OPINION
Pioneer Editorial: Bomb hits Bemidji on bonding list
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in his veto message on the capital investment bonding bill, called the Legislature’s nearly $1 billion bill “highly partisan” and accused Democrats of failing to work with Republicans to gain their support. The bill, however, passed with Republican help, 89-44 in the House and 49-17 in the Senate.March 17, 2010
Agriculture frames large part of state economy
Too often, the only times our non-farm neighbors hear about agriculture is when there is economic crisis on the farm, or when some interest group objects to some agricultural practice. The end result, I fear, is that too many people develop the idea that 21st century farmers are helpless victims and/or heartless villains.By Gene Hugoson , March 17, 2010
Pawlenty would use fund dedicated for outdoors
Hunting and fishing license fees are paid by those who use the outdoors and are set aside for specific conservation purposes.March 17, 2010
Public servants must know their place
“Government is the servant of the people, and not the master of them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.”By Dan Radmacher , March 17, 2010
Don’t repeat baseless attacks on climate scientists
It’s vital for newspapers to do more than just repeat what’s being said, but to show real news judgment. There’s an old joke that if one group tries to claim that the Earth is flat, a newspaper would report, “Earth’s Shape: Views Differ.”March 16, 2010
Pioneer Editorial: Cheers and Jeers
March 16, 2010
Girl Scout politics less than sweet
I’ve seen more than a few boxes of Do-Si-Dos and Samoas around lately. It’s hard to look askance at the Girl Scouts when there’s so much sweetness in the air. But there is reason for keeping the Girl Scouts out of the “mom and apple pie” category. For one thing, the organization has a think tank, a nongovernmental organization and a welcome mat out to Planned Parenthood.By Katherine Lopez , March 16, 2010
Prevailing wage survey skewed to favor union rates
Jon Hall is incorrect about prevailing wages not being a union issue. It is true that a survey is done, but the methodology of the survey is skewed to favor union wage rates. It is a voluntary survey. Union contractors have a very high level of motivation to respond.March 16, 2010
The last thing we need
An executive for the Sierra Nevada Corp., a defense contractor based in Nevada, wanted to know why he should contribute $20,000 to Rep. Peter Visclosky, an Indiana Democrat. A colleague replied that Sierra Nevada was working with PMA, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, to curry favor with Visclosky, a key member of the subcommittee that funded defense projects.By Cokie & Steven V. Roberts , March 16, 2010
Pioneer Guest Editorial: Open government records to Internet
Every day, the federal government releases vast amounts of useful information about every aspect of our nation and how government works. This public information has a deep impact on almost every aspect of American life. Some of it can be used to hold our elected officials accountable for their actions, or have a profound effect on health, economic development and commerce. The problem is, much of this government information is too often hard to find, difficult to understand, expensive to obtain in useful formats, and available in only a few locations.March 14, 2010
Despite delegate mixup, DFL chairman gets nod
As the article, in March 2’s paper stated, 16 DFLer’s were “left without a voice” at the county convention. Mr. Steve Nelson was the convention chairman who declared these 16 individuals at first viable and then later ineligible.March 14, 2010
Minnesota should consider nuclear power
With interest in such a great diversity of potential energy sources from solar to wind and biofuels like ethanol and biomass, it would seem that states like Minnesota, which recently mandated that by 2025 a quarter of the state’s electricity be generated by renewable sources, would at least allow one more option to be brought to the table for discussion, especially when that option has been successfully powering 60 other countries for years and is making great strides in efficiency.By Amy Koch , March 14, 2010
Foreign banks hold too many U.S. mortgages
Does anyone in Bemidji realize that the banks and investment companies foreclose on average 50 homes a month? Compare this to all the small and large towns around the United States. it is a staggering amount. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the FHA will need billions in this year to settle all accounts. There will be more banks going under and now the government is telling the banks they will cover the losses. The government is not covering the loss, the American citizens are. Everyone blames AIG for receiving so much money from the stimulus program.March 14, 2010
Lawrence fought to correct American Indian abuse
It was in the early 1990s and I was involved in city politics in Minneapolis. Earlier, I moved from a small township in north central North Dakota almost a decade before — to search for a new life away from the reservation.By Delvin Cree , March 14, 2010
Toyota, Japan’s General Motors too big to fail
When I was a lad, growing up in the shadow of the Ford Rouge plant in Detroit, Japan was known for the manufacture of junky products — cheap knickknacks and toys that broke in your hand.By Donald Kaul , March 13, 2010
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Who me?
Now for a who me? Somehow I got roped into making the coleslaw for a fundraiser
Baiting Deer
Okay, someone dumped a whole slug of pumpkins in the woods just before deer h
Halloween Report
The moon was almost full, the leaves had a ghostly snow glow..ghosts and goblins scurried throughout the neighborhood.. the dog howled..we ran out of candy..we had so many Trick or Treater we didn't k
Clunkers
I only know of one person that has taken advantage of the "Cash for Clunkers" stimulus program. That would be my Dad, he was driving a pickup truck that was 17 years old. I always gave
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