Opinion editor's note: Star Tribune Opinion publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here.

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Finally, someone proposes ending California's 19th-century "senior water rights" to Colorado River water ("Feds offer plan to evenly share allotments on Colorado River," April 12), and how is it presented in the paper? As a political move to court votes in the purple states of Nevada and Arizona. Really? As if the proposal has any chance of making it through the morass of likely court battles prior to the next election. The real story here is officially proposing a fair solution to a difficult issue, not some perceived backroom political chicanery.

Douglas Meisner, Minneapolis

I share the sentiment of the letter writer in "The log in your own eye" (Readers Write, April 12). We really do all need to evaluate our own role in contributing to the generalized polarization of our society. As the writer said: "The path to healing is laden with listening, thinking, humility and a massive dose of self-reflection." But here's the thing: Having and acting with goodwill toward other people is not a universally held value.

There is only one major party in this country that panders to, if not promotes, white supremacy. There is only one party whose leader has demonstrated a thorough disregard for democratic values. Holding conservative views is one thing. Racist, autocratic views are quite another. For me, the latter is a bridge too far. I am very pessimistic about any kind of healing until true conservatives separate themselves from the haters who seem to be in control of their party.

David George Johnson, Sartell, Minn.

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In an April 7 letter, "The Democrats doom themselves," the writer presents a litany of what the Biden administration has done wrong. I would argue many of his points, but that's not why I'm writing.

Twice the writer says "we patriots ... ." The implication, of course, is that Democrats aren't patriots.

The fact that two of us disagree does not mean that either doesn't want what's best for the country. We may disagree on what that entails, certainly. But does that mean one of us is not patriotic?

I don't question the letter writer's patriotism. I wish he didn't question mine.

Nic Baker, Roseville

The April 12 editorial ("Vigilance needed on abortion rights") claims there is a very low mortality rate for women who use mifepristone for medication abortions. However, it says nothing about the mortality rate for the other life involved.

I understand that pregnancy, labor and childbirth can be physically, emotionally and financially difficult. However, I don't understand how a person can come to the conclusion that abortion is not killing a human life.

Consider this: Let's say a person plants a seed in a pot in their home and it starts to grow. The person decides they do not want the plant, so they pull out the sprout and throw it away. While that person might say that the plant was in their pot, in their home and would die without their care, so they could do whatever they want with the plant, they cannot rationally say that they did not kill the plant.

Don Waletzko, Maple Grove

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The Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone can still be used for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail.

In related news, the Food and Drug Administration ruled that attorneys can still practice law but cannot correspond by mail, phone or email ...

James Halvorson, Farmington

The recent news about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas reveals that he sold properties to his billionaire benefactor from Texas, but like the travel and other gifts he has received, he did not report them ("Thomas failed to report real estate deal with Texas billionaire donor," April 14). Some of his critics are up in arms and want to pass laws to ensure that such potential conflicts of interest are reported. There is already in place policy that requires reporting of property sales.

The obvious person to take action here is completely silent, at least in public: Chief Justice John Roberts, who has taken the ethical high road in previous controversies, has not taken a public stand. He could say that Thomas' failures are a shame and embarrassment to the court, that the money should be returned, and even that Thomas should consider resigning. But, perhaps because the chief justice is afraid to lose the court's conservative majority, he has done nothing at all. But does this mean that he condones Thomas' behavior?

John E. Connett, Roseville

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While I have spent most of my 62 years in Minnesota, I moved to Nebraska in third grade and missed the State Capitol tour that most elementary students take. I finally made the field trip today and, while impressed with the beauty and history, I was struck by a quote in the Supreme Court side of the building. It was attributed to Samuel Johnson and seemed to be fitting given the current disregard of ethics demonstrated by Justice Thomas. It read: "To embarrass justice by a multiplicity of laws or to hazard it by confidence in judges, are the opposite rocks on which all civil institutions have been wrecked."

... and there is so much more to be learned by visiting this historical gem in St. Paul!

Rich Thomas, Minneapolis

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty claims that brain structure doesn't fully mature until the age of 25 ("Walz, Ellison right to take over murder case," editorial, April 14). This will be news for the millions who by that age have already earned a post-high-school degree or two, have been holding good-paying jobs, started a business and served in the military, including flying multimillion-dollar fighter jets.

The two teens should have faced trials where their attorneys could have argued for leniency base on their research.

One can only conclude that, while Moriarty's unfitness for the job was well publicized before the elections, too many, apparently, chose to just follow the party endorsement.

Hanna Hill, Plymouth

After its editorial on speeding drivers ("A crash course on speeding," April 10), the Star Tribune should investigate the proportion of fines for speeding that are actually paid. A few years ago, it reported that only 3% of light rail fines for unpaid fares were actually paid. Enforcement of unpaid fines will decline if police limit traffic stops for minor infractions like outdated license tabs and broken taillights. Stops for minor infractions can include a check on outstanding fines and warrants against the driver. There is little follow-up on outstanding tickets outside these stops for minor infractions. Speeding tickets may have little effect on driving habits because drivers can ignore them, and with police reform, ignoring tickets will become even easier. If the police do not take unpaid fines seriously, neither will the public.

Mark Davison, Maple Grove

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While speeding tickets have gotten more expensive in recent years, the penalty is nothing like getting a DWI. Since speeding and drunken driving each kill a high number of people each year, this seems terribly unjust. If speeders had to spend a night in jail, give up driving for 90 days, go to court, do community service and take a one-day speeding class, they might think more about their actions.

William Arthur, Hopkins

Is it just me or is there a particularly prodigious amount of litter along the sides of the highways and roads this spring? Perhaps we can take advantage of the high number of carjacking perps and put them to work picking up that garbage. Meanwhile: People. Stop littering, for Pete's sake. It's disgusting.

Jane Friedmann, Shoreview