5 October 2023
Hybrids for now
Appreciated the column on electric vehicles and the difficulties of transitioning to them that no one wants to talk about (“What we need to hear, but won’t hear, about America’s transition to electric vehicles,” Sept. 25). The problems that jumped off the page for me were those involving the charging of an EV car. Right at this moment, according to the article, 88% of the charging stations available to the public require between four and 10 hours to charge an EV car. At this moment, I can drive into a gas station and fill up my car in about five minutes leaving that pump ready for the next driver. Many of your larger stations can accommodate 18 cars or more at one time. The gas station could process 864 cars in the same time that 18 charging stations process 18 EV cars and that’s at the best case scenario of having an EV car charged in only 4 hours.
You could charge your car at home but consider the cost of the charger at about $1,000 – $2,000. Charging at home with a 220 volt line still takes between four and 10 hours, according to the article. And what if you live in an apartment? Good luck. It did say that public funding is expected to fund the installation of the 30 minute charging stations around the country but at the cost of $470,000 and $750,000/piece. Where do we get the money for that expense and what of the many small towns around Minnesota? The expense to those towns would be prohibitive.
Sometimes government seem to think that they can legislate solutions to a particular problem without weighing the practical implications of their decisions. Why we don’t encourage the public to purchase hybrid vehicles, where the technology and infrastructure already exists, is beyond me.
Don Lohrey, Shoreview
Character matters
The honorable Republican party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush flourished for a century and a half but began a gradual demise 30 years ago. Respectable stalwarts such as George W. Bush, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, John Boehner and John McCain made noble attempts to retain their tradition but were gradually overtaken by an insidious force.
This insidious force masqueraded as a populist movement but at its core was a whirlwind of incompetence and confusion that opened the door to authoritarian and self-styled vigilantes who used hubris, blather and disingenuous initiatives to take power and threaten the democracy on which our nation was founded.
Authoritarians exist on all continents and in differing cultures. Yet, they share a sense of emotive drama in their personal behavior. They trade in grievance and they thwart the rule of law, freedom of the press and civil rights. Despite its external bluster, terror driven governance lacks a viable foundation and progressively degenerates from within. The incompetence of the Republican caucus in U.S. Congress is evident now in a breakdown of order and an inability to govern.
Usefully functioning legislative, executive and judicial governance in a democracy is a communal effort of discovery that depends upon an inquiring mind, composure and temperance, a capability of introspection and deference toward the welfare of others as a matter of civic duty. Character matters. We should place our trust in public officials who comprehend this and conduct themselves accordingly.
Gerry Del Fiacco, Eagan
What does this look like?
Wire transfer records show that nine Biden family members received over $20 million from 23 different countries that included Russia, China, Ukraine, Romania, and Uzbekistan. The funds were funneled through 20 offshore shell companies to hide the transfers. Family members have no knowledge of the language, culture, or businesses of these countries; but Vice President Joe Biden oversaw foreign aid and other policy decisions with these countries.
Democrats say there is nothing to see here and insist that no crimes have been committed. Is this business as usual in Washington? Are you OK with this, or does this look like blatant influence peddling and money laundering?
Dennis A. Helander, White Bear Lake
Half-staff rationale?
I would like to understand the rationale behind having flags flown at half-staff for multiple days in Minnesota honoring the life and death of a United States senator (Dianne Feinstein) who wasn’t even from here nor served political office here. I would also like to understand the rationale to why flags in Minnesota were flown at half-staff for one-and-a-half days for a former Minnesota governor, Minnesota state senator and Navy veteran (Al Quie) who died in August.
Shouldn’t we commemorate the life and public service of a fellow Minnesotan longer than 18 hours?
Ann Helvick, Apple Valley
Smoking is smoking, no?
How is it that we had a split decision in the vote to prohibit the smoking of cannabis in public places within the city of St. Paul? The vote was 4-3 in favor of sparing us all of the forced intake of someone’s lung-discarded THC waste in public places. a narrow margin of victory for the prohibition of wallowing-weed of one vote.
How was it not a unanimous vote of 7-0 against? Smoking is just plain rude no matter if it’s tobacco, cannabis or the like. Last time I checked, I noticed that you can get the same medical and recreational benefits of cannabis from gummies and other smokeless intrusive products. Why was there even a moment of debate amongst council members to settle this smoking ban quandary? This should have been a cut and dried vote of 7 for the ban and 0 against.
Mark Kirchner, St. Paul
Questions about probation
Every single day, there’s an article about someone committing a crime (often a repeat criminal), getting a very light sentence with probation. What exactly is involved in “probation?”
Exactly how many probation officers are there in the metro and state areas?
How many “clients” does each probation officer have at one time?
Probation doesn’t seem to be working
I feel the law abiding citizens deserve to know answers to these questions.
J.G. Corbett, Forest Lake
Proof required, for some
Your Sunday paper reported that the state will start accepting applications for driver’s licenses without proof of legal residency in the U.S.
Just a bit of irony involved, when my husband and I changed residency we were required to present two specific documents of the new home’s address. When we didn’t present the two required proofs for my husband, the DMV refused to give him his new license … however, the letter asking for another document was addressed to our new address.
It seemed apparent they were admitting it was our new address, but no. We eventually had to send in another document and he got his license.
We have always been citizens of the U.S. which should have been evident because we have the enhanced licenses, yet we had to go through all these hoops just to change the address on our license.
Sylvia Benson, No. St. Paul
Why it’s so important
What is so important about the position of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? Outside of the political power of controlling the activities on the floor of the House of Representatives the Speaker is second in line of succession to be president of the U.S. after the vice president.
Lack of knowledge about that fact caused great embarrassment and ended the political career of then Secretary of State Alexander Haig. In 1981 Haig convinced himself he was in charge in the absence of V. P. George Bush while President Reagan was disabled from an assassination attempt. The Secretary of State is actually fourth in line after the president pro tempore of the Senate.
The first three are elected by the people, not political appointments.
Joe Danko, North St Paul
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