Subjected to the infection of our worst passions
David Brooks fingers the two political parties as the shovelers endlessly stoking the flames of degradation (“The death of democracy is happening within us,” Oct. 25). It’s hard to disagree with that, but there must be something more to our disunity. We are, after all, electing presidents who instead of seeking safety and happiness in union, seek it in a division of distinct sovereignty where like-minded people rule and reside; all others are unwelcome. It’s truly become the essence of this new century’s politic: Divide and conquer. Every four years we’re all crowded into a small area and subjected to the infection of our worst passions.
Who exactly is killing our democratic norms? Individually it doesn’t seem so difficult a question to answer. Yet collectively, it is. I fear therefore that the excessive heat from stoking the flames might ultimately give rise to anarchy among the people, followed by tyranny in the Executive. Or it could be the other way around. One or the other, the nature of our distrust, both at the top, and at the bottom, is that it is has become dependent upon whether a duty to the nation coincides with our own divisive interests.
Julia Bell, St. Paul
Unprecedented
Your reporter, in reporting on the visit of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, describes a “crowd of hundreds gathered outside the federal building to protest Noem’s visit and Trump’s unprecedented immigration crackdown.”
Might he have mentioned President Biden’s unprecedented open borders policy that allowed millions of migrants to enter the U.S. illegally?
Dave Racer, Woodbury
Sign of the times?
If one was to review my work history, you might be tempted to wonder — what was his problem, drugs or alcohol? The answer would be neither. Four of my job changes were the result of corporate mergers or economic downturns with associated downsizing. To the Target store employees now experiencing this, find solace in the thought that eventually all works out, and often for the better.
The traditional rite of passage should be to have your supervisor escort you to a conference room, be met by an HR rep, looked in the eye and thanked for your efforts. A slap on the back or hug is optional. From there you may help a co-worker fill a box of personal items and help carry it to their car and arrange a parting “happy” hour.
For Target to tell 1,000+ employees to stay at home to await your termination e-mail seems classless, impersonal and contrary to the team concept it touts. But it may also be a sign of the times. As with everything, blame it on covid, huh? Right.
Jim Finnegan, Roseville
The drugs are coming! The drugs are coming!
Is Trump’s massive attack on ‘Drugs’ in Venezuela another Chicken Little Story? “The Drugs are Coming, The Drugs are Coming, from Venezuela!” “Did you see all those little boats coming over the Oceans bringing bags of Drugs!?” “People are Dying because of all of those Bad Drugs!”
Now, my mother told me about the Chicken Little Story as a little kid to help prepare me for my future. She was warning about various “fearful people” or “thieves trying to take advantage of me for various reasons.” She was preparing me not to be fooled by what foolish people might believe but is really not true. Always “Stop and Think” about what they are saying to better understand if it really is true.
Remember our failed Prohibition Laws? Our Drug Laws are the same story. Portugal decriminalized their drug laws 25 years ago and drug deaths are much less.
Mark Nupen, Anoka
How this council member is voting
Local elections matter. City government shapes our neighborhoods and is run by our neighbors. This year in St. Paul, we’ll be voting for mayor, a school referendum, and a city ballot question. These choices shape how we build a more resilient, thriving city.
I’m ranking Melvin Carter first for mayor, voting Yes on the school levy, and Yes for administrative citations.
Mayor Carter has led our city through COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd, the opioid epidemic, and two tumultuous Trump administrations. He’s led with empathy, courage and commitment to our community.
Thanks to his help in my ward, Highland Bridge has found a path forward. Today, we’re on track to complete hundreds of new housing units by year’s end, with more slated to come. This project is vital for our city’s economic future. He understands that expanding our property tax base is how we keep taxes manageable and services strong. Now we have over a billion dollars of development underway across the city.
He’s improved core services. The “Common Cent” sales tax is making massive investments in our infrastructure. We’ve upgraded snow removal technology and strategy. We are seeing incredible public safety results: fewer shootings and homicides and record clearance rates.
He’s stood firm against federal pressure, resisting ICE cooperation and the threats to our local funding. He’s advancing local gun-control ordinances that our community has demanded.
On the St. Paul Public Schools referendum: More than ever, we need to support our kids. Our schools face serious budget challenges made worse by federal funding cuts. The school board has cut to the bone: positions, services, closing schools and spending its reserves. Voting yes on the school levy referendum will give kids what they need to be successful.
Finally, Administrative Citations gives us an enforcement tool — used by every other city — to hold violators accountable. Wage theft, unsafe housing, or failure to pay minimum wage, this measure ensures fair and reasonable enforcement of our ordinances. That’s why I’m voting Yes.
Our kids deserve well-funded schools, we need a city that upholds its values, and leadership to guide us forward. This year, my vote is simple: Ranking Melvin Carter first, and voting Yes twice.
Saura Jost. The writer is a member of the St. Paul City Council, representing Ward 3 (Highland Park, Macalester Groveland, West Seventh).
Arguing for ‘yes’ in the NSP-Maplewood-Oakdale district
Like the writer of last Sunday’s “More money?” letter, I also have taught for over 40 years in both parochial and public schools. My wife and kids have received stellar educations in the North St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale School District. Now our students, our district and our communities need our help with Yes votes on the two questions being proposed.
On the technology question the words “more money” don’t apply. Our district currently has no technology levy. Zero, nada, nothing. Not a single penny. This isn’t about more money. All of our surrounding districts have tech levies in place while we have zero. Voting Yes on this would cost me about the amount for one beer at the North St. Paul Legion per month. I think we can live with that.
The other question is asking us to help provide the needed funding for our schools simply to keep up. Our district is drastically behind in funding in relationship to the rate of inflation. Our district is once again way behind neighboring districts in terms of money received from local levies. Over the years our district has been extremely conservative with its expenditures but we can’t scrimp and defer forever. Continuing to put off what is needed can’t go on. Voting yes on this question will cost me about the price of dinner and dessert at Mac’s Diner. And that’s if I leave my wife at home.
Please remember that your property value and mine can only be maintained if we have quality schools as the cornerstone of our cities.
Dennis Fendt, Oakdale
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