Open Forum: Kerry is counting on ignorance

Have you seen the John Kerry commercial in which George Bush pledges to help seniors on Medicare and "the very next day imposes a 17 percent premium increase -- the biggest in history"? That ad will surely gain him many votes among the uninformed.

As it turns out the 17 percent increase was not imposed by President Bush but was mandated by the "balanced budget agreement" signed by President Clinton, voted into law by Sen. John Kerry and was scheduled to come into effect during the Bush administration.

President Bush had no authority to reverse what had been voted into law by Senator Kerry during the Clinton administration.

Once again Kerry is counting on the ignorance of the American people. Don't be duped by his deceitfulness.

Keith Tuma

Fort Ripley

Candidates and fuel prices

As a citizen, I am very concerned about the high fuel prices, but our major candidates seem to either be ignoring the issue or are just giving it lip service. Why are we remaining dependent upon foreign oil? Why don't we switch to a fuel made from farm products? We have idle farms and people without jobs. This could help solve both problems. One hundred and fifty years ago we used whale oil but that changed.

I would not mind paying $2 per gallon if I knew that our American farmers were benefiting. By having local refineries we would promote meaningful jobs. It would lessen the problems with transportation and security. The money would remain in this country for our own use instead of leaving for programs which may not be beneficial to us.

I will not vote for any candidate who does not openly address this issue. Maybe we should really see who is running this country.

Scott Mike Thurlow

Nisswa

Too many traffic deaths

Of late, media has discussed and analyzed the war in Iraq because of the 1,100 men and women who have died in that war. Let me tell you first, I am the wife of a Vietnam veteran, who was also a POW for seven years and we are both true supporters of our troops and our country. However, I am also a Victim Advocate for victims of traffic crashes and have been for over 20 years. The recent crash involving the wonderful three young brothers killed by an alleged distracted impaired driver was a horrendous loss and was preventable.

Do you realize that approximately 43,000 people were killed last year on our highways in the United States. Does the public even realize these numbers? When and what will it take for the media to make highway deaths a priority? Do we have to wait until a celebrity or a public figure's family is killed. I hate the war, but there is also a war on our streets everyday and my children, grandchildren and yours are riding on those streets. They need to be protected. . Distracted driving, drunken driving are the cause of so many deaths. I have been listening to the two presidential candidates discussing the war, domestic issues, etc., but I have never heard one candidate, even local candidates say "I will do everything in my power to make our roads safer for all Americans". No one wants to talk about it, until it hits home. Is it because everyone does it?

Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll

Director/Victim Advocate

Minnesotans For Safe Driving

St. Louis Park

Incredible information

Last week Cal Thomas had an interesting column in the Dispatch with the heading "Ignorant voters are everywhere." He might have added that a recent poll showed that 78 percent of Republicans who support George W. Bush believe Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11. Incredible!

John Niedenfuer

Deerwood

Voters will have final say on ad

An editorial piece is strictly the opinion of the writer and not necessarily based on facts. The editorial writer of the Brainerd Dispatch claims a political ad by council candidates Bob Olson, Mike Brusseau, Jim Sykes and Robert Fitzsimmons is misleading.

Kevin Goedker has politics in his blood and he wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, Gene, who served 12 years on the Brainerd City Council. The editorial writer is in error when they say Gene Goedker served on the council years ago. The facts are Gene Goedker was defeated in the year 2000 for his re-election bid on the Brainerd City Council

It's my opinion that certain staff members of the Brainerd Dispatch are part of this "good old boys club." Our opponents are trying to create an issue because the four of us candidates are campaigning on the same platform. They want to use the term "block, faction" and other negative terms.

We are committed and dedicated to implementing our platform when the four of us are elected; in fact, we feel there could be an overwhelming vote to approve our platform. Citizens, please read our platform.

The end result is on Nov. 2 the voters of Brainerd will have the final say on our ad and also have the power to change how Brainerd city government has operated over the past 16 years.

Bob Olson

Brainerd

There's more to sports than football

I want to know in this day and age, when girls sports may take a front page story or even top front of the sports section. The Brainerd girls soccer team is making records and the football team gets acknowledged for a title appearance. Let's get with the times and promote other things than just Brainerd Warrior football.

Amy Carlson

Brainerd

High cost of medicine

Any health plan would be better than what is going on now. We are in our 80s and are spending over $800 dollars a month over our Social Security. That is just for medicine.

Delbert Holmin

Baxter

Kerry's class warfare rhetoric

John Kerry continues his class-warfare rhetoric, attacking President Bush for choosing "the powerful and well-connected over middle-class Americans." Spouting this "wealthy-versus-the-middle-class" rhetoric, Kerry waves the Marxist flag, taking his mantra from the Communist Party USA, which in www.cpusa.org develops an antithetical interest of the wealthy and the ordinary man and there publicly supports Kerry's election as President. To Kerry and the Communists, a tax-break for the successful businessman amounts to an attack upon the working American. He sings the old class-warfare tune to divide the country to get elected. He must believe that business owners are diametrically opposed to the workers who make their businesses profitable, and that workers are equally opposed to those who provide jobs that support their families. Would Kerry have America adopt the time-tested failure of Soviet socialism? His fraternizing with the North Koreans in 1970-71 may not be unrelated to his present collectivist economic views.

Look also at Kerry's values with regards to protecting the unborn or about-to-be-born (he voted against partial abortion ban), his litmus test for federal bench nominees (they must support "choice" to abort), his views on national security (outsource it to the UN).

Another stark difference between Bush and Kerry is that Bush will select judges who are "strict constructionists," while Kerry said he will select judges and justices who "interpret the Constitution based on the law." Note: The United States is a Constitutional Republic whose foundation is the Constitution against which all law is to be measured, not the other way around. It is not to be adjusted based upon whatever laws have been passed, or molded by activist judges who wish they had been there at its writing.

Duane Block

Lake Shore

Unhappy with candidate choices

The ballot for the coming election has nine pair of names for the presidency. I and many others wanted a choice of someone to vote for -- other than the teams of fake and or fraud, both belong to "Skull and crossbones." The president (four years) what positives has he done? The senator (12 years -plus), same question.

One thing both have in common is a good war chest) for promoting propaganda to the people. Every election, same M.O., jobs, education, homes, insurance, higher wages, i.e. what the people want to hear. Does it happen? Hell no, wage increases and bonus for the officials, yes. There are seven other pair of presidential candidates, most of which I know little or nothing about. Probably little money for public exposure. We need a new system of equality for all. My vote will be wasted but I will vote for one of those pairs before I vote for the 'F' teams, fake and fraud.

My next letter will have an opinion of a fair and just election at all levels of government. Graft, corruption, private money, no lobbyists and personal interests in companies in our country and abroad would be a good start. I approve this letter.

Richard Magnan

Fort Ripley

Ignore that political ad

I have known Paul Gazelka for over 20 years. Paul has always shown extraordinary respectfulness, grace, compassion, and integrity. A recent negative campaign mailing, sent by the HRCC, does not reflect Paul's positive message. Voters, please, just disregard it. Vote for "Positive Paul" Gazelka for state representative.

Jeff Berg

Brainerd

Wenzel supports Blaine

Greg Blaine best represents the values and traditions of the people of Morrison and Crow Wing Counties. Greg is a farmer and a lifelong resident of District 12B.

Rep. Blaine has achieved a solid legislative record protecting the unborn, the sanctity of marriage, and strong support for K-12 education.

Steve Wenzel

Little Falls

Brainerd Industrial Park figures

In the foursome's campaign literature they say that the industrial park expansion that took place in 1994 has cost the city $255,000. This amount is the interest paid on the 10-year contract to purchase the property. This property generated no property taxes before the city purchased it, because it was not in the city limits. In 2004 this property generated approximately $40,000 in property taxes for the city. There are three lots remaining and when they are developed will generate more income. I am not sure of the amount collected the past 10 years but I think it is close to the amount of interest paid. This development has created about 100 better paying jobs and will generate over $45,000 in income for the city in 2005.

Mr. Olson has said the city should be run like a business. I have to wonder what business person would buy a rental property and not consider the amount of rental income it would generate.

Mark O'Day

Brainerd

Winning the peace

Throughout the presidential campaign it has been alleged we do not have a plan in place for "winning the peace" in Afghanistan and Iraq. This claim is false. A plan is in place that has been historically proven.

During World War II, the Japanese people fanatically worshipped their emperor and held the Allies were made up of inferior people, much the same as Muslim radicals hold we are infidels. Kamikaze pilots flew suicide missions much the same as suicide bombers carry out terrorist acts today. Allied POWs and civilian detainees were horrible mistreated, to the same extent as we have atrocities committed today against coalition military and civilian personnel.

The U.S. sought to secure the peace by rebuilding and reforming Japan. A constitution was drafted under a provisional government, much the same as has taken place in Iraq and Afghanistan. Japanese women were once a subclass, subjective to men. They were placed at parity with men and were entitled to vote and shared equal rights. Again, this same scenario applies to women of Afghanistan and Iraq today. A democratically elected government came into place in Japan and still successfully functions today. The same was just elected in Afghanistan and will follow in a matter of weeks in Iraq. Japan's economy has flourished and the Japanese standard of living has increased numerous fold over as a result of our "winning the peace" by rebuilding Japan's infrastructure and industry. Japan was once our fanatical enemy. Today, they are one of our closet allies both politically and economically.

The same plan that "won the peace" in Japan is under way in Afghanistan and Iraq today. If we continue with this historically successful plan, in a few years Afghanistan and Iraq will likely also be one of our closet allies.

Kurt Martin

Brainerd

Seniority is important in St. Paul

Like it or not, federal and state elected officials with seniority (years of elected service) are more likely to successfully "produce" for their hometown areas. Don Samuelson's past twelve years in the house (and over 30 years of legislative experience) is of utmost importance for our Brainerd Lakes area.

John Ward Jr.

Brainerd

More on political ads

Mistruths by an incumbent Brainerd City Council candidate whose flyer made the following statements:

"Voted to spend $8 million on public safety building." Fact: Council voted to put it on a referendum for the voters to decide.

"Supported demolishing Gregory Park fountain and rebuild at cost of $150 to$200,000." Fact: Only discussed what options might cost. Asked park board to look into cost to repair pumps and inspect the concrete fountain.

"Reserves for the city being 2/3 short." Fact: The city does not receive its allotment of state aid and tax payments until December.

"Voted to charge citizens for public information." Fact: We do not charge anyone asking for reasonable amounts of information. The council did enact a policy after Mr. Olson, as a private citizen, used well over $7,000.00 in documented city staff time and material for a witch hunt which proved nothing. This doesn't even compare to how much time he spent of staff time and material after being elected as the policy does not pertain to elected officials. Also, during the first six months in office, he used 82 hours of documented time of our city attorney with questionable city benefit.

"Voted 6 to 1 to approve storm sewer fees." Fact: Much of our infrastructure is well over 60 years old and needs to be upgraded.

"Voted 5-2 not to televise committee meeting." Since August of 2001, the council meetings have been televised thanks to Jeff Pryor volunteering his time to run the cameras during the regular scheduled council meetings. The committee meetings are always open to the public.

As elected officials it is our responsibility to set policy and not micromanage each department as has been the case with Mr. Olson.

Thank you for allowing me to clarify these statements.

Mayor James Wallin

Brainerd

Olson helps citizens

My husband, Bob Olson is a dedicated and hard working council person. He listens and helps citizens with issues. He is campaigning on a platform that will improve city government with Mike Brusseau, Jim Sykes and Rob Fitzsimmons. Watch Bob 7 p.m. Wednesday, Channel l8 concerning city elections.

Cathy Olson

Brainerd