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Letters to the Editor

Say no to corporate farming

Travis and Karen Anderson, Warwick A cruel wind is blowing from Bismarck. Our current Governor Burgum is pushing to end the ban on corporate farming in the state. A beginning economics class teaches that corporations are responsible only to their shareholders, ergo the bottom line. Corporations buy inputs the cheapest, putting local suppliers out of business. They will take the land away from resident producers forcing producers to work for them. Producers will be handcuffed to being price takers. Corporate entities will require them to buy specific inputs if they want to ...

Banning books done before

Andrew Heidt, Minot Banning books has been done before. On May 10, 1933, Nazi students throughout Germany burned the books of hundreds of independent authors, journalists, philosophers, and academics that were “against the un-German spirit.” With the words “Against decadence and moral decay! For discipline and decency in the family and the nation!” books were thrown into the fire. There was a prelude to this, written in 1820, by German-Jewish author, Heinrich Heine, “Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people as well.” Look what happened there! My ...

More deaths raise urgency for upgrade

Walter Piehl, Minot Surprised … You shouldn’t be. Another two people killed on Highway 52 between Velva and Sawyer. No matter what the reason, one vehicle crossed the center line. With intense traffic, the chances of a head-on collision are increased exponentially. For whatever reason the N.D. Highway Department is not forthcoming with the their numbers of traffic (cars, semi-trucks, farm implements), accidents and fatal accidents on Highway 52. Through comparison to other highways those statistics would show the real dangers of 52. Has the Highway Department been coerced into ...

GNDC, BIOND wants pharma access, innovation

Arik Spencer GNDC President/CEO Bismarck Richard Glynn BioND Executive Director Grand Forks The Greater North Dakota Chamber and the Bioscience Association of North Dakota share a common goal of supporting and growing businesses in North Dakota. We work every day to ensure that our state has the best business climate in the nation as well as promote an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will encourage growth in the bioscience field.  Again this Session, legislators are being asked to consider having the government artificially set prices for life-saving prescription ...

Property taxes are not local

Kevin Glatt Bismarck We all have heard it – property taxes are a local issue. If property taxes are a local issue, why is it that ND State Law dictates how and when property is assessed and equalized? Why does state law mandate when local budgets are deliberated and the format and content of the budget hearing notices? Why is it that state law sets mill levy limits (how much can be taxed) and dictates how the money can be spent? Why does state law prescribe what is on the county property tax statement, when it is to be sent, and the deadlines for payment? How come state ...

Let doctors practice without legislative interference

By Rep. Liz Conmy Fargo After my first week as a Representative in the North Dakota legislature, I found myself spending the weekend with an IV in my arm at the hospital in Hettinger. It wasn’t the legislature’s fault. Not feeling well while visiting my son’s family in Bowman, I came to Hettinger’s West River Health Services clinic — 40 miles away and open on a Saturday. From the minute I walked in the door, my medical treatment was equal to any I’ve previously had, which includes Mayo, Essentia and Sanford. In session last week, I had the honor of serving with ...