Letters to the editor

State of the state

Unfortunately, our current Minneapolis and statewide dunderheads are incapable of acting responsibly and wisely for the citizens.

Pres. Joe Biden’s open borders allowed some 17 million unvetted illegals in, and today’s left-wing weaponization of immigration is a political weapon that is being pushed hard. America’s schools, hospitals, welfare system, etc., are all being sorely strained at a high financial cost.

It’s despicable that we live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended. With several groups organizing and motivating activists, the captive mainstream media have been pushing a false narrative from the start. Minnesota has a law-and-order problem. While ICE has arrested about 2,000 immigration violators here, our sanctuary politicians have released nearly 5,000 criminal aliens into American communities. I won’t hold my breath, but arguably, going forward, the anger and rhetoric will de-escalate and only the rigors of democratic accountability will be applied against the detrimental actions and reactions of the left.

Gordon Donnell
Plymouth, Minn.

Green myths

I worked in the energy business my entire career (43+ years). I’ve been involved in engineering, operation, or management of nuclear, coal, oil, gas, and refuse-fueled plants. The companies I’ve worked for have also installed and/or purchased wind and solar. Your article in the Winter 2026 issue is spot on [“The myth of ‘cheap’ wind and solar”]. The so-called renewables rarely generate nameplate. They are often generating well below nameplate just when we need the output — very cold and very hot days. They require orders of magnitude more acreage per megawatt than conventional resources.

I’ll finish with a recent observation. While driving in southeast Wisconsin in mid-January, I passed a solar array that must cover 40+ acres. Every panel was covered with snow and ice. I’d bet the output was close to one percent of nameplate. What a waste of natural resources.

Thank you for an excellent article.

Steve Shurts

A tribute

I read “One Minnesota” by Jenna Stocker and knew right away I needed to write a Letter to the Editor. I am a veteran (Army, 1970-72) and my brother, Kenneth, was a veteran (Navy, 1972-76) stationed in Washington, D.C., working in the Personnel Department. So, in the Vietnam War withdrawal of troops, Ken was in Vietnam to assist with the paperwork on sailors returning home.

I helped Ken get into the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis. Ken’s neighbor at the Vets Home was the father of Thomas Burnett, Jr., a hero of United Flight 93.

Ken was a Democrat who worked on Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign. We had many heated political discussions. I visited Ken every two weeks until he was in hospice care, then I would visit him every week. Ken died on March 29, 2024 and is buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. His headstone reads: “A True Patriot!” I also bought a wreath from Wreaths Across America that year.

Chuck Bracken
Cannon Falls, Minn.

Religion v. science

Regarding Mr. Shellenberger’s “The New Gnosticism”: I for one welcome the decline in religion. Why people look to 2,000-plus-year-old fairy tales and the dictates of religious philosophers has always amazed me. Every time religion has butted heads with science religion has lost (young vs. old earth, evolution, etc.). You prefer religion to science? Fine. Then toss away your cell phones, trade in your auto for an oxcart, and forgo modern medical interventions in favor of prayer.

Sandy Beitsch
Saint Paul, Minn.

College bound?

I just wanted to say thank you for a very informative article written by Kath- erine Kersten [“The College Crisis”]. We currently have an upcoming graduate who doesn’t really know what she wants to do yet. We homeschool our children and this article helps inform us of a few different options and places to look for additional information.

Very well written and informative.

Mike Klasen
Burtrum, Minn.