Open Forum: Legislature should reject Baxter sales tax

No one should find it unusual that Baxter voters approved a local sales tax. They would be foolish not to. To get funding for all those projects, water and waste-water infrastructure and have most of it paid for by non-Baxter residents. What a great deal! Darrel, I want a new garage, would you please pay for it? This is exactly what you are asking us to do. Brainerd area residents need to realize what is happening and contact your state legislators to oppose this. Oh, you don't think it will cost you much? If the contractor on your building project buys material at Home Depot, Fleet Farm or Menards, do you think the contractor will eat the extra cost? I urge our state legislators to oppose this.

Keith Riedel

Brainerd

BHS hockey fans are great

I want to acknowledge the Brainerd High School students who have, over this hockey season, been supporting our high school hockey team. They have been to all our home and away games cheering the team on.

Being involved with hockey for quite some time I've never seen such a wonderful group of young people coming to the arena.

It has made this year an overwhelming experience.

Great job students.

God bless.

Toni Carlson

Brainerd

Send your money to the DNR

Sunday North Country section had an article by Vince Meyer on the Rally for Ducks in April. His description of the rally and reasons is very logical stating what happens afterward. According to the Tribune article by D. Anderson, they will organize into "regional" committees to evaluate the problems in each region. This sounds like duplication because the DNR already does this, and the DNR knows the reasons for a lack of ducks some stated in Vince Meyer's article. The DNR and other agencies such as the Crow Wing conservation district needs "piles" of money to purchase wetlands, to restore drained wetlands and establish safe nesting cover. In addition the DNR should consider reducing the duck bag limits. A DNR professional said it could take 150 years to accomplish what is needed. Instead of going to the rally you should consider donating the costs of a trip to St. Paul to the DNR, save the wetlands program -- or do both.

Dennis Hanson

Merrifield

Support for the troops

Support our troops. Burn wood, not oil.

Jerrold C. Turnquist

Deerwood

Wall Street fat cats will benefit

A writer, on Jan. 17, touted Bush's privatization plan for Social Security. He extolled,"wise investment, prudent planning and responsible life styles." He decried the federal government's mismanagement of the money of the "ignorant masses."

I have a question for this writer. How does he plan to educate these young people, who will be betting their retirement on the stock market's fluctuations, as to how to manage their portfolios? They all have to be as self-assured and as stock market-savvy as he is to make their accounts a success won't they? Oh, the high schools will have to do the job --won't they?

If the privatization advocate reads something besides the business page he'll realize that Minnesota's high schools are in crisis. The Pawlenty administration has choked off promised funding and as a result teachers are being laid off, class sizes are increasing and numerous courses have been dropped in our schools. Perhaps the Bush administration will come up with an "Every Graduate A Stock Market Wizard" program similar to No Child Left Behind and the proceed to not carry out the promised funding as they have with that program.

There is an alternative. Perhaps this person will volunteer to teach in our area schools and share his ability to make wise investments, carry out prudent planning and live his responsible life style.

Get real! Young people in their twenties and thirties, with few exceptions, have little knowledge of the stock market and will not until they're educated. What this comes down to is that it's an incredible opportunity for Wall Street fat cats to get their hooks into previously unaccessible money. Don't be scared by Bush's fear-mongering. Contact your senators and representatives and tell them to vote "no" on any privatization legislation.

Nolan Spencer

Deerwood