What do Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, the 202 Minnesota most well-to-do citizens who paid for an ad in the Star Tribune calling for higher taxes on the state's wealthiest citizens, and the leaders of the Minnesota faith community fighting to eliminate poverty have in common?

They all have set examples for the rest of us in recognizing the importance of the common good and the moral obligations we have to our fellow man and woman.

It's too bad that Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten still worship the greed creed: "I've got mine. I want more. The hell with you."

SEN. JOHN C. HOTTINGER, DFL-ST. PETER