Letter: Leftists using ‘kids’ for agenda

To the Editor, I just read (with some amusement)

Tim King’s “Opinion” (July 7, 2023).

Tim spoke of 16 kids finally getting their day in a Montana court. These “kids” are concerned about their right two a “livable climate.” So they sued the State of Montana. Apparently they aren’t the first “kids” to bring such lawsuits either — here in the U.S. or abroad.

Come on, Tim. Have you been partaking of legal weed before it’s really available? What this seems to be is a Leftist driven smoke screen that’s almost as thick as our recent smoky days courtesy of our Canadian neighbors. Or perhaps it’s a smoky daze from the weed. Oh well, it appears to be more of the same from the Left pushing the “climate change” (formerly known as global warming) agenda. I might be kind of old school, but I’m not aware of too many “kids” that have adequate funding, legal knowledge, or the wherewithal to make it all the way to a State Supreme Court. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s not cheap, and can’t be done without a lot of determination. What this really is, is a wellfunded group of Left Wing (adult) zealots using “kids” as a smoke screen. I suggest this group quit using “kids” on the front lines, and at least acknowledge who’s really pulling the strings of this masquerade. Frankly, I’m disappointed The Land would publish this kind of misinformation as their Opinion.

Paul Platz Lafayette, Minn.

The take away is that the business of U.S. healthcare is often structured to prioritize the profit of the healthcare companies rather than the health and financial well being of the patients. Our community priority should be the health of individual patients and the health of the community. We all know patients need prescription drugs. We also know phar-

Mark Brakke is a retired family practice physician. He cared for patients in Coon Rapids, Minn. for 41 years during which time he was on the boards of directors of two health insurance companies. He currently is on the board of the educational non profit Health Care for All Minnesota (HCAMN.org). v