I find myself in a quandary regarding how to vote on trash collection next month:

YES. I want the city to take care of trash collection. I do not want to go back to the very inefficient system of hiring my own hauler and having half a dozen trucks from different companies rumbling down the same streets.

NO. I do not like the present system. I don’t like paying more than I had before (and don’t understand why that should be the case under what should be a more efficient system). I don’t like the way the big companies have bought up the smaller local haulers. And I don’t like getting a bill from a hauler when I didn’t hire that company in the first place (that bill should be going to the city).

So, how am I supposed to vote in November? How should I vote if I want the city to take care of trash collection, but want the city to come up with a new plan with the few remaining haulers that is more responsive to residents’ interests?

John Crea, St. Paul

Will we meet the test?

As Donald Trump’s Oct. 10 visit to Target Center fades into history, I acknowledge that I understand and welcome everyone’s right to gather in support of their political candidate of choice, but I do not respect a politician whose modus operandi is to disparage his (in this case) opponents with foulmouthed name calling and approval of violence against those who oppose him instead of highlighting legitimate differences of political policy. Nor, given the widespread, transparent and readily confirmed or debunked news afforded by current technology, can I honor such a candidate’s supporters.

It follows that I also do not respect a protester who resorts to the same, particularly while claiming the high ground.

Neither our founders nor politicians and supporters who followed have been impeccably civil, but until today we at least aspired to rise above our basest instincts. Today we face a challenge beyond simple political differences. We face in-depth scrutiny of who we are. I have to trust we’ll meet the test.

Shawn O’Rourke Gilbert, Edina

Words

I have a new word to teach my name-calling friends on the right who are fond of labelling every idea from the Democrats as “socialism.” That new word is “fascism.” I’ll save you the trouble of looking it up. The dictionary says, “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” It goes on to say, “Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one national or ethnic group, a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach.”

Who does that remind you of? And if you go to Wikipedia (I know, it’s fake news) you’ll see a picture of Mussolini and Hitler and read a chilling description that sounds all too similar to President Trump’s policies.

Given a choice between a country “… regulated by the community as a whole,” i.e., what you pejoratively call socialism, or one led by a lying fascist, I’ll take the first option.

Bob Hartzler, St. Paul