If you take a dim view of our political parties, you’re in sterling company. So did George Washington. In his famous Farewell Address, he warned us against “the baneful effects of the spirit of [political] party.” A political party, he wrote, “agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Dirty jobs
Some of you may remember the TV show named Dirty Jobs starring host Mike Rowe. From 2005 to 2012, Rowe would tag along with people who had the dirtiest jobs in America. He was outstanding at capturing the essence of a job in the most graphic of details, helping viewers appreciate all of the jobs that came with disgusting smells and physically demanding conditions. As I … [Read more...]
What to expect from Extension when calling about weed control options
Controlling weeds – especially ones with invasive properties – is challenging. Part of my job is to help people make decisions related to weed control. Here are some things you can expect when calling the Extension office looking for advice. • There is often no silver bullet to control the weeds we have today. Complete control takes time and work. And you will often need to … [Read more...]
Capturing philanthropic wealth in rural communities
Several months ago, I was pleased to see my hometown of Kiester join forces with five nearby towns to create a new community foundation called Our Town USA. At Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), we support communities in capturing and retaining philanthropic wealth through community foundations like this. This has become increasingly important as $7 billion is … [Read more...]
Devil’s Advocate…410
The Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) on Hawaii Island tests the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. In April and May of 2018, the MLO measured the highest concentration of CO2 ever recorded in human history. Four hundred ten parts per million (ppm). What does this mean for the world, the nation, and Fillmore County? To be clear, water vapor is the world’s … [Read more...]
Letter about your vote… To the Editor
Lee Hamilton was spot on concerning Republican efforts to suppress voting rights, but there’s more. Massive Republican gerrymandering has stolen voting power from millions. For decades, when Republicans have legislative control, they usually refuse to allow a vote unless there is majority Republican support. Bipartisanship is not allowed. Republican appointed members of the … [Read more...]
Letter to the Editor Policy leading up to Election Day 2018
“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” — Benjamin Franklin In case you hadn’t noticed, the 2018 election season is well underway and as Election Day draws near, so does its impact on the community and this newspaper. This is also the time … [Read more...]
They lived happily ever after!
When I was a little girl I was told the fairy tale of Cinderella. How she was discovered by the prince, fell in love, married, and set up housekeeping in his castle where “they lived happily ever-after!” I was 30 when my prince came along. “Glenn” and I “fell in love” and after our wedding, began our life together in our “castle,” a one bedroom efficiency apartment. It was … [Read more...]
Single issue voters
Who are single-issue voters? Often conservative Christians are accused of voting on one issue and one issue only, and we only vote for candidates who are anti-abortion. In many ways, that is a grossly simplistic assertion given the complexity of our lives and our political system. Having observed the left’s efforts, through courts, to penalize those who, because of their … [Read more...]
Expand, don’t restrict, voters’ access to the polls
There are times when I’m convinced the progress of this country can be measured through our ballot laws. Think about it. Over the course of our history, we’ve expanded the franchise from the sole preserve of white male property owners to most all citizens 18 and older — regardless of race, gender, or wealth. Yet despite this steady march, we remain embroiled in debate over … [Read more...]