Viewpoint: ‘Truth’ or ‘spin’ — Decide for yourself

Talk about it

I read with interest Rep. Julie Bunn's recent editorial “Opportunity lies before us in the no spin zone” (Viewpoint, Bulletin, March 11). She begins by informing us that the state just realized in November that they have a big problem. I am surprised it took until November, after the election, to actually acknowledge this.

I campaigned in 2008 (for the Minnesota House) because, as a citizen and mother, I was sleepless at night, knowing that our state was in big trouble due to over-spending and over-taxing. At that time, we had a projected $2 billion deficit. Now it is triple, at $6.4 billion!

Some think it's less with the stimulus money of $2 billion, but remember that $2 billion is our money.

Since the government is not, and never will be, an income-producing business, the only money they ever have — and ever will have — is our money. Yours and mine.

The Democratic majority that we have had in the House for four years now believes that government control is the answer to every question and every problem. Whatever happened to the ideals that this country was founded on: free markets, individual rights, and no government takeover of healthcare and other necessities?

The people are the answer to the many problems facing this state. When our nation was founded and built, individuals worked hard, took care of neighbors and family members when needed, and sacrificed for the good of the nation.

When did we become a nation who expects to be served instead of serve, who expects to have everything they want, and who expects the government to fix it when they screw up?

This great government plan to take over healthcare and to take from the rich and give to the poor doesn't work. The more we tax Minnesotans to pay for these government programs, the bigger number of Minnesotans that will need these programs as we systematically take away their income.

Ms. Bunn states "there are ideologically-driven strategies happening here." One needs only to spend several days at the Capitol to see those strategies in action.

I have personally observed Republican representatives come to the session with ideas for solving these extreme budget problems and be totally ignored by the Democratic majority. There is so much noise on the floor while Republicans are attempting to speak that, as an observer, I can hardly hear them.

Yet, if a Democrat goes to the microphone and there is so much as a whisper, Margaret Anderson Kelliher is right at the gavel, shushing everyone. No one wants to listen to the Right and their ideas, yet in the 2-1/2 months since the Legislature has been in session, the Democrats have brought forth no ideas to solve our massive budget problem.

That is, until last Saturday, when Ann Lenczweksi, chair of the tax committee, speaking in Edina, let us in on the solution. The grand idea from the Democratic majority is to raise taxes!

We have thousands of Minnesotans losing their jobs, with barely enough money to live, yet these state legislators can't fathom the thought of tightening their belts and cutting spending. They downright refuse to look at welfare reform, saying that it is “too small to waste their time on.”

Ms. Bunn says that, during interims between sessions, numerous bi-partisan, joint House and Senate work groups have met to discuss this budget problem.

My question is: How much more are these study commissions costing Minnesotans, and what plausible ideas have come from them? Is smaller government even discussed?

Business owners and citizens I spoke to on the campaign trail were very distressed by the ever reaching arm of the government-whether in higher taxes or more and more regulations. Businesses are leaving our state at warp speed and taking thousands of jobs with them.

And who can blame them? Minnesota has the highest corporate tax rate in the world!

The majority of Americans still believe in capitalism and free markets with the Constitution as the bedrock of our country and our economy. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that having less debt is achieved by spending less money.

The amount of money the Minnesota state legislature wastes is unbelievable and it has to stop. We are robbing Peter to pay Paul, and Peter has had enough.

We capitalist Americans will not let Minnesota go down without a fight.

I will continue to be a watchdog at the capital in search of any hope for freedom, prosperity, and smaller government in this great state.

Kathy Lohmer is a resident of Lake Elmo.

Tags: opinion, viewpoint, woodbury, lohmer, bunn, spin, tax, stimulus