CAPITOL GRIDLOCK
Unhappy constituents rate 2011 Legislature
Republican state Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, objected to end-of-session comments by Senate Minority leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, by saying, "These are philosophical differences and nothing more" ("Curtain falls on Act I at Capitol," May 24).
One wonders if he had the same response to the chair of his own party, Tony Sutton, who said earlier that "a compromise to the left is a compromise of good and evil."
Gov. Mark Dayton ran for office promising to resolve the state budget deficit with a mix of spending cuts and higher taxes for the wealthiest Minnesotans.
He's kept his word. More than 1 million Minnesotans voted for candidates for governor who did not back an all-cuts approach to balancing the budget.
Am I missing something, or did Sutton really call us -- or at least our values as expressed this past November -- "evil?" Wow.
ANNE HAMRE, ROSEVILLE
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Kudos to Gail Rosenblum for her column "Moving forward, let's not be led by fear" (May 24).
Too many Americans are motivated primarily by fear. Fear was the source of what was often an irrational response to 9/11.
Fear caused us to engage in an unnecessary war in Iraq and dominated our national politics for years. Now fear is driving too many of the decisions of the Minnesota Legislature.
We are largely a well-educated, intelligent people, but fear short-circuits intelligence and wisdom.
GARY F. ANDERSON, HUGO
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Congratulations go out to all Minnesota lawmakers. You have not only succeeded in perfectly reciting your party agendas, but you have also created a raise for yourself by necessitating a special session for which you will get extra pay because you have been incompetent up to this point.
Here's the deal: Republicans have the majority, and Democrats have the governor's office. Neither one of you is going to get exactly what you want.
Stop acting like toddlers whining about getting your own way and get together on a compromise that will be best for the entire state. You weren't elected to represent just Republicans or just Democrats; you were elected to represent all of Minnesota.
Stop wasting our money and embarrassing yourselves and start doing your job.
PAUL NIENABER, ANOKA
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I remember what former Gov. Jesse Ventura did when the state legislative leaders said they couldn't agree on a budget before the end of the regular session.
He brought them together at the mansion and threatened to sic his bulldog on them if they didn't find a way to compromise. Gov. Mark Dayton has two German shepherds. Hmmm.
CAREY ERKEL, WOODBURY
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GAY MARRIAGE
Here's an opportunity for meaningful debate
Throughout the interminable months leading up to the election, we will no doubt hear the same tired arguments concerning the proposed state constitutional marriage amendment.
Many socially conservative commentators (or at least the loudest and most visible of them) will describe how children need to have both male and female parental role models and how legalizing same-sex unions/marriage would legitimize homosexuality, which they consider "unnatural."
Social liberals, noting the lack of validity in such arguments, may be quick to accuse the conservative opposition of having an underlying motivation that is "bigoted" or "dogmatic."
Such rhetoric is unproductive in this debate; however, until Republicans offer a logically sound explanation as to why gay couples should not, at the very least, be afforded the same legal and civic benefits as their heterosexual counterparts, these accusations of bigotry are likely to continue.
Perhaps during the course of this upcoming election season, Minnesota can have a substantive discussion on the proposed amendment without liberals resorting to name-calling and without conservatives making all-but-refuted arguments.
ALEX COLE, BURNSVILLE
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Thank you to Mitch Pearlstein for his thoughtful piece denouncing bigotry, whether on the political right or left ("Conservatives must be first to banish hate," commentary, May 24).
Pearlstein asks us to "agree that all sides have bigots and jerks." Agreed.
But we don't always have the courage to say so, and I am pleased Pearlstein did. I often disagree with Pearlstein on policy, but I typically agree with him on how citizens should conduct themselves when engaging in political discourse.
Pearlstein leads a right-of-center organization, and he took the time to condemn bigotry on the right.
Those of us who are left of center must do the same when intolerance and character assassination take the place of reason and persuasion.
All of us will be better off if we take Pearlstein's lead in this regard. Even if he is right of center.
ANDREW LUGER, MINNEAPOLIS
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Pearlstein's column would have been a lot more credible if he hadn't spent the first half of it arguing that liberals are even worse in this regard.
ROBERT W. CARLSON, PLYMOUTH
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PROGRESS BY OMISSION
Lawmakers took a pass on 'Shoot First' law
The Legislature did one thing right this session by not enacting a "Shoot First -- Ask Questions Later" bill to give wide latitude for people to use deadly force outside the home.
For those of us who believe taking a life should be a last resort, this is a good thing.
HEATHER MARTENS, Executive director, Protect Minnesota
