Dialogue

Northwestern Financial Review, Jan 1-Jan 14, 2003

Abortion column brings responses

Thank you for "telling it like it is" in your Straight Talk editorial (in the December 1-14 edition). This is my first "letter to the editor" response, and I have been actively reading newspapers and magazines for over 40 years. More people need to have the guts to tell the truth about abortion. First and foremost, abortion on demand devalues life and is morally wrong. But as you pointed out in your excellent article, abortion also undermines our entire economic system. Thank you, again, for having conviction and for telling the truth.

Jeffrey L. Vorwald

Senior Vice President

American Trust & Savings Bank

Dubuque, Iowa

Your article on abortion was right on target. Regardless of one's religious beliefs, the issue of abortion always has had an economic affect and it is becoming a larger economic issue. I have made the same comments for the past several years. The government politicians have been afraid of the abortion issue but I believe it is an issue that our country needs to come to grips with and realize the serious impact abortion will have on our future. Thanks, Tom, for having the "guts to tell it like it is.

Ray Thull

President

State Bank of Lucan, Minn.

Reporter was fair to ICBA

RE: Straight Talk column about network television news in the November 15-36 edition.

I was on 60 Minutes twice - at the beginning and the end of the Clinton administration. Money Safer did the story about lobbyists. He couldn't have been nicer and fairer. He gave us a white hat role but then we gave CBS full access.

Ken Guenther

Executive Vice President

Independent Community Bankers ofA merica