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Say something, do something

Letters

To the editor: On Jan. 20, President Trump took the Oath of Office: a promise to faithfully execute the duties of the presidency and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. The rule of law is intended to apply to everyone in this country, regardless of race, political affiliation, gender, ethnicity, religion, immigrant status etc. But, under President Trump our checks and balances are disintegrating into authoritarianism. With the stroke of a felt pen and dramatic signature for all to admire, Trump has issued 130+ executive orders. His message: I am dictator/king and make ...

Embrace our laws

Letters

Editor’s note: The following letter was published on April 17. Due to the beginning of the letter cutoff during editing, it’s being re-published. To the editor: Thank you, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, for having a course called “Totalitarian Political Patterns” way back in the last century. It was taught by a professor originally from an East European country, who had held a high elective position there until ousted by the communists. We students of Russian language and culture and/or of politics, generally, learned to become more aware of the signs of a slide ...

Both political parties should be happy

Letters

To the editor: Apparently Democratic voters are not in favor of President Trump’s policies regarding our illegal immigrants and our governments management and bureaucracy. There’s no need for division on these topics. Let’s just back up a few years and see how some of our former favorite Presidents framed their opinions on these important issues. Lets do a Google search regarding illegal immigrants. Type in the search bar: “Video of President Clintons 1995 State of the Union speech on lllegal Immigration.” In later years Hillary echoed Bills speech in her campaign, then ...

Old Iron escapes the scrap guy

Columns

Three springs ago, a despicable derecho ravaged our region. We eventually engaged a scrap iron guy to haul away some of the wreckage the storm had created at my parents’ farm. It was gratifying to think that the steel from our ruined grain bins was going to be recycled, perhaps into new grain bins. Like many farms, ours had a quantity of dilapidated equipment — a wrecked car, an ancient Case combine, other miscellaneous junk — that had been placed into long-term storage in the shelterbelt. I told the scrap guy exactly where these items could be found, instructing him to just ...

The spirit of falsehood

Letters

To the editor: When I was about 12 years old I would tell my dad about some of the things we were being taught in school. Concerning evolution, he would tell me that’s just a theory. The fact is theory is not fact. What is not told is at the end of his life, Darwin completely dismissed his theory of evolution. On another note, let’s mention Karl Marx. Marxist philosophy has been taught in colleges for at least seven decades. Marx hated God. A line from his poem “The Fiddler,” Marx said “With Satan I have struck my deal.” In a line from another poem he said “I will feel ...

Keeping local pharmacies open

Letters

To the editor: The local pharmacy isn’t just a place to pick up prescriptions—we are a lifeline. I’ve spent years helping patients manage their medications, answering late-night phone calls, and ensuring my community gets the care they need. But independent pharmacies like mine are disappearing, and with them, vital healthcare services. Too many in Minnesota lack easy, safe access to medications. This problem is statewide: 44% of pharmacies in Minnesota have closed in the last ten years, with 58% of those being independent pharmacies. The driving force? Pharmacy benefit ...