Shakopee Valley News - Opinions - Comments

This will be an interesting

johanberth — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:08:30 -0500

This will be an interesting topic to follow in the future. I think that maybe marijuana use might decrease because the thrill of the illegality of it will be gone. http://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/Health-and-Science/Mom-2c-Let-s-Tr... has some interesting views on the subject.

How in the world can we

PAT T LAND — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:07:45 -0600

How in the world can we expect The Sheriffs Dept to chase drunk drivers when there are doors to kick in and houses to shoot up

I respect your points, both

A.Sweeney — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:18:00 -0600

I respect your points, both negative and positive. But here's a few issues i had with your mini-essay on a mini-mall in the industrial park. I don't see you as having issues with asian people. I see you as having a strangely adopted political agenda. This is my personal opinion, and would love to take you out for coffee for pleasant political conversation. I am an aspiring politician. You'll see what i'm capable of in the next few years. Maybe you'll even join my cause, who knows.. anyway..

* Canterbury didn't work with traffic at first, because as most things in life, you could perhaps agree, business is trial and error. All entrepreneurs are learning this time after time in Shakopee. Many businesses and great ideas fall through because of faulty planning, management, or financing. Now Canterbury after your 7 city southern country gridlock issue.. 15 years later, it's a great place that brings different jobs, people, AND events to Shakopee.

* I'd like to see evidence of where you heard/saw/read that each job would be from immigrants from China. I need documentation that is from an accredited source, such as whoever is behind the proposal. I liked how you added "Communist" to grab attention, it certainly grabbed mine Mr. Clay. Again, coffee, you and i, very soon. Sounds great. Aye? Communism is the BEST form of government, every history professor i know, would most certainly agree.. however it's impossible to perfect as is much government. i believe that you(or maybe SVN, who knows)are trying to instill fear into the general public.

* It's possible Chinese/Asian Americans in our community would be highly interested in a market place, regardless of it's location, employees, and consumerism. It seems more like culture, and principle, and ideal of it that's a positive reinforcement for the city of Shakopee's ever-expanding DIVERSITY. We have a Russian church. We have La Luz Del Mundo, along with numerous businesses these ethniticies have succeeded and failed. Why are you against approving this proposal that literally could boost the morale of Chinese AND other Asians already living within our community?

* And then to say.. if they fail, which you're so convinced that they will.. How can you justify mentioning the already doomed housing market? We all know the banks, and private companies will buy buy buy at such a low value, and sell high. Simple stock techniques. How does this affect you PERSONALLY or even POLITICALLY?

* You're for spending $450,000 on a PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE where two already exist. So when you mention budgets and overspending, and anything at all related.. which is basically your job as an elected City Councilmen.. i just don't understand your biased view. The proposed ped. bridge on Fuller from Vierling to Apploosa. Over HWY 169.. decorative lighting is really necessary to spend an extra, what, $10,000 per that style? And the third light in the center where resurfacing and reinforcements are needed for support? Really?

I've got more, but today is a historical day.
My third offer. Clay, Coffee, Sweeney. What do you say sir?

How much would it cost the

A.Sweeney — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:49:35 -0600

How much would it cost the city to promote Designated Drivers every weekend? And leave it up to the people to call a taxi or public transport, etc for week day drinkers?

Why is it that if Shakopee is cracking down on DWIs.. that they never found the man i followed from 4th& Holmes street, all the way to the Super America on 169s/41 at the edge of town? Not to MENTION: I was on the phone with two different dispatches who kept reassuring me an officer is in the area. I'd like answers, and i plan to attain them shortly in a methodical way. I followed this Drunk for 25 minutes on Thursday 1/15. About 10:10 to 10:34. Most of that time i was on the phone tailing the man, trying to HELP get this wasted person off of the HIGHWAYs and HEART OF SHAKOPEE.

Does this irritate anyone besides myself?
I'd love to hear different opinions.

Interesting, I have worked

TomO — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 12:31:36 -0600

Interesting, I have worked in addiction treatment for some time and I can only recall a handful of cases of marijuana addiction. Those cases were all dual diagnosis cases also, in which the co-occuring mental disorders were far greater than dependency on pot. I challenge you to to show me that any of the drug rehabs in Minnesota have significant numbers of marijuana addicts.

As far as arguments against the legalization of marijuana, I think that 'marijuana addiction' is the least valid.

8th and 10th grade is a bit

jasonla — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:14:40 -0500

8th and 10th grade is a bit to far into school to be giving classes i also remember in one grade being separated and having sex ed then again both guys/girls in the same class sometime just before junior high having another class with videos etc nothing to graphic. But even in elementary school our health teacher wasn't afraid to answer questions regarding the human body and sexual related questions. Im surprised back then parents didn't say much or care but we never got exposed to anything bad it was education and something needed. I think sexed is much better left to teachers and letting kids learn in school rather then having to hear about it from their parents. I've traveled quite a bit and you'd be shocked to know when kids start having sex in some other countries. While in the UK you see ads all over the places for london escorts and on TV censorship is not a concern to most. Sex to most of the world is part of life and educating the kids is as important as teaching them to wash their hands to keep from spreading germs.

I totally agree with your

oldman — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:31:58 -0500

I totally agree with your position on Judicial selections. Here is some more liberal thinking to consider:

Background check - Mrs. Obama.....
Michelle Obama, wife of Democrat frontrunner Barack Obama, shocked a lot of people recently when she said this: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY ADULT LIFETIME I AM PROUD OF MY COUNTRY.' Wow! That takes my breath away.

Mrs. Obama is 44 years old, so for over roughly 24 years of 'adulthood,' taking her at her word, she has never been proud of our nation.

Is there a theme here? You may remember that last year Senator Obama said he refused to wear a flag lapel pin because it represented a 'substitute for true patriotism.' And what precisely is true patriotism? According to Senator Barack Hussein Obama, it is opposing the war in Iraq.

Apparently nothing America did from 1982 to 2008 caused her heart to swell with pride. Not our successful effort to defeat Soviet communism and liberate millions of people in Eastern Europe? Not our relief efforts around the world, through which we spent billions to help the downtrodden?

Not anything? When she learned with all the rest of us how her fellow citizens on United Flight 93 bravely fought back against jih adist hijackers and prevented another disaster on September 11th, did she not fill up with pride?

As Americans of all races and classes rallied together in defense of our nation in the aftermath of September 11th, did her spirit not jump with love for her homeland? Apparently not.

The Obamas are living examples of the American Dream. Both Michelle Obama and her husband have Ivy League degrees. They make a joint income of over One Million Dollars a year. They live lives that most ordinary Americans can only dream of.

Yet, Mrs. Obama, who wants to be First Lady, has been unable to find the pride in America that millions of ordinary Americans feel every day.

Sadly, her attitude is not rare among leftwing American elites. We are 'educating' millions of Americans to be Globalists first and foremost, and we are doing precious little about educating our children to be Proud and Unashamed Americans.

The Obamas are flying high politically right now, but I don't believe many Americans will want to cast their votes this November for a couple so out of touch with traditional American values.

'For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country,' Michelle Obama.....'What she meant was, this is the first time that she's been proud of the politics of America,' Barack Obama

HOWEVER, nowhere in there does she leave space for, allude to, or specify a reference to American politics.

She's a Princeton and Harvard educated lawyer, and she can't specify between her country and its politics???

ALSO, 'Why Is Michelle Obama's Princeton Thesis *Restricted* Until November 5th'?

1985 Princeton senior Thesis entitled: 'Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community,'

http://libweb5.princeton.edu/theses/thesesid.asp?ID=9867

Princeton University Senior Theses Full Record

TITLE: Princeton Educated Blacks and the Black Community [Restricted until November 5, 2008] (96 pages).

AUTHOR: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson (1985), Sociology Department ADVISOR: Not available

LOCATED AT: Mudd Library.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama lamented that white professors and classmates always saw her as 'Black first and a student second.' She had surveyed alumni to see whether they sacrificed their commitment to other blacks on the altar of success, and foresaw for herself an uneasy future: 'further integration and/or assimilation into a White cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant.'...

As Michelle Obama wrote in her thesis introduction, 'My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'Blackness' than ever before. I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong.'...

Michelle Obama was guided in her choice of thesis topic by a consuming concern that her success might compromise her black identity. As she wrote in her conclusion: 'I wondered whether or not my education at Princeton would affect my identification with the Black community. I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with Whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that Black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility.'...

Michelle Obama's fears of losing touch with her roots without ever being embraced into the mainstream led her to promise, in her thesis introduction, 'to actively utilize my resources to benefit the Black community.'

Her thesis is the ONLY one on the 449-result long list *restricted until a specific date: November 5th*.

What's the significance of November 5th? Well, it's a Wednesday. OH, AND IT'S THE DAY AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION... !!!!!!

I've been a young rider in

kenlehman — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:54:55 -0600

I've been a young rider in Shakopee in the country before developement and in town on 4th av.

Later in years drove school bus in Minnneapolis, St. Paul and various suburbs.

I also have been vocal and active in education and school board politics.

I've heard the same ole story about needing more money "For the children" in the form of school levies.

The first to be cut, or last to be funded, are the classrooms and transportation in many cases.

I'm not saying Shakopee is the same way but it is typical of many districts nation wide and metro wide here in Minnesota.

Just something to keep a weary eye on.

As a driver, I hate having stops where the students at any age have to cross on busy streets or even high speed light traffic country roads.

It is too hard to see a tiny school bus with so little early warning with only 8 to 10 lights flashing and a tiny stop sign when you have a cell phone in your hand.

Some people aren't aware of icy conditions until they stop and end up careaning sideways toward students crossing after caressing a hill ( real life scenario).

Regular safety lectures paid off and they were paying attention ( students).

It comes down to regular emails, letters and phone calls as well as parents getting together to tackle these issues at the school board meetings.

In some cases politics is used at the expense of "The children" to get more money from you, only to be spent elsewhere.

You then have to get them where it hurts them and not "The children".

That is with taking the truth and nothing but the truth to the press.

It is reasonible and affordible to have a 1 mile policy, or less if there are safety issues, if the routes are efficently planned.

I may have ticked people off with these statements. I didn't make them for that reason.

These are simply my observations and experiences elsewhere.

You can see for yourself if any of them apply here and what actions are nessesary.

I will say research simular issues that were raised in Savage and Belle Plain just this same year.

Yea, we tried banning

kidjon — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:19:44 -0600

Yea, we tried banning alcohol and it did not work. The main reason it did not work is because alcohol had been legal to possess for decades. So, you are comparing apples and oranges.

Marihuana is scary because it is harder to detect that someone is under the influence of marihuana, unlike alcohol which there are obvious signs of intoxication.

Another thing about marihuana, is there is a segment of society that does not use it because it is illegal. These people are called law abiding citizens. If you make it legal, these people will be inclined to use it.

As far as the black market is concerned, it will not go away. Marihauna is easy to grow and you will still have dealers making money selling it. The only difference that will exist if marihuana is legalized, is that the government will be dealing the drug as well.

Medical marihuana exists in marinol, a pill form. It has THC just like the green stuff. These medical marihuana initiatives are being driven by people that just want to get high legally. People that have headaches, or back aches or other non descript pain can be given a "prescription" written by a doctor recommending medical marihuana. That patient can go to a drug dealer and buy "a 60 day supply" of marihuana (whatever that amount is). They can also grow a "60 day supply" of marihuana. Now, as it turns out, these "patients" are growing this marihuana and selling it to other people that have letters written by someone claiming to be a doctor. It is one big scam.

If someone is dying of cancer or AIDS and wants to ingest smoke into their lungs (and give themselves additional medical problems to deal with), fine go ahead. But if the medical marihuana initiative allows for anything more than terminal AIDS or cancer, you are only asking for problems.

Why would going against

sfiecke — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:28:20 -0600

Why would going against federal law require marijuana to be purchased by gangs? I would think if Minnesota legalized mairjuana for medical purposes, it would be somewhat regulated. If it truly is just a step away from legalization, this would actually take the market away from the gangs, wouldn't it? The reason drugs are so expensive is because of the risk of selling them. So legalized medical marijuana would likely be produced by Minnnesota farmers and sold in stores, decreasing the cost of mairjuana sold on the street, which would make it less lucrative for "gangs" to sell marijuana, which would lead to less violence that's generally associated with black market drug dealing. This would lead to fewer drug arrests, less people in jail/prison and relief for our congested court system. All around, everyone is a winner-- most importantly, us taxpayers who don't even use the drug, but feel the negative ramifications of the black market system.

Based on your argument, that

sfiecke — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:16:12 -0600

Based on your argument, that today's marijuana is different and would lead to more intoxicated drivers on the road, shouldn't we ban drinking? Alcohol is a lot more scarier of a drug because it has the potential for causing WAY more harm to people's lives-- especially innocent ones-- than marijuana.

You don't want the government regulating marijuana, but yet you say that today's marijuana is so much more addictive and dangerous than in previous years. I would think that would be an argument for legalizing the drug so the government could make sure it is of a safer quality. Right now, because of the black market system, marijuana users are taking a gamble on what they purchase. I assume they'd prefer to know what's in whatever they're smoking. I think the same goes for other illegal drugs.

Aren't a lot of the risks from illegal drugs caused by people taking drugs that had things in them they didn't realize? Wouldn't it be better to have the government- or some approved company-- producing and labeling the drugs? Plus, then you get away from all the dangers that go with drugs being traded on a black market system.

I have relatives in Washington and just recently visited there. I haven't heard anything negative about "medical marijuana" there. How does it "not work" there?

It has been legalized for

kidjon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 01:21:58 -0600

It has been legalized for medical use out here in Washington for a few years. The people behind these medical marihuana initiatives do not care about anyone's medical issues, but they are people looking to legalize it just so they can get high legally.

The marihuana of today is not your daddy's marihuana from the 60's. It has a higher THC (about 15% to 40% THC) concentration and very addictive. It should be classified as a hallucinegen, it is that powerful. The last thing we need are more intoxicated drivers on the road.

As far as government regulating and taxing it, that's ridiculous. The government should not be in the drug dealing business. I say "NO" to "medical marihuana". It does not work in Washington or California, it sure won't work in MInnesota.

I definitely don't support

gordman — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:31:57 -0600

I definitely don't support marijuana legalization, this would be another niche for drug addicts to have easier access to this drug. Isn't there another medicine to replace it and don't create addiction? Right now my brother attends Narconon for drug rehabilitation for marijuana addiction.

I really have to thank this

FreedomGirl27 — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:31:21 -0500

I really have to thank this man. He is very brave in willing to stand behind such a student, and I hope that his house doesn't egged or pelted with gummy bears! I agree we should have the board members come in and take a look at what students are doing! Let them see for themselves just what the media has done to this new generation.

Many of my friends have

Ruth Anne Maddox — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:44:06 -0500

Many of my friends have been wearing and raving about Crocs for years.

I've never been a real fashion-forward kind of gal but I recently had an opportunity to try a pair on and, I must admit, they were very comfy. However, I didn't buy them because I felt like I was looking down at Minnie Mouse's feet at the end of my legs -- they just look so much bigger than the size I wear (yes I tried the correct size).

I don't wear a lot of jeans and I can't see Crocs matching a whole lot of my work clothes so I didn't feel like dishing out $30 for them ($40 for the flip-flop version). I'm not completely turned off by them, though so I'm not going to say "never."