Open Forum

The Baxter City Council is considering a smoke-free ordinance for restaurants and bars. If you agree we all have the right to breathe smoke-free air, please contact the city council and urge them to pass the ordinance. While in your favorite restaurant or bar in Baxter, let them know that 80 percent of adult Minnesotans don't smoke. In a recent survey done in Crow Wing County, when asked"If your favorite restaurant were smoke-free, would you go to that restaurant?" 54 percent responded they would go about as often, 34 percent responded they would go more often, 2 percent responded they never eat out, and 5 percent said they would go less often than before. Let our bars and restaurants know that their customers support smoke-free environments.

Janet Jonassen

Tobacco Free Community Coalition

Crow Wing County

Bush has trouble listening

Before Bush sent out troops into Iraq he was told that more troops were needed to stabilize the post-war Iraq.

He ignored that advice. They were right and the country was looted and burned.

In July that same group of CIA advisers told Bush that Iraq is in danger of civil war.

He is ignoring them again and claims they are only guessing.

Now we learn that he is going to wait until after our election to take control of the areas in Iraq that are controlled by insurgents. That gives them more time to prepare for our troops.

American troops will die because of Bush's political decision to put his campaign ahead of the best interest of our troops.

We need a leader who understands the importance of protecting our troops and is willing to listen.

John Reynolds

Merrifield

Bush doesn't support the draft

President Bush is committed to keeping participation in the U.S. military voluntary. President Bush is confident in the current state of the military and has assured the nation the all-volunteer military force is working well.

"No, we're not going -- we don't need the draft. Look, the all-volunteer Army is working. I know Sen. McCain and I agree on this issue for certain, the all-volunteer Army works." President George W. Bush, (August 10, 2004)

President Bush's administration has remained consistent on the draft. Vice President Cheney says the all-volunteer force "works extraordinarily well."

"We made a decision after Vietnam to go with an all-volunteer force... The all-volunteer force has produced an absolutely remarkable group of men and women -- And I'm a great believer in it."

Cheney stated that a situation would have to be extreme, "on the scale of World War II before I would think that anybody would seriously contemplate the possibility of going back again to the draft." (Vice President Cheney, Oregon City, Ore., Sept. 17, 2004)

Secretary Rumsfeld calls the suggestion of a Bush-initiated draft "nonsense." When asked by the Armed Services Committee about initiating the draft, Rumsfeld replied, "That is absolute nonsense... It's absolutely false that anyone in this administration is considering reinstituting the draft." (Donald Rumsfeld, Senate Armed Services Committee, Sept. 23, 2004)

John Kerry is using the draft to scare young voters and veterans. During campaign stops, John Kerry has worked to scare voters by suggesting that President Bush will initiate a draft. "If George Bush were to be re-elected, given the way he has gone about this war -- is [a draft] possible? I can't tell you." (John Kerry, Sept. 22, 2004)

The discussion in Congress has been led by Democrats. Who supports the draft? Not President Bush.

Sue Hilgart

Brainerd

Will there be a military draft?

What is the current discussion about the pending legislation in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate (companion bills S89 and HR 163)? These bills call for a mandatory military draft for all young men and women between the ages of 18 and 26 without any exemptions for college attendance. Why isn't the media questioning and keeping this important issue in the forefront of the news? The media has a responsibility to keep us informed in the most accessible manner and not suppress vital information that could personally affect so many people. Are we just waiting for the presidential election to be over and then bring out the draft news? As a mother of children in this demographic, I am extremely upset to realize that next June my children may be forced to participate in a war that I, and millions of other Americans, don't agree with.

Suzanne De Young

Nisswa

Liking Lipovetz for at-large seat

Tired of the divisiveness at Brainerd City Council meetings? I am. We need a breath of fresh air; a leader with a positive attitude who will work to make our city better. Andrea Lipovetz will breathe new life into tired old ways. I encourage you to vote Lipovetz this November.

Brent Gunsbury

Brainerd

Bring concerns to public hearings

Responding to the Open Forum letter by the Oak Lawn Township writer. I thanked her for her previous e-mails on this rumor, when I responded to them by e-mail. I have told her and also will tell the public the same thing. I always was truthful and respectful when dealing with any issue involving the public. The annexation concerns by Oak Lawn existed long before I was elected as a council person. It seems like somebody should be blamed and I am their person picked. I was elected by the citizens of Brainerd and that is who I represent and serve. I am extremely proud of my accomplishments as a council person for the city of Brainerd. We have public hearings on annexations. I feel that is where the public should bring their concerns, not in the Open Forum. When a person chooses to not attend the public hearings and wants to air out their concerns in the Open Forums then I feel it is a smear tactic.

Gary Scheeler

Alderman Ward 3

Brainerd