Readers Write (Oct. 26): Residential parking, the governor's race, presidential leadership, travel hacking

It seems to me that residential permit parking on public streets is a violation of public access to public property ("One block, thousands of tickets," Oct. 19). Minneapolis and St. Paul should not prey on citizens in the name of a policy that should be illegal. Girard Avenue in Minneapolis and Grand Avenue in St. Paul are maintained by public money and should not be turned into extensions of nearby private property. The cities must come up with a fairer way of balancing quality of life for residents with the rights of everyone else.

Perhaps the Star Tribune Editorial Board should reconsider its endorsement of Mark Dayton for governor following the debate between Dayton and Republican Jeff Johnson last Sunday morning.

Johnson was bright, optimistic, well-informed and full of ideas for making Minnesota a better place to run a business and raise families. He spoke easily about freedom, about less government intrusion in our lives and about letting Minnesotans keep more of the money they earn.

Dayton offered tired rhetoric championing higher taxes on the people who produce, more and more government control over public and private education, and nothing to encourage small-business owners that state government is their friend, not their adversary.

Johnson's enthusiasm and energy was so obvious that the Star Tribune should do the right thing and reverse its endorsement.

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Reasons to end Dayton's reign:

2) Dayton is controlled by Big Labor. He enthusiastically supports union leaders over everyone else. Examples of Dayton laws:

• Spent half a billion for a new Vikings stadium to procure a few thousand temporary union construction jobs.

• Minnesota forces schools to only consider seniority when making teacher layoffs.

• Minnesota pretends that day care owners are employees, to beef up union membership.

3) Dayton isn't competent. Three examples:

• The extremely weak response to e-gambling that was supposed to pay for the stadium.

• Dayton apparently had no clue of the MNsure debacle before anyone else did. Does he actually understand the job of the chief executive?

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It has become a trend for politicians to reach out to the "undecided" and to the middle. But the gap between die-hard Democrats and Republicans is growing; many politicians find their beliefs and values compromised for the sake of the party they associate with.

The Independence Party should be recognized for its efforts to serve the people, not the party. This year's IP candidate for governor, Hannah Nicollet, is bringing to the table issues that neither Republicans nor Democrats want to address — for instance, drug reform (decreasing criminalization) and road repairs for all Minnesotans instead of light rail that will only help some people. We can't address these topics if we continue to listen to only two parties. For this reason (and many more), Nicollet has my vote on Nov. 4.

Washington had an average intellect, suffered personal tragedies, and learned humility from defeat as a commander during the French and Indian Wars, but also learned the value of surrounding himself with people more capable than himself and delegating authority to trusted people. These traits helped him understand British military weakness and help a fledgling nation survive.

Lincoln could have been a modern-day poster child for mental-health awareness. His depressions he termed that "black dog" were his constant companion throughout his life. He was a successful lawyer with an iron will. His clarity of mind and practice dealing with his personal mental-health issues helped him prevail during the darkest days of the Civil War.

FDR was described by a Supreme Court justice as a third-rate intellect with a first-rate personality. His easygoing nature and an awareness of his public self overcame personal frailties. He was from the upper crust, but to those who listened to him on his radio fireside chats, he was the salt of the earth — a comforting voice giving hope to those whose lives were turned upside down by economic upheaval.

Two observable facts: Nature abhors a vacuum, and fish rots from the head down. If great presidents did not exist, we would have to create them. The alternative is the inevitable erosion of confidence in those who are tasked to lead us.

I have been in the travel industry for 30 years and have seen all types of practices come and go when it comes to securing a travel bargain, the latest being travel hacking ("What is travel hacking — and how do you get started?" Oct. 19). While it is true there is nothing illegal about the practice, it is a "reward" received through ill-gotten means. Most cardholders earn their rewards in the manner intended by the card company, and these people and the merchants that accept credit cards are the ones paying the cost of travel hacking through increasing card fees.

The Oct. 19 article's advice on how to visit New York City on a budget was prudent with the exception of securing travel points. There is enough dishonesty in the world; please don't encourage it.