Letters to the editor for Sunday, Feb. 1

Like him or not, Rush Limbaugh's comment that he hopes President Obama fails is a prime example of free speech in America. Limbaugh objects to the direction in which Obama wants to take America. Freedoms afforded every American under the Constitution exist to allow all of us to voice our opinions on whatever topic we wish to without reprisal from the government.

CHRIS LUND, HAMBURG

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Limbaugh wants Obama to fail only because his socialist, big-government policies will ruin this country. The funny thing is, as usual, Limbaugh predicted this would happen.

JOSEPH G. FLICEK, FARIBAULT, MINN.

What has happened to calm reasoning and looking for complete solutions? The stimulus plan in its current form is just a large pork project. There is very little in this bill that will do anything to help the economy. I hope that we have some courageous leaders who will say that we need to find a better solution.

I have heard countless politicians say, "We just don't have a better plan." That excuse did not work for me in high school, and it certainly should not work for Congress. Until it has a plan that makes sense, don't act. It really is that simple.

If I told you my plan to get out of debt was to spend as much as I can in hope that one day I will be able to pay it back, you'd think I was crazy. There is no logic in that plan. Why does Congress think it will work on a larger scale?

MELISSA KOLLASCH, JORDAN, MINN.

Here's a request to all those whose jobs are secure: Don't pretend to be hurting if you're not, or hold back on spending because it seems like you ought to. It doesn't have to be lavish or extravagant, but go out for lunch, shop at Target, check out the skyways, go to the mall, go to a play or concert, consider a spring break vacation, throw a dinner party and maintain your charitable giving. It's the right thing to do!

SUSAN BROWN, ST. PAUL

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JOHN JACKSON, BLOOMINGTON

If Tim Pawlenty's house were on fire, I suspect he'd call for a corporate tax cut to deal with it.

XANDRA COE, MINNEAPOLIS

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Gov. Tim Pawlenty presents a budget that cuts business taxes in a speculative attempt to increase the favorability of the business climate. This is supposed to provide our local economy with added growth in the future. Business owners see lower taxes and think to themselves, "Hmmm, Minnesota is a wonderful place to set up shop. There are lots of smart hardworking people (more now with big layoffs happening); they will work for a song and we get to pay less in taxes, too. A heckuva deal! Maybe we should hire some of these people as we expand." The CEO can get a nice fat raise for being a visionary, can pay for his groceries and still has enough left over for a political contribution to the Republican Party. (This is known as a "win-win.")

GEORGE HUTCHINSON, MINNEAPOLIS

Many people I speak to are surprised to learn that a photo ID isn't required to vote in Minnesota. A new bill has been introduced in the Legislature to require them in the future. Some still oppose it, believing it would disenfranchise those few folks unable to get an official ID.

They want us to believe that these people would be the poor, underprivileged and aged, but I'm not convinced. It seems most have little difficulty getting a state ID to drive a car, cash checks, use an EBT card or to purchase alcohol, cigarettes or a certain type of nasal decongestant. But to have an ID to vote presents too great a hardship.

Why would any American object to confirming who they are? Does anyone else get the feeling there are some in our Legislature who privately wish to enable fraudulent and illegitimate voting? Watch for the "no" votes to learn who they are.

KIRBY BECK, COON RAPIDS

It's too bad that the producers of movies have forgotten about our youngest generation.