They do not have the common good in mind

I have so much to be thankful for this year. Yet, we’re a year from the next ‘big’ election and already the evil rhetoric has begun.  Apparently the people behind the “big money” movements don’t have anything to contribute to the well-being of the country or the state. So they denigrate.

Then there are the recent revelations of lies and cover-ups in our twin city several years ago — cover-ups of malfeasance at the highest levels of city and state government committed with no accountability to the electorate. We can’t blame that on those mentioned above. That is by our people who display no ethics or morals. They do not have the “common good” in mind. And we accept it?

I have recently re-read some of the works of Alexis de Tocqueville and Thomas Paine. Mr. Tocqueville lost most of his family, not because of anything they had done but because of who they were. Thomas Paine, in his “Rights of Man”, extolls the system of government that was installed in France and the United States. He dwells on the ability that these governments, especially that of the United States, have to do good. He would be thrashing in his grave if he knew the evil being spread throughout our public space that we accept as valid discussion. If we accept this, we deserve what we will harvest.

Art Thell, West St. Paul

Have we ever seen a snowflake?

The current state flag and state seal have been deemed offensive when interpreted literally. So, our Legislature decided it was a top priority to correct that by the end of this year. The search committee has revealed the half dozen finalists — most of which include stylized stars and snowflakes to represent the “etoile du nord” and our love of wintertime activities.

It’s said that no two snowflakes are the same. A child with a mitten can tell you that snowflakes have a hexagonal structure. There is science behind that observation. Yet, for some reason, the snowflake finalists are all octagonal.

Do we want to adopt a flag and seal that proves we have never actually looked at a snowflake?

That might be offensive to some if interpreted literally.

John Taylor, White Bear Lake

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