My friend, I’ll call him my brother, is hurting deeply. He doesn’t know if he will have a home someday soon. My brother has worked and paid taxes on his property for 35 years. My brother’s taxes went from $900 a year to $9,000 a year. All very legal. When the biggest retailer in the world moves in next to you, your house becomes commercial property, and, of course, the road they built for this wonderful company becomes my brother’s obligation.

You may ask, “So what?” The same thing could happen to me or you if our local government declared it so.

Ironic, I think, that in this great country my brother fought so bravely and honorably for, in Vietnam. This country “of the people, by the people and for the people,” this country that promises us the “right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” this country that allows those who govern us at local levels also permits them to completely throw out thesee inalienable rights!

My brother needs my help. Aren’t we all our brother’s keeper?

Russell Benson

Albert Lea