In 1775, when the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin the first postmaster general, the challenges facing today’s post office could hardly be imagined. The U.S. Postal Service is one of few federal agencies explicitly authorized by the Constitution. It is legally obligated to serve all Americans, regardless of geography, at uniform price and quality. “Price and quality” are at the
We’ve failed to imagine the pandemic victims
How old are you? How much do you weigh? How tall are you? Almost from birth, we’re obsessed with numbers and counting. Babies quickly learn how to count fingers and toes. As we get older, we keep counting. What’s your SAT score? How much money do you make? How’s your 401(k) doing? So it is with the coronavirus pandemic. How
Much to honor, to mourn, on these dark days
These days, my neighbors and I sit on the lawn and yell at one another. No, we’re not arguing. We’re doing the new normal – social distancing. But communication is difficult because we are so hard-of-hearing we’re next door to deaf. And so we sit far apart and yell our heads off. “What did you say? I can’t hear you
An open letter to Archbishop Hebda
Amy Bergeron, Sartell Dear Archbishop Hebda, I am a lifelong practicing Catholic. It is with a sad heart that I listened to your statement and intention to defy Gov Walz’s executive Covid-19 restrictions around gatherings, which includes places of worship. I know the St Paul Cathedral is huge, extravagantly beautiful and accommodates thousands. I fear your archbishop chair view, however,
Masks are here to stay; get used to it
Get used to it…the coronavirus and the disruption to our daily lives it causes will be with us for months, maybe years…not weeks.The number of people who do not wear masks in public when grocery shopping or performing other essential tasks indicates many people have not accepted this reality. People who don’t wear masks offer a number of reasons –
40 years later, wind replaces giant power plant
The announcement last week that Great River Energy plans to shut down a huge coal-fired electricity-generating plant in the middle North Dakota came about 40 years too late. The Maple Grove-based co-op announced it will close Coal Creek Station — one of the Upper Midwest’s largest power plants – late in 2022. It will be replaced to a great extent
Will life ever be the same?
Ron Marquette, Sartell Pandemic (Feb-April 2020) They say-A virus called Coronavirus or Covid-19 is running rampant across the US and the world. They say – This virus is an invisible killer, not discriminating, and is three times as potent as the influenza strand. They say – We are told to stay home -“shelter in place” to help slow the spread
Covid-19 vs. economy
Ben Frey, Sartell We hear about it every day. Some believe that the Covid-19 is less severe than the press is making it out to be, and they wish for businesses to reopen and for life to return to “normal.” Others believe that doing so will lead to millions of infected and, many thousand more dead. This is what the