Open Forum

Upon reading "daring liars" which appeared in The Brainerd Daily Dispatch on Monday, Feb. 8, I discovered that there were some important things to be said in defense of President George W. Bush. The success or failure of a president is not based solely on keeping or breaking campaign promises. The president is a role model for the nation's children. President George W. Bush is the best role model our children have had in my lifetime. He has morals and values and he is not afraid to share them. I don't think a little religion would hurt anyone. After all, this country was founded on Christian values.

In a sex-crazed, materialistic society our young people are looking for answers about issues such as sex, and they are finding those answers on television. President Clinton certainly didn't help our children find positive answers to their questions regarding sex. Children are our future; they don't care about campaign promises. Every presidential candidate who has been elected president has made promises that they didn't keep. Children care about getting answers to issues they are confronted with everyday, such as sex. President Bush answered their questions openly and honestly in his state of the union address when he said that abstinence is the only answer.

Carolyn Despot

Fort Ripley

Caucus is March 2

The March 2 "precinct caucus" is a neighborhood get-together where you'll talk with friends about politics. Your precinct is your neighborhood and "place where you vote." "Caucus" means "to come together," or "a gathering."

In Minnesota, we have the privilege of meeting with our neighbors to discuss things that affect all of us such as taxes, government spending, education, health care, legal and civil rights, family security, defense of life, property rights, the environment, agriculture, foreign affairs and national defense.

Caucuses begin at 7 p.m. According to law, no other public meeting may be in session during this time, thus allowing everybody to meet with their neighbors and begin the political process

The county auditor's office (218) 824-1045 has a list of meeting places for all political parties in Crow Wing County. For information about the Republican Party platform and our meeting places, call (218) 963-7949.

Dianna Jenkins

Crow Wing County Republican Party

Precinct Caucus Chairman

Follow ordinances

The city council has recently approved the building of a gas station/convenience store by the entrance to Lum Park. Although the property is zoned appropriately for this type of use, there is a shoreland management ordinance that the city has adopted which restricts the amount of impervious surface, within 1000 feet of the river, to 25 percent of the lot. The proposed contractor requested a variance from the 25 percent and to my amazement, the council granted a variance to allow the impervious surface to be increased to 35 percent. Since then a number of agencies have contacted the city council voicing their disapproval of the increased impervious surface. Residents in the area also voiced their concern about increasing the impervious surface because of the potential risk of contaminated surface water running into the nearby creek and consequently into Rice Lake and the Mississippi River. We even brought up the fact that Lum Park is right there and would be directly impacted by the contaminated run off. We were all shocked by some of the council member's unwillingness to take the time and consider the consequences of their decision. However, being criticized by other agencies that have environmental interests, I hope, are enough to humble the council into taking another look at the variance. In matters of lakeshore management, other agencies have spent considerable resources to understand these issues and related consequences of poor lakeshore management. It was good the city adopted these shoreland management ordinances. It would be better if they decided to follow them.

Dean Gangelhoff

Brainerd

Big Brother's watching

Many people are complaining because the powers that be don't want them to tear up wetlands on their own property. They say they should not be told what to do on their own property. How soon they forget. They have been told what they can and cannot do with their own wetlands for years. If you don't think so, try draining one or filling it without a lot of hassle in getting a permit. Lots of luck on that project. Just remember, Big Brother is watching

Robert Hall

Brainerd