Readers Write: Abortion access, Cargill layoffs, campus protests, public health, airfare costs

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

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We hear of all the Texas women dying during pregnancy because it is illegal to give them the care they need. This issue is close to us because our granddaughter was pregnant with her first child and experienced a terrible natural abortion. She had to have a D&C to remove the placenta to save her life. Fortunately, she lives in Minnesota where an excellent OB-GYN was there for her, and she had the courage to try again and she is now in her 24th week with our new great-granddaughter.

The Constitution was amended to allow citizens the right to bear arms, so why can’t it also include the right of a physician to follow the Hippocratic oath they took to practice medicine? It seems to me that that would be more palatable to anti-abortion zealots on the far right and slow down the exodus from states that make it illegal to practice medicine. It might be more bipartisan than making abortions legal.

Don Wenner, Bloomington

Way to go, Cargill! Let’s make the holidays merry and bright while upholding your core values of putting your employees first (“Cargill to lay off 5% of global workforce,” Dec. 4). You couldn’t have waited until the first of the year to announce layoffs?

Mary Leizinger, Victoria

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Cargill’s decision to lay off 8,000 employees globally, or 5% of its workforce, should raise significant concerns about corporate priorities and the effects these spending cuts have on the working class. Although Cargill is facing challenges due to a decline in commodity prices and reduced profits, the company’s drastic decision to restructure reflects a deeper issue: corporations prioritizing profit margins over the well-being of their employees.

CEO Brian Sikes’ statement about realigning talent and resources to boost competitiveness is understandable from a business standpoint. However, Sikes stating “We will lean on our core value of putting people first as we support our colleagues during this transition,” feels hollow when thousands are being laid off with very minimal notice. It is especially troubling given the high profits Cargill reaped just two years ago during a financial boom from the pandemic. This year, Cargill’s profits dropped by 36% to $2.5 billion, which is still significant profit. This indicates that the company’s plan of immediate restructuring is not a result of an urgent crisis, but rather an inhumane response to shifting long-term projections in hopes of maximizing profitability.

Cargill’s decisions will have immediate consequences for employees, but they may also severely impact the company itself. A 2021 Jobvite survey found that 70% of job seekers prioritize company culture and values, which could make it harder for Cargill to attract top talent in the future. As companies pursue growth, they must remember that their workforce is their most valuable asset.

Logan Thell, Janesville, Minn.

On Dec. 5, I attended a Minneapolis City Council meeting (”Minneapolis City Council urges amnesty for pro-Palestinian protesters at University of Minnesota,” StarTribune.com, Dec. 5). On the agenda was a resolution presented by Council Member Robin Wonsley, expressing solidarity with the students at the University facing up to five-semester suspensions, fines of $5,000 and the withholding of their academic transcripts during their suspension.

All this for a protest where no one was threatened and no one harmed. I believe the penalties are punitive in character, part of a broader effort by universities to clamp down on pro-Palestinian protests on campuses. The 7-5 vote in favor of the resolution was not surprising. What took me aback was the language used by Council Members Linea Palmisano and Andrea Jenkins. They claimed that the students who occupied Halimy/Morrill Hall had taken hostages or were holding people in the building hostage.

First off, it’s untrue — the students had directed anyone in the building who wanted to leave to a door through which they could exit. There is video evidence supporting this. The bigger concern is the inflammatory nature of that language, because it implicitly but clearly draws a parallel to the actions of Hamas. They are essentially equating these students to Hamas. This is the language of demagoguery.

In this example it is being used to justify disproportionate consequences. But it is a very dangerous precedent because it also lays the groundwork for even harsher forms of repression in the days to come.

Bob Goonin, Minneapolis

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Where are the letters to the editor decrying the immoral ongoing killing of civilians in Gaza by Israel (”Strikes on Gaza tent camp kill 21,” Dec. 5)? Yes, many civilians in Sudan are also being killed in their protracted civil war. The difference is we, American taxpayers, are not funding those killings (as far as I know). Israel has the right to defend itself, but what we’re seeing is not defense but retribution on an Old Testament biblical scale. They’ve already killed 40 people, mostly women and children, for each person killed in the Hamas attack on Israel more than a year ago. Their stated policy now is to eliminate every real and potential member of Hamas. There is no way for them to do that unless they intend to kill every single person in Gaza. They’ve already reduced the entire area to rubble and are pursuing a policy of starvation of the remaining population. It’s profoundly sad, and likely another symptom of the degradation of American society, that most of us avert our eyes instead of demanding the cessation of military funding to Israel.

Valerie Nebel, St. Paul

Romans as early as the 2nd century BCE were aware of the toxic effects of lead. Fast forward a few thousand years and it’s being reported that Minnesota homeowners are discovering they have lead pipes and there may be health risks (”Minnesota homeowners are discovering they have lead pipes. Here’s what they can do.” StarTribune.com, Dec. 4). In fact, the CDC’s position is there is no safe level of lead exposure. While lead poisoning wreaks havoc on the neurodevelopment of children, its effects on seniors should not be overlooked. Lead stored in bones can resurface and pose health risks, especially in the elderly. Science shows us that lead exposure is linked to high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage resulting from its storage in bones being leached back into the bloodstream.

Kevin McDonald, Minneapolis

The writer is a supervisor with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

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I appreciated the article “Low vaccine rates cause for alarm” (front page, Nov. 29) because I don’t know that everyone understands the potential threat this is to community health. As the parent of children who had to stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am concerned that if not enough children are vaccinated we could have another outbreak. This summer there was also a measles outbreak in the Twin Cities.

Some children have allergies or medical conditions that prevent them from getting shots. When others pass them over for nonmedical reasons they put their peers at risk. If you have questions about vaccines, do not trust random websites or social media. Reach out to a doctor. Ask them to explain the safety and effectiveness for your children and about the role that their vaccination can play in protecting the health of others.

Matt Flory, St. Louis Park

The article on Sun Country Airlines and its success and profitability as a Minnesota company is admirable (”Airline’s business model soaring,” Nov. 27). I can see why they are profitable after booking a flight. The initial airfare was reasonable. But then come the add-ons: $17 to $30 for picking your seat, $50 to $60 per bag — and those fees are doubled for round-trip fares. So a $200 round trip ticket, actually, can add up to a $360 round-trip ticket. Thanks for the hidden costs after buying the initial ticket.

David Shute, Apple Valley