In 2020, the people did decide

I read with interest — and agree with — State Rep. Harry Niska’s piece that our democratic society should make policy and political choices through our democracy, not the courts (“People, not judges, should make political choices,” Feb. 4).

However, State Rep. Niska failed to comment on the fact that Americans did, in fact, vote to reject Donald Trump in the November 2020 presidential election, whose valid results Trump refused to acknowledge, leading both to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, and the current court challenges under the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3; the Supreme Court will decide.

Pioneer Press editors should have insisted that State Rep. Niska state in his column the results of the November 2020 presidential election, and acknowledge that our U.S, Constitution includes the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 3.

Karl Olson, St. Louis Park

Should have saved the Ford building

I was saddened and disappointed by the demolition of the historic 1914 Ford Building on University Avenue. Despite great efforts to save it and place it on the National Register of Historic Places, state officials and lawmakers foolishly opted to demolish this structurally sound building. It could have been placed on the market and, with the Minnesota Historic Structure Rehabilitation Tax Credit (ironically, which the Legislature enacted last year), rehabilitated into office, housing and /or retail. The waste of taxpayer money and energy to raze the building was unnecessary.

The greenest building is the one still standing. It sat empty for 20 years and given no real chance at a new life. Instead, the lot will now sit vacant. Yet, another historical /architectural landmark is shamefully lost forever in St. Paul.

Michael Connolly,  St. Paul

What if police rode the trains?

Perhaps if Minneapolis and St. Paul police officers in uniform would voluntarily commute to headquarters by using public transportation, acts of violence and senseless strewn debris would disappear.

Once more the public would be willing to use city buses and commuter trains. In addition to less wear and tear on private cars, other incentives would probably be needed. Maybe police officers could have a day off each month, or one less hour in each shift, or receive a cash reward. Think about it.

Bob Porter, St. Paul

At least some understanding of American history?

These Republican presidential candidates are quite a pair to draw to. One is baffled by the role of slavery in causing the Civil War; the other, with his claim of unfettered immunity for the office, gives short shrift to one of the causes of the Revolutionary War and a primary foundation of democracy. Forget cognitive tests, can we just get some assurance of at least a nodding relationship between candidates for the nation’s highest office and some understanding of American History 101 and the principles undergirding our freedoms?

Tom Baldwin, Falcon Heights

Chaos, should Chevron fall

In the Pioneer Press editorial section Thursday, Clive Crook presented an argument in favor of the Supreme Court overturning the so-called Chevron Deference. Other writers such as George Will have put forth similar arguments.  All of them have been very eloquently written, but none seem to address a giant uncertainty should Chevron be struck down.

All of the opinions on this topic fall back on the notion that if the legislative branch only did its job and drafted laws that clearly spelled out regulations, there would be no need or room for interpretation of the law by the government agencies. While there are very likely examples of over-reach on the part of regulators, there are also examples of some very good work being done. The best examples are when science is applied properly to manage regulation like the registration of pharmaceuticals and pesticides. The FDA and EPA have enormous responsibility for the health and safety of the public and for the most part bear it very well.

Striking Chevron down and turning regulation over to Congress seems to be risky at best and fool-hardy at a minimum. Once Chevron is gone, there will be thousands of decisions that still need to be made. Are we to believe that Congress is capable of making a science-based decision on a new drug? Do we really want to hand over that kind of responsibility to the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and their opposite numbers across the aisle?

Given the “originalist” views in the Supreme Court, it’s hard to see any decision but a defeat of the Chevron Deference. They will likely fall back to what the Constitution said in 1780 something, when the framers had no way to envision the complexities of modern-day society. The word “chaos” comes to mind should Chevron fall.

Mark Wolters, Woodbury

Policies at cross purposes

The article “EPA: Little decrease in nitrogen pollution” (Jan. 22) resuscitates an issue that has been simmering under the radar for years. Minnesota’s buffer law was a step in the right direction by requiring a distance between cropland and waterways or bodies of water. But our public policy does nothing to remediate the problem.

This is a losing battle because, under the ethanol act of 2004, the federal government moved to credit the fuel blenders 45 cents for every gallon of ethanol blended into gasoline, and in 2023, the Minnesota Legislature, in a grossly unwarranted move, made E-85 a legal product in Minnesota — which is defined as fuel using up to 85% ethanol rather than the “up to 10%” in normally blended gasoline. Both of these efforts have increased the use of ethanol, a less-efficient fuel for transportation, while displacing acreage available for food and/or feed crops. Ethanol has less BTUs per unit than gasoline, so more ethanol is burned to produce a ton-mile of transport, other factors being equal. And the public is subsidizing much (over eight times) more of the transportation-fuel E-85 mix. This under an out-of-control federal and sharply increased state budget.

With the cost of fertilizers today, there is an incentive to apply fertilizers judiciously. The southeast Minnesota farmer who states he has introduced rotation practices into his system is on the right track. The issue is to create a feedstock market for the grass (grains) and clover and alfalfa (legumes) that would grow on the off-year rotations. These, especially legumes in rotation, can reduce the amount of fertilizer required. Someday soon we will rue the day of our profligacy.

Art Thell, West St. Paul

Enduring a painful death

I wholly support Minnesota’s medical aid-in-dying bill, HF1930. This proposed legislation is not “suicide,” it is a safe and compassionate end-of-life care option for mentally capable adults with six months or less to live to peacefully end unbearable suffering at the hands of their terminal illnesses.

My sister was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that metastasized to her bones. After 18 months, the cancer resurged against treatment and spread further. Her options were to either seek a more aggressive treatment, in her now-weakened condition, or enter hospice. She chose hospice.

Hospice provided meds to control her pain and anxiety. At first, she managed the meds herself. but the scheduling and dosage became too daunting for her. She hated taking pills, some she could swallow, some had to be crushed and mixed with pudding. Switching to liquid drugs helped, but they had to be administered every three hours. We were grateful for her care during this time, but bone cancer is painful, and the dosage of pain medication necessary to keep her comfortable left her a shell of herself. I cared for her out of love and dedication but seeing her lethargic and uncommunicative was a terrible experience for us both.

My sister was under hospice care for three long months. After the first month, she begged me for medication that would end her prolonged suffering. Unfortunately, I could not fulfill her dying wish because Minnesota has not joined the 10 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., in authorizing medical aid in dying as an end-of-life care option despite continued support by its residents.

As somebody who has been present for a painful death without the option of medical aid in dying, I urge Minnesota lawmakers to value these real experiences and pass this legislation in 2024.

Lynn Carlson, Eagan

Related Articles

Meet the Class of 2024: Six young acts that are playing local arenas and stadiums this year

Natalie Hudson: On the importance of a fair and independent judiciary

Photos: Red Bull Heavy Metal snowboard contest shreds in St. Paul on Capitol steps

Two separate St. Paul shootings leave two people injured Friday night, police investigating

Father of 4 children killed in St. Paul fire updates community on survivors, funeral arrangements