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Take care of the little things
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To the Editor:
I don’t know about you but I want a president that knows the difference between serving the people and killing the people.
I will never forget what my 10 year old son said as we were driving in New Jersey.
He said, “Mom, if this country is under God why are we killing the babies?” Out of the mouth of babies.
That same son served in Iraq with honor. He had a choice to join the
military or not. The babies that are brutally killed by abortion do not
have a choice.
The war in Iraq is nothing compared to the war being waged against the
infants in the womb. Nothing comes before the sanctity of life and if
you can’t get that straight, how can I trust you with anything else?
Our taxpayer dollars are being spent for abortion through Planned Parenthood (that supports Obama).
If Obama gets in he will elect pro-choice judges and the killing will go on.
My dad used to say, “Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.”
A child in the womb is as little as you can get and if you don’t do anything about that, then nothing else will matter.
Joan Becker
Caledonia, Minn.
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Response on election issue letter
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Editor’s note: This letter to the editor is not run in it entirety last week. We are re-running the entire letter.
To the Editor:
I feel compelled to respond to the letter titled Abortion, an election issue (July 16, 2008).
Of course it is! Again! It is the most divisive issue in America in 50 years.
I cannot criticize the writer, as I know the writer to be a caring,
loving person. We have worked together to prevent abortions in the past
(abortions are the taking of an innocent, helpless human life.) I
believe life begins at conception.
As a ‘pro-life advocate’, I cannot let my concerns stop there. Respect
for life extends far beyond birth. I includes supporting unwed mothers
who may need our help, so abortion will not be their path. It means
teaching young people to respect and value their own bodies, and the
benefits of abstinence. Helping, when necessary to make sure children
have food in their tummies each night; to assist the elderly, the sick
and homeless. Educate our children. It is shameful they way we treat
our veterans; many are homeless; many have inadequate health care.
Consider too the lives lost in Iraq. Over 4000 troops, as many as
30,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed and wounded.
Human life is human life, all over the world, not just here in America.
They are all God’s children. So, yes we do have to consider who a
candidate stands on other issues.
We have reduced the number of abortions by 25 percent. But, still 75
percent to go. We must continue to educate against abortion.
But dividing this nation into Us and Them has not bettered America or God’s world. (Remember, God created the world.)
This must not be a single issue election again. For eight years many
have waiting for Roe vs. Wade to be overturned. Six of those years the
same party controlled the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S.
Senate and the presidency, and also had a favorable advantage in the
Supreme Court. Yet many are still waiting for that promised reversal.
Our nation needs a change in direction on so many issues. The war in
Iraq. The economy, jobs and rebuilding our infrastructure. War and
peace policy, education, respect for all citizens. Affordable,
transferable health care. Shared responsibility, not just government,
but the people themselves.
About that terrorism implication and Freedom of Choice Act quote.
Please go to barackobama.com and check his policy on this and other
issues. (barackobama.com/click on issues/then women)
Remember, God also commanded (no. 8) Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbor.
Julia Massman
Caledonia, Minn.
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Land use planning in Houston County
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To the Editor:
This letter is being published to inform all Houston County residents
of some facts surrounding land use and agricultural zoning. First, a
little background: discussion of an original land use analysis started
in 1964 and culminated with the first Houston County Land Use Plan that
was approved by the Houston County Planning Commission and County Board
of Commissioners in March 1965. Original planning board members
were: Elling Solum-chairman, Orson Hempstead, Harlie Larson,
Virgil Johnson, H.M. McLaird, Chester Lacheke, Arnold Ideker, Nels
Gulbranson, Frank Haar. County board members were: Joe
Wieser, Bernard Orr, Virgil Johnson, John Goetzinger, Sigurd Evenson.
A subsequent zoning ordinance was approved and published in Aug.
1967. During the process of drafting the original plan a
community planning consultant was hired by the county to give advice
and public input was taken in order to get a vision for what the public
would like to see in the future of the county. Future growth
areas were noted, environmentally sensitive areas of the county where
discussed and economical opportunities were high lighted.
The residents of Houston County, at that time, were concerned enough
about the future to develop some guidelines that would lead to a rural
landscape that is cherished by a majority of the public today.
These first planners developed a set of priorities and goals that have
lead to a county that, over the years, have preserved the
environmentally sensitive areas of the county (bluffs, streams,
wetlands, etc.) while allowing farmers to continue making a living on
the land with limited conflict from non-farm development and
still allow for some additional housing in suitable areas. They
also took into account basic planning considerations for trends in
commercial and industrial areas (rock quarries and other industrial and
business areas), recreational activities, traffic, and retaining the
natural beauty and scenic character of the area. It was a big
step, at the time, but one that resulted in a county that is noted for
its farming practices, beautiful bluffs, streams, and overall rural
beauty.
Land use and zoning, in Houston County, has evolved several times from
the original plan since 1965. For instance, in 1978, it was felt
that a typical farm was a tract of land that should be at least 40
acres in size and that density levels for housing should limit non-farm
housing to one dwelling per quarter, quarter section of land (square 40
acres) in the agricultural district. The last update of the Land
Use Plan was in 1998. State statue requires that county land use
plans are updated every 10 years so two years ago the process of public
input was started again. Townships have been involved along with Soil
and Water Conservation District Supervisors, local cities and the
general public.
Please call the Zoning Office if you have any questions and/or ideas for Houston County’s future. The number is 725-5800.
Bob Scanlan
Houston County
Zoning Administrator
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Response on election issue letter
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To the Editor:
I feel compelled to respond to the letter titled Abortion, an election issue (July 16, 2008).
Of course it is! Again! It is the most divisive issue in America in 50 years.
I cannot criticize the writer, as I know the writer to be a caring,
loving person. We have worked together to prevent abortions in the past
(abortions are the taking of an innocent, helpless human life.) I
believe life begins at conception.
As a ‘pro-life advocate’, I cannot let my concerns stop there. Respect
for life extends far beyond birth. I includes supporting unwed mothers
who may need our help, so abortion will not be their path. It means
teaching young people to respect and value their own bodies, and the
benefits of abstinence. Helping, when necessary to make sure children
have food in their tummies each night; to assist the elderly, the sick
and homeless. Educate our children. It is shameful they way we treat
our veterans; many are homeless; many have inadequate health care.
Consider too the lives lost in Iraq. Over 4000 troops, as many as
30,000 injured, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed and wounded.
Human life is human life, all over the world, not just here in America.
They are all God’s children. So, yes we do have to consider who a
candidate stands on other issues.
We have reduced the number of abortions by 25 percent. But, still 75
percent to go. We must continue to educate against abortion.
But dividing this nation into Us and Them has not bettered America or God’s world. (Remember, God created the world.)
This must not be a single issue election again. For eight years many
have waiting for Roe vs. Wade to be overturned. Six of those years the
same party controlled the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S.
Senate and the presidency, and also had a favorable advantage in the
Supreme Court. Yet many are still waiting for that promised reversal.
Julia Massman
Caledonia, Minn.
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Think, learn and question before you vote
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To the Editor:
In defense of State Representative Ken Tschumper, I know as a former
farm girl, that cows get out on an average of once or twice a year. My
dad’s did too. No farmer wants his cows going astray. That’s lost
income if he loses them, and even more if he has to reimburse someone
for damage. The difference is my dad wasn’t in politics and his
neighbors called him when the cows were out, rather than calling
the sheriff.
In relevant issues, like public health, which affects us all, Rep.
Tschumper has been working very hard to keep dangerous chemicals like
atrazine from getting into our air and water. He is a strong believer
in a safe environment. Among other things, he has also gotten
more aid for people with disabilities, for education and transportation
to fix our roads and bridges, which are the worst in Minnesota.
On abortion, if the Republicans are so against abortion, why with a
Republican president, Republican majority in the Senate (and until two
years ago Congress) and Supreme Court did they do nothing about ending
abortion? Isn’t it odd that nobody complains about abortion until
election time, when the Republicans want votes? In my view, we can’t
depend on the government to solve that problem. Rather than condemning
the women having abortions, wouldn’t it be more effective and Christian
to stop these distressed women from aborting their unplanned babies by
instead asking them, “How can I help you?”
Think, learn and question before you vote.
Donna Huegel
La Crescent, Minn.
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FairTax bill is a change that is possible
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To the Editor:
Upon telling folks about the FairTax bill, they frequently say, It’ll
never happen.” This has been the common reaction to every big idea ever
proposed in the history of man. If the FairTax plan is such a great
idea, if it is much needed, then why will it never happen?
Have we become so cynical that we cannot believe that much-needed change is possible?
Have we come to accept the current tax code as a permanent, immutable part of our lives?
The FairTax bill would repeal all corporate and individual income
taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes, death
taxes and gift taxes. They would be replaced with a revenue-neutral,
23% personal consumption tax. Americans would receive their entire
paycheck. They would have the power to choose exactly when and how much
to pay in taxes.
The FairTax achieves this by offering to every household of American
citizens a tax prebate. The prebate will amount to 23% of the money
they spend up to the poverty level. Families that spend only to buy
basic necessities will be tax free because the prebate will cover their
taxes every month. When a rich man decides to buy a new private jet,
23% of the purchase price will enter the federal treasury. America will
return to taxing wealth instead of wages.
There are many reasons why changing the way we fund our federal government is necessary. Here are three of the most compelling:
1) Our current code is taxing American businesses into a severe
disadvantage in competing in the global economy. Because of corporate,
personal and payroll taxes our businesses have a 22% embedded tax in
every good they produce. Foreign goods do not have this burden and have
a leg up on American industries. The FairTax will give our industries
the best business cost structure in the world.
2) Our current code punishes productivity. On average, Americans lose
33 percent of their wages to taxation. The FairTax will unleash the
power of the American worker and greatly increase their spendable
income.
3) Our current code violates the right to privacy of Americans. The
FairTax will restore the privilege of anonymity long cherished but long
denied. Under the FairTax, there will be no more IRS and no reason for
the government to know how much you earn and how you spend it.
The FairTax bill was introduced in Congress in 1999. It is a big idea
and big ideas take time to establish. Gaining momentum is the greatest
challenge to the enactment of the FairTax bill, and there is no greater
momentum killer than Congress. The only antidote to the failure of
Congress to act is to let them know the will of the overwhelming
majority of American voters. In just nine years, a grass-roots force of
over a million FairTax supporters has been mobilized. FairTax rallies
of over 10,000 Americans have been held, and 72 members of Congress
have been persuaded to co-sponsor the FairTax bill. Most Americans have
not heard of the FairTax bill and most politicians probably have not
read the bill. Only by spreading the word on it will the FairTax bill
be passed.
Ronald Reagan touches on the greatness of our country when he stated
that the American people have always had the capacity “to do whatever
needs to be done to preserve this greatest bastion of freedom.” We will
do this; we will do it because we must if we are to preserve the
greatness that generations before us created. To those who say, “great
idea, it will never happen,” imagine the dinner table talk when John
Kennedy told America we were going to send men to the moon.
David Boone
Houston, Minn.
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