Boundaries are being tested and perhaps redrawn. What is war? The last time the USA actually declared war was 1941, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. That said, good luck convincing combat veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan that they did not participate in a “war.” America’s “war on drugs” has been at least […]
Read More… from The War on Drugs and the Collateral Damage to Our Conscience
I recently completed reading the book 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin. In October of 1929, the American stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. In 1929, the stock market was at an all-time high. Today, the stock market is again around an all-time high. The head of JPMorgan Chase has been quoted as saying, […]
Read More… from If History Repeats, At Least We’ll Be Surprised Again
To those who are in doubt as to whether or not the USA is integrally involved in the global economy, the recent World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays presented some compelling evidence. There was much more to it than a battle between a USA team and a Canadian team. […]
Read More… from Baseball Welcomes the World While America Hits a Blind Spot
I recently attended a meeting held at the Business Department on the campus of Minot State University. Because I arrived early, I checked out what was posted on the bulletin boards in the hallway outside our meeting room. The poster that was most impressive was one with the MSU logo entitled “Fundamentally Different Fundamentals.” It […]
I am not, nor have I ever been, a Scandinavian. I’m half German and half human. That said, I must confess to being a fan of the Norsk Høstfest. It is a Minot creation and the brainchild of the late Chet Reiten. Reiten was an owner of radio and television stations, a mayor of Minot, […]
Read More… from High Praise for Høstfest’s Toughness, Talent, and Tradition in Minot
The Minot City Council is attempting to either hold the line on or reduce property taxes here in the Magic City. That is an admirable and difficult goal. According to the Wall Street Journal, inflation is currently at 2.9 percent. There is a 3 percent cap on property tax increases. The city is competing with […]
Read More… from On Budgets, Inflation, and Opting Out Locally
Part I of Mr. Maxson’s commentary on political violence in America can be found here. As recently as June 18th, I commented on the sad situation of two Minnesota legislators having been shot, one murdered and one severely wounded. Now we have had an eloquent conservative influencer murdered while speaking at a college campus in […]
Read More… from If We’re Better Than This, Let’s Prove It | Part II
Our President has presented our citizens, not to mention the world, with a blizzard of ideas and actions, the legality of which in many cases are yet to be finally determined. One of the issues is “an old friend,” that being whether or not it should be a crime to burn the American flag. Flag […]
In the recent Minot mayoral race, the second-leading fundraiser received only thirty-two more votes than the third-place finisher, who raised zero—yes, zero—campaign donations. At first impression, that makes Minot a political outlier. It raises some interesting questions (at least to nerds). What would have happened if the third-place finisher had raised more money? How wisely […]
It is arguable that the recent special election in Minot regarding the mayoral race was a waste of money. The winner will only serve from August 2025 until June 2026. That said, it may well have been worth it as a snapshot into the views of at least those voters who actually weighed in. First […]
My spouse and I are fortunate enough to be annually invited to a coastal resort in southern California by a family friend. The good company, the beauty and power of the Pacific Ocean, as well as the pleasant weather are offers we can’t refuse. For natives of Lansford, North Dakota, and Thief River Falls, Minnesota, […]
There have been many comments lately about the primary election victory by Mr. Mandani in the New York City mayoral race. Mr. Mandani is a self-proclaimed socialist and a Muslim. Roughly thirteen percent of New York City’s population is Jewish. Roughly nine percent of its population is Muslim. Roughly thirty-eight percent of New York City’s […]
Read More… from Apathy Sings in the Big Apple, Will it Echo in the Magic City?
Virtually everyone with a conscience was saddened by the shooting of two Minnesota state legislators and their spouses. Assassination attempts on politicians, sadly, are part of our nation’s fabric. During my lifetime, there have been unsuccessful assassination attempts on President Truman, President Ford, President Reagan, and President Trump. There was a successful assassination attempt on […]
Negative rhetoric regarding American judges by our President has been early, often, and harsh. It isn’t unlike the behavior of many NBA players during the playoffs who continually whine about fouls—most of which are the right calls. Judges come in many flavors. Having practiced law for over 45 years, yours truly has experienced quite a […]
The College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church have done a favor not just to America, but to the world. Whatever one’s opinion may be regarding the dogma and tradition of the Catholic Church, it is safe to assume that its Cardinals are men of good conscience. Whatever one’s opinion may be regarding the present […]
Read More… from Pope Leo Sets a New Example for American Leadership
Fifty years ago, the war in Vietnam ended ingloriously with a chaotic retreat from Saigon. It was a war that deeply divided America. America remains divided in many ways. It was a long war. It started when I was still in high school and ended when I was an Assistant State’s Attorney here in Minot. […]