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Maybe gridlock isn’t such a bad thing
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To the Editor:
Recently Senator Evan Bayh defined legislative gridlock in Congress as
non-accomplishment. Contrariwise a recent article by two lawyers (D.
B. Rivkin Jr. and L. A. Casey) in a nationally read newspaper declares,
“when they gathered in Philadelphia in 1787, the Constitution’s framers
had three goals: [1] Establishing a strong national government that
nevertheless respected states’ lawful prerogatives; [2] imposed limits
on the exercise of government power so as to protect the citizenry’s
life, liberty and property; [3] and create a stable and enduring
political system.”
These men had survived a French and Indian War and a very long
Revolutionary War at great personal cost, also understood the
importance both of stability and limitation (i.e. enumerated powers) of
the power of the central government in a symbiosis with state and local
government. This would require a genuine consensus in support before
any action by the Congress. So they deliberately made “legislative
accomplishments” quite difficult to achieve.
Time was when American children learned at school that for any proposed
legislation to become law it had to be approved both by the Senate (two
senators for each state) and the House of Representatives, receive
approval by the President and receive a two-thirds majority in both
houses to override the President’s veto. This means that most proposed
laws are never passed--exactly what our founding fathers rightly
intended back there in 1787.
Those who don’t like these rules and desire to overrule them or add to
them by amending the Constitution must produce an even more difficult
consensus. In over 200 years that has happened only 27 times.
Rivkin and Casey explain: the Senate was “itself designed to serve as
a brake on change.” James Madison, our fourth President, explained in
one of the Federalist Papers, “the Senate would be a temperate and
respectable body of citizens able to check the citizenry when
stimulated by some irregular passion.” Much later the Senate devised
an even more “conservative” rule making it necessary to have agreement
of 60 senators to close debate on a measure.
There is a wonderful consensus in this country that we have a very
good national Constitution. Up till now our supposedly great diversity
has not produced a different consensus in favor either of a more direct
democracy or a dictatorial President or Congress or Supreme
Court—though there have not been wanting efforts to change or ignore
the Constitution.
Those who treasure “diversity” as of superior virtue and who urge the
Congress, the President and the Court to enact a law such as more
government control of education of all children or “single payer” of
medical bills or something called “gay”, that is, homosexual marriage,
may have to wait a while. These proposals would require extensive
changes in our foundational document. Up to now they have not overcome
the Prophet Isaiah’s dictum of “Woe to those who call evil good and
good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put
bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
Robert D. Culver
Houston, Minn.
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Ropes supports local farms
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To the Editor:
I recently read that Sharon Erickson Ropes, our state senator, toured local farms to listen to the concerns of our farmers and to connect them with fine food markets in the Twin Cities.
She also talked about creating a website where we can find out how and where to get locally grown food. I think this is a great idea! We eat more healthfully when we eat locally grown foods. In addition, we support our family farms, create jobs locally, and reduce the time/energy it takes to transport our food long distances.
It’s good to see public servants like Senator Ropes take action and reach out to the people of our district, especially the farmers. This will enable her to make decisions in St. Paul that can benefit both our local farmers and consumers.
Kathie Geiger
Winona, Minn.
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Caledonia area youth are making a difference
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To the Editor:
The people of Caledonia and surrounding communities can be extremely proud of the caring, compassionate and generous kids at Caledonia Area Elementary School (CAES).
After the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, some of the youth from Immanuel shared with their class at school one way they would help the people of Haiti. The Immanuel Sunday School learned about helping Haitians by putting together health kits with basic hygiene supplies that are desperately needed in Haiti. A student council member from the Sunday School class took this idea to the CAES Student Council. The student council decided they would also collect materials for health kits.
Between the efforts of the elementary school students and the Immanuel Sunday School, they gathered supplies for more than 213 health kits. These health kits will be sent through Lutheran World Relief to Haiti (for more information about Lutheran World Relief see www.lwr.org/.
The youth of the Caledonia Area Elementary School along with many community members have made a difference in a part of our world that is hurting.
Rev. Steven E. Meyer
Caledonia, Minn.
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Ibisch misrepresenting the facts
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To the Editor:
It comes as no surprise that Paul Ibisch completely misrepresented a situation facing the returning Red Bulls and the work Congressman Walz and state Senator Ropes have done to assist our returning soldiers.
First, Congressman Walz should be commended for his work on behalf of the Red Bulls. According to recent news reports, Walz began working on this two years ago and has continued to push the Department of Defense to pay the soldiers. Further, Walz pushed the current Obama Administration just as hard as he pushed the Bush Administration.
There is no doubt that three years is too long to wait and the delay under any administration is disappointing. If not for the work of Walz and Congressman John Kline (a Minnesota Republican), the wait would not be over.
Second, Senator Ropes is a veteran herself and Mr. Ibisch’s attacks on the work she is doing for veterans is disgusting. Mr. Ibisch’s attacks are blatantly partisan and should have no value in this debate.
Senator Ropes used her office to place pressure on the current administration to get the job done for soldiers, what more could we ask from our state senator on the issue?
The people of our communities should stop and think about who we want in St. Paul and Washington: people like Paul Ibisch, who continually mounts blatantly partisan attacks – or dedicated public servants like Ropes and Walz who pressure their own political party to get the job done.
Jacob Grippen
La Crescent, Minn.
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Thoughts on Caledonia Parks and Recreation
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To the Editor:
The following people: Tom Schultz, Ron Du Charme, Jason Wiebke, Doug Ely and Todd Meiners (as well as temporary and past committee members) need to be commended for being so active with the Parks & Rec Committee. It truly takes members like these to keep our programs running successfully each year. They have consistently provided fresh ideas, insight and unbiased opinions on our summer programs.
I would love to see more community members share their ideas to help our department develop and maintain positive opportunities for Caledonia area youth (and potentially people of all ages).
I just want to clarify that I am not seeking any full time hours at this time. Although this would be ideal for our community to have someone solely dedicated to the parks and recreation related opportunities in our area, I understand that it may not be possible during times like these.
I am however, seeking a transition from my seasonal full time summer employment to a year round part-time position that would vary in hours (depending on season). I understand our economic time and know that my position may be eliminated altogether. I truly understand that, but of course I would like to fight for what I believe in. It would be unfortunate to see my position eliminated.
There is a wide variety of leisure and recreation activities that I would like to help provide in addition to what the school and Community Education Department currently offer. My proposal to the council seeks a steadier and consistent hourly and no benefit position. At this time, I cannot provide the department with the attention that it needs when I have another full time position.
I am passionate about providing year-round opportunities for children and adults and would love to continue with the city as a Parks & Recreation Director with more responsibilities in addition to the summer months. I would like to see adult leagues and more health and wellness opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. In addition, I think that the community events that Caledonia hosts could benefit with the help from a year round position such as this.
It’s important to point out that having volunteer based programming is necessary right now and is very common in surrounding cities. It is a decision that has been talked about for some time and needed to be made. Fortunately, we will still be able to offer summer employment to area youth through some coaching opportunities, umpiring, maintenance, and lifeguarding.
I hope to be able to continue with the city, but completely understand that cuts need to be made and most likely there will be additional cuts in my position with the Parks & Recreation Department.
I have enjoyed sharing my enthusiasm of recreation programming with you and your families in the capacity that I have in past years.
Britney Beneke
Caledonia Parks & Recreation director
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Caledonia city crews are doing a great job
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To the Editor:
During a Minnesota winter, snow can be quite a hazard, but the city of
Caledonia deserves recognition for the great job they do in plowing and
removing the snow from the streets.
It can’t be an easy job and must be a thankless one at times. Our city
crews do a wonderful job, especially in the downtown area.
Of course we all hate it when as soon as our driveway is nice and
clear, the plow comes along and sees to it that we have to clear it
again. But that’s a small price to pay, compared to all they do.
Let’s just be thankful that we are safe and snug in our beds while our
streets are being made passable. We’ve noticed that some other towns
in our area aren’t so neat. You guys are doing a great job.
Janelle Colleran
Gretchen Buege
Caledonia, Minn.
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