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To all the citizens of this great country, republicans, democrats and independents
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To the Editor:
We need to clean house on Capitol Hill
All the senators spend money and send us the bill
Wall Street is at the top of their lists
They don’t even know that Main Street exists.
The Congress is crooked from head to toe
As they pad their pockets with lobbyist dough.
Banks and Big Business took all the T.A.R.P. money
But “we the people” don’t think that it’s funny.
We all just want to be treated the same
The middle class people are tired of your game.
It’s time for a march on Washington, D.C.
We’ll come from all over; by land, air and sea.
For senators to keep their jobs from the start
They can’t think with their wallets, just vote with their heart.
If people would go back to the simpler ways
Their hectic lives would have happier days.
I don’t think that this poem will do any good
But I hope it does and I think that you should.
G.P Conway
Caledonia, Minn.
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State govenment needs to spend less not more
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To the Editor:
As a constituent in Senator Ropes district, I think it is time for our representatives to start respecting the people’s values and stop spending OUR money.
The State Senate passed a $1.2 billion bonding bill earlier this week. It did not matter that our state’s debt service topped the general fund budget by three percent they (including Senator Ropes) simply increased the state’s debt limit.
Some of the “crucial” projects that our senators thought needed to be funded by the bonding bill were: a new volleyball court in Rochester for $5 million, new ice rinks in Big Lake, Cokato, Fergus Falls, and New Hope for $2 million. The list goes on and on! With the economy the way it is, isn’t it time to spend less not more?
Linda Johnson
La Crescent, Minn.
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Writer supports Paul Ibisch in State Senate race
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To the Editor:
I am writing in support of Paul Ibisch, a candidate for Minnesota State Senate District 31 (the legislative seat currently held by Sharon Ropes).
In my opinion, he has risen to the top of the candidates because he is steadfast, solid, trustworthy, and intelligent.
He writes frequent editorials in local newspapers, so we can see clearly what he and the Republican Party stand for. Some people reacted negatively to his pro-life or conservative views, but truth was missing in their radical replies.
He attended events and parades in many communities, including bone-chilling winter parades in Caledonia and La Crescent. He is driven by his principles to do good for us, our communities, our district, and our state.
Paul Ibisch stepped down as a pastor because some parishioners were uncomfortable with his political ambitions. He is now teaching at a university - a tribute to his leadership, intellect, moral strength, and resilience. He gave up a lot to run for office, but I believe he will be ultimately successful.
He and his family are dedicated to his future as a Minnesota Senator, as are his many supporters. The GOP will soon have a chance to endorse him as their candidate. I hope you join me in supporting Paul Ibisch as he seeks commonsense conservative solutions to our state’s problems.
Mary Knutson
Caledonia, Minn.
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Life, liberty & property in America’s foundations
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To the Editor:
The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1789) together constitute our “foundational documents.” The former tells why we are and the latter what we are or at least should be in the thought of the founders of our nation.
During the decades immediately preceding the outbreak of the War of Independence and the Constitutional Convention, there was a storm of lectures, sermons, editorials, essays and pamphlets giving voice repeatedly to the triad of “life, liberty, and property.” Why Jefferson altered that to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration nobody knows.
The Declaration of 1776 listed 29 “repeated injuries and usurpations” of King George against the revolting colonies. The 10th related to wrongful government rules and agencies to deprive them of rights and property: “He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and to eat out their substance.” And the 17th: “For imposing Taxes without our consent.”
At any rate, the fifth Amendment to the Constitution added by demand of the American people, clarified the sense, reading, “No person shall be . . . deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.” And 79 years later, to prevent theft of property rights by states and other civil entities (counties, townships, etc.), affirmed “nor shall any State deprive any person of . . . property without due process of law.”
This means it is unlawful for any legislature or entity created by government to tell you how to use your property as long as you do no harm to your neighbor. Nor can any majority of voters rightly remove your sovereign right to use what is your own to manage in your “pursuit of happiness.”
The speakers and writers of that time liked to think they found the voice of God in reason—and they liked to quote John Locke. In John Tucker’s election day speech (Boston, 1771) he quoted Mr. Locke in support of inviolability of right laws and against “usurpation” of the rights of use and control of private property: [Please bear with the uppity language of public discourse of the educated class of the 18th century.]
“Usurpation is the exercise of power which another hath a right to” and “where-ever law ends, Tyranny begins, if the law be transgressed to another’s harm. And whosoever in authority exceeds the power given him by law, and makes use of force [harassment and fines] he has under his command, to compass [compel] that upon that subject, [citizen] which the [fundamental] law allows not, may be opposed as any other man who by force invades the right of another.”
Tucker went on to proclaim to the voting public of Boston: “This being the design of civil government, good rulers are justly considered as benefactors . . . . placed as benefactors of the people . . . . To curb and restrain the unrighteous and factions, from acts of fraud, rapine and violence, and to protect others in the peaceable enjoyment of their rights.
Robert Culver
Houston, Minn.
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We all want what is best for the United States
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To the Editor:
I commend Mr. Halbakken for letting his voice be heard. However, I question the tone of his letter and the content of his argument. It does a disservice to political discourse when a person resorts to name calling in order to illustrate a point (a point which seems to boil down to: I don’t like you!).
In the hyper-partisan state that politics is stuck in, this kind of baseless mud-slinging seems to be all too common. I understand that Mr. Halbakken disagrees with Congressman Walz’s take on issues.
I wonder though, had he attended one of Tim Walz’s history classes in Mankato, if Mr. Halbakken would have learned how a representative democracy works. Just because a person does not subscribe to your viewpoint on all the issues does not mean that he or she is not representing you or your district.
Congressman Walz has worked hard to listen to all of his constituents, whether they agree with him or not. Throughout his time as a Congressman he has held more than 200 meetings with constituents all over our district to listen to their concerns. He and his staff work hard for the citizens of our district regardless of their political affiliation, because we share an affiliation greater than politics-our common humanity.
We will not be able to accomplish anything if we keep hurling insults at one another, if we keep blaming each other, and if we keep forgetting that we all want the best for our country. We fail ourselves and our country when we forget our common bonds and our common sense.
Jacob Grippen
La Crescent, Minn.
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Thanks Massachusetts voters
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To the Editor:
Thanks to Democrat, Independent and Republican voters of Massachusetts! They protected us here in Minnesota District 1… something that “Timid” Walz would not do. They saved us from an ill-conceived, budget busting, back-room dealing, wrong approach health care reform bill that would have violated the Hippocratic oath itself.
It’s a shame when you have to count on voters from another state to do what your elected representative should have done. It will NOT be a shame when Walz and Pelosi are removed from the halls of Congress. Nine months and counting until Nov. 2 when we can vote Walz out of office. California will hopefully do their part with removing Pelosi.
Reviewing “The Federalist”, (available at book stores everywhere), is a good recommendation for the Democratic, Independent or Republican person who succeeds Walz in Washington. It discusses thoughts of “representation” of your constituents in a Republic style Government. This is obviously something Walz has never even heard of before.
James Halbakken
Winona, Minn.
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