Open Forum

I have long been trying to find a way to show how ridiculous our more liberal correspondents' line of reasoning is but after re-reading some of their letters to the editor I find that they are doing a much finer job of it themselves then I ever could. They advocate raising taxes on the successful and giving this money to those who fail or don't even try. These liberals, somehow, feel that if someone succeeds they must have done something illegal or immoral. They want to punish business owners, or even more stupidly, the businesses themselves, by raising their taxes. All this does, if they stay in business, is raise the price of their product. The consumer, ultimately, pays their increase in taxes. They are advocating killing the goose that lays the golden egg with their "share the wealth" schemes. I would like to direct your attention to the way that Minnesota treated the embryo Saturn Automobile Mfg. Co. When they were looking for a location to produce their car, Duluth, Minn. was one of the finalists, but because of our "enlightened" tax code of "stick it to the rich, if they have it we can take it away from them", Tennessee now has the 7000 plus jobs that we could have had. If you think that this is an isolated incident just look around you and try to find any large manufacturing business that has located in Minnesota in the last few years. I continually read the whining phrase "tax break only for the rich". The rich pay most of the taxes now and besides how many poor people do you know that employ others? We need the employment. Thank you.

Clyde DeBolt

Backus

At war with terrorists

The recent terrorist attacks in Spain remind me that the terrorists have declared war and we have a responsibility to defend our country by being on the offensive.

Thank you to the military, veterans, First Responders, police, firefighters, and medical personnel who are a critical part of protecting our country,

Special thank you to the families of military for sharing your family member to protect our country.

Without the brave we couldn't be free.

Gwen Kienholz

Brainerd

Here's a riddle

I just love riddles, don't you? Here's one for you: What is 40 hours long, pays well, contains benefits, and is considered good for "Family Values"? It is something the current president has never had until now, but is about to lose. Hint: Bill Clinton created 22 million of these.

Carol Ward

Brainerd

Gibson's film

I am writing to encourage the readers to view the film, "The Passion of the Christ," by Mel Gibson. There appears to be much controversy in the media as to the accuracy of the film, its depiction of the Jews and the graphic nature of the beating and crucifixion of Jesus. It also demonstrates the great love that Jesus has for all people both then and now. This controversy surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus has been with the people of the world since it occurred nearly 2000 years ago.

It is written in the Bible.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Is Jesus who he claims to be? View the film. You decide.

Adrian LeBlanc

Brainerd

Regarding: Lies

John Kerry is not a good person to be a president. He lies, votes down things that make the U.S.A. a great country, makes statements that are totally untrue, wants to raise taxes on persons that employ people. Just so he can give it to people that don't work and don't care to work. He sounds like another Howard Dean. Check out the people that give both sides FOX News Network,The Rush Limbaugh Show AM1500 KSTP, noon to 3pm Monday-Friday or Sean Hannity Show 1500 KSTP 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Paul M. Odenthal

Pillager

A huge whopper

I see that a local TV ad by George Bush says that John Kerry will raise taxes by $900 billion. That is a huge whopper. John Kerry's plan to raise taxes on anyone making over $200,00 a year does not come close to making $900 billion. This is designed to influence voters who vote with a sound bite. One would hope that the sound bite would have a grain of truth to it.

Jerry Sims

Outing

Here's my side

It's only fair to hear my side too.

What's President Bush proposing for the next four years? To increase the over half a billion dollar budget to an over $2 trillion dollar deficit and slash dramatically programs to help fund a bigger military program. Mr. Bush did say his war against terror has just begun and what good is it threatening countries if we can't back it up? This means Korea, Iran, Libya, Syria and Palestine to name a few, not counting our current military commitments in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

If you think we've distanced our European allies already, think about nuclear proliferation as these countries already possess nuclear threats to all of us. Let me remind you, generations of debt for each man, woman, and child in the U.S.A. while we throw billions upon billions, rebuilding our war-torn efforts to implant unwanted democracy in foreign lands that thank us by blowing up our equipment and taking our brave soldiers lives in the name of Islam -- a Holy Jihad. Think -- millions of Americans out of work, with no health coverage and no unemployment left for them and all of the current handicapped, elderly, children and poor, who already have been suffering cruelly for the last four years while the wealthy, multi-billion dollar corporations, special interest groups, Bush's henchmen, and cronies, and brother Republicans are rewarded with huge tax breaks and special favors. What program is Mr. Bush proposing to slash faith-based initiatives? And, all the rest of the broken campaign promises he promised last time he ran, and the same promises to be broken again. Who's next? Middle class? Doesn't America come first? Or is it too late to recover anymore? Let's vote someone in who cares for us. We've suffered enough.

Stephen D. Luoma

Brainerd

Voters must be vocal

Our leaders can't know if we don't tell them. Many issues may be a problem in your life, such as taxes, environmental issues, veteran issues, gun issues, jobs, low incomes, work hours being too long, pro-choice or pro-life issues, medical problems, farming issues, racial or religious issues. You know when something isn't right. You know what you need. We need to tell our representatives our problems. We need to be vocal about issues. We may need to form groups to help support each other; to get our leaders to listen to us. We need young and old to stand together on issues that are important to us. We as citizens need to realize our vote does count! We need to vote for the candidate we know in our hearts is best for us.

Mark Glazier

Backus

Comp plans

The next few weeks there will be news addressing comprehensive plans. Crow Wing County is completing one, Oak Lawn Township has one, Long Lake Township is formulating one and Crow Wing Township has completed a plan. There have been meetings recently for review of the city of Brainerd's new comprehensive plan.

It is interesting to note that the township plans deal with growth and development within their existing boundaries. They can plan for options with waste water systems, business growth areas and rural residential growth areas and transportation needs.

Crow Wing County has done an exceptional job developing their comprehensive plan. It is word specific for set guidelines and direction in some areas and overall a very good plan. The county also developed their plan within the existing county lines just like the townships.

The city however, has major sections in their plan for taking land from the county and townships. Their plan not only includes trying to develop existing city property but also for the surrounding areas of Oak Lawn, Long Lake, and Crow Wing Township plus unorganized territory. It amazes me that a city which doesn't have enough funds to develop and work within it's own boundaries can think they can just take someone else's land and expect them to pay for the services that the city will impose on them.

There is a statement in the city's plan to work with surrounding townships to develop orderly annexation plans. Their definition of "working together" with the city is to let the city plan, and for the townships to agree, with whatever is planned. As long as the townships agree with the city then it is OK with the city. They call that "working together."

Why not allow the townships to develop and manage the growth on the township level? Townships are not against growth and annexation if the landowner wants it but they want to be an equal partner in the joint planning of city and township growth. Growth is happening and all government units need to work cooperatively to design an efficient and orderly plan for services needed by the new residents and businesses.

Mark Haglin

Oak Lawn Township Supervisor

What free money?

By golly (Native Minnesotan talk), I'm an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe -- and I don't receive money from the government! Where do people get that idea from?

The only money that Indians might get from the US government is a tax refund!

The belief that Indians get free money from the United States is a joke. It's one of those "white man myths" -- a myth that only fuels more anger and resentment towards Indians.

Anna Matakis

Ames, Iowa

Some barbecue

On Jan. 21 of this year we read in The Brainerd Dispatch a front page article entitled, "County Board discussing ways to reduce spending."

This discussion evidently burned on the grill because the Wednesday, March 10, 2004 Dispatch edition prints, "County OKs building plan." This 'plan' phased its cost at $18 to $57 million: $63 to $107 a year, 20 years, each county taxpayer.

Preceding the vote Chairman Sluss dictatorially announces, "It's really time to fry the chicken." The commissioner representing District One refused to participate in the 'barbecue,' and was the single dissenting vote.

Chairman Sluss 'fried the chicken taxpayers' of his own district as well as cooking the pocketbooks of every other taxpayer in Crow Wing County.

"County OKs building plan" was a sad choice for the headline.

Donald and Bev Tate

Hillman