killed, though not a substantial one. There's also a very small number of wolves in Minnesota, so the chance of a hunter actually seeing and shooting one is slim. However, the real result of the wolf hunt may be to increase the deer population in Minnesota. I personally have seen that population where I hunt in northern Minnesota go down dramatically. I used to be able to see 10 to 15 in deer in one day. Last year, I saw only four during the entire the hunting season.

PAUL STEHR, FOREST LAKE, MINN.

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MICHAEL MCCOSKY, St. Michael

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Hush! Don't speak too loud, but do you think there is any connection between climate change and the worst storm ever to hit New York, droughts throughout the Midwest, more weather trouble in Haiti, lack of winter, etc. You would never know it was an issue from the silence in newspapers, television, radio and presidential debates ("Candidates clam up on climate," Oct. 24). I suggest we start talking about it. How much worse are things going to get before we wake up?

BARRY RIESCH, St. Paul

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JUDI POMERLEAU, Wayzata

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As I read Blodgett, the Buddha's teaching came to mind:

"'She abused me, he beat me, she defeated me, he robbed me.' In those who harbor such thoughts, hatred will never cease.

'She abused me, he beat me, she defeated me, he robbed me.' In those who do not harbor such thoughts, hatred will cease.

Thanks to Blodgett for reminding us to seek understanding and to reflect love.

SCOTT A. LIMPERT, EDINA

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For all the Democrats, AARP, ACLU, LWV, ex-Republicans and this newspaper's editors who have been calling for the defeat of the photo ID amendment, it must have been eye-opening (but educational) to see President Obama happily showing his photo ID when early-voting in Chicago last week.

BOB MAGINNIS, EDINA

Wouldn't it be great if those supporting voter ID, especially Republican lawmakers, were as concerned about who has the right to firearms as they are about who has the right to vote? That's scrutiny I could get behind, and an ID solution that would solve a real problem.

JIM WHITEHURST, ST. PAUL

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The more I hear about the labor woes of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra, the more I'm reminded of Woody Allen's quip in "Annie Hall": "I don't want to live in a city where the only cultural advantage is that you can make a right turn on a red light."

WILLIAM K. WANGENSTEEN, MINNEAPOLIS

Thomas L. Friedman ("The election story, as told by my hometown," Nov. 1) opines: "When I was growing up, my congressmen were liberal Republicans (there were no other kind in Minnesota back than)." Really.

He goes on to tell everyone that Republican caucuses today are dominated by the Tea Party and libertarian followers of Ron Paul. I wonder when he last was at one. Tacitly, he must think that all Minnesotans who are not liberal Democrats are GOP hard-liners, fed up with high taxes, skyrocketing deficits and the erosion of personal freedoms. He might be on to something.

He devotes the balance of his column enlightening Minnesotans on how they can take their politics back and become centrists. I'm curious if that's how he sees today's Democratic Party.

Perhaps hard-liner, insurgent, right-wing radical Republicans will be able to say: "I'm not surprised Obama lost, since no one I knew voted for him."