THE ECONOMIC CRISIS
Realize that there's
no single villain
Both parties have taken great advantage to play the current economic crisis that faces this country by rushing to blame each other. No politician cares about the truth; every politician cares about looking good, beyond reproach, and finding someone or somebody to blame. I am sick of their negative and misleading campaign ads.
This economic crisis goes far beyond blaming one president or one party or one institution. As deep as we are into this mess, it is impossible to blame one particular person or party. All of this points to the fact that individual Americans cannot possibly expect government to take responsibility and fix their woes. Every single American has a personal responsibility to do their part.
So who is to blame? Lots: the Federal Reserve, home buyers, Congress, real-estate agents, the Clinton administration, mortgage brokers, Alan Greenspan, Wall Street and the Bush administration. Understand this fact: The U.S. economy is so extremely complicated that just one person or group of people can't screw it up!
DON BERRE, CHAMPLIN
•••
It was comforting to see that both of our senators voted for an additional $150 billion for lipstick in an effort to get the $700 billion pig beautiful enough to attract votes in Congress.
DAVID GREER, CAMBRIDGE, MINN.
•••
The $700 billion to bail out Wall Street is less than a fifth of what has been added to the national debt the last eight years, and some of the assets purchased will have value that will eventually return dollars to the treasury. And it will prevent a financial collapse comparable to the Great Depression.
The $700 billion absolutely should not go to the people who brought on this mess through corrupt sales and accounting practices. If George W. Bush, John Boehner, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid agree on something like this, it is time for all politicians to have the political courage to do what is right for the country.
That means accepting that "the market" needs to have rules enforced. Blind faith that market forces take care of everything contributed to this, along with eliminating key rules and cost-cutting enforcement. Of course short-term greed can be blamed, but that has always been around, and is why the rules and enforcement are needed.
LEN SCHAKEL, LAKELAND
•••
Here's a thought: Why not spend $700 billion to rebuild bridges, highways, sewers, parks and schools?
This could provide jobs for a variety of skilled and unskilled workers, engineers, architects and construction managers, who would have money to spend on homes, cars, appliances, travel and education. Maybe they'd have extra to save and invest.
Some of the money might trickle up to Wall Street.
ROBERT SCROGGINS, EDINA
•••
When the market crashed in 1929, a popular joke was that stockbrokers and bankers stood in line to jump out windows. Today they stand in line for a government handout.
DAVE MACKMILLER, ST. PAUL
MCCAIN'S VICE PRESIDENT
She's no Tim Pawlenty
I didn't vote for Tim Pawlenty for governor. Frankly, his highly partisan "taxes-are-evil" stand annoys the heck out of me. But after watching Katie Couric interview Sarah Palin, I want him to know this: You was robbed.
GARTH GIDEON, COTTONWOOD, MINN.
BIKE SAFETY
'Single file,' 'keep right' and other suggestions
It is obvious that anyone on a bike who tangles with a car (even a small one) will come out on the losing end. While recent articles about the rising rate of auto/bicycle injuries do stress that motorists should watch out for bikes, they never seem to point out that bicyclists need to change their behavior as well.
My suggestions for safer biking are: 1) Ride single file only and stay as close to the right side of the road as possible; 2) Do not ride in large groups close together; this requires motorists to pass all in a relatively unsafe manner; 3) Do not use the road at all when a bike path is alongside the road, and 4) Avoid riding on streets where the posted speed limit is above 35 miles per hour.
ALAN BROWN, BLOOMINGTON
DRESSING FOR THE POLLS
Minnesota voters must leave buttons at home
In an Oct. 1 report titled "Misleading e-mails" about voter rules in Wisconsin, the Democrats there were said to be telling voters they could wear Obama buttons, hats or shirts into the polling place and be allowed to vote. What your article should have made clear was that this is in Wisconsin.
In Minnesota, state law MS 211B.11 says, "A political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on primary or election day."
As an election judge, I can guarantee that if you walk into a polling place wearing any political paraphernalia, you will be asked to remove them or turn your shirt inside out, and if you refuse to comply, you will not be allowed to vote.
GORDON SMITH, COON RAPIDS
Anoka County lawn signs
McCain prevalence may require caveat
The Oct. 1 Opinion Exchange item by Jill Burcum comments on the great number of Republican signs on lawns and how that may indicate who will win this election. Do they have more signs? Because there are people out there who destroy the Democratic signs during the night.
I am on my third lawn sign for Obama/Biden. Please, let me have my choice and my opportunity to influence that vote without vandalism.
GAIL HELLER, MINNEAPOLIS
