LETTERS.(NEWS)

LETTERS

A dream off-course

I went to the Andover Planning Commission meeting [in January]. At this meeting, the [Woodland Creek] golf course owners did little or nothing to present a plan for what their long- or short-term intentions were. They said that they were trying to sell the course. I have checked MLS, had a Realtor check the North Star listing for commercial property, did Internet searches, came up empty on all accounts. What is the sale price? I have heard rumors that it was $750,000, but it seems to be a well-kept secret. This seems a little strange for [people who want] to sell their golf course. They also said they couldn't make it financially. Again, they came to the meeting with no numbers on red ink. I have lived on the golf course for a little over two years. I moved here because this was a dream come true, to learn to play golf right in my backyard. I bought a neglected home that was in need of repair. ... Because of illness and repairs to the property, I haven't been able to learn the game of golf. Because of what appears to be a golf course with a lack of promotion and other interest by the owners, my dream may come to a close.

Timothy J. Keillor

Andover

Who's conservative?

With all the rhetoric, what does it mean to be conservative? Back in the 1970s conservative principles meant smaller government, less government spending, less government borrowing, [fewer] taxes, smaller debt, strong military, strong infrastructure, smaller welfare, less infringement on individual rights, more financially secure nation and no strong religious prejudice.

Today after seven years of neoconservatism, we have larger government, more government spending, more government borrowing, [fewer] taxes, much larger debt, strong military, weak infrastructure, smaller welfare, greater infringement on individual rights, less financially secure nation and strong religious prejudice. The only principles that have survived are fewer taxes, strong military and smaller welfare. It appears being conservative has lost more conservative principles than it has kept. As the candidates argue about who is the most conservative, what principles are they talking about: the 1970 ideals or today's disaster?

Robert Folsom

New Brighton

Get real on crime

It is not often I agree with Nick Coleman but his Feb. 3 column ["Indifference of police adds to heartache of robbery"] about the young man that was robbed and beaten is right on the money.

Why is our police force enriched with officers writing parking and speeding tickets while we have a whopping four officers investigating our citizens getting beaten, robbed and killed?

Why don't we turn our glorified ticket writing-revenue producing State Patrol into real state police and have them go after the bad guys and maybe not so much focus on the poor guy that is a bit late for work? I understand their rationale for doing so but it pales in comparison to our real problems. Personally I am more concerned about the criminals mugging and killing people than those threats to society [who] are not plugging the parking meter. Kevin Leonard

Ramsey

Caucus confusion

What a mess!! As a first time caucusgoer, I could not believe the chaos at my local DFL precinct. Nobody, including party leaders, had an idea what was going on. People were trying to yell over one another and nobody had answers to any of the important questions. Barnyard animals are more organized than these people were! I now know how ballots get lost.

My vote? It's time to get rid of the caucus.

Jen Smith

New Brighton