LOCKHEED MARTIN
Politicians not at fault for firm's departure
Now you see it, now you don't. It was interesting that two Nov. 20 letters about the Lockheed Martin plant shutdown had exactly opposite views. One writer blamed the Republicans, one blamed the Democrats.
I bet it is nice to live in a world unencumbered by facts.
WAYNE SATHER, EAGAN
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As disheartening as it is to see jobs leaving the state, what is really disappointing is the invective hurled at our elected officials in an attempt to assign blame.
I have met Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken as well as Gov. Tim Pawlenty, and I know how dedicated they are to a business climate conducive to maintaining employment and creating even more jobs.
Our elected officials are not in office to ensure that government programs (whatever their worth) exist to provide jobs to citizens. These programs, of course, are paid for with tax dollars (collected from the employed).
We have a free-market economy, and in such an economy, business mergers occur, resulting in job transfers and the loss of some jobs as others are created. Let's not confuse affordability in business strategy with dutiful and honest representation in government.