Open Forum

The citizen meetings the past few weeks have shown that people against District 181 Bond referendum want this postponed until the general election next November. This will give all residents a chance to have a say in what they want for their future schools.

Many people wintering in warmer climates have paid school taxes for 40-50 years, and this decision was made on the building referendum after they left last fall; they certainly deserve to know what's going on and what has been happening in the past three months, and absentee ballots will certainly not tell them. This is a huge amount, $60 million, and decisions should be made cautiously by all residents because the effects will be felt for the next 20 years.

The $47 million middle school plan in Baxter poses probably future health risks for students because it will be built on wet land. How will you stop water seepage which brings mold, and mold can bring many problems; also with 18 outside walls think about the enormous winter heating costs for this building alone.

School board member Lew Hudson's motto is "What we do we do for the kids;" if this is true we have some thinking to do. Star Tribune states a study by the University of Minnesota which states, "Bigger is not always better. Bigger may be better for a lot of things but not for schools. Smaller schools offer a safer atmosphere, and more challenging environment, higher student achievement and graduation rates, and fewer discipline problems."

Let's postpone this referendum and keep neighborhood schools.

We will have another citizen meeting Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Brainerd Library at 3:30 p.m. and again Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. Come, tell us what your concerns are on this delicate subject. "See you there."

Marv Begin

Fort Ripley

Realistic proposal

The undersigned were volunteer members of the District 181 Citizen Advisory Task Force, which met seven times between September and December 2001. The purpose of the task force was to develop key principles for the school board to consider in making decisions regarding facilities to meet the District's needs now and in the future.

We thank District 181 for the opportunity to serve on the task force. The district's proposal reflects consideration of the principles offered by the task force, as well as concern for the financial impact on the community. We support the proposal as presented by the school board and believe it is a realistic way of addressing the needs of the students in District 181.

Ron Allord

Susan Beck

and 18 members of the Task Force

Look it up

For those who refuse to listen to, or to look up the facts, here is the shocking truth.

Those who say that the Bush Administrations tax policies are fair are either rich liars, or poor fools.

If for any reason you might question this, please study the Bush proposals. Learn about trusts, stock options. capital gains, gifts, depletions allowances, equity charity donations, etc.

Dennis G Gordon

Nisswa MN 56468

Straddling fences

I asked an acquaintance of mine if she would write to one of our U.S. Senators, asking him to be against abortion. At first she said, "No."

Then I asked her, "If you had a neighbor, who owned a pregnant mare, and that neighbor was going to kill the unborn colt in the mare, wouldn't you try and stop it?"

She said, "Yes." And she agreed to write to the Senator, asking him to be against abortion. She then added, "You can only straddle fences for so long."

Patrick Borden

Brainerd

Keep it legal

There is only one reason why a person has to spend time in prison. One does not go to prison because they are shy, good wife and mother. One does go to prison because they have committed a crime. I am not debating the cause, in fact would probably agree with Mary Benson on the SOA. For anyone to say that all legal avenues had been exhausted, so we had to commit a crime of trespassing on federal property is where I take issue.

Where would we then draw the line? I might feel it is wrong to have a stoplight at a particular intersection. I write letters to the proper authorities. No action. Do I then go park my car in the middle of the street until I am arrested to prove my point? No, because I would be breaking the law. What I could do is start a petition and gain a number of backers who agree with my cause so that the proper authorities will take notice. I could hold a demonstration legally without trespassing on the mayor's lawn. There are numerous ways that a person can fight for their cause without breaking the law. I have a great deal of respect for the person who argues their point (even if it disagrees with mine) as long as they follow the rules of the debate. When you step out of bounds, you lose the ball.

These people trespassed on property that was off limits to a demonstration. They committed a crime and were imprisoned for the offense. If they commit another crime, they should once again be imprisoned. Fight for your cause in a legal way and you will gain the respect of many more people. As an added bonus, you will be an even better mother and wife by being home with your family instead of federal prison.

Lon Schmidt

Baxter