GOING AFTER LENDERS
Blame the borrowers
So now Minneapolis and St. Paul want to sue the subprime lenders because of lost revenues due to boarded up properties and lost taxes (Star Tribune, Feb. 2). Who says we are a litigious society?
The cities want to go after the so-called predatory lenders who make the bad loans. Maybe they should be called stupid lenders and predatory borrowers. The borrowers are the ones not living up to their end of the agreement. Of course the lenders have the deep pockets.
Not to say that there shouldn't be some changes in the lending business. But, for the most part, these are legal loans that fall into the category of bad business. Perhaps Minneapolis should sue every business that fails and leaves an empty storefront.
MITCHELL ANDERSON, EAGAN
PRECINCT CAUCUSES
Not a fan
Is caucusing fair? People who work second shift cannot attend. It is difficult for older people to get out on a winter evening or even get a volunteer to give them a ride. Parents of small children cannot take turns babysitting while the other goes to caucus.
The small window of time for people to attend a caucus vs. voting at a polling place that is open all day does not seem to be what a free society proclaims when it says it wants all voters to participate.
Let us have a real primary where people really have an opportunity to vote.
BYRON BUTTERS, ANDOVER
Unfair to students I am a full-time student at the University of Minnesota. I also work 20-plus hours at a child care center. Consequently, I often have to take a number of my classes in the evening.
I've also been very active in the political process. The university sent out an e-mail suggesting if a student wanted to participate in a party's caucus, he or she would have to make prior arrangements with the professor.
It's been my experience that many of my fellow classmates who are interested in getting involved in the political process for the first time are reluctant to miss a potentially important class. It also puts the professor in an awkward position to accommodate those students.
In the future, the University of Minnesota should cancel or reschedule those evening classes that fall on the date of a caucus. This would most certainly encourage a vast number of young Minnesotans to get directly involved in the democratic process.
SAM SEELY, MINNEAPOLIS
WALLEYES IN MILLE LACS
Delay netting
I was a bit puzzled by the Jan. 31 article about the "mysterious" decline of walleyes in Lake Mille Lacs, which quoted the new harvest numbers. The harvest for nontribe anglers will be cut by 142,500 pounds from last year's quotas, while tribal members' quotas will increase by 22,500 pounds.
I think some common sense should be brought into this equation. Tribal members take their quota in the spring with nets. Walleyes spawn in the spring, and netting a spawning female walleye is just plain idiotic. This has been happening for eight years now.
Netting should not be allowed in Mille Lacs until after the spawn is over.
PHILIP W. BEMIS, ROSEMOUNT
ECONOMIC STIMULUS
Great idea
If tax cuts are such a terrible idea, why are Democrats lining up with Republicans to give money back to stimulate the economy? Wouldn't allowing people to keep more of their money, permanently, be a good idea?
Imagine that -- keeping more of what you earn and not having it stolen by others.
JOHN RAUSTADT, PRIOR LAKE
COUNCIL MULLS ELEPHANTS
A silly debate
After seeing the Minneapolis City Council debate banning circus elephant rides, I feel like wearing a bag over my head. Some issues debated by the council are just too embarrassing for residents to endure.
JAMES BOYER, MINNEAPOLIS
SMOKING BANS
They're antichoice
It amazes me the level of irony that can be derived from your Feb. 1 editorial "A neighbor's advice on a smoking ban."
It is certainly not ironic that your paper would support freedom constricting legislation to "solve" an issue that ought not be "solved" for the public. What is ironic is that you use an example of why a smoking ban is not needed in Wisconsin to make your case for a smoking ban.
The issue is not about smoking -- it's about choice. Ready Randy's made a choice to offer the patrons who frequent the bar and the people who choose to work there a smokefree environment. Clearly it was a risk given the nature of the business but the ownership seems pleased with the results.
Everyone wins! Smokers, nonsmokers, owners of all establishments. Everyone has a place to go that caters to their entertainment needs.
Your freedom-hating approach allows the government to take over and choose for all of us. The idea of America is freedom. Freedom to choose how you would like to use the life that you have been given.
The government didn't give us this freedom; the American people fought for it and achieved it. The biggest threat to this freedom doesn't come from Al-Qaida or the Middle East. It comes from well-meaning people surrendering freedom to our own government.
JAKE WYFFELS, CHANHASSEN
TWINS TRADE SANTANA
Johan called the shots
I don't understand all the anger/disappointment/disgust toward the Minnesota Twins over the Johan Santana trade. Santana and his agent manipulated the Twins for the past few months. He had no intention of staying in Minnesota; he made that clear when he turned down a $20 million-a-year offer.
JUDY YUNG, MINNEAPOLIS
To them, a business When they wanted a new stadium, the Twins were a great "public good." Then they ship off the game's greatest pitcher for four cheap prospects, and Carl Pohlad is an evil businessman all of a sudden.
I've got some news for Minnesotans -- the Santana trade was the usual, not an aberration. And how can you blame the Twins -- they're a business trying to make money!
Quite the wake-up call for the pro-stadium crowd, no?
SAM KAMIN, MINNEAPOLIS
