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Letters to the Editor

Not all Lutherans are Lutheran

Pastor Nate Walther Grace Lutheran Church (WELS) Minot Recently in a letter to the editor (“Support Legislation that Reflects North Dakota Values”), a number of Christian clergy supported pro-LGBTQ+ legislation, the majority of which were Lutheran clergy. I was not among them, and I wish to respond to the letter. This letter said, “we believe Jesus preached a Gospel that embraces the marginalized,” and it heavily implied the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is in harmony with what the Bible teaches. Unfortunately, they didn’t cite the Bible at all, which is a curious omission ...

Child care workforce needs long-term solutions

Mohamed Hussein Vice President, Jasmin Child Care and Preschool Fargo This week, the Senate passed SB 2301 to supplement wages for child care workers whose median wages, $11.19 in 2021, barely hover above poverty. The passing of the bill is promising and we are grateful; unfortunately, legislators funded the bill far short of the plea of $150 million from the child care experts. The state House has the opportunity to address this shortfall. Child care is critical to North Dakota’s economy and directly correlated to the state’s workforce. Child care providers are ...

Argumentum ad populum and God’s Word?

Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard Minot Argumentum ad populum is an informal fallacy that bases its assertion (i.e., supposed truth) on what the supposed majority thinks. Unfortunately, the recent Feb. 18th letter to the Editor, “Support legislation that reflects ND values,” goes the way of argumentum ad populum. In other words, by listing approximately 30 religious leaders from North Dakota at the beginning of the letter, the long list of names gives the reader the impression that most North Dakota religious clergy support the submitted letter. Alas! Let us all be aware ...

Ridiculous bills need defeat or veto

Clarence F. “Rick” Olson Fargo North Dakota lawmakers are racing towards the half-way mark of the current legislative session in Bismarck. What they call the “crossover.” That is the point of the session where every bill and resolution must have been passed or defeated in the house of origin. In the second half of the 80-day session, the House will take up all Senate bills that were passed, and the Senate will take up all House bills that were passed and the process starts over again. There have been many ridiculous bills come up this session. Quite frankly, as ...

Community health centers can do more with state help

Shelly Ten Napel CEO, Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas Sioux Falls, SD It is a tough time for health care providers right now. Staffing shortages are increasing across North Dakota caused by long-standing provider scarcity and made worse by pandemic-related burn-out. The biggest cost for all health care providers is wages. Wages have increased dramatically over the last few years from entry-level staff to high-level providers, and reimbursement and other funding have just not kept pace. Community health center advocates are working hard at the Capitol this ...

Legislature undercuts workforce development

Kathy Hintz Minot I’m disappointed that the North Dakota legislature says they want to develop our workforce and encourage people to move to North Dakota; however, they are making almost impossible for many families to continue living in North Dakota. Would someone move to ND to work if family members could not be assured that they could get medical care, play on a sports team, be called by their name, use locker rooms, or read books about their family? It’s unlikely. Legislators, if you really care about workers and their families, please vote against this slate of ...