Opinion editor’s note: Published in Star Tribune Opinion letter We hear from readers online and in print every day.Click to contribute here.
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Minnesotans struggling to manage debt (‘Debt is on the rise,’ Feb. 25) Many are struggling to manage their debt, including credit card overdrafts and rising costs for everything from utilities to groceries. We discussed the economic pressures we are facing. What is missing from this article is the additional pressure of new tax increases. Recent inflation has put a big hole in household budgets. Credit card debits are an economic disaster for both individuals and countries. However, it is runaway taxation that permanently increases the burden on household budgets. Taxes make up a large part of our economic lives, and their flow is unsustainable. Fixed asset taxes increase every year. Not only have state sales taxes been raised repeatedly, but counties and municipalities now add them to everything we do and buy.
You can learn how to fix inflation, deal with credit card charges, and live within your means. It is impossible to achieve financial independence when the government is not willing to do anything with our money. Any article that discusses the economic burden that Minnesotans bear but leaves out the tax equation does a disservice by not adequately educating readers and not addressing key contributors to fiscal pressures. There will be.
Hans Molenaar, show review
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I read with interest the article “Owings are growing” that appeared in Sunday’s newspaper. I teach a finance class at church, and many of my students are struggling with debt and trying to make more money. Each story is different, and students vary greatly in age, background, and income.
Almost two-thirds of the U.S. population lives paycheck to paycheck.Low-wage workers are most likely to live paycheck to paycheck, with almost no 8/10 Consumers who earn less than $50,000 a year won’t be able to cover future bills until their next paycheck. But even among high-income Americans, those with annual incomes of $100,000 or more, four in 10 say they are in the same position.
Inflation is partly to blame, but Americans seem to be die-hard consumers. Whatever it is, we want it, and we want it now. Consumers indulge in non-essential spending when possible, despite financial hardship and tight budgets. The simple answer is to earn more or spend less. Or both: Reduce expenses while working part-time.
The cold truth is that a budget (a plan for how you spend your money) will work if you are responsible and adjust it each month to meet your goals. In summary: 1) List your income. 2) List your expenses (essential and non-essential). 3) Subtract expenses from income. 4) Track your transactions. 5) Create a new budget before the month starts.
It takes about three months to really understand the ropes of budgeting. Please give yourself some leeway and keep working on it. The benefits of creating a budget far outweigh the effort.
Tim Labash, Apple Valley
presidential primaries
Your protest will lead to Trump 2.0
Michigan’s presidential primary is over, but results show a majority of Democrats still support President Joe Biden. However, while Wayne County (home to the city of Detroit and home to many Arab American voters) had a high rate of absentee votes, it is noteworthy that two other counties also had high concentrations of absentee votes. It is. Those are Washtenaw and Ingham counties. Basically, Ingham and Washtenaw are home to Michigan’s largest public universities. Ingham is home to Michigan State University, Washtenaw is home to the University of Michigan, and Eastern Michigan University is also home to major universities. These voters are unlikely to vote for Donald Trump in 2024, but they are more likely to vote for third-party spoilers like Cornel West and Jill Stein, tipping the election toward Trump. right. This is what happened in 2016 when Trump won Michigan.
Democrats and Biden have to get the word out that splitting the vote will lead to a Trump presidency, which I’m sure these dedicated voters really don’t want. These concerns should be paramount among these voters.
William Corey Labovitch, West St. Paul
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African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Bishop, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, former Rep. Andy Levin and others called President Joe Biden’s “irresponsible” presidential primary campaign “irresponsible” because of his Gaza policy. He was among those who called on people to vote.
The “Abandon Biden” movement has expanded and spread to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida. The plan is to cast a “noncommit” or equivalent vote in the upcoming primaries as a way to tell Biden not to take our votes for granted and to change his attitude toward Israel. Specifically, he should cut off our support and demand a permanent ceasefire. I plan to vote “no commitment” and encourage others to do so as well.
The Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis was horrific, but Israel’s retaliation, which killed 30,000 Palestinians while thousands more children died of hunger and disease, is unacceptable. The final attack on Rafah would fulfill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocidal plans.
I’m not an anti-Semite. I am anti-Netanyahu and everyone who supports him. I don’t want to see Trump win. That’s the worst possible outcome. But Biden, like the Republican Party, is now prioritizing politics over principles. I hereby refuse to abide by this and will no longer vote for anyone whose principles I detest. I will vote for Biden if he calls for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.
Jacqueline Murray Bruce, River Falls, Wisconsin
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Minnesota may be seen as a staunchly blue state, but what if Biden were to harm everyday Americans with high inflation, rising gas prices, high mortgage rates, and an uncontrolled influx of immigrants? If we keep giving, even Minnesota could turn red this November. Borders, wars and conflicts on the world stage.
These issues are universal issues that concern both Democratic and Republican voters.
This explains why Democrats like Reps. Dean Phillips, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard have criticized Biden and moved to the center of the political divide. In fact, they appeared on conservative news programs and were well received by independents and many conservatives.
Incredibly, both Kennedy and Gabbard are considered potential running mates for Donald Trump. How can this be done? I think common problems make for strange bedfellows.
Since the rise of President Trump, the changing voting dynamics have left many of us older voters wondering who is who on the political spectrum. Sometimes it seems like blue is the new red and red is the new blue.
But it’s a quality of life issue that cuts across party lines and affects the vast majority of Americans. And Democrats should be very worried about the November election, based on the bluish-red elephant in the room.
Kobe Pelt, Plymouth
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Awareness is key, Mr. Biden. In the United States, there is a growing recognition that human capabilities are declining. The right thing to do is to avoid endangering another four years of the hopelessly inept and incredibly destructive President Trump as president. Now, before it’s too late. I declare that I have no intention of accepting the nomination, much less campaigning for that candidate. please. please. please. Yes, please. No doubt many other very concerned Americans feel the same way.
I won’t vote for you in the primary. But if you’re the candidate running against President Trump in November, I’ll vote for you. Yes, that makes sense.
Jim Bartos, Maple Grove
