LETTER TO THE EDITOR

To the Editor

The Heat is on
As Minnesotans we like to talk about the weather, but this stretch of heat and climate-related calamities is a discussion that seems to divide us. For far too long the fossil fuel industry and conservative think tanks have used divisive tactics to keep us common folk from seeing the reckless policies and practices they push.
It’s time to get wise to tactics that downplay the importance of education, healthcare, the environment, diversity and much-needed corporate regulation. Blaming our system of government for all of our problems while calling Social Security, Medicare and other public programs designed to lift people up, a “handout” is disingenuous. I truly believe that the manufactured culture wars are designed to keep us from dealing with the real problem. The previous administration’s deregulations and tax give aways to the super rich elite meant that our government budget was shrunk and, low and behold, that made it easy to push for defunding effective programs that help people, help the nation, the environment and chart a course away from fossil fueled energy. Pretty convenient.
People, we need to turn that ship around. We are stronger together, and as Paul Wellstone said: “We all do better when we all do better.” The current administration has been trying to turn the ship around and has made some progress despite the mess they were handed and despite the dangerous disinformation being “trumpeted” by folks who prefer to make government and minorities a scapegoat. We can and must do better. People in this nation want and deserve a better future for their children and grandchildren. When we work together a better future is indeed possible. Broad prosperity (not just prosperity for the well-off) makes America stronger. Yes, it requires mutual responsibility and building up those who may have less or are seen as not like you. Empathy is a sign of strength which can lead to recognizing that we all need one another. We all can contribute to making it through the difficult times that we face as the impact of global warming continues to unfold.

Darwin Dyce
Ghent, MN