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Answers, please

Dear Senators and Congressman,

What does it take for you people, my representatives in Washington who represent the people of Minnesota (me) to stop sending weapons to Israel that has already killed over 20,000 mostly women and children in Palestine? It seems strange to think that you people can actually live with yourselves.

Please write me and explain your positions. Please no form letters.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Steve Johnson – Ely, Minnesota

Gun Control? NOT!   

I am really struggling with what my main topic should be in December? I always try to write about a topic which is very current. I have been debating several topics due to recent events such as the GOP's 4th debate, the Congressional session with the 3 WOKE ivy league universities, the SNL segment attacking Rep. Stefanik on the hearings and the list goes on.  

Finally, I have selected my topic and it is the status of gun control. I have been a member of the NRA ( which RFK, Jr. calls domestic terrorists) for over 25+ years. I am a deer hunter and believe 100% in our 2nd Amendment.  As part of my NRA membership I get the monthly magazine called American Hunter. It is an excellent magazine about various hunting techniques, various  professional outfitters, etc. They also list various legislation on gun control and the radical leftist group to destroy our 2nd Amendment rights. This magazine includes a page called The Armed Citizen which includes 5-6 stories of private citizens using their legal guns to defend their homes and families.  

What most Americans do not realize is Biden's attempts to "cancel" the 2nd Amendment. Recently, Biden created a new office called Office of Gun Violence Prevention. So now without any Congressional approvals he has created a new department on gun control at the expense of you the taxpayer! NOT! BTW, criminals do NOT obey any of these laws!    

Chuck Bracken – Cannon Falls, Minnesota

The two-party system today

The despair Mark Schneider experiences (Reader, Dec. 22) with the failures of our two-party system is understandable.  That both parties made dramatic moves further to the right that defines them today (for Republicans with Ronald  Reagan, for Democrats with Bill Clinton) is undeniable, as is the powerful influence of corporations.  The result is increasing wealth inequality and decreasing political power for those lacking such wealth, namely, most of us.

The complexity of U.S. politics cannot be fully addressed in a brief letter to the editor;  nevertheless, certain facts pertaining to the formation of these United States are most relevant.  

Significantly, only those who owned property could vote or hold office when the nation began.  These property owners were white males, while the vast majority of residents were disenfranchised, including women, indigenous people, and slaves imported forcibly from Africa (who were themselves property, as were, for all intents and purposes, women as property of husbands and other male kin).  Our nation began as one controlled by those who had capital assets. 

Capitalism was at the center of power, and it continues to be today.  In a capitalist society, those with the most capital have the most power. Through amendments to our Constitution, some of those originally denied full citizenship (slaves, women, indigenous people, foreign immigrants) were granted voting rights, but the power of wealth remained foremost. 

Our political parties reflect – and perpetuate – this power, as Mr. Schneider points out with his own personal experiences. However, Mr. Schneider fails to see the distinctions between our two major parties, claiming “it matters little (if at all)” which party we choose. 

I argue that it matters greatly, that the party of Donald Trump, not the party of Joe Biden, is one devoted to the complete subjugation of the mass of citizens, one that we should fear and oppose with all our strength and determination. 

A vote for a third party might assuage one’s conscience, but it will not deter in any way the looming disaster posed by the party of Trump.  

Warren Howe – Duluth, Minnesota