Open Forum: Marriage has traps, hazards and roughs

I guess Tiger Woods made a public apology to somebody (recently). He certainly didn't owe me one since he and I have never had any sort of relationship and I have never had any high expectations of him other than to birdie all the par threes. Others might condemn him for his infidelities. But I can personally attest to the numerous temptations placed in the path of an Adonis-like, filthy rich, gifted golfer. I wasn't at Tiger's wedding due to a scheduling conflict so I don't know if he and his bride exchanged anything other than promises and good intentions.

Fortunately, several years earlier a few small scheduling conflicts were resolved and I was able to attend our wedding where my beautiful bride and I exchanged vows to love, honor and love and honor each other. Any deviation or dalliance on my part would result in more than a nine iron coming through the back window. A twelve gauge at that close range would be far more effective and there would be neither the need for nor the possibility of old Stevie making a public statement of any kind. Marriage is just full of traps, hazards roughs and even some out-of-bounds. Marriage requires constant attention like, regular trimming and watering but little or no fertilizer. What Tiger should have told everyone is to keep their eye on the ball, remember and follow all the rules( heavy emphasis on the word"all") You might get by with a little foot Mashie now and then but more often than not you're going to get called on it.

C. K. Chesterton once observed that conscience is that little voice that tells you someone may be watching.

Pauper or millionaire, listen to that little voice.

Stephen A. Busch

Pequot Lakes

Pawlenty arguments lacked logic

Governor Pawlenty's health care guest article (Feb.19 Dispatch) was misleading or dishonest, and conclusions didn't follow logically from the facts or statements, a frequent characteristic of Republican Party arguments these days against taking needed or useful actions.

The Republican Party argues the health care issue is moving too fast, needing to start over from scratch, the same argument used by conservatism for 100 years concerning civil rights for black people (Civil War in 1865, to civil rights actions of 1965).

There's no need to wait. Reagan had eight years to do something; George Bush, Sr. four years; George Bush, Jr. eight years. Republicans had 20 years to accomplish what even Costa Rica has - universal single payer health care. (Costa Rica is roughly the size and population of Minnesota.) Bill Clinton tried, but was shut down; another eight years lost.

Insurance shopping across state lines concerns me. I see no need or benefit. Interstate insurers wouldn't be controlled by Minnesota's insurance commission. Who then would control rogue insurance companies? Federal government? Ha, ha. Even tea-partiers or Mrs. Palin wouldn't buy that one!

Finally, tort reform. It's not very easy or likely you're able to sue your doctor in Minnesota, unless they almost kill you deliberately. I knew a man with a ruptured appendix who kept going to doctors here. He was passed off as having gas, indigestion, gall stones, etc. and they kept sending him home. He came very close to dying, had long-term health problems, and died early. I asked an attorney about suing the doctor or hospital. Suing the medical establishment is so costly, that you first have to find financial backers: investors! Medical lawsuits become a business model! We may need tort reform, but it should be easier, not harder, to sue. My deceased friend may agree.

A. Martin

Merrifield

That's not what they meant

When I look at the set of rules our forefathers put in place for this country, I find them for the most part to be very specific. But there is a mentality in this country that if you whine long enough about something, and create tiny seeds of doubt no matter how foolish those seeds are, sooner or later you will get your way. Maybe not all of it at once - but eventually you will win, and someday this country is going to look at these rules our founding fathers crafted, and say what have we done?

Our founders never wanted our government to be controlled by people outside of the government the way it is. They never dreamed that money would play such a big part in legislation, and elections, and that political party's would dictate how our senators and representatives vote, not the people they represent. They never thought that judges and lawyers would have so much influence that they could take the rules they made for us to live by and litigate them down to worthless advice, that helps a select few.

Our founder's intent was to make our government a democracy and a government "by the people and for the people." They wanted to please the majority and knew that there would be resistance from time to time from minority factions, but they never dreamed those people would get their way, the way they have.

We are getting a short course called destruction of a democracy right now my friends and it is being played out as we speak. We are reaching a tipping point real soon, when this great nation, that once existed, will only be a few pages in some history book. So sad.

Mike Holst

Crosslake

Ward helped with Wausau plan

Your paper recently published articles regarding Wausau Paper's $27 million investment to rebuild a paper machine at the Brainerd facility. As noted in the articles (Feb. 17 and 18), the capital investment will provide additional machine capabilities to produce unsaturated tape-backing papers that are used to produce masking tape.

The articles correctly acknowledged assistance from the State's Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Sheila Haverkamp from the Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp (BLADC), and Brainerd City Administrator Dan Vogt. Unfortunately, the articles failed to acknowledge the support that we received from Rep. John Ward from District 12A.

Rep. Ward traveled with us to St. Paul when we meet with DEED, and he was able to clearly articulate the significant impact that this project would have on the Brainerd community. It was evident that Rep. Ward's support influenced the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

While it has not been noted in the two articles already published, Wausau Paper wants to acknowledge and thank Rep. Ward for his support.

Patrick Medvecz

Corporate Vice President

Manufacturing and Technology

Wausau Paper

Erosion of gun owner rights

House File 2960 is the latest gun control bill introduced in Minnesota. This bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Paymar (St. Paul), would stop law-abiding citizens at gun shows from privately selling a firearm to another law-abiding citizen without a federal background check.

I have been to many gun shows over the years. What I see at every show are civilized, law-abiding people peacefully buying, selling and trading firearms.

Apparently this good behavior is more than the anti-gun crowd can stand. It must bother Rep. Paymar that law-abiding citizens are enjoying their freedom and heritage by engaging in such an event. He apparently can't stand it that so many people and so many guns are in one place without a crime being committed.

What Rep. Paymar and the anti-gun elitists can't grasp is the fact that criminals don't go to gun shows to buy their guns. They will steal them or find another illegal way to get them.

To me, this bill is another example of a government solution searching for a problem. A problem that does not exist.

The only thing this bill does is risk creating a new group of criminals. It can turn good people into criminals if they do not jump through this new government hoop.

These ignorant, anti-gun crusaders will keep chipping away at our Second Amendment, and will not stop until they get our guns.

This is similar to what has happened in England over the years. Now that England has banned handgun ownership, the only ones with guns are the criminals, and crime rates have risen by 40 percent!

Please write or call Rep. Michael Paymar, and Rep. John Ward. Tell them to stop this erosion of our rights that will lead to higher crime rates in Minnesota!

Dale Walz

Rural Brainerd

DALE WALZ is a former Republican member of the House District 12A.

Howes credited for GAMC vote

The Minnesota Legislature took a big step forward last Thursday (Feb. 18) in solving real problems faced by real Minnesotans. Over 70,00 Minnesotans are at risk of losing their health care coverage on April 1 of this year with the loss of General Assistance Medical Care. Last Thursday (Feb. 18) the Minnesota Legislature voted with overwhelming bipartisan support to restore their health coverage and reform the GAMC program. The new legislation would save money over the current program, take away unnecessary administrative layers, and does not rely on any new taxes.

I am glad to see that my state legislator -- Rep. Larry Howes - stood with 124 other members of the Minnesota House of Representatives to support this important bill. The new legislation will protect health coverage for the poorest and most vulnerable Minnesotans, including 7,500 Minnesota veterans.

Now our state legislators have the opportunity to keep their promise on their vote. Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the GAMC bill immediately after it passed while he was on a fundraising trip to Washington DC. Our state legislators will now face a second vote on this bill. It is time for them to stand once again with veterans and other Minnesotans and vote yes again on the GAMC bill.

The issue is about people, not partisanship. I say that as a longtime Cass County DFL officer. Thank you, Rep. Howes, for your vote and I hope you will stand by your principles and vote for an override of Gov. Pawlenty's veto.

Martha Johnson

Backus

MARTHA JOHNSON is associate chair of the Cass County DFL.