Patriot News MN

TO THE EDITOR:

It was just announced that they are planning on discontinuing the Northstar Train January 4, after the final Vikings regular season game. Now let me remind you why we built the Northstar in the first place, it was to relieve auto congestion on the Hwy. 10 corridor during the weekday morning and afternoon commutes. Being a “public good”, you know, ‘helping the taxpayer get to and from work more efficiently’, taxpayer dollars were used to build and subsidize the train. The train was not constructed so that the “sports fans” had an easier way to get to and from sporting events. So you are telling me that instead of closing the Northstar Train down tomorrow, we are going to keep it running, hemorrhaging money all so that we can run (14) special Vikings trains? That’s 14 additional round trips in addition to the 420 weekday round trips that would occur between now and January 4. Viking owners, (and you Twins owners too) it seems that you should be covering the trains operating losses between now and January if you are the reason we are not shutting it down sooner.

Bret R. Collier

Big Lake, MN

TO THE EDITOR:

Rep. Shane Mekeland did very well in representing repeat DWI offenders when he was one of only five Minnesota legislators to vote against HF2130, a law to increase penalties on those who cause injury, death and property damage by repeatedly driving drunk. Perhaps the victims of that crime don’t feel well represented by Mekeland? That law was put forward after two people were killed and over a dozen injured when a repeat DWI driver plowed into an outdoor restaurant terrace. But of course there is a long line of victims over the years. Thankfully, I’ve never suffered injury but I have suffered property damage on two occasions from folks who couldn’t abstain from driving drunk. An overwhelming majority of his fellow Republicans voted for that common-sense legislation, but Mekeland chose to align with a few fringe reps who don’t seem to believe in personal responsibility and accountability. Can anyone take him seriously as a representative with that record?

Anthony Thompson

Big Lake, MN

TO THE EDITOR:

“Taxation without representation,” grievance 17 of 27 grievances sent to King George by the colonists, is still our battlecry today. The first Congress enacted the Tariff of 1789 to pay war debts and protect fledgling industries. In 1817, Congress abolished the internal taxes to pay for the War of 1812 and abolished all offices and officers to collect them. Lincoln signed a temporary tax act at 3% on income over $800 to fund the Civil War. The Supreme Court (1895) declared it unconstitutional, according to Article I, Section 9 of the US Constitution. But, the 16th Amendment in 1913 authorized Congress to levy corporate and personal income taxes and established the Bureau of Internal Revenue. President Roosevelt, in 1935, signed the Social Security Act, designating the Bureau to collect revenues at the rate of 1% of the first $3,000 earned. The Victory Tax surcharge of 1942, to pay WWII debts, raised the rate to 5% on a net income of $624. In 1953, the Bureau become the Internal Revenue Service. In 2025, We the People again claim the slogan of “taxation without representation.” We the People do not directly vote on taxation. The USA is not a democracy, rather a constitional republic, and we elect politicians to pass laws. Might the reintroduction of tariffs finance government? In his inauguation speech on January 20, 2025, President Trump announced the creation of the External Revenue Service.