Letter: Safety in the work zone is important

From: Wayne Fingalson
Wright County Highway Engineer
The state of Minnesota is often known for its two seasons – winter and road construction.
As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, many highways will undergo repairs, and some will even undergo complete reconstruction. Larger jobs mean larger work crews and more equipment on site, which means greater danger in the work zone.
During the month of April each year, the importance of safety in the work zone is recognized and promoted by many safety and transportation groups in the United States.
This year, the week of April 19-23 has been set aside as the 2010 National Work Zone Awareness Week with the theme of “Work Zones Need Your Undivided Attention.”
More than a thousand people are killed in highway work zones each year, and every one of these work-zone deaths is avoidable. Speeding and driver inattention are the most often-cited causes of work-zone deaths.
Did you know that you have to travel at the posted speed limit in the work zone even if you don’t see any construction going on?
The number one type of crash in a work zone is a rear end crash.
The number one cause of a crash in a work zone is following too closely.
Most people don’t know that more than 80 percent of deaths in roadway work zones are those of drivers and passengers, not roadway workers.
You, as a driver, have it in your power to save your own life. Please be attentive, follow the posted speed limits, and stay a safe distance behind the vehicle ahead of you.
Remember, the life you save may be your own.
Wayne is also a Safe Communities of Wright County Board member.

Letter: Most taxpayers didn’t want bill

From: K.J. McDonald
Watertown
I am responding to the March 29 letter from my good friend, John Norman, defending the so-called Obama Health Care Bill, that is now law. This 2,700-page partisan bill was passed by the Democrats, without a single Republican vote.
Many who voted for the bill did not even read it before voting. Norman was correct in writing that “the Republicans gambled on the debate and lost.” Actually, the Republicans are on the side of the  majority of the taxpayers, who do not want the federal government takeover of our health care system. They are the losers.
The polls have indicated this repeatedly. We do not need the federal bureaucrats in Washington, DC deciding who should or should not receive care. Facts about the plan are not out and it is not “fear mongering” to point out why this government plan is going to break the bank and destroy the great health care system we already have in America.
I am not saying that our present health care insurance system is perfect, it does need reform. However, I applauded the effort to defeat the bill and instead do the reforms needed with insurance coverage, etc.
That did not happen, so now we have a law that will hire 16,000 new IRS agents to enforce all citizens to purchase government-approved insurance programs and fine the citizens who do not do so.
What happens to freedom of choice? As people discover more and more about this very expensive takeover of “health care” we, the people, will go to the polls next November and demand that both the Democrats and the Republicans work together to repeal this law and start over with a plan that will meet the hopes and aspirations of Americans and fix the problems with a system that protects freedom and saves the best health care of all, at a price we can live with.
We, the people, will be heard next November.

Letter: Criticism of Mauer unjustified

From: Anthony Kuznia
Howard Lake
It’s not too often I’m compelled to overcome my general apathy about what I read in the newspaper and respond, but your recent column by Jenni Sebora, “Mauer makes money with new contract” really has me upset.
You spend half your article listing Mauer’s numerous athletic achievements, and even mention that many people believe he’s the best catcher in baseball, only to follow all this up by putting a negative spin on his $184 million contract – “the richest contract in history of major league baseball for a catcher.”
You make the case for him being the best catcher in baseball, but then you go on to say he shouldn’t be paid like it?  Instead of actually making a fact-central case for why he doesn’t deserve it (injury prone? long-term contract for a catcher not a good idea?), you go with the nonsensical “starving children” argument, like Mauer’s contract is somehow contributing to worldwide poverty.
For you to say that you’ll have “a little less respect” for Joe because of his salary, that was freely agreed upon by both him and the team, is more than a little disappointing, but not altogether unexpected coming from someone whose pay isn’t performance- or results-based.
Is it his profession that dictates whether or not he deserves his salary, or is it just that everyone that makes a lot of money doesn’t deserve it?
You say in a roundabout way the only reason you can’t hit a 90-mph pitch is because you don’t get paid to do so, and go on to say you could strike out six or seven times out of 10. I bet you (or I) would be lucky to end up striking out 99 times out of 100.
Pat Neshek could probably have me cowering on the ground, fearing for my life. Why is this?  You and I both played baseball or softball since elementary school, just like Joe, so how come he ended up getting paid to play and we didn’t?
I’ll end my rhetorical questioning and get to the point:  God-given talent. A very small number of people have what it takes to play at the professional level, and a large number of people want to pay to watch people with this kind of talent.
The President only makes $400,000, like Michelle Wie only made $735,224 in 2007 (the other $19.5 million came from endorsements).
Enough of that stuff. Let’s talk baseball. You mention you’re a huge baseball fan with both playing and coaching experience, yet you say you have a hard time with the money he’ll make “even if he gets hurt the first day of his guaranteed contract.”  I guess if he gets brain damage taking a wild swing’s follow-through to the back of the head or the eye socket, he should just be cut and thrown off the team. If he gets a broken shoulder protecting the plate from a runner, I guess that’s just too bad for him. If he gets one too many fouled off his mask, I guess it’s up to his wife to wipe the drool from his chin the rest of his life. As a huge baseball fan, please list a catcher that didn’t/doesn’t have knee problems late in his career (other than Manny Sanguillen).
“For the love of the game, for the love of his hometown, he could settle for maybe a couple million less.”  If he wouldn’t have signed with the Twins, both the Red Sox and Yankees would have been interested (Varitek uncertain and Posada is almost 40), and they both would pay more than $184 million. He did settle for more than a couple million less.
“What can one person do with all that money?”  They can come to work and risk their health every day, fill an entire stadium with willing and paying spectators, employ countless concessions/maintenance personnel, and flood Twin Cities’ businesses with money.
If this ends up getting put into the paper – Joe, if you’re reading this, I need some tickets.

Letter: Bloodmobile coming to Howard Lake

From: Donna Haglin
Howard Lake
The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at the St. James Lutheran School, 1000 Sixth Avenue, Howard Lake, Tuesday, April 20  from 1 to 7 p.m.
Do you know your blood type?
One hundred ten thousand units of 0 blood donations are needed every day for accident victims, surgeries, and other needs, and that is just type 0. So many wonderful, caring people donate – you would think there would be enough blood available, but there is always a shortage.
Donors of all blood types are welcome and encouraged to give. If you are unsure of your blood type, you will find out when you donate.
Any person who is in general good health, weighs 110 pounds or more, has not donated for 56 days, and is 17 years of age or older (16 years with Red Cross parent/guardian consent paper signed, available at Joe’s Sport Shop or the high school office) can donate blood.
It will take about an hour of your time, from registration to refreshments. You will have a mini-physical, and your donor card will tell you your blood type. You can’t lose – and you will be helping another person in need.
Walk in when the time is convenient for you, or call Donna Haglin, area coordinator, at (320)543-2444 to set up an appointment (appointments are preferred) or for answers to questions you may have.

Letter: McLeod For Tomorrow is reaching out

From: Mary Jo Wieseler
McLeod For Tomorrow
McLeod for Tomorrow is an organization with a mission that promotes communication, education and networking among elected and appointed officials in McLeod County.
In these current economic times, our county, cities and schools will be forced to make tough decisions to manage a reduction in aid from the state of Minnesota.
With these challenges facing our local units of government, McLeod for Tomorrow is reaching out to McLeod County citizens and communities to promote education and participation on this issue.
Recently, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced a proposal to further reduce aid to local cities, counties and school districts.
As the legislative session moves forward, there will be opportunities to influence the process, no matter what your position is on local aid. Please contact your local legislators and ask them to provide their position on cuts to local aid and share with them your position on the issue:
• Representative Ron Shimanski, (651) 296-1534,    rep.ron.shimanski@house.mn
• Senator Steve Dille, (651) 296-4131, sen.steve.dille@senate.mn.
Over the next few months, our county board, city councils, school and township boards will also be making decisions on how to fill the possible revenue gap caused by a reduction in state aid.
These financial gaps will either be filled through expenditure reductions or by generating new revenue, which may directly affect the level of services you have traditionally received from your local unit of government.
McLeod for Tomorrow believes that government functions at its best when citizens and businesses actively participate in the decision-making process.
In the next few weeks and months, elected officials will be making critical decisions on future services and operations in your community. McLeod for Tomorrow encourages you stay informed and actively participate in a process that may impact you and your neighbors.
For more information on McLeod for Tomorrow, please visit our web site at mcleodfortomorrow.com.

Letter: Young people today have no hope

From: Joan Neururer
Waverly
The health care bill adds insult to injury to our young people.
Included in the bill the government has taken over the student loan program. The government will loan out money it borrows at a little over 2 percent and will charge the student 6 percent. This will help pay for health care.
Young people of today have virtually no hope of getting any return on the dollars they are required by law to pay into entitlement programs. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) has solutions that we should consider.
One is the privatization of Social Security. For younger citizens, it is indeed a solution worth considering. The collapse of the market is an opportunity for long-term growth for younger taxpayers.
The advantages are two-fold. This would take the money out of the greedy fists of politicians who are so willing to spend every dime they can beg, borrow, or steal. This would also stimulate the economy by putting more money into the hands of the people who actually produce jobs. Must we continue to steal from our children and grandchildren?
This country has given “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” to all citizens. It doesn’t give us the right to fill our needs on the backs of others. It is time for us to take responsibility for our own actions.
In the meantime, we have a president who is alienating our friends and courting our enemies. We have a president who is flagrantly disregarding the rule of law. He is poised to sign into law an eduction bill that hasn’t, legally, been passed by the Senate.
He has appointed top-level officials without the vetting of the Senate. One of those was under filibuster by the Senate. Remember President Bush’s appointees were very effectively filibustered by the Democrats? It is once again apparent that the rules are different for the Democrats; they are above the law.
It is apparent that in this regime the minority party’s hands are tied. There are more bills coming up, Cap and Trade, the Fairness Doctrine, and a law to take away the secret ballot for union workers.
The statement “We are all socialist now” is apparently true. This president is ruthless. Our laws don’t matter to him. He is a petulant little boy that has gotten mad because things haven’t gone his way.
His party had big majorities in both houses of Congress. It still took bribes, deceit, circumvention of the law, and 14 months to finally pass the health care bill. Where is the bi-partisan Congress he touted?
He is now turning to bullying tactics to get what he wants. It is becoming glaringly apparent that his prime goal is the destruction of American ideals.

« Previous Page — Next Page »