Readers write: Tuesday, March 29    • Updated: March 30, 2011 -
11:41 AM Illustration by Bruce Bjerva  Illustration by Bruce
Bjerva  Photo: file, Star Tribune  CameraStar Tribune photo
galleries  Cameraview larger   Missing the forest for the trees
Our legislators have proposed to cut old growth hardwoods from
two of our state parks and sell them for a few thousand dollars.
 They see the value of the trees as cash to plug Minnesota's
short-term budget hole.  So much for the public's majestic trees
that have survived a couple centuries of Minnesota winters and
human predation.  In a few more generations, our progeny can
again see fully mature walnut trees in one of our state parks,
if we haven't by then also sold the property to a developer to
balance our budget.  Legislators also have proposed to grab
transit sales tax revenue, intended to pay for rail and busway
capital infrastructure, to pay for bus operations instead.  And
in protecting tax breaks for the very rich, our legislators
again would sacrifice