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Open Forum: Recall Pawlenty for his arrogance
We have seen the arrogance, which our governor displayed with the political gamesmanship he displayed when he got the legislature to pass a balanced budget which he managed to avoid doing any part of. He played the leader of the opposition party in the legislature without being part of the legislature great gamesmanship but not good for the state. I would like to see a recall petition at every county fair this fall to reward him for his arrogance.
Jesse Nix
Emily
Ward is a hypocrite
During the parade Saturday Rep. Ward was running around asking for votes! The same Ward that engineered the property tax increase by taking away our right to vote on our own property tax increase! People have died for the right to vote! He just voted to take it away! What a hypocrite on the Fourth of July - Independence Day - oh, sorry, Teachers Union Day, they do own him! Not a keeper in my book!
George Carleton
Merrifield
Faith in Action programs
As we look back at this past week's celebrations for Independence Day, I would like to alert our community to the upcoming marketing campaign that Faith in Action programs throughout the state of Minnesota will be participating in the month of July. Because of sacrifices made in the past, independence is everyone's inalienable right yet some of us no longer are able to maintain our independence. Health, age, or disabilities hinder how independent one can be.
Americans who are aging or ill want to remain independent, in their homes or at least in their communities, and prefer to remain out of nursing homes and institutional care of any kind. Faith in Action programs provide non-medical care giving through volunteers making this independence possible. Services that Faith in Action provides such as meals, transportation, and companionship, are services that individuals who are aging or ill want and need. These services also assist family caregivers who are under significant stress while trying to balance multiple responsibilities - children, parents, jobs.
Faith in Action is an interfaith volunteer care-giving program. Volunteers of many faiths are brought together to care and provide for their neighbor's who have long-term health care needs. By coordinating these services, many individuals are able to remain in their homes and do not have to enter into a nursing home, assisted care facility or an institutional setting. By remaining in their homes individuals live a fuller, happier life and it eliminates the need to depend on Medicaid, Medicare, or other financial assistance.
Services that are provided by Faith in Action are made possible through generous financial donations as well as our many volunteers. When you see our mailer marketing our program, please consider giving. If not financially then perhaps give of your time and help your neighbor maintain their independence.
Krisie Charnley, LSW
Faith in Action Director, Senior Advocate
Horizon Health, Inc.
and Vicki Villebro
Marketing and Funds Development Director
Horizon Health Services
Pierz
Health care is not a cash cow
There are countless small businesses ready to help cover the cost of health care for new employees or full-time over part-time, as soon as we get it right about what health care actually costs. Put people to work, put health care in the right category: an investment, not a cash cow for a privileged industry group.
Evangeline Moen
Isle
Brainerd is not working
A recent Dispatch article reported that Brainerd's unemployment rate is 15.7 percent, more than double the state rate of 7.8 percent. We have the highest unemployment rate of any city with at least 10,000 people in Minnesota. Even Michigan, known as an economic disaster, has a lower unemployment rate than Brainerd at 14.1 percent.
While local government does not have full control of the economy, our political leadership needs to take some responsibility for Brainerd being dead last. For too long our mayor and city council have mismanaged this city, and we are paying the price.
Ed Shaw
Brainerd
Ban smoking in public
The article "Experts hope cigarette taxes will help curb smoking" report 17 percent of Minnesotans smoke. Our politicians need to help the experts outs. We need to ban smoking in all public places period. Would it not be great to walk the new streets of downtown Brainerd and not have to smell cigarette smoke and walk on a sidewalk covered in cigarette butts? Let's make Brainerd a smoke-free community and ban smoking in all public places inside and out.
Bob Brady
Brainerd
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