Open Forum

I wish the politicians would just put a gun to the heads of all those rich guys, take all their money and be done with it. We would then be spared all the nonsense about taxing the bejeebers out of those "few who are lucky enough to be wealthy." It's a well known fact that those wealthy few are just plain lucky and never did a lick to earn their keep and provide for their families. It follows then that we have a greater and far more legitimate claim to their wealth than they do and, as has been pointed out in previous letters, it is up to the government to go get that wealth and give it to us. "Fair is fair," we are told. They got it and we want it! (They paid taxes on their wealth while earning it and must pay again when they die. Fair is fair.)

We should keep in mind that the estate tax impacts someone other than ourselves and that's the main thing. Someone else should take care of the financial burden incurred in running this great welfare state and that of course means those rich guys will just have to cough up the big bucks. Fair is fair.

It should be noted that our duly elected representative, Jim "Home Town Values" Oberstar has been busy slobbering at the public trough and sticking it to rich and poor alike by ripping off 14 million taxpayer dollars for Duluth. This highway robbery includes $3.2 million for upgrades to the bike path. (Watch for a new government program to make the path run down hill in both directions.)

Fair is fair so long as someone else pays.

Stephen A. Busch

Pequot Lakes

Another big crash may be coming

I was asked why I say, our stock market is about the same spot, in its bubble, as it was in April of 1929.

Because, this is August, and the crash will not come until Christmas, or perhaps January.

But they ask, why is there to be a crash?

Well the farmers were in the Depression from 1922 till about 1935. This time, they have been in a growing depression since about 1953. Some might follow the price of land, to judge the farm economy, that only tells when to expect the farm sales, the farm bankruptcies, and the activities of corporate farms.

You may cite the 4 percent unemployment as the strength of our economy, but you must be ignoring, the fact that the figure only shows the numbers that have been laid off from a declining labor force, that have not found work in the last 26 Weeks. Here you must understand that in pockets where less than 50 percent of the able bodied are employed, it is only counting 2 or 3 percent of the unemployed in that pocket. Lastly, management -- union, negotiation, now resemble those of 1929.

You might ask, if we have not seen a crash earlier, why should we expect one now? Well, unemployment insurance which covered over 50 percent of our unemployed in the past covers less than 10 percent now. Most people had paid health Insurance in recent years, now less than 35 percent do. And lastly, the only work programs we have going, are wars of oppression.

You may say that the stock market seemed to stumble some a few years ago, but is healthy now. Here you need to understand the unmentionable, the big fund managers are playing the final cards in the game of being the last winner.

A neo-con war could stop the crash.

Dennis G. Gordon

Nisswa

Thoughts on stem cell research

The stem cell research "thing" is hard to get a handle on. One approach toward this type of research would tend to say, "All life is sacred, even before conception while in the minds of individuals;" and should not be ended for the sake of science. For the most part we all want to live a healthy life, perhaps wanting to live longer, and how great it would be, if we could have "organs" grown from stem cells to exactly match our biological makeup. Then tissue rejection would not be an issue. And what if a few unborn, unknown "individuals" have to be eliminated in the process, "no big deal." If the research was based on stem cells taken from a rabbit there would seem to be no objection, however when done with human cells, it tends to put human life on the same moral level as the rabbit. The researchers are quick to say, "Why waste these extra cells;" but do "not" show the effort made to preserve their original destiny!

Please stay with me, and read the obituary for Spencer C. Fitch, of July 31. Nothing unusual about that. Just a young boy who died seemingly before his time. In Spencer's birthing process, he was born severely brain damaged. He never walked, talked, or moved voluntarily during his 12 years of life. His parents diapered him and tube fed and lived with him through many life-saving surgical operations. His mother said shortly after he died, "Spencer is running today for the first time in his life!" Tell his parents that it would have been better, if his life had been interrupted for the sake of science.

Ed Fox

Rural Brainerd

Expensive math in Brainerd schools

Our family received a newsletter from the Brainerd High School South Campus. One of the school supplies listed for ninth graders is a TI-83 Plus graphing calculator. The newsletter stated we could purchase the calculator in our local stores for approximately $100.

I called the South Campus guidance office and questioned why the students needed this new calculator, when we had purchased our daughter an expensive calculator last year when she was at Franklin. I was told a TI-83 plus is a "graphing" calculator.

What's wrong with this equation?

Our children in Minnesota and the Brainerd School System are having trouble with their basic math skills and passing the state math test. But as parents we should purchase them a $100 graphing calculator. Sure, our children are using a fancy, pricey calculator, but many of these children may not understand the numbers and figures they are entering. How does this benefit them?

When I asked about the cost, I was informed the school has a small number of calculators they can give to students. This alleviates the cost for a few parents, but how does it help our children?

Lori Thompson

Brainerd