Are we up to the challenge?

May 16, 2020

During three and one-half years, Americans converted a peacetime economy to become the arsenal of democracy and win World War II. The “greatest generation” accomplished that because it had to be done, for the good of all humankind. Now we as a nation face another challenge, of far less magnitude — and some Americans, including a few to whom we look for both political and scientific leadership, have already declared defeat. The war against COVID-19 is not an existential struggle, but millions of lives are at stake, and not just from the coronavirus. Suspensions of ...

Toppling dictators best left to others

May 15, 2020

Activities such as that which last week embroiled this county and Venezuela in another controversy are nothing new in American history. Though the word “filibustering” is normally confined to politics these days, it had another use during part of the 19th century. Then, it referred to Americans who mounted their own private military expeditions to topple governments in Central and South America. They failed. Participants often paid for their lack of judgment with their lives, sometimes in front of firing squads. Seldom did our government intervene in attempts to rescue them. Last ...

COVID-19 statistics need to be honest

May 14, 2020

People the government classifies as black or African-American are being killed by COVID-19 at a rate far higher than their proportion of the U.S. population as a whole. It is a trend that has been noticeable for several weeks. At the end of the day Friday, the coronavirus had claimed 77,178 lives in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that total, 21.2% were black. The Census Bureau indicates blacks comprise 13.4% of the population. By itself, the numbers are conclusive of only one thing — a compelling need to investigate them ...

National stockpile of medical supplies needed

May 13, 2020

As the coronavirus epidemic hit full stride, Americans learned to our dismay that the nation lacked adequate supplies of COVID-19 test kits, personal protective gear such as face masks, medical ventilators and other necessities for dealing with a massive health care emergency. To their enormous credit, federal and state officials scrambled to remedy the situation. Companies such as car makers switched assembly lines to manufacture ventilators. Alcoholic beverage companies churned out hand sanitizer. A well-known pillow company began making masks. It appears that, with the notable ...

We need to be open for business

May 12, 2020

If you are among those who have not lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 epidemic, congratulations. Perhaps you share the widespread opinion that the current “lockdown” of the economy should continue, to keep everyone safe. How would you like the government to collect your share? That is, your share of what it will take to support those laid off or perhaps, fired altogether in order to keep many American businesses closed. We’ll do the math for you: About 30 million people in our country have lost their jobs because of COVID-19. That leaves about 133 million working. For ...

Minot zoo ready for visitors

May 11, 2020

Visitors had the opportunity to enjoy Minot’s Roosevelt Park Zoo this weekend. After being closed for several weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the zoo opened its doors to visitors on Saturday despite the snow – officially beginning its summer season. On Sunday, visitors could celebrate Mother’s Day there. Before the zoo’s opening, zoo officials announced social distancing would be practiced but that the facility can comfortably host 700 people in its 20-plus acres. Those who might not be comfortable being around many people can pick another day to visit the zoo. ...