Readers Write: American expansionism, naked swimming, Nippon Steel, WaPo cartoonist, junk fees

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

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So now the MAGA Republican Party wants to seize territory from other countries, including NATO allies like Canada and Denmark, and rename the Gulf of Mexico (”Trump hints at expanding U.S. by force,” front page, Jan. 8). Never mind global warming and the huge fires in western states, never mind the pathetic state of for-profit health care in this country and never mind the state-sponsored assault on women’s rights, among other pressing issues. These huge problems will continue to exist even if the GOP is successful in distracting some Americans with empty-headed bluster. If these proposed assaults on basic international law and common decency are actually implemented, will other countries just shrug their shoulders? Or will they apply economic sanctions to the U.S. when they realize that Donald Trump has bonded us to Russia, Iran and North Korea as world pariahs? I suspect that many Americans don’t think much about the possible ramifications of Trump’s proposals, in part because we’re geographically and culturally isolated from much of the world. Unfortunately, our lack of understanding does not mean that the results won’t be catastrophic if Trump actually implements what appear to be the musings of an ignorant mind.

Charles Wurzinger, Coon Rapids

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Wanted to comment on the cartoon in Thursday’s paper regarding Trump’s promises. I listened carefully during the recent election to hear what Trump would do with a second term in the White House. As with other Americans, I was encouraged that he was going to bring food prices down. Now that he’s been elected, he’s said that will be tough. Wish he’d said that before the election!

The cartoon in Thursday’s paper shows him leading the charge on a ship heading to Greenland. Greenland! With his crew saying, “I thought he was going to lower the price of eggs.” Exactly! How did we all get fooled again? Trump will say anything he needs to be the top headline. Four more years of this — I’m already looking forward to the next election.

Brad Oosterhuis, Forest Lake

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As a daily reader of your newspaper I was disappointed to see what you placed as the first story of the Jan. 8 paper. How were you suckered into this common mistake? While the nation has been flying their flags at half-staff in honor of a president and great humanitarian, the future president had to take the limelight away by simply hinting at ridiculous ideas of expanding the territory of our nation.

Of course, we all know what the future president is doing. Of course he can’t live without getting the largest headlines. And, may I humbly suggest, you fell right into his eternal need for the top placement. That’s more important than respectfully honoring a hero to many? I’m sure you put a lot of thought into what stories go where. This time I respectfully think you really got it wrong.

Philip Formo, Savage

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Why does mainstream media continue to give space to Trump’s ridiculous comments? See the Jan. 8 Minnesota Star Tribune’s front-page headline no less, “Trump hints at expanding U.S. by force.” Please put all of his comments in the comic section. We all could use a good laugh these days.

Mike Menzel, Edina

One more comment on naked swimming (“Why were boys required to swim naked in Minnesota?” Jan. 7). In 1956 I was a freshman at Stanford University, and to graduate I had to have an athletic requirement. I chose swimming team manager, which required virtually no effort. The pool times for naked men were well posted — except when there was a swim meet. I was scoring a diving contest, and there was absolute silence as a diver stood poised for a back flip. Suddenly, there was a large crash from the door of the men’s locker room and out strode a naked man, whistling and flicking his towel at puddles. He looked up, paralyzed, and then beat an embarrassed retreat. I can still remember the laughter. I like to think this ended the naked swimming practice.

Edgar Morsman, Plymouth

Dear Evan Ramstad: While I don’t claim to be expert in all the implications of selling a legacy American company like U.S. Steel to a foreign entity, I was struck by the omissions in your Jan. 8 article, “Iron Range loses in Biden’s block of U.S. steel sale.”

I believe keeping an American company under American ownership will best serve American and Iron Range workers in the long run. Discussions of this potentiality have gone on for many months and were prominent in the presidential campaign. President Biden has opposed this sale for months. You state in the lede to your story that he had chosen to act on his commitment as if his position were an outlier. You don’t mention that incoming President Trump also vehemently opposes this sale, as does Vice President Kamala Harris.

The steelworkers union is opposed and very vocal in asserting they felt excluded from the negotiations over this sale and were concerned that Nippon would not honor the workers’ existing labor contract or benefits package (”Iron Range union applauds Biden’s decision,” Jan. 4). I would think these facts merit mention, rather than leaving readers with the impression that Uncle Joey acted as a voice of one.

Dennis J. Sutliff, Minneapolis

Kudos to a Jan. 8 letter writer (“Democracy dies in plain sight”) for calling out Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos’ increasing allegiance to the President-elect with his axing of Ann Telnaes’ cartoon depicting the mega-rich rushing to curry favor with Trump. Like the writer, we had already canceled our Post subscription, but with his reminder, we have canceled our Amazon Prime membership as well. It was a convenience, but we’ll manage. We can no longer support billionaires who have decided that a slide from democracy toward authoritarianism suits them just fine. Anybody else in?

Susan Sisola, Minneapolis

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Apparently, democracy dies in broad daylight when sycophantic billionaires slouch to the court of the Mar-a-Lago king and lick his boots. I’m sure I’m one of many who don’t want to see the Washington Post go under, taking with it excellent reporters, writers, commentators and many other hardworking employees. Is there any chance that MacKenzie Scott can be persuaded to buy this storied newspaper from her former spouse?

Theresa J. Lippert, St. Paul

The state of Minnesota is equally culpable as any restaurant with its use of many nontransparent fees (“End to service charges troubles restaurants,” Dec. 31). For example: I recently ordered a broiler element online for the kitchen range, $104.75. The Amazon billing had the Minnesota sales tax added plus an additional fee of 50 cents for Minnesota Road Improvement and Food Delivery fee. That delivery vehicle already pays license fees and fuel taxes to use those roads. Isn’t this Minnesota fee-transparency law like the pot calling the kettle black?

Bruce Granger, West Concord, Minn.

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In defense of restaurant fees, a Jan. 4 letter writer suggests that if we can’t afford it, we shouldn’t eat out. Low- and middle-income earners have already been priced out of theater, concert and sporting events. Unlike dining out, we can enjoy these other experiences at home on various streaming platforms. We just have to get subscriptions to Hulu, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Paramount+, Starz, Max ...

Mary Hanvik, Minneapolis