By Dr. Bryan Van Gorp Rushford, MN The Nature’s Trust doctrine states that the government is obligated to act as trustee of the natural resources and assets that are subject to public concern and cannot destroy or sell to private interests what the people rightly own for themselves and for their posterity. It is a fundamental constraint on governmental power. Trustees are … [Read more...]
Who will we be?
By Eric Lee Harmony, MN The story of America is expanding. What I grew up with is vastly different from what today’s children will grow up with. The story is growing, and it leaves us with a choice. Growing up in the 1980s, we revered Christopher Columbus, and we learned glorious tales of the spirit of exploration, with the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. We … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Shifting gears
As we take to the road on these beautiful sun-filled days, we see hot rods and motorcycles revving engines up and down the highways. The increased torque and horsepower of these beastly machines would lead one to believe we have entered a new muscle car era that rivals the 1960s. The 2017 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat boasts 707 hp with 650 lb-ft of torque, claiming … [Read more...]
Talking to the other side
I’ve had a number of conversations recently that convince me our country is divided into two political camps separated by a deep and uncomfortably wide gap. No, I’m not talking about liberals and conservatives, or pro- and anti-Trump voters. I’m talking about people who believe in politics and our political system, and people who don’t. I’ve found this latter view expressed … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Rumors
Over the past month, I have heard a rumor repeated to me by several individuals in various communities throughout Fillmore County. It has come to my attention that there is a concern that the Fillmore County Journal will only be delivered to white boxes in each community instead of mailboxes via the United States Postal Service. Apparently, with our requests for … [Read more...]
The budget process remains broken
Think about this for a moment: Two days away from a federal shutdown, Congress comes up with a stopgap measure to keep the government operating... for a week. A few days later it arrives at a bipartisan budget deal lasting a bit over four months. This, in turn, moves the President to take to Twitter with the following statement: “Our country needs a good ‘shutdown’ in September … [Read more...]
Entrepreneurship starts with encouragement
For the second year, Minnesota ranks first of the 25 largest states in the Kauffman Index for Main Street Entrepreneurship. We have the highest rate of business owners (7.75%), established small business density (687.2 small businesses per 1,000 firms) and business survival rate (50.75% that made it to at least five years in business). However, while we’re going great as a … [Read more...]
Letter about the American Health Care Act…
To the Editor, In 1867, U. S. Congressman John Bidwell wrote: “I concede that men may sometimes honestly differ in opinion. But, in questions of principle…, some things are so palpably wrong as to carry them beyond the sphere of opinion.” It is time to “Make America Great Again.” Let us begin by examining our most heartfelt governing principles, taking a single issue as … [Read more...]
Letter about Should college be free?…
To the Editor, This is in response to the article, “College should not be free,” written by Kendyl Bennett in the May 15 Fillmore County Journal. Her assertions are: “The government does not have enough money to fund college for everyone,” and “There are plenty of resources for students who wish to attend college.” The federal budget for 2015 was 3.8 trillion dollars, so … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… More good than bad
Routinely, every morning I turn on the news while running on the treadmill, and inevitably I hear bad news. There are drive-by shootings in Rochester, robberies, drug abuse, child abuse, sex trafficking, threats of war, violent protests -- constant negativity. It’s enough to make a person think there is more wrong in the world than there is right. But, that’s … [Read more...]