[whitebird]

OK, there are many wonderful things about Minnesota, but there are also some very sad things that we have here in our society. Many people living here don't even realize they are happening.

We have homeless here in Minnesota, many are in the large cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis (The Twin Cities). In the winter when is is so very bitter cold, they seek out the homeless shelters and churches where people can stay the night. However there are not enough shelters, and way too many homeless, and they have to choose numbers to see who will be able to stay in the warmth and safety, and who will have to return to the danger of the cold, and the streets.

Minnesota is one of the biggest offenders of what are called puppy mills. Large dog breeding businesses, where somethimes hundreds of dogs are kept in shameless, dirty, and cruel conditions. These dogs are bred as much as possible for the puppies, and often killed when they are no longer able to have puppies. I have seen undercover movies of these places, that would break your heart. Little or nothing has been done to stop them, even when the police and proper authorities have been notified. Often the laws are set up to protect these businesses. They supply many of the puppies to large pet shops.

Shelters where women and children flee to seek help from abusive situations are often full. They leave often with no clothes, no food, and no money. There are wonderful places that help women and children, but simply not enough room or funding.

Large corporate farms are taking over the smaller farms, who just can't compete with the larger businesses. The corporate farms have such huge productions, that the runoff from the animals waste is polluting our rivers and streams. The use of chemicals from these farms is also hurting our environment. Government has set aside assistance for the farming industry, but the largest share of the money has sadly gone to the large and wealthy businesses, and the smaller family owned farms are going bankrupt.

Sex offenders, men who have raped women, and sexually abused children, are being let out of prison, even though it is known they will commit other crimes of this kind. We have a family here in Minnesota now, who is still looking for the body of their daughter, who was kidnaped and presumed killed by one of these men. The police have him in custody, but he has not admitted where she is. Hopes have been lost by the family that she may still be alive. They are searching rivers and rural areas for her body.

These are only some of the sad realities that we also have in our society. Wonderfully we also have many people who care, and are trying to change these shameful things. But it very difficult to have change, when people will look away, and pretend that these things do not exist.