Open Forum: A frequently asked 'childish' strike question

There is a comment that people who disagree with the Crosby-Ironton teachers' stand in negotiations keep bringing up that I can no longer ignore.

It's the comment, "I don't get that, why should you?" I have heard some form of this sentiment personally from community members as have several of my colleagues. Scott Kile alludes to this idea in much of his information, using it as a ploy to make teachers look unreasonable. What's interesting is that most of the people who have said this to me or my colleagues make considerably more money than any teacher in our district.

Now, I can't just go into local businesses or our medical facilities and ask for copies of their contracts to quote here, nor would I ever do such a thing--public employee or not--but I am still confident they make more money and have some type of benefit or severance package that I will never get.

If I can't have it, why should they?

It's a childish question. Why should anyone get anything different than anyone else? Simple. We have made different choices. I could've been a nurse, a loan officer, an accountant, a computer programmer, a business owner, or a doctor. I chose to be a teacher, and it's a choice with which I'm happy. If you think my job is easy and wonderfully compensated, get yourself a teaching degree and join me. If your choices are different, stop whining. Be an adult. I don't begrudge you your salary or benefits, why do you begrudge me mine?

Andrea Gaffney

Deerwood

Pawlenty protects the wealthy

Gov. Pawlenty, promising to veto any tax increase on gasoline, is doing what he does best; protecting and serving the powerful, destructive and monopolistic oil industry and recklessly and wantonly disregarding the health and welfare of all Minnesotans.

An increase in the gas tax could encourage more efficient use of this diminishing resource, it could, to a small degree, reduce congestion, but more important it could reduce the ever increasing amount of cancerous filth that spews into our air. Cancer is now the leading cause of death in Minnesota and the rate of cancer growth is increasing every year as our environment gets more poisoned and polluted. An increase in the gas tax could be used to reduce income taxes and property taxes and it could slow the flow of billions of dollars out of our state.

Pawlenty's priorities like most good Republicans, is protecting the powerful corporations and the hell with global warming and to hell with the health and future of Minnesotans and every living thing.

Don Johnson

Minneapolis

Support the Kyoto Treaty

Last week, the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming went into effect, marking the first time the world (with the notable exception of the U.S.) united to address the greatest natural disaster since the last glacial period. The Treaty reduces global emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that trap the sun's heat, melting the glaciers and flooding coastal cities throughout the world. This week, U.S. government scientists confirmed a definite rise in the temperature of ocean waters, the driving force behind global climate changes.

Despite our administration's boycott of the treaty, each of us should do our share to minimize emissions of these gases by limiting the use of fossil fuels in our cars, our homes, and our diets.

Yes, our diets. According to Cornell University Professor David Pimentel, production of animal-based foods accounts for 8 percent of the national consumption of fossil fuels -- nearly as much as driving our cars. It requires nearly ten times as much fuel as production of plant-based foods. The additional fuel is used to grow animal feed, to operate factory farms and slaughterhouses, and to process and refrigerate meat/dairy products.

We can show our support for the Kyoto Treaty and planetary survival each time we visit our supermarket.

Barnard Wagner

Brainerd