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We need to start somewhere to begin the healing process

“I just can’t wait until the whole thing is over.” The quote reported by the Associated Press in Monday’s article on “anxious voters” was made by a 58-year-old woman from Warren, Michigan, who just voted. But the quote could have been made just about anywhere in the U.S. Everybody is anxious about the results of this presidential election. At the same time, we are all tired of the political ads on TV, the text messages and calls on our phones from party workers hunting for votes. We are all tired of hearing about political signs being stolen and nasty words exchanged ...

When you vote, think of Alec Smith

Ten days before an election is when you’d expect to find a biting analysis of the latest presidential debate, or another blast about soft money fueling out-of-control campaign advertising in this space. Not now. We’re not even going to spend a lot of words urging civility in the runup to the most contentious national election in a lifetime. We are, however, going to cite an example of what’s at stake — how your vote can make a life-or-death difference to real people. Real Minnesotans. Back in April, both houses of the Minnesota Legislature passed the Alec Smith Insulin ...

Getting out the vote vital

Leaders of both major political parties agree on one thing: The presidential election scheduled for Tuesday is among the most important in American history. Its outcome will shape our government, economy, even our society for many years to come. Your life and that of your children and grandchildren will be affected profoundly. Don’t you want to have a say in the matter? To judge by voter turnouts in previous elections, many of your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors simply don’t care about how we are governed. They do not bother to vote. Despite the COVID-19 ...

Voter interest is high in 2020 election

Voter interest is always high in Lyon County, where turnout percentages traditionally rank high in the state, especially during presidential years. This year, voters are not about to be deterred by COVID-19 fears. Voters are turning in their absentee ballots at a record pace. According to the Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer’s office, a record 5,218 ballots have already been accepted as of Monday. The county sent out 8,207 absentee and mail ballots to Lyon County voters. The previous record was set in 2018 with 3,047 absentee and mail ballots. Whatever various national politicians ...

Meddling continues in our elections

If last week’s announcement that Russian and Iranian operatives are using technology once again to influence U.S. politics came as a surprise, you clearly have not been paying attention. That makes you preferred prey, by the way. We were warned in advance of the 2016 election of how the internet was being used against us by mischief-makers in Moscow. Attempts to hack into states’ election computers were almost always unsuccessful — but that was not their only strategy. They used “social media” to pit Americans against one another, even employing operatives here in this ...

White supremacy is unwelcome in Minn.

If you think white supremacy movements are just a problem in the South or in pockets of Michigan, Idaho and Oregon, think again. The community of Murdock in west-central Minnesota is grappling with a decision about whether to grant a permit to a group that in 2018 made the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of hate groups. Describing itself as a religion practicing pre-Christian European spirituality, the Asatru Folk Assembly bought an old church in the Swift County town and wants to turn it into a Midwest regional gathering hall. This is a group that would not want any Black ...