To walk in beauty

Recently while walking down St. Paul’s Summit Avenue one chilly evening, I am reminded of Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” There are no woods near, but rather homes adorned with bows and greens, and lights glowing brightly. And there is no snow.

What strikes me is the quiet and calm, similar to that conveyed in Frost’s poem. I do have miles to go before I sleep, and feel fortunate that I am able to walk surrounded by such silent beauty. Also, my hope is that the world becomes such that everyone has the opportunity to walk in beauty and peace.

Ursula Krawczyk, St. Paul

End-of-life compassion

Burt Riskedahl’s letter about having the personal freedom to end his life after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer touched me deeply (“A plea before dying — on behalf of those who might need it,” Dec. 17).

Imagine yourself being in his shoes, knowing you only have a few months to live. When I try to do that, I think I’d be most afraid of being put through humiliating procedures, suffering intractable pain as I slowly wasted away. I know that if I had at my disposal the freedom to end my suffering with my family surrounding me, I’d feel less anxiety. I might not choose to do so. I might not need to do so. But I’d be comforted in my final days knowing I had choice.

This issue reminds me of gun control legislation, or the lack thereof. “They are going to take all our guns,” is the cry from those who oppose any gun control measures. No, they’re not, but it’s an excuse for legislators to do nothing.

It’s the same with the proposed Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act.“ They’re going to kill the disabled.” No, no one is going to kill the disabled. The Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act is clear in its limitations. A person must be terminally ill, of sound mind, with less than six months to live. Every one of us has known someone who fit those criteria. Many of us knew someone who suffered needlessly in their final days. But this rallying cry is necessary to give legislators an excuse to do nothing. It completely disregards the fact that we live in a civilized society where we know right from wrong.

It’s time for legislators to take action with compassion and understanding for people like Mr. Riskedahl facing the end of their lives.

Mary Alice Divine, White Bear Lake

Look to Wisconsin

As a conservative, over the years I have become appreciative of the politics of our neighbor to the east. I was envious when they had a governor, Scott Walker, who respected conservative values, and we had Mark Dayton.

More recently, the senior senator, Ron Johnson, embraces the same ideology.  Not just that, Sen. Johnson is almost poetic, as if he was born for that position.

The conservative legislature of Wisconsin has dealt a blow to the “DEI” movement. The University of Wisconsin has agreed to cut some of these programs, to limit their scope. It is in sharp contrast to most institutions of higher learning that live and die by the web of diversity, equity and inclusion.

While the Minnesota Legislature was making decisions such as legalizing marijuana, affirming the transitioning of minors and expanding abortion rights, Wisconsin was affirming the rights of parents to do what is right for their children.

The big fight in our capital will likely be a life and death battle, the legalization of assisted suicide. Democrats have proven this past session that death supersedes life. Our state legislators would be wise to look to Wisconsin for some guidance … WWWD, What Would Wisconsin Do?

Jerry Wynn, St. Paul

Disqualified

There is a lot of confusion about the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot in that state.

The 14th Amendment section giving rise to this decision states in relevant part:

“No person shall … hold any office, civil or military, under the United States … who, having previously taken an oath … as an officer of the United States … to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.”

Commentator Byron York on Fox News stated that the Colorado court had to find three things in order to apply this section to Trump:  that it applies to the office of president, that there was an insurrection, and that Trump participated in the insurrection.

The first, that it applies to Trump, is easily disposed of, since obviously the president is an “officer of the United States.”

Second, there was, of course, an “insurrection or rebellion” on 1/6/21, since rioters at the Capitol attacked Capitol Police, entered the building by force, and attempted to disrupt and end congressional proceedings to certify the results of a presidential election. This is a “rebellion” because a successful attempt would have constituted the nullification, by force, of a constitutional dictate.

So it comes down to whether Trump “participated” in the rebellion, OR gave “aid or comfort” to the enemies of the United States.  This is not as difficult a question as some people make it out to be. Even if you put aside Trump’s speech preceding the riot, and put aside questions of “incitement” or direct participation, Trump gave “aid or comfort” to the rioters. As President, Trump was in a unique position to enforce law and order in the District of Columbia, which is under federal jurisdiction. He was the Commander in Chief, and could have ended the riot as soon as it began. Trump was aware of the riot because he was at the White House watching it on television. He did nothing for about three hours except cheer on the rioters. After that he went on Twitter to tell the rioters that “we love you” and “you are special” and that the day would be remembered forever, but to please go home now. Later, he promised to pardon those who had been criminally charged.

Thus, Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president, unless Congress removes this disability by a two-thirds vote of both chambers.

Matt Gilson, St. Paul

Democracy dies

Don McLean wrote a song about the day the music died. Well, 50 years later democracy died.

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision to keep Donald Trump off the ballot. Not only that but if any Colorado voter voted for Trump, that vote would not be counted.

According to the Associated Press, “Colorado’s highest court overturned a ruling from a district court judge who found that Trump incited an insurrection for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, but said he could not be barred from the ballot because it was unclear that the provision was intended to cover the presidency.”

The Colorado high court banned Trump from the ballot even though he has not been indicted or found guilty of this charge.

This is pure election rigging by this state and sets a dangerous precedence for others to be left off of any ballot with charges that have not been presented or proven. What would stop any state from leaving off any candidate from any position?
 
Thomas McMahon, White Bear Lake

What the founders were trying to avoid

It appears that the U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether they have the power to change the foundation of our government.  As I understand it, the court is compromised of originalists and pragmatists.

The main consideration of originalists is the intent of the country’s founders and those who crafted the amendments, an understandable position that requires the analysis of the relevant text that emerged in the context of those times. They fear taking on the mantle of legislators as this would exceed their authority.

The pragmatists try to take into consideration that times have changed since the constitution and its amendments were crafted and the legislation passed since those times has reshaped our country into something quite different. They are more concerned with  smooth transitions in the political order than splitting hairs over what happened in the past. Originalists and legislators often feel that pragmatists, while their intentions may be honorable and society may function more smoothly because of their rulings, are overreaching their authority.

The court will soon decide if we should allow a potential presidency that can seek to extend its term in office using the force of its constituents in the streets and, when in power, threaten any that oppose it. I only hope that those originalists will determine that the founders were trying to avoid the possibility of another monarchy.

Tom Hauwiller, Oakdale

The onerous tax of inflation

I’m totally mystified! A letter to the Pioneer Press on Dec. 17 ought to have economists scratching their collective heads. In his letter, Paul asserts that inflation will always be with us, short of a recession, and that it matters not who is elected to office.

It’s well established that governments produce nothing for the economy but are prolific at taxing and spending, the chief causes of inflation. To vote for big government is an assured formula for inflation. Meanwhile, a more productive society has always been the way to help reduce inflation.

Adam Smith in his study on “The Wealth of Nations” has shown that nations with free markets and less government have led the way in which citizens loose the shackles of the most onerous tax of all, inflation. And, oh yes it matters greatly who the office holders are.

Richard Iffert, Eagan

Immigrants

Donald Trump believes that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country.” While this statement is abhorrent in every way, it is true in one case: Trump’s mother and his paternal grandfather were both immigrants.

Regina Palosaari, St. Paul

“Mrs. Doubtfire” was amazing

We disagree completely with Ross Raihala’s review of Mrs. Doubtfire (Dec. 21).  We thought the production was amazing. Rob McClure is incredibly talented and so was everyone else in the cast. It was enough like the movie to make it seem completely familiar but updated to make the show seem current. We loved the hilarity.

It was the best Broadway show of the season so far and is highly recommended.

Meg and Don Arnosti, St. Paul

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