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Community leaders need to be imaginative
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In the decade ahead, community leaders will have to be imaginative to hold on to their community’s uniqueness, because they will get less state aid.
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The peace of Christmas
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Societies lack of understanding of Christmas is overshadowed only by the shallowness of its repetition of the angels message to the shepherds on the fields of Bethlehem. “Peace on earth, good will toward men,” is for the world a vague hope of temporal peace, even while the nations of the earth are continually on the brink of war if not engaged in active war.
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ECM editorial: Workable solution is needed to keep the Vikings here
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Business and political leaders must get involved with providing a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, or they will consider leaving the state.
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Comments on snow removal bids
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To the Editor:
I was not aware of any of the bid amounts for the District 299 snow removal for the 2009-2010 season.
Being an administrator/manager I know first hand as many consumers know that cheapest is not always the best.
When looking at projects that involve hourly rates you cannot compare side by side unless you know the time each bidder will take in completing that same project. The same piece of equipment can do a job much more efficient with an experienced operator.
I believe the District 299 board looked at past history and from that has learned that they need to look at everything including equipment, manpower, cost, time to complete and of coarse the quality of the job completed.
Time will only tell if their decision was for the best but I have heard only good comments about the current job being done by Hartley.
Linda Vinson
Caledonia, Minn.
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Guest editorial: The secret gift
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Times were tough. Outside the store the chilled bell-ringer stamped his feet before the nearly empty kettle. Occasionally a customer would drop in a coin. They made a sharp clang in the tin.
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Let’s look at taking a different approach
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To the Editor:
Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak with concerned citizens from all across Southeastern Minnesota. The issues people are most concerned about are health care reform, excessive government spending, and most notably, the state of our economy. People who have lost their jobs are looking for work and businesses that have been forced to cut costs are anxious for our economy to turn up. There are two very different approaches to help stimulate economic development.
One approach, which happens to be the current approach, is trying to tax and spend our way out of these difficult economic times. With our unemployment rate reaching a 26-year high, this obviously is not the answer. When government raises taxes and increases regulations on businesses a ripple effect occurs, and businesses are forced to cut costs and raise prices. When businesses are forced to cut costs, jobs are the first to go, followed by reduced spending for equipment, services and charitable giving. If businesses are forced to raise prices to offset the higher tax burden, consumers end up paying more. These results all impact our economy negatively.
The second approach is creating an economic environment that encourages job growth and private sector development. This is accomplished by doing the exact opposite…lowering taxes and reducing unnecessary regulations on businesses. This would allow businesses to maintain and create jobs, increase spending, and give more to our local communities and non-profit organizations. This approach would result in long-term economic growth.
The Democratic Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, had it right when he led a Democratic legislature to reduce taxes on job providers. He argued, “Without employers, you don’t have employees. The best social services program is a job.” (Wall Street Journal, June 23, 2009)
Instead of penalizing those who provide jobs, provide group health insurance, purchase equipment and invest in our communities, let’s reward them. Instead of driving jobs out of our state and country, let’s bring them in.
It’s time for our lawmakers to put politics as usual aside and do what is best for the American people. It’s time that we start working together toward policies that encourage job growth and stimulate our economy.
What are your thoughts?
Jeremy Miller
Winona, MN
Candidate, Dist. 31 State Senate
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