Letters to the Editor

North Dakotans Deserve More from our Tax Commissioner

April 25th, 2018

To the editor:

I was completely dismayed to see Governor Burgum’s proposed budget guidelines for the 2019-2021 biennium. In short, he is asking each department to cut 5-10 percent of their budget, in addition to setting aside an additional three percent of the budget “just in case.” Further, most agencies were asked to cut employees by five percent. 

After hearing plenty of concern from friends and colleagues, I thought I’d see if the Tax Commissioner had any reaction to this…

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​An Open Letter to North Dakota Trans Youth

April 18th, 2018

My name is Faye Seidler and I was a trans youth who grew up mostly in rural North Dakota and Minnesota. My parents seemed to move every year, which meant every year was a new school system, and new people. It was hard to really keep any friends, because I knew every year it’d be different people.

I wasn’t openly trans or even knew what being trans meant at that age. I didn’t have anyone I ever trusted to have that conversation with. I also didn’t know anyone who could really help…

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‘I’m not buying it, and neither should you’

March 7th, 2018

Senator Tim MathernTo the Editor:

The attacks against Senator Heidi Heitkamp by out-of-state partisans follow a predictable formula: Find a wedge issue that inflames people on both sides. Manufacture an outlandish attack against Heidi, no matter the facts. Amplify the attack louder and louder until it drowns out North Dakotans’ better judgment.

I’m not buying it, and neither should you.

The latest, desperate attack out of Washington, DC, transforms a cordial “hello” between colleagues into something…

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​Cramer vs. Cramer

February 14th, 2018

To the editor:

Congressman Cramer often boasts of his unfiltered honesty – and while his comments on women’s clothing or defense of Nazi comparisons certainly proves his lack of filter – the honesty part has proven more difficult, especially as of late.

After being cast aside by his own party for months due to his repeated gaffes, speculation surrounding his potential Senate run finally mounted – and Cramer clumsily danced around the subject for months to keep it that way –…

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​Night soil

January 26th, 2018

To the Editor:

If I were in politics, I would be a radical moderate or a middle-of-the-road extremist. But I am a writer and seek the mean in a concern for the use of language in both literature and public life.

Recently, Donald Trump’s use of an obscenity to describe certain nations caught my ear. I do not favor that kind of mean.) The subsequent apologetics among his minions were jesuitical and funny, contorting logic and, in the end, playing ostrich: “I did not hear it,” “nor…

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​Buffers and habitats

January 26th, 2018

To the editor:

Meridian Energy Group is doing things the right way with the Davis Refinery. Much has been made about the local impact, and in my opinion the impact is only positive. The much-needed, permanent local job creation in the area will be substantial. This project will create 200 permanent, high paying, competitive jobs. The tax base in the County is expected to double, and will bring in an estimated 2 to 3 million a year.

Meridian has followed the law with every step of the…

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​March, run, serve

January 26th, 2018

To the Editor:

It may be true to say that women are generally patient but persistent. History shows a long and winding road to gain the right to vote, to own property and to hold office.

In 2017 women marched in Washington, D.C. and across the nation, even in Fargo, to show their opposition to our new president and political positions they opposed. During the year, hundreds of women continued to voice opposition to being bullied and sexually abused by men in authority.

The recent 2018…

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​Take your hat off

October 11th, 2017

To the editor:

I recently had the privilege of visiting the traveling State Vietnam Wall Memorial. After viewing the wall and pondering the names of hundreds of servicemen and women from my state who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom, a few others stood beside me to view those names of honor.

I reached out and ran my fingers across the name of a young man whom I did not know, but he died in his youth while I have had the privilege to live a full life, so far.

After being affected…

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​We stand united

August 16th, 2017

To the editor:

“The conglomeration of hate that assembled, and murdered, in Charlottesville has no place in our society. Supporters of their cause shall have no allies or sympathizers in our circles. We stand united against all nazis, local and national. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who embrace our collective diversity and continue the fight for equality for all.”

-Julian Dahlquist

Chair, Clay County DFL

-Ben Hanson

Chair, Cass County Dem-NPL

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​Hoeven supporting FDA oversight

August 16th, 2017

To the editor:

Thank you, Senator Hoeven, for your leadership in the United States Senate as Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. During markup of the Fiscal 2018 budget, your subcommittee worked diligently to support our state and, in doing so, did a great service to public health

Advocates like myself are grateful for your continued support in keeping tobacco policy riders out of the budget bill. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently been facing the…

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