Paul Wellstone used to say that we will do better when we all do better. The first priority of government is helping the people, not business. Now we are faced with the new normal — a rapidly increasing aging population and limited resources. It may be many years before we return to the growth of the past — if ever.

Experience counts. It takes awhile before a legislator becomes effective. That’s why we need to re-elect hard-working, experienced Robin Brown and Dan Sparks to work with Gov. Mark Dayton to resolve our budget problems and build up our economy.

The best way to reduce taxes is to reduce the military budget. Currently 59 cents of every tax dollar goes to the military — an astounding $2 million every minute. That’s a 66 percent increase since 2001. The deficit reduction committee has recommended cutting $1 billion per year off that budget.

Lenore Fries

Albert Lea