Readers Write

Call for cleaner vehicles

Minnesotans want to breathe cleaner air

The Legislature is debating a bill that would cut air pollution from the largest single source in the state — transportation, while reducing global warming that threatens our future and saving us billions at the pump. Sounds like a no-brainer right?

It certainly seems to be to most Minnesotans. A poll conducted by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership last year found that more than 80 percent of Minnesotans support putting pressure on automakers to produce cleaner vehicles.

Citizens have driven to the Capitol from miles away to lobby their legislators to support this bill — nearly 40 folks from the Bemidji area, more than 40 from Austin and Albert Lea, and more than 200 students and community members from around the metro a couple of weeks ago. More folks have come up from Mankato, in from St. Cloud, up from Rochester. And calls have been pouring in to key legislators' offices.

While there may be some dissenting voices, the Legislature has the chance to pass a bill that is wildly popular — Minnesotans know a winner when they see one — and is simply the right thing to do.

Monique Sullivan, Minneapolis; advocate, Environment Minnesota

Dispelling the myths

Two March 16 letter writers represent the misconceptions surrounding the moral issue of the use of stem cells to significantly impact disease prevention.

Embryonic stem cells are obtained from either aborted fetuses or fertilized eggs left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF). They are useful for medical and research purposes because they can produce cells for almost every tissue in the body. These are fertilized eggs and tissue that would otherwise be discarded.

One writer suggested embryonic stem cell research was the same as "cannibalizing," and the other suggested this was the "wasting of preborn life." They are wrong; there is no potential for those fertilized eggs to become human beings. Fertilized eggs are not being created specifically for stem cell research.

The benefits of using stem cells are many and extremely significant. In cases where a patient's cells or tissues are destroyed and must be replaced by tissue or organ transplants, stem cells may be able to generate brand new tissue. Stem cells may be able to cure diseases. Diseases that could see revolutionary advances include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer and burns.

Karen Watters, Stillwater

Paulsen on the bonuses

Doing nothing is what got us in this mess

Let me understand what Erik Paulsen is demanding ("Washingon must act on bonuses," March 20). Government must take back this bonus money paid to the AIG managers and executives who created this awful mess, but government must stay out of business matters. The president and the Congress should have never have let any of these things happen, but should quit trying to regulate the private sector.

Paulsen seems to be saying government is at fault for doing nothing but that government has no business doing anything and was wrong to try, and especially wrong for doing it too late.

So now Paulsen blames the Democrats. When you are rescuing someone from drowning, there is seldom time for a complete and thorough look at his pay contracts and complex debt obligations, at least not before he is out of the water. And there's always the chance Erik Paulsen will scream about government intrusion into private business matters.

Eric Hanson, Minneapolis

United Way

We give, but it takes

While I find it quite "heartening" that the United Way raised $89 million from the community, I find it sad and ironic that they are going to lay off employees to save $1.4 million. Isn't this "heartless" for a social services agency?

Better schools

The solution: Don't look for PC answers

Minneapolis City Councilman Don Samuels is right when he advocates equal treatment for all students (Letter of the Day, March 20).

Knee-jerk, well-intentioned programs — busing, automatic grade advancement, culture-specific language instruction, charter schools, higher per-student spending and state-mandated school district racial balancing — clearly have not worked.

The successful urban schools Samuels touts all have the same standard: quality leadership, a scholastic curriculum, good teachers, zero tolerance for disruptive behavior, no government interference and parent involvement.