St. Cloud Times letters to the editor for Sept. 11
St. Cloud Times letters to the editor for Sept. 11:
Response to letter on student loan debt
In response to Justin Doyle’s letter to the editor relating to student loan debt on Sept. 4, we must realize that we each live in our own little window of history. Each person has advantages and/or disadvantages. And life is not always “fair.”
I admire both Mr. Doyle’s diligence in paying off his student loan debt and his work ethic for all of the jobs he pursued to make repayment possible. Now he feels that he should not subsidize the debts of others. I am suggesting that we look at this from a different angle.
I happen to have been the fortunate recipient of a National Defense Student Loan for some part of my college expenses. The Russians had launched Sputnik, and the United States government rushed to fund many students’ education. The loan was partially or wholly forgivable: in my case, if one entered my education field, 10% of the loan was forgiven for each of five years; however, if someone taught in what was designated as a “poverty” area, 15% was forgiven annually up to 100% of the loan. Because I just happened to teach in two different communities that were designated as “poverty” areas, 100% of my loan was forgiven.
This all was just a “fluke” — an accident of history. And I was the beneficiary of that window of time.
The same is true of those who now have student debt — and we can look at the issue in two different ways. We can be resentful that they are getting debt forgiveness that others did not get... or we can be appreciative that these people do not have to struggle to repay student debt in the same way that Mr. Doyle did so diligently. As for me, I choose the latter option.
Deborah Biorn, St. Cloud
God in public schools
There are school board candidates campaigning to bring God into public schools. The student body and staff are composed of people of many beliefs. My question is whose god?
There is the Jewish God of Moses. The Christian God of Jesus. Allah of the Muslims. Numerous gods of the Hindu. Philosophical Gods of Buddha and Confucius. Plus more.
Within each religion there are denominations. The Jews have Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. The Christians have: Protestant, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Coptic and more. Muslims have Sunni and Shia.
Each religion and denomination has their fundamentalists. People who believe their mission is to convert others their way of thinking.
Some fundamentalists want to use government (school board) power to impose their God and norms upon others. The result will be turmoil and litigation. This is the last thing we need in our public schools.
The framers of the U.S. Constitution were well aware of the crusades between Christians and Muslims.Also, the 100 year war among Christians in Europe.
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prevents Congress from making laws that regulate an establishment of religion, or prohibit the free exercise of religion. The U.S. Supreme Court in Gitloe v. New York extended this amendment to the states. The U.S. Supreme Court in Everson v. Board of Education called for a wall of separation between church and state.
Religious tolerance is welcome in public schools. Intolerance is not. Vote for secular candidates.
Scott Andreasen, current St. Cloud School Board member
The views expressed above are those of Andreasen and not of the school board
Sherburne County District 4 Commissioner race
There are two candidates for Sherburne County Commissioner District 4. When deciding who to vote for, please do your homework.
One candidate has 18 years of experience in local government with extensive involvement with Sherburne County. One is a small business owner and retired farmer with a vast amount of time dealing with employees and business associates in a professional and dignified manner, also working with multiple boards at the local, state and national level.
One has been censured twice by the same council that he has to work with because of his treatment of employees and ignoring the process and the rules of the code of conduct. One candidate has conducted himself in a professional manner at all public meetings. One has asked for forgiveness for his inexcusable behavior at a council meeting.
Do your research and it will show to vote for Gary Gray for Sherburne County Commissioner. Gary is the only choice you have for an honest, transparent candidate with great character and high integrity to represent District 4 and all of Sherburne County. Vote Gary Gray on Nov. 8.
Dave Stimmler, Haven
As the November elections draw closer, it is important to not overlook our local representatives. As a constituent of Sherburne County District 4, I have been looking closely at the commissioner’s race. After doing some research, I noticed Jerome “Lefty” Kleis has some disturbing history.
In a Dec. 6, 2013, Patriot article it is disclosed that Bekcer Mayor Kleis failed to attend a PUC hearing regarding the closure of Sherco. The absence did not go unnoticed by the PUC commissioner who stated she would love to hear what the Mayor of Becker would have to say on the subject. In an April 20 public hearing on closing Sherco, Kleis said “Unit 1 and 2 I really don’t have a problem with you shutting them down.” In a June 1 Times article it is disclosed that Becker Mayor Kleis was censured twice for violating the city’s code of conduct concerning harassing behavior in both 2013 and 2016. In an Oct. 10, 2014, Patriot article it is disclosed that Lefty apologized for his inexcusable behavior at the previous month’s meeting.
When I do the research on Gary Gray all I can find is that he was a Supervisor for Clear Lake Township, some impressive civic roles he has filled and that he is a retired potato farmer. So my two choices are a guy who doesn’t show up to represent his constituency and when he does, he either sells them down the road or acts in such a way that he’ll end up getting sued, or a guy who was a business owner and took good care of Clear Lake Township and his community. I guess I know which way I’ll vote in November.
Bill Affeldt, Clear Lake
I started submitting editorials, because I thought people in our community were more connected and knowledgeable than myself about the inner workings of our community by our trusted local elected and campaigning officials and I wanted to get educated. Well, I got educated.
Involvement in my community and local elections has been an enormous eye opener, frustrating and disheartening at times. When friends and neighbors that have called this community home for generations are leery and at times bullied into not exercising their constitutional right under the First Amendment to display or voice their opinions. Because they may face personal repercussions.
How does this happen in our small community and how do we stop it? We rally as a community for what is right! Lies are being spread about leasing farmland and solar panel farms. Going as far as having Sen. Tina Smith visit the Sherco Plant in Becker to discuss the plant shut down, not the millions of dollars of environmental upgrades made to create “clean reliable energy” within the plant. Have you heard current elected officials wanting Sherburne County to be the largest solar panel farm in Minnesota and in the country? What happens to our crops and food sources? People will lose their jobs even though Smith said, “those employee’s will be offered opportunities to learn new skills,” but on what conditions? Smith did not mention the thousands in lost tax revenue, increasing our local taxes and higher energy costs.
Sound familiar? The “green new deal” is toxic. A local campaigning official is shutting your food supply down by leasing hundreds of acres of farmland, similar to our current Governor and Presidential administration, shutting you down.
We need a Sherburne County District 4 Commissioner that we can trust, not one that hides behind fine print. Vote Jerome “Lefty” Kleis on Nov. 8, to fight for you!
Shelly Alger-Peyton, Clear Lake
This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: St. Cloud Times letters to the editor for Sept. 11
