Letter to the editor, Duluth News Tribune
by Sally Ockwig-Larson, Duluth
August 20, 2004

President George Bush's recent trip to Duluth raises certain issues. I understand that to get a ticket to see him, you had to say you were either undecided or were voting for him. The last time I checked, he was still president to all citizens of the United States.

Our tax dollars paid for Air Force One, the additional security and the DECC. All citizens should have been able to get in to see him regardless of their political affiliation. I understand the need for security, but just because I might choose to vote for John Kerry or Ralph Nader does not mean I am a security risk.

I also understand people were not allowed close enough to the president for him to see a display of dissent. This also happened when Dick Cheney came to Hermantown. For a democracy to function, our leaders need to see displays of dissent. This country was founded on dissent. Democracy can only survive in a free exchange of ideas and sentiments.

I will cast my vote for Kerry. I did not have to pass any sort of litmus test to get into his rally. I simply downloaded a ticket from the Internet. No one asked me if I was going to vote for him. He is speaking up about issues that are important -- education and the costs of not educating our young, health care as a right and not a privilege, creating good paying jobs in the United States, the importance of making sure everyone pays their fair share of taxes and restoring the respect other nations have had for us in the past.