Open Forum

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the four-wheeler rider who, three times in the the last two weeks, rode over the political preference signs next to my approach on Highway 3. It is obvious that we have failed you. Your parents failed you in not teaching you respect for other peoples' property. The schools failed you by not teaching you the value and great privilege of participating in the political system we are fortunate to have in this country. Your political party failed you, and I know which one it is because signs supporting it's candidate were unmolested on both sides of my property, because they have neglected to impress upon you the importance of respect for the opposing candidate which should be a fundamental principle of all political activity.

So with this in mind, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to you on behalf of a society which has so miserably failed you in your formative years. On the other hand, it could be that , despite the best efforts of all those mentioned above, you just turned out to be an ignorant, ill-mannered clod. Either way, my sympathies. My name is Steven K. Anderson and I approved this message.

Steven K. Anderson

Merrifield

Doty is truly pro-life

Two years ago, letters to the editor - and letters sent privately to voters - were full of scare talk that Al Doty wouldn't vote pro-life. Those individuals did that in spite of Al Doty's plain talk that he was pro-life from conception to natural death.

We've had two years to verify his voting record. MCCL rated Rep. Al Doty's pro-life record at 100 percent, for both years.

That doesn't surprise those who know him. He is a man of honesty, integrity, common sense and wisdom. His word is true. He has and will vote like he says he will. His dedication, hard work learned on his parents' family farm, and true consideration for his fellow human beings, make him an excellent representative. Anyone who knows Rep. Al Doty, talks to him, or has needed him, knows he's great for 12B. What really surprises me is that all those people using scare tactics two years ago, aren't thanking him for defending our most vulnerable. Not only aren't they thanking him for a job well-done, they're writing letters trying to scare you about him on other vital issues as well.

Rep. Al Doty has proven his pro-life stance to us with his 100 percent MCCL voting record. We have to wonder about those, who only use this issue when it's politically convenient. Those individuals think voting Republican is more important than saving the unborn and our most vulnerable. They're voting party, not pro-life. Shame on them!

Janet Hanneken

Pierz

Labor unions are the answer

All I hear from the media is how the stock market has fallen and what it is going to do to your 401K or 403B. They never discuss the real problem with a down-turning economy. People are going to lose their jobs. Those that have investments in the market will be all right. The markets will come back. What about the person that is already out of work or about to be out of work? They are the ones in this economy that will be hurt along with many small business owners. When middle class Americans have no work, they have no money and can't spend it in restaurants, hotels, small shops or anywhere else. We have been hurt by all of this, but let's learn. We can see that executives in the corporations cannot be trusted. What can we do? Who is out there fighting for legislation to help working class Americans? Who is out there trying to keep jobs in America?

Labor unions are the answer. Business managers and union presidents are out there every day fighting for middle class Americans. We need to open our eyes! No one is holding corporations to task. They can do anything they want. Unions work tirelessly to get good, fair contracts for their members. They work with legislators to keep, or add, legislation for all middle class Americans. I know many people have a negative impression of labor unions but are you going to trust greedy corporations to their own self-serving ways? Unions are the only source that are holding companies accountable.

We need your help. Unions need larger, strong membership to have our views heard. We want middle class Americans to continue to exist. United we can stand strong.

Mark Glazier

Backus

Business Manager, I.B.E.W. Local 31

Check the facts on taxes

Most small business owners will not be affected by what the presidential candidates want to do with business taxes. Only C-Corporations pay business taxes. Most small businesses are S-corporations or partnerships. Most small businesses profits are passed through to owners and taxed individually.

Despite Sen. McCain's optimistic belief that most small business owners are highly profitable, he is mistaken when he says, "If you are one of the 23 million small-business owners in America who file as an individual rate payer, Sen. Obama is going to raise your tax rates."

Sen. Obama has indicated that he would eliminate Bush-era personal income tax cuts, thus raising taxes on individuals earning more than $200,000 a year or married couples earning more than $250,000. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center less than 3 percent of taxpayers with business income fall into the top two tax brackets and could be subject to Senator Obama's proposed tax increase. While everyone would love to be more prosperous, statistics show that most business owners do not earn $250,000 or more.

Business owners - do not let misinformation or fear affect your vote. Ask your tax preparer whether your business is subject to a business tax. Also look at the Adjusted Gross Income on your Form 1040 to see if you are earning more than $250,000. Check the facts.

Yvonne Leiser

Certified management accountant

Brainerd

YVONNE LEISER is chair of the Senate District 12 DFL.

Make them pay attention

The polls indicate that 80 percent of the population is in disfavor with the president and Congress. "Who is that other twenty percent?" Who in their right mind could be happy with the current situation? It has to be those party faithful, who I often compare to a battered spouse who won't complain for fear of rocking the boat and being seen as unfaithful.

We live in a country of people that has been way too tolerant of the shenanigans that has gone on in government. Lying, coercing, passing the buck, just to name a few, but the sad part is not that it happens - but that we tolerate it. People in government like kids are going to do just what they can get away with.

If we want change we need to initiate it, because government is no longer capable of doing it. That's been proven time and again. Vote for whom you wish and if they get elected then let them know you are watching them. Let's give them a report card and then if they pay no attention, lets give them the boot until we get someone in there that will pay attention.

Mike Holst

Crosslake

There's no free ride

There has been a lot of hoopla about taxing corporations lately and lots of people are saying "let's sock it to these rich, immoral fat cats." It don't work.

If there are two companies making Widgets, one in Minnesota and one in South Dakota, they are selling them for the same price and the Minnesota politicians decide to tax the manufacturing in our state one dollar for each Widget they make and sale here, the manufacturing company will treat this tax as a business expense and raise the selling price of their Widgets by one dollar and the consumer reimburses the company for the imposed tax.

Now the locally produced Widgets are costing one dollar more than the competition so the consumer will buy the competition's and our local company goes out of business and South Dakota picks up the slack. One way this tax has cost the consumer extra money and the other way it has cost a bunch of people their jobs. It's nice to think about but there ain't no free ride.

Clyde DeBolt

Backus

Theme set for Halloween display

"Is anyone there?" remarks Otis the startled night caretaker at Wedgewood Cemetery. Little does Otis know that he is not alone. Disney's graveyard in the "Haunted Mansion" is the inspiration for this year's seasonal Halloween display at the intersection of Parkwood and Wedgewood Drive in Baxter. From the Baxter School go .7 of a mile on 48 (Highland Scenic Road) to Parkwood Drive. Wedgewood Cemetery is on the right. Happy Halloween!

Bob Musielewicz

Baxter