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Indiscriminate arrests at the convention Concerning the recent mass arrests at the Republican National Convention, a Sept. 9 letter writer said that he/she is "puzzled at the claims that the police had no right to arrest some of the protesters at the RNC in St. Paul."

The point is not that some protesters were, and deserved to be, arrested; the point is that the police did not have the right to arrest everyone who was simply in the vicinity -- peaceful protesters, bystanders, concertgoers (such as myself), journalists, medics, etc. -- -as they actually did. I learned this the hard way.

If it was clear to me -- a bystander who had been there less than 20 minutes -- who the small number of people causing the problems were, it should have been clear to the police who had been there all day. Sure, just going off and arresting everyone will get the job done, but I was under the impression that that's not the way America worked. I guess I just got a nice crack over the head with reality's two-foot baton.

MAIJA L. VARDA, MINNEAPOLIS

Maybe McCain could expand his notion of government help John McCain was on "Face the Nation" Sunday saying that the government takeover of the mortgage industry was necessary to keep people in their homes.

That sounds like socialism. It sounds like a bureaucrat getting between my mortgage broker and me. It sounds like government interfering in the lives of private citizens and businesses.

It also sounds like it might make mortgages more affordable and easier to get for all. We might get some more oversight to a system that is crucial to our economy, and it might eliminate the power of some lobbyists in Washington.

It sounds like exactly what we need for our health care system. John McCain said we need the government to bail out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to keep people in their homes, and I agree with him. I wonder, though, where is that same understanding of a government's responsibility to the well-being of its people when it comes to his policy on health care?

JEFF KOCUR, RICHFIELD

The hockey mom vote I can't help but feel a sense of concern about a vice presidential candidate self-described as a "hockey mom" and a "pit bull," who assumes this will summon a positive image of leadership. Screaming in the stands for your kid to "win, win, win," and tearing apart one's opponent by merit of superior jaw strength seem primitive means to an end when applied to governing a nation.

With the complexities facing the United States both nationally and internationally, why is intelligence and thoughtfulness being parlayed as weakness? Action without insight has brought us to this unpopular, ineffective place in world politics, and has undermined our strength here and abroad. I would rather cast my lot with a candidate whose judgment I trust, than to harness our future to someone (a heartbeat away from the presidency), with admirable field dressing skills, but a primitive world view.

MARY CLAIRE O'BRIEN, ROCKFORD

Bumper sticker seen in Ely: "This Hockey Mom For Obama!"

JOHN LARSON, ELY, MINN.

Thirty years of coaching hockey, 25 some of playing and about 15 years as a hockey dad have left me with many wonderful memories, but little to qualify me as a vice presidential candidate. As a voter I have nothing in common with Sarah Palin's politics.

PETE BOELTER, NORTH BRANCH, MINN.

College kids are quitters. Yea! College kids get enough grief from adults for slacking off, but when it comes to smoking, we should applaud them for being quitters

Just five years ago, 18- to 24-year-olds were smoking at nearly twice the rate of adults but the latest numbers show that the current classes are heeding the health messages and responding to price increases and anti-smoking policies. You guys kick butt(s).

MATTHEW FLORY, ST. LOUIS PARK; HEALTH PROMOTIONS DIRECTOR, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY