Editor's Blog

This weekend in America, when remembering those who have gone before us, particularly those who died while serving their country, its appropriate to ask whether they were appropriately sent into battle.
History suggests Lyndon Johnsons administration blundered by vastly escalating our role in defending South Vietnam  only to watch another administration hand South Vietnam to North Vietnam after losing so many American soldiers to prevent the spread of communism.
Learning nothing from that lesson, President George W. Bush blundered by attacking Iraq when our resources were needed for a thorough mop-up in Afghanistan. His staff failed by having inaccurate information about weapons of mass destruction. They had no post-war strategy for Iraq, creating a haven there for new terrorists. And they dishonestly implied Iraq was involved in the Sept. 1, 2001, terrorist attacks.
This Memorial Day weekend, we ask how many U.S. troops must die defending ill-conceived foreign policy decisions that have tarnished Americas reputation worldwide?
Americans have always been willing to fight and die to defend our freedom, and the freedom of good people worldwide. Sadly, our elected leaders have abused that patriotism and valor.
Most recently, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney shamelessly sacrificed American blood in the misguided belief that brute force will soften centuries of Mideast hatred among radical Muslims, Christians and Jews.
At best, their Mideast agenda can be classified as wishful thinking based upon misinterpreted Biblical prophesy. At worst, they engaged in out and out skullduggery to establish a legacy in future history books.
American troops and their families deserve better from Washington than to be led into senseless fighting by administrative megalomaniacs and a Congress gripped by consensus ignorance.
We hope better leaders will direct the United States by Memorial Day 2009  leaders who make decisions that best serve the American people  not politicians hell bent on sacrificing American bodies to embellish their egos. We hope there will be fewer future veterans, because our leaders will stop dragging U.S. troops into centuries-old battles that defy resolution. And we hope our new administration treats existing veterans with respect, offering them the services they need after sacrificing the best years of their lives in lands where human life is held in such disregard.

A spokeswoman for Lake Superior Greens this week announced the group opposes an expansion of Murphy Oils Superior refinery, citing environmental concerns.

Thats certainly the groups right, but with the opposition announced even before a refinery plan is introduced, it spotlights the concern more and more people have about some environmental groups: They appear to be against all development. Period. Why should companies even bother doing their homework, seeking permits or asking for regulatory approvals?

In essence, the Lake Superior Greens said they wont let any information, including scientific data, get in the way of their opinions. Sadly, this casts a pall on other groups that might be willing to take an honest look at new development. It takes a broad brush and negatively slathers everyone who raises legitimate questions about the refinery expansion or any other new project.

To be clear, nothing has been introduced, either formally or informally. And that raises the question of why the Greens suggest Murphy Oil is trying to frame the concept as a local issue that wont have broad implications. In fact, Murphy has never issued a news release, held a press conference or made any public outreach making that suggestion. So far, company representatives have gone public only when local news media searched them out regarding property purchases surrounding the existing refinery. To suggest theyre promoting any agenda whatsoever is outright nonsense.

As The Telegram has said in the past, this concept, if it ever advances, should be subjected to thorough scientific study and regulatory scrutiny. The decision on whether or not to proceed should be based on hard facts, not politics or opinion.

The Lake Superior Greens are absolutely correct about one thing. This isnt a local issue. People from around the state, region, nation and world are carefully watching this debate. But theyre not just watching Murphy Oil. When a local environmental group slams the potential development in the void of any specific information, they do so while in a spotlight that can be manipulated by conservative pundits who love to publicize such missteps.

Issues of this magnitude need to be considered cautiously and seriously, not with reckless abandon.

Boaters who cruise the Duluth-Superior harbor beware: The Bush
administration on Monday escalated its fear and deception campaign,
suggesting you might be mistaken for a terrorist hell-bent on nuking
Presque Isle.

An exaggeration? Vayl Oxford, the head of Homeland
Securitys Domestic Nuclear Detection office, said the United States
cant sit back and wait to be attacked. In an Associated Press story,
Oxford said his office is establishing programs to train and arm harbor
patrols. Theyll be equipped with portable radiological and nuclear
detection equipment. The adventure will begin in Seattles Puget Sound,
then move to San Diego.

States have been urged to join this
bizarre exercise, establishing programs for boaters to observe and
report suspicious waterborne behavior  much like a neighborhood watch
program. But take heart. Matters could be worse. An earlier plan called
for the government to establish a federal license for recreational
boaters. Fortunately, our friends in the boating industry objected
loudly enough to, dare we say it, blow that idea out of the water.

Sounds
like a scene from George Orwell’s 1984. For those who havent read
the novel, its about a totalitarian government that controls its
citizens by filling them with fear about a war in which their country
supposedly is engaged. The government, led by Big Brother, uses the
threat of attack to justify total control of people, institutions,
history  even the dictionary. Signs are posted everywhere warning Big
Brother is watching you.

Under Bush and Cheney, the United
States is moving in that direction  invoking a police state mentality
in which people forfeit individual rights for the sake of security.

Establishing
a waterfront citizen goon squad is more than a little extreme. Same
goes scanning runabouts for radiation. Pretty soon, the feds will
demand warrantless bait box searches, confiscate flare guns and strip
search water skiers. Some day soon, users of the Arrowhead boat launch
may have to pass through a metal detector before landing their first
bullhead.

This country already has an outfit called the Coast
Guard. As the name implies, its duty is to guard the coast. It does
that job extremely well, along with numerous other tasks.

And it
does that job without subtracting from our personal freedoms, which are
guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Heres some advice for the bureaucrats at Homeland Security: Go fish.

On the surface, a recent spat over Northwestern Middle Schools hunting wall seems pretty silly.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, called upon principal Ken Bartelt to remove a collection of photos showing birds and animals killed by students. PETA argues the wall sets a precedent for a dangerous mind set that glorifies  and even rewards  violence.
That part of PETAs argument definitely is silly, at least from a woodsy cultural perspective.
American Indians and subsequent North American settlers relied upon hunted animals to survive. Even today, animal meat supplements the diets of many area residents, and even makes it way to area food shelves, all without prompting area gun owners to harvest fellow humans.
Also silly is PETAs argument that the wall should be replaced with something that demonstrates how students are doing good work to benefit the community.
It can be argued that ridding area roads of deer goes far toward accomplishing that task. Deer can be classified as a dangerous highway hazard. Their habit of jumping in front of cars puts every driver in danger and causes property damage that jacks our insurance rates. After mosquitoes and bees, theyre the most disdained Northland pest.
But despite PETAs culturally-incorrect proclamations from afar, the group has actively used its free speech right to make us think about topics wed rather ignore.
" It lobbies against puppy mills, which are notorious for breeding dogs in despicable conditions.
" It promotes vegetarian diets which, truth be told, would make us all healthier.
" It objects to wearing fur because of the cruelty caused to animals in the harvesting process.
" It spotlights horrible farm practices used in the raising and harvesting of animals for food.
Is the group a bit wacky? Oh yeah! Thats how it grabs attention.
Should PETA be ignored? In some cases definitely, but not in others.
Remember that some good emerges from PETAs efforts. Members have shined a needed spotlight on many questionable practices. And theyve made us re-evaluate our ethics.

A battle is brewing that hopefully will set a precedent in the out-of-control world of business mergers.

The
agreement to combine Northwest and Delta is being met with opposition
by U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, who chairs the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, and others in Congress. Hopefully, the
Minnesota Democrat and like-minded representatives will succeed in
preventing the carriers from becoming the countrys top mega-airline.

Thats
quite a challenge, as the Bush Administration has never seen a
monopolistic business deal it didnt like. The merger of XM and Sirius
satellite radio is a prime example. Laws to prevent the creation of
monopolies mean nothing in the current White House.

Clearly,
combining Delta and Northwest would move airlines in that direction,
prompting more carriers to consolidate, reducing competition and
degrading service. Such was the case as Northwest grew to its current
size. As it purchased North Central, then Republic, options such as
flying from the Twin Ports to Thunder Bay, or Twin Ports to Madison and
Chicago without changing planes, disappeared.

If anything, the
federal government should raise its level of airline regulation.
Irrational price cutting has slammed many top carriers into bankruptcy,
eliminating countless good jobs  including ones at Northwests
maintenance facility in Duluth. Service has become progressively worse,
with cabins almost resembling a proverbial bus ride in Guatemala, with
chickens and goats in the aisle. Thats just about fitting for
Northwests menu  water and nuts.

It remains to be shown that
larger airlines are better airlines. Consolidations may reduce costs,
but that wont be a positive development if it further fuels a price
war that ensures failure.

A key city council campaign issue was the
bodys three-minute speaking rule, which limits public input during
meetings. In a Wednesday editorial, The Telegram suggested more
flexibility is needed. Later that day, city officials unofficially
ignored a few rules of order during their council meeting. Their
experiment proved us wrong. The meeting fell into a low-grade chaos
that wasnt pretty.

Its rare that someone of stature appears on
nationwide television to speak frankly about American politics. Whether
former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura has such stature is a matter of
personal opinion, but he certainly minced few words Tuesday on Larry
King Live when addressing todays troubled times. For instance:

Our drinking water may be polluted with human waste, but at least well have a bigger arena in Duluth.
Thats the logic in Minnesotas Legislature. So far, lawmakers are willing to finance a marginally larger entertainment venue, but theres not a drop of money for improvements that would keep Duluths ever-overflowing sewage out of Lake Superior.
Its good to know Minnesotans have their priorities straight that they have the best interests of all Lake Superior residents in mind.
Lets concede, however, that having a larger DECC arena is pretty important. Just ask any hockey coach. Its not enough to have a clean, well-maintained facility to host underflowing crowds at UMD hockey games. You must add 2,000 more empty seats to keep up with other Division 1 arenas.
Flush that last statement. It will just anger Chancellor Kathryn Martin. And as Dave Matthews sings, Dont drink the water…

With a wide range of important issues gathering dust in the Wisconsin Assembly, a group of legislators have turned their attention toward a bill that would make English Wisconsins  official language.
A common language is the most essential element in holding a society together, said Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, who apparently doesnt realize the state is facing a $650 million revenue shortfall, not to mention other important problems that he and his Assembly peers are too busy to discuss. Without a common language, there is the threat of turmoil and anarchy, he said.
Turmoil? Anarchy? If anything, those terms describe the situation in Wisconsins Assembly, where the Republican majority is hell-bent on stalling, rather than discussing, important legislation. After all, why work up a sweat trying to solve legitimate problems when its so easy to blame Wisconsins ills on the lack of a common language.
Of course, few informed people believe the state struggles for lack of a law mandating we all use English while doing official business. But shifting blame to other cultures is a popular blood sport for narrow-minded politicians. Theyre the same ones who believe flag burners are at the root of all national problems.
Heres what they refuse to acknowledge: A growing number of Wisconsin industries must rely on foreign residents for labor. The hospitality industry is a good example. Getting Americans to perform low-paying tedious jobs is next to impossible in areas as far away as the Dells and as close as Hayward.
Still, the influx of foreign-speaking peoples has become an attractive issue for legislators who seek to foster irrational fear. For one thing, it appeals to those who harbor the WASP mentality. It also strikes a chord with those who dont know, and dont want to learn, about complicated issues such as labor shortages. And it distracts constituents who might otherwise question why their state legislators cant meet every morning, approve a balanced budget and address issues such as health care and education.
The movie Failure to Launch best describes Wisconsins lower house. Lots of big talk from small thinkers whod rather spend their time raising campaign funds than serving their constituents.

The virtual school concept, which provides instruction via the Internet, is off to a rough start in Wisconsin, in part because its opposed by a special interest.
Last December, a court ruling jeopardized virtual school funding. The case, filed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), a union that represents teachers, said Wisconsin Virtual Academy violated state laws addressing teacher certification, charter schools and open enrollment.
A bill now in the Wisconsin Legislature seeks to make the schools more accountable, but Gov. Jim Doyle is demanding attendance be capped. Republican lawmakers said Doyle previously agreed to a compromise  one that didnt include the limit. He now denies any such accord.
The governor argues more time is needed to study how Internet-based schools will affect property taxes and the traditional school system, according to a Tuesday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. He seeks a two-year cap before attendance is gradually allowed to increase.
Competition has never been a popular concept in the public sector, and it appears thats at the root of this dispute. A growing number of parents want the state to allow alternatives to the existing public school system. That possibility obviously frightens educators employed in traditional settings.
As always, theyve got the attention of state lawmakers. During 2006, the education industry donated $484,717 to Wisconsin candidates, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.
The idea of slow growth may appeal to Doyle, but it likely will face opposition by parents whose children are denied access to virtual schools. With students test scores and school violence under a microscope, people want alternatives, and Internet instruction may be the answer.
No other industry has been able to stifle Internet growth. Its unlikely educators will be the first.