Lee Hornberger March 30, 2020 This article was published in the March 29, 2020, Traverse City Record-Eagle. We are apparently on the verge of entering at least several months that will be more deadly to the United States than was the American War in Vietnam. Already those in power who proclaimed that we should not be concerned with the disease are being diagnosed as having the previously, to them, nonexistent disease . There are even those in office who have apparently taken this opportunity to adjust their investment portfolios. Unlike the American war in Vietnam, the dead and dying will be here in the American homeland. There will not be returning troops, only coffins here
Keli MacIntosh - March 30, 2020 This article was previously published in the March 28, 2020, Traverse City Record- Eagle Our world is in turmoil because of the Coronavirus outbreak. The current clash of competing information is making things worse. Trump has refused to acknowledge the severity of the situation. He initially referred to the Coronavirus as more Fake News. And Fox News called it a hoax to further indict the president. Because of this attitude, our country has been ill-prepared to face the crisis. During the Obama-Trump transition, an afternoon tabletop exercise focused on the potential problems the new administration might face – a hurricane, a financial crash, and a pandemic.
Sylvia McCullough March 20, 2020 Analysts, scholars, journalists and many more have been commenting and writing on the rise of authoritarianism in western democracies, including the United States, for years. They have come to a consensus about some of the primary tools used by dictators to further authoritarian control. (https://freedomhouse.org/report/modern-authoritarianism-press-freedom That here is a culture of authoritarianism seeping down from the highest office of our land to local government entities such as the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners has been observed through the public’s participation, observation and attendance at these meetings over time. Some of the Commi
Sylvia McCullough March 19, 2020 The culture of authoritarianism emanating from the GT BOC under the Chairmanship of Robb Hentschel, can no longer be ignored after what transpired at the board meeting on Wednesday, March 4th, 2020. What began ostensibly as a benign effort to support 2nd Amendment rights through the placing of a symbolic resolution of support on the agenda, it became something much more dark and sinister. The meaning of the wording of the resolution made clear “that the county cannot use public funds to restrict Second Amendment rights, nor to enforce any measures contradicting it.” https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/grand-traverse-county-becomes-nd-amendment-sanc
Leonard Page March 10, 2020 The proposed second amendment sanctuary resolution effort proceeding at county levels is rather puzzling. It seems to address a non-existent law with a resolution that cannot be legally enforced. The apparent intent is to avoid so-called “red flag” laws from being applied at the local level. Such laws are now in place in 17 states and the District of Columbia. These extreme risk protection orders permit police or family members to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who may present a danger to others or themselves. A judge makes the determination to issue the order based on statements and actions made by the targeted per
Tom Gutowski March 3, 2020 Originally published in the Northern Express on February 22, 2020 Thirty-eight million Americans live in poverty. Those of us not among that number should stop lecturing these people about their values and start re-examining our own. The majority of poor who are able to work do so, but even with public assistance don’t make enough money to live what most of us would consider tolerable and reasonably secure lives. The various anti-poverty programs do lots of good, but contrary to popular mythology, they don’t coddle the poor, and there are gaps. For example, food stamp benefits average about $1.40 per person per meal. Medicaid saves lives, but not all who need it qua
