TO THE EDITOR:

Because many of us are growing very uneasy, if not downright scared:  That is why Tom Emmer must show up in person (not a useless orchestrated meeting) and listen and respond to the people he was elected to represent!  The Congressman needs to understand that we are fearful about changes to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, as well as Minnesota Care, SNAP, and veterans’ benefits.  We are nervous about our retirement as we have watched the stock markets plummet.  We are apprehensive about economists’ predictions of higher prices and lost jobs—even a global recession, some foresee--that will result from a weakening economy, largely caused by an unpredictable trade war.  The administration plans to cut $2 trillion from the budget and admits that doing that can only be achieved with deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medical Assistance.  So I personally want an explanation of how, after causing real harm to ordinary working and retired people, Congressman Emmer can justify voting to grant a 4.5 trillion tax cut, the majority of which will benefit the wealthiest five percent of people in our country and increase the national debt, now $36 trillion, by $15 trillion over the next two decades.  Someone has said “The strong take what they want, and the weak suffer what they must.”

Marlys Nelson Kolbinger

Becker, MN

TO THE EDITOR:

The city of Big Lake is successfully stewarding the tax dollars of its residents and business owners. By visiting the city’s website or contacting City Hall directly, anyone can see the numbers indicate a well-run and conscientious organization. That said, I was surprised to see that a few reckless comments made during a council meeting were then turned into a headline in the March 22 edition of this fine publication. For the record, what was reported by the newspaper was true in that the comments were indeed made. However, the comments themselves were misleading. My fellow council members and the dedicated Big Lake staff work too hard to let any perception linger that Big Lake is being irresponsible at all.

Paul Knier

Big Lake Mayor