Open Forum

Everybody can see around them that times are tough here in America. People are ever increasingly tightening their belts and trying to make ends meet. Foreclosures and bankruptcies are at a historical high...but does Obama care?

The United States Senate may vote any day on the stealth imposition of what could amount to an $845 billion United Nations style global tax on American citizens? It's called the Global Poverty Act (S.2433), and it is being sponsored by none other than Sen. Barack Obama.

Time is of the essence because Sen. Joe Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee just issued a report on the Global Poverty Act and it was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar on Thursday the 24th. That means that time is of the essence as this potentially massive surrender of your hard-earned tax dollars to the third world may be close to a vote. That's why we must act now...before it is too late!

And, how would the United States pay for this $845 billion commitment? According to Cliff Kincaid of Accuracy in Media who published a report on the legislation; "A global tax will clearly be necessary to force American taxpayers to provide the money."

Let your congressmen know in no uncertain terms, that you are watching and you will not tolerate massive United Nations style giveaways that are passed in the dark of night - or in broad daylight for that matter. Tell them that putting us on the road to give billions to petty tyrants and dictators is NOT a solution to poverty. And by all means do not or stop supporting the author of this bill...Barack Obama!

Dale A.P. Anderson

Pillager

Required reading

Everyone should read this book before the election. Get it at the library.

"American Evita, Hillary Clinton's Path to Power," written by Christopher Anderson, New York Times.

Juanita Gakin

Baxter

Bring my dog back

This is to the people or person that picked up my dog on County Road 45 at Riverside Church in the evening of April 28. I saw you turn around in my driveway and go north to Highway 2 and around again. You were driving a light colored vehicle. My neighbor also saw you. That was my wife's dog. She doesn't get out of the house anymore as she is not doing well. We all get old. You will too, one day.

You were turned around so you could come up my driveway. You may as well have drove on in and got the papers for Max.

My name and phone number were on his tags. Drop him off by the driveway and send him to the house. There will be nothing said.

Jim Pint

Brainerd

Be careful using herbicides

Before the extensive use of herbicides is applied on any of our waters, caution must prevail. A number of years ago, I fished a big BassMaster tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida. The bottom line is, it was and still is the worst tournament in all of BassMaster history. The reason? No fish! Herbicide treatment killed all weeds, all plankton, and eventually nearly all of the fish. Countless turtles, salamanders, and insects also died. Very few fish survived in offbeat areas where freshwater springs bubbled in fresh water. That is where the few fish that were caught were found.

I remember a quote from that incident. It went something like this: "If some corporate business were to dump the same amount of the same stuff in the water as a means of disposal, they would not only be heavily fined, but probably be driven out of business."

It has been nearly 20 years since this happened, and the Harris Chain of Lakes is still not anywhere near the quality of fishery it was before the fall.

One introduces chemotherapy into the body only as a last resort. The same could be said of applying herbicides on our waters.

Ron Lindner

Linder Media Productions,

Angling Edge Television and

Fishing Hall of Famer

A McCain-Molnau ticket in 2008

Rather than our Gov. Pawlenty, I think our lieutenant governor would make a much better running mate for Senator John McCain! Why? Because neither one knows anything about bridges!

James Cummings

Nisswa

Buildings reflect our values

I was happy to have attended the Builtsmart Summit at Madden's Resort these past few days. It occurs to me that in many ways, the buildings and communities of our tomorrow, those we choose to build today, will come to serve for us as a reflection of our own values and convictions in this time. The demonstrated community development and building design strategies and methodologies available to us demand that our energy and our efforts be invested today in the mapping and charting of our future. Each penny invested in efficiency, sustainability, and walk-ability will pay great dividends for us and for our families over the coming decades and years. It was wonderful to see all walks of the active Brainerd community in attendance.

Jesse Hopkins

Architect

Brainerd

Growers Market starts Friday

On Friday, May 9, the Lakes Area Growers Market will begin another season in the Gander Mountain parking lot at 9 a.m. The market will run on Tuesdays again also, but due to construction at the Franklin Arts Center, we will be located at Gander on both Friday and Tuesday until approximately mid-June.

The remodeling of the old school and paving of the parking lot should be completed by that time and the parking lot available to us at that time. Please watch the Dispatch for the date of our return to Franklin.

I would also like to point out that if it is market day and you don't see us along the highway at Gander, please look for us in Gander's backlot between Gander Mountain and Cub Foods as there will be other special promotions in the front lot. We thank our customers for their patience and the city of Baxter along with Gander Mountain for allowing us to set up the extra day until the Franklin remodeling is complete.

John S. Jansen

Member/vendor LAGM