Readers write for Jan. 15, 2010

I find it interesting that the state can require school districts to "lend" it money (front page, Jan. 14). It was not too long ago that each district controlled its own funds. In a time of plenty, a politician (Gov. Jesse Ventura) took over all funding of schools, and everyone cheered because it took schools off their property taxes. People thought it saved them money!

Very shortly, the state will need cash on hand to be writing tax refunds. How about this for a solution: Lay off employees from the Department of Revenue and tell Minnesota taxpayers that no refunds will be given this year due to budget shortfalls; we are already doing without that money anyway. Oops! Individuals who get affected can vote; entities, like a school district, cannot.

ROBERT GJERTSON, FRIDLEY

While Twin Cities hospitals are practically dislocating a shoulder patting themselves on the back for pulling in $327 million in net income during the first three quarters of 2009, there is a darker side to the otherwise rosy outlook presented in the Jan. 12 story "Twin Cities hospitals staunching flow of red ink."

Despite admitting nearly 300,000 patients during the first three quarters of 2009 (a 20,000 patient increase compared to the previous year), metro hospitals slashed nearly 1,750 jobs.

So while these "not for profit" hospitals raked in close to $330 million in profits and saw a huge bump in the amount of patients coming through their doors, they decided the best way to respond was by cutting staff.

Readers, what if your newborn son suddenly began having trouble breathing in his hospital room, and when your bedridden wife rang the call light for a nurse, nobody came?

It's a proven fact that safe staffing levels save lives and provide the best possible care. So why are Twin Cities hospitals cutting staff despite amassing huge profits? Why not hire back those caregivers and other staff who lost their jobs in the past year?

LINDA HAMILTON, PRESIDENT,

MINNESOTA NURSES ASSOCIATION, ST. PAUL

Insurance mandates unconstitutional (George Will's Jan. 14 column)? Why wasn't this objection raised in November 2003 against the mandate for seniors under Medicare to purchase private prescription drug insurance? Substantial penalties were prescribed for slackers. Was it because it was a GOP bill pushed by Tom DeLay?

MARY K. LUND, MINNETONKA

As the horror in Haiti unfolds, we say: "What can I do to help?" The Rice Dinner Project (wwwricedinner.org) points toward action. Why not eat a dinner of plain rice and send the money saved (maybe $10) to Feed My Starving Children?

A Minnesota-based organization dedicated to furnishing nutritious meals to the hungry people of the world, Feed My Starving Children last year packed and delivered more than 80 million meals. This year's goal is 92 million meals. The group has been delivering food to Haiti for years, and is well-equipped to meet the challenge of feeding the population at this time of urgency. Ninety-four percent of all donated money goes directly to the food project.

RITA JUHL, MINNEAPOLIS

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I hereby call on the Wall Street bankers who are getting those big bonuses to turn them over to the Haitian relief effort.

LORRAINE GLENNON, ST. LOUIS PARK

Now that a key Democrat and candidate for governor has been fined, and her party as well for purposely circumventing the fund raising process, I feel like she has made her platform very clear. It is the same platform as our governor, who before being elected had a job and a salary that he could not explain and then went on to get a six-figure penalty for his campaign finance violations.

These two deserve each other; with ethics like this, no wonder we can't solve problems in this state.

ROGER NUNN, EDINA

I, too, am sorry to see B. Dalton, or any bookstore, close. This prompted my interest in James Lileks' Jan. 8 tribute to the bookstore. The interest turned to disgust when Lileks stated, "Few will remember the Southdale B. Dalton in 2025 -- except for the old toothless book worms in nursing homes." He went on to describe past bookstores "run by an old weirdo with bad teeth."

Shame on you, James Lileks.

You don't look so hot either.

JOYCE ANDERSON, CAMBRIDGE, MINN.