SAFE DRIVING
We must educate early and often
The Dec. 17 editorial ("Make it the law to hang up and drive") states: "If any other blight were routinely killing 350 Minnesotans a year ... Minnesotans would clamor for its eradication."
I already see cell phone use while driving as a disease or blight. In fact, it is only one of many causes of an epidemic afflicting our roadways. After reading the column by the Washington Post's Dana Milbank ("Can you text 'draconian' while driving?" Dec. 19), I felt encouraged.
We need a multipronged approach for the eradication of the primary culprit: distracted driving behavior. Yes, a ban on driver cell phone use is a step in the right direction.
But it is not sufficient. We must engage and educate our future drivers when they are in their formative years. If we can have 2- and 3-year-olds play computer games, we can certainly coach elementary school students on good driver behavior.
These kids might even help us motivate the elder drivers who claim ownership to a driver's license but are too distracted to drive with discipline.
My recommendation is not just talk. I have been walking the talk for the past four years, raising awareness to distracted driving and educating young, very young and adult audiences at teen panels and driver-ed programs and through participation in state and national initiatives.
What motivated me? I am a bereaved parent who lost a daughter to a distracted driver. The last time I saw my daughter Shreya was on her 19th birthday in 2007.
VIJAY B. DIXIT, EDEN PRAIRIE
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COURTROOM VIOLENCE
Why meet guns with more guns?
The National Center for State Courts is concerned about the increasing court-related violence since the 1970s ("Violence casts a pall over state's courtrooms," Dec. 18).
There is much talk about improved security measures, necessary but financially burdensome for many counties. And at least one legislator wants to introduce a bill to allow prosecutors to carry guns.
As gun violence grows, inside and outside the home, harming increasing numbers of innocent people, when will we pass stronger laws restricting gun access? To arm more and more people in the interests of safety is madness.
ANNE PEEK, BLOOMINGTON
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RENTAL PROPERTIES
Applause for city's inspections policy
In response to the article about housing inspection holding landlords accountable to criminal activity on their property ("What are housing inspections for," Dec. 20), I say, "Thank you, Minneapolis."
On my street, there are numerous rental properties but only one perpetual bad apple. This one house sets the tone of violence for our block, with shootings, gunfire, drug dealing and numerous police calls.
I have been a property manager and know that it is all about the hard work, expense and legal hassle of evicting bad tenants.
Eviction is part of renting, and this is plainly and simply where bad landlords fall short on their duties. They need to get off their duffs and get down to the courthouse at the first sign of trouble.
Perhaps we also need laws that allow people to be evicted from their apartments simply as a result of police calls or illegal activity.
JAMES ROETTGER, MINNEAPOLIS
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TANNING SALONS
There's a public interest at stake
A lesson in how to obscure the point: "Whether or not you think people should be sun-tanning, the government is picking winners and losers by using the tax code to punish businesses," said a tanning industry representative ("Indoor tanning operators say they're getting burned by tax," Dec. 17).
But whether you think people should be tanning really is the point. When people willfully expose their skin to UV radiation, we all share in the long-term financial cost of cancers.
Using the tax code to address a serious public health threat is as appropriate for tanning as it is for cigarettes, regardless of the effect those taxes have on either tanning operators or tobacco farmers.
PATRICK SCHMIDT, ROSEVILLE
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PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Here comes Ron Paul with a cogent message
The rise of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in polling data reflects an error in logic of the other Republican presidential candidates. That error is in thinking that military confrontation with Iran is a political winner.
America is broke, and Republican presidential candidates appear not able to understand how difficult it will be to get the federal budget balanced. It will be impossible with a new war in Iran. In addition to the financial fallout, politically the people simply do not want another war now.
Paul is speaking one clear truth that Iowa voters are now hearing -- that America should not be starting military confrontations with Iran. The rest of America will be hearing this message soon.
LANCE IVERSON, HUTCHINSON, MINN.
