Advertisement Two parcels stand between the Root River State Trail and an 8.5-mile extension that would link Preston, Minn., to Forestville State Park.
And many online readers agreed with more than 850 petition-signers that eminent domain isn’t the route to go in this case.
Here’s a sample of comments readers left on the Tribune’s Web site.
Ken wrote: “State Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes said she hoped the land acquisition could be done in an honest, consensus-building way. That’s an interesting way to define stealing land from an owner five miles out of town. Only government could come to those conclusions.”
Wheezer wrote: “ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! If these people lose their land, I won’t ever spend a dime of my money in Preston! ... Anyone with a sense of right from wrong would never return to that trail! I know I wouldn’t!”
DJ wrote: “First it was a convenient method to utilize former railroad beds. Now it has become a way to steal property. Whatta country! Maybe Al Franken will help you out.”
Mack wrote: “Bike trails are a pretty benign, even desirable land use. Many agriculture processes are not. Farmers also enjoy extremely favorable tax rates on their productive land. About 5 cents on the dollar compared to commercial property with a similar earning potential. They are also paid generous rents on CRP land and receive other subsidies. A little cooperation is in order as members of the community. We just had one huge hissy fit over in Richland County.”
Shoeless Hanson inspires ... sniping
Things can get a little personal when the discussion turns to Hanson, as shown by the comments attached to a story at www.lacrossetribune.com about the band’s barefoot walk in La Crosse to raise awareness — and shoes — for the poor in Africa:
Jaxx wrote: “While I am not a fan of Hanson’s music, I think that it is great that they are doing charitable deeds like this barefoot walk. It is always nice to see artists involved.”
carl kennedy wrote: “... but I think we need to focus care on all the barefoot homeless people in the United States first. Does anybody know where these shoes are manufactured? And by who? If anybody wants to make a difference, buy a pair of shoes or a hot meal and go to a shelter and give it to a total stranger. Watch the look on their face and see the difference.”
Krusty wrote: “... I wouldn’t worry about getting backstage passes because the ‘crowd’ will only be five or six of (Hanson defender) Katie’s relatives. The concert could be moved to someone’s living room.”
wisconsingal wrote: “I beg to differ, Krusty. I’m sure Hanson will have plenty of fans there cheering them on. You just don’t know that, because you are too old to remember when they were really popular. I’m sure if Frankie Sinatra were playing there, you’d be first in line. Oh yeah, he’s DEAD.”
A hardy perennial
You’d think people would tire of beating back the nonsmoking forces, but the defenders of the “right” to smoke and the “right” to require employees to suck up second-hand smoke remain adamant, even as clean indoor air advocates seem to be gaining steam.
Here’s a sample of comments visitors attached to a story at www.lacrossetribune.com about a survey that showed 69 percent of people asked supported a ban on smoking in all Wisconsin bars, restaurants and workplaces:
Sully wrote: “It is interesting to see the issues where majority is considered important and issues where the majority does not matter. I wonder what the difference could be.”
Anna wrote: “Good! Health risks aside, smokers and the rooms they are in reek. I don’t want to stink because of someone else’s disgusting addiction.”
Chatter cat wrote: “A business owner’s freedom ends where the public’s right to safety begins. Second-hand smoke is a known health hazard. We shouldn’t allow business owners to endanger public health for the sake of the bucks they earn from enabling nicotine addicts.”
lets face it wrote: “Can you smoke in a hospital? Gee, why not? Does anyone argue with that? Why are bowling alleys different? What about schools? Public or private? In a few years, people will not believe you could ever smoke in public. And what a great day that will be.”
RUSerious wrote: “While I abhor smoking and cigarettes, I love freedom and less interference more. I think a major problem we have today is education. The majority of people don’t understand law and the legal system. What is our law and legal system’s history and roots? Government should protect individual property rights. You have the right to burn your house down. You have the right to not burn your house down. You do not have the right to tell your neighbor he has to burn his house down. You do not have the right to tell your neighbor he can’t burn his house down.”
Tribune online editor Marc Wehrs can be reached at mwehrs@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8218.
