Letter: Standing up for Hamilton and Magnus

Talk about it

It’s fair week, super hot, and I’ve got six projects I’m working on. Yet, I still felt compelled to respond to the Jerry Giefer letter of Aug. 2.

First, I would have to agree, thankfully, that Rep. Rod Hamilton and Sen. Doug Magnus are representing the interests of Minnesota agriculture — the bread and butter of thousands of Minnesotans. I am curious, however, whose interests Jerry is representing. Is it in the interest of preventing cruelty to animals? If an individual is concerned about cruelty to animals, a call to local law enforcement will result in an investigation to rectify the situation. The dramatic footage Jerry is concerned with isn’t necessary to stop animal abuse. The footage Jerry is adamant about being able to obtain is used to put money in the coffers of groups that wish to demonize an entire industry. Exactly which special interest group that wants to demonize Minnesota agriculture is Jerry representing?

As far as being baffled about distorting Rep. Hamilton’s voting record, you were correct on how he voted. It was the bills that you distorted. Producing a photo ID “will end the right to vote for a large portion...” Really? A large portion of Minnesotans don’t have an ID? “Voted against minimum wage increases for the majority...” Really? The majority of Minnesotans are working for minimum wage?

Jerry is certainly correct that we need to educate ourselves. Not only to the actions of our representatives, but obviously to the motives and distortions of people like Jerry.

Tags: opinion, letters, minnesota, legislature, hamilton, magnus, agriculture, politics