Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

February 10, 2022

Reduce taxes to give surplus back Minnesota has, what is being called, a surplus of $7.7 billion. The governor wants to only “give” a fraction of that back and expect us to be grateful? Or, perhaps provide him with a vote in November? How much administrative cost will it be in order to pass out this small fraction along with insuring that “only” those that provided this surplus gets their fair share? Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to reduce each legal Minnesota taxpayer’s burden by 10 or 15% for however long it would take to defer this $7.7 billion back to the taxpayer? Wouldn’t that prevent much of the overhead, missed payments and fraudulent claims to that money? We should be growing weary of politicians attempting to gain political points by “giving” something back that they should have never “taken” in the first place.

Welcome, Ava!

February 3, 2022

Please join me in welcoming Ava Lund to the staff of the Gazette. Who can be happier? Me or you? I know how frustrating it has been this past year (and two months, but who’s counting) for our readers that the Gazette did not have a news reporter dedicated to the local news.

February 3, 2022

All month long, the knot of bright winter constellations occupies center stage in the south during the prime early evening viewing hours. This grouping boasts five stars that rank among the top 10 brightest in the night sky: Sirius (No. 1), Capella (No. 6), Rigel (No. 7), Procyon (No. 8) and Betelgeuse (No. 10).

Lover or fighter?

February 3, 2022

The big day is approaching. No time to waste.

When should you call for a tow?

February 3, 2022

Question: My wife slid off the state highway this morning. She came to a stop in the median ditch, unhurt but rattled – only needing to be pulled out. When she called me I told her to call the State Patrol and stay in the car until you arrived. What is the right procedure to follow when a driver ends up stuck in the ditch? Do you contact the towing company or is that the responsibility of the stuck driver?

Soup’s on

January 27, 2022

January is, on average, the coldest month of the year. And that means one thing.

Christians must choose life

January 27, 2022

Prior to following God’s call into the ministry, I spent nearly three decades in the newspaper industry. Unlike most journalists today however, I wasn’t a very political person. And that’s because I didn’t have to be. No, back then, having a particular political affiliation, wasn’t a pre-requisite for the job. In fact, when I first entered the publishing business, there wasn’t the “liberal media,” or the “conservative media,” there was only, “the media.” Nowadays, everything we read or hear in the news is poisoned by subjectivity, but back then, the goal of any credible news source, was complete objectivity. It’s what kept us honest. It’s what separated us from the gossip tabloids that littered the checkout counters at the local supermarket. It’s what preserved our journalistic integrity.

January 27, 2022

The final draft of the 2019 Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Science will be implemented for the 2024-25 school year. Having looked over this document, I was wondering what they presented as proof for evolution in benchmark 9L.4.1.1.3; specifically item 2, which says changes in environmental conditions may result in: “the emergence of new species over time.”

Enjoying getting old(er)

January 20, 2022

Happy Birthday to me! This is my birthday week – I turn 67 Friday. Now, I’m not saying this just to get presents (but I’ll be home if you need to deliver something.) I’m just pointing out that I am happy to be getting old-ish.

An egotist has I trouble

January 20, 2022

Jim Tunney, the dean of National Football League referees, wrote a blog recently that caught my eye. He mentioned how when one NFL defensive player intercepts a pass, most of the defensive unit on the field runs to an end zone for a photo op. These players and many others feel the defensive unit is just taking pride in making a big play.