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Opinion

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Parents Talk

Should Dr. Kermit Gosnell Have Gotten the Death Penalty?

The Philadelphia doctor was found guilty of murdering three babies after botched late-term abortions and was given life in prison Tuesday.

A Philadelphia doctor found guilty of murdering three babies born alive in an abortion clinic serving low-income women agreed to two life sentences Tuesday, and was sentenced to a third Wednesday. Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 72, agreed to his sentences and waived his right to an appeal in order to avoid the possibility of being condemned to death. According to ABC News, prosecutors were seeking the death penalty, but because of Gosnell's advanced age it was deemed unlikely that he would live long enough for death penalty appeals which can last decades. According to Reuters, Gosnell was convicted of first-degree murder Monday after he reportedly delivered the live babies during late-term abortions and then deliberately severed their spinal cords. …

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Orono

2:09 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Teabaggers? Seriously? I realize you are acting only on your provided talking points but the tea party only wants to NOT use tax dollars to fund your abortions. They are hardly your biggest concern. Besides getting an actualy education, your biggest concern are with the christians.   more ›

Patch Readers Respond to Passage of Gay Marriage Bill

Gov. Mark Dayton’s signature Tuesday didn’t end the heated debate around same-sex marriage.

Whatever side of the debate you fall on, there’s no denying that this week’s passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was a historical moment. Minnesota became just the 12th state to sanction gay marriage when Gov. Mark Dayton signed the bill Tuesday. Patch readers quickly wrote in to share their thoughts on the moment. Eagan Patch reader Kathi Malone echoed the view of legislators who voted yes in seeing same-sex marriage as a civil right: I am so happy that finally gay people will be able to have the civil right to marry. This is truly an American vote for freedom. I applaud Sen Clausen and all other legislators who voted for this historical bill. James N added: Thank you Senator Carlson and the entire MN legislature for extending …

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Dan Johnson

10:31 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013

Jimmy. Again, safety is a legitimate concern. If they refuse service to an area due to safety, that is different than refusing service to some in that area based on religious judgement, while serving others in that area.   more ›

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

MN Gay Marriage Raises Issue: When Is It OK to Call Someone a Bigot?

The new law's supporters and opponents traded claims and denials of bigotry.

When—if ever—is it fair to call another person a bigot? Leave your comment below. A flashpoint in the debate over Minnesota's new marriage-equality law was the use of the words "bigot," "bigoted," or "bigotry" in reference to opponents of making same-sex marriages legal. After the state Legislature approved the bill, the group Minnesota for Marriage said in a statement: Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” ... under our law with the passage of this bill. 'You're a Bigot' On Monday at the state Senate, Sen. David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots. Sen. Dan…

Dan Johnson

10:31 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013

No matter what you choose to call it, prejudice and discrimination cause needless suffering and death, here and around the world. Today's news: "Orthodox priests led a mob of anti-gay extremist in a violent confrontation with LGBT rights marchers in the Georgian capitol of Tbilisi in observance of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Georgian police, which had been charged …   more ›

Monday, May 13, 2013

Twitter Talk: Kiffmeyer Comments on Same-Sex Marriage Debate

Community members respond to comments made by Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer during the May 13, 2013 Minnesota Senate same-sex marriage debate.

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Hot Topics

How Would The Legalization of Gay Marriage Affect You?

What about your life would change if same-sex marriage became legal?

A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage is expected to head to the governor after a vote in the Senate on Monday. DFLers hold a 39-28 majority, and Senate leaders predict that the bill will successfully move forward, Reuters reported. Before then, though, several legislators on the floor—from both sides of the debate—will likely offer personal anecdotes about what passage would mean to them. That’s to be expected; the issue is, at its core, a personal one. It touches on our relationship to those we love the most, our relationship to society and our relationship to God. That’s why Patch wants to know how passage would affect you. What about your life would change if same-sex marriage became legal?

mike savick

9:35 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Either Penny's email account has been hacked or she is violating PATCH's service agreement. Please change passwords frequently.   more ›

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Community Comments: FitzSimmons Amendment Proposal on Same-Sex Marriage Legislation

Twitter comments, reactions to the freshman state representative for St. Michael and Albertville proposed adding the word 'civil' before the word 'marriage' wherever it appears in Minnesota law.

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Have You Spoiled Your Child Rotten?

If so, a Parenting.com article says you can take steps to reverse any mistakes you've made as your kids have grown. We want your tips for how to raise empathetic, polite children.

I'm sure you've all met your fair share of spoiled children. I know I have. They don't share, they are disrespectful to adults—including their parents—and they regularly throw fits in public. My husband and I are parents to a cat, and we've been blessed with loving, respectful nieces and nephews. I remember being pleasantly surprised when my friend's four sons shook my hand, looked me in the eye and introduced themselves.  It seems in recent years, however, I'm seeing more monster children when I go to restaurants or the mall.  The good news is anyone with a difficult child can reverse any bad parenting, according to Dr. Phil, Happiestbaby.com and Parenting.com. Their tips include: Those are tips from the professionals, but I want to hear …

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Jimmy

10:25 am on Friday, May 17, 2013

Rachel, there is no visible difference between Gays and non-Gays. The difference is only what they do in the privacy of their house. However, Gays seem to love to expose themselves in parades, demonstrations, Gay events, Gay bumper stickers, Gay laws etc. Non-Gays don't advertise their bedroom activities with all the hoopla that Gays do. You catagorize non-Gays as "Haters". IMHO non-Gays don't "…   more ›

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Hot Topics

Should You Pay Tax When You Buy Online?

A bill to let states impose sales tax on big online retailers passed the U.S. Senate Monday. Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken voted for the Marketplace Fairness Act, as did many Republicans.

Why should online shoppers pay sales tax? Why or why not? Leave a comment below. You could pay the same sales tax for online purchases as you do for shopping at a physical store if a bill that passed the U.S. Senate Monday becomes law. The Marketplace Fairness Act would allow states to collect sales tax from retailers with more than $1 million in annual gross sales to out-of-state customers. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (both DFL-MN) voted yes, joined by 67 other senators including 21 Republicans. Minnesota Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans praised the Senate action in a press release: "This legislation levels the playing field for all those Main Street businesses in Minnesota and across the country. It also helps large retailers like…

Albert

2:51 pm on Thursday, May 9, 2013

Why should a business that may be out of state or out the country have an advantage over say a business in our community. The issue is the goverment was slow to the internet sales game and is now just playing catch up. They are not proposing new taxes just leveling out the retail playing field. Support your local business that support your community, not some online company that might be in China…   more ›

8th Grader Pens Poem to Boston

A St. Micheal-Albertville Middle School West student shares his poem on Patch Local Voices, written after the Boston Marathon tragedy.

Monday, May 6, 2013

How Much Respect Do We Owe Elected Officials?

After Gov. Mark Dayton called a recent town hall audience rude, Patch wants to know what you think is acceptable behavior.

A week ago, an audience at Shakopee High School responded with laughter, head nods and interruptions when Gov. Mark Dayton said that the state's legislators are underpaid. In a Tuesday press conference, Dayton said the behavior was juvenile and reminded him of his ninth grade general science classes in New York City. Such responses are hardly unknown. As debate heated up on health care reform a few years ago, protests often greeted Democratic members of Congress trying to sell the legislation to constituents in Town Halls. More recently, Nick Espinosa and Sam Richards dumped glitter on presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the beginning of a speech in Eagan in February 2012. Such outbursts aren’t confined to the United States either. In …

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Gwen Voegtle

3:57 pm on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I so appreciate your view. People are less respectful today, or at least they appear that way. I sometimes think it may be that we are not used to how fast the pace is with today's technology and we take being brusk as being rude. Technology also isolates us and tends to make people focused on themselves. My first trip to NYC had me thinking they were rude until I realized the pace was just so …   more ›

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