Dakota Beacon

Even while we watch it atrophy as it attempts to be more Democrat than Republican, while it contorts itself to be a “big tent” that embraces The Republican Party, like the nation it hopes to represent, is in big trouble these days.  It is in an identity crisis of its own and of its own making everyone and every position, its own core is disintegrating.  It seems to have lost its soul.

Every professional athlete, even a rookie just called up from the minors to make his major league debut, is a precious human being. None of these athletes should have to go through life brain-damaged because the leagues are unwilling to police headshots

Once upon a time, conservatives stood for limited government, the rollback of the welfare state, strict construction of the Constitution, and traditional morality. Today they merely want their own people to run big government.

Keep in mind that the Measure 2 opponents are not concerned about well-being of the citizens. Their first concern is keeping a steady stream of revenue coming into the coffers, even if it drives homeowners out of their homes, even if it discourages business, even if it makes serfs out of all of us. They want the status quo, which is to put the homeowner at the mercy of the state

Imaginary thinking, on the other hand, creates a believable story by arranging the data to arrive at a predicted ending or conclusion, which exists, at first, only in the imaginer’s mind, which he is attempting, with all his glowing rhetoric, serious gravitas, and acting and plotting skills, to get the reader or listener to accept as truth.

My grandfather served in three wars, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Well, he was in the Korean War but he worked for the railroad which was building tracks for the South Koreans. Apparently, on June 24th of 1950, my Grandpa Madsen was out pheasant hunting. He and his friends got lost and drove across the 39th parallel and were captured by the North Koreans. They were held for......

A real factor which, for better or worse, must always enter into party endorsements, is that amorphous quality,  “electability”.  Until now the question has been: "Is Paul Sorum 'electable'"?  Now the pertinent question, in view of the refusal of Mr. Dalrymple, together with his ham-handed revelation, is: 'How 'electable' will Jack Dalrymple be?' 

Underlying problems will challenge state leaders in 2012, it is possible to tame the boom, “More of everything”, traffic fatalities, Man camps are in her gunsights, People aren’t very godly or friendly here anyway, Kelley failed to to learn the lyrics to “Fight on Sioux”, American Crystal’s union employee lockout, Where is the easiest state to find Norwegians?, One more Kleinsasser item, ND is doing well economically, DAKTOIDS

My own military background tells me that this administration is toying with national security for short term political gain. That compounds the danger to America from the world in which we live.

All North Dakotans can be proud of our work ethic. But “courage” will be required of our elected officials to make us proud of THEM! Conversion of North Dakota’s public employee retirement systems from “Defined Benefit” to “Defined Contribution” is essential in the next legislative session… unless elected officials are already planning to use the “Legacy Fund” to bail out public unions instead of providing an oil & gas revenue replacement fund for future generations of taxpayers to draw from! Taxpayers must not allow North Dakota politicians to be influenced by public employee unions to the extent that fund managers have no recourse but to ruin our state’s economy like our federal government and California have ruined theirs.

After the recent barrage, Paul's enemies can be sure of two things: there will be a third-party bid and it will help Obama get reelected. While others have been blithely firing away at the "the company Paul keeps," the far brainier Krauthammer has tried to limit the damage. Krauthammer has recognized that Paul is a force to be reckoned with and a focal point for those on the right who feel alienated from the GOP and its approach to international relations. 

Serving the function of a propitiatory sacrifice, Christ is the centerpiece of God's salvation plan for mankind. That – to answer my reader's question – is the meaning of his life, death and resurrection. He rose from the dead and through his resurrection we, too, are raised to new life.

The fact is that the immigration debate is nothing less than a discussion about what kind of civilization we’re going to be.  For the people make the culture – not the other way around – and the culture makes the government

Christmas and New Years brings the best of times -- and the worst of times. Family and friends gather for fun and to socialize -- and drink. People visit and exchange gifts -- and drink. Folks ring out the old year and ring in the new -- and drink. Throughout mankind’s history, consuming adult beverages became integral to celebrations. Some drinkers fare poorly. Come New Years Day more than a few people stare through bleary eyes at the carnage they created while others pick their way through the wreckage of screwed up lives. Gilt-driven New Years resolutions might go something like this. Reminder to self: Go easy on the booze in 2012.

The media has investigated the churches of leading Republican candidates. They have even accused Michelle Bachmann of attending a church that is (gasp) protestant. They will investigate Romney’s church should he win the primary. They conveniently ‘forgot’ to investigate President Obama’s church. For all we know Obama had a pastor like Reverend Jeremiah Wright who preaches racism, anti-Semitism, hatred for America and Marxism from the pulpit. Perhaps he had a pastor that yelled “God <bleep> America” from the pulpit as he and his congregation celebrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Thankfully no Republican candidates have made racist statements like “Typical White Person” or have committed gaffs like saying that there are 57 US states or have pronounced “corpsman” as “corpse-man”. That would be reported.

Jim Kleinsasser, ‘Whatever they ask you to do, do it",  Aspen had a $190 solution, “I wish they were not located in town, period”, 49er general manager Trent Baalke, “speaking with two tongues”, Teri Bakken!, a premier northern center for the national UAS industry, MAFB will receive $134 million of improvements, lack of parking at the Minot Airport, a gang of juvenile thieves, English Language Learners, DAKTOIDS

Well folks, the notorious year 2012 A.D. has arrived—the year the world is supposed to end, according to several sources.  Unlike many end-of-the-world predictions—and there have been many—this “end” has somewhat more authority behind it than usual.

But the purpose of this article is not to cast a pall upon the immediate future, but to offer the fun-loving reader a comprehensive guide to those often (and understandably) overlooked details that make the End-of-the-World experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for great fun and for meeting new and interesting people!

We now bid you bonne apocalypse.  A smorgasbord of irresponsible delights will await you.  Time is short, but adequate. The preparations you make now will give you untold returns in partying pleasure.  Remember: PARTY AS IF THERE WERE NO TOMORROW!

As the reformation spread through Europe to England, Scotland and Switzerland, great strides were made toward self-government as philosophers and theologians wrote on the significance of personal conscience in the service of political freedom.   As the resurgence of ancient Greek thought accompanied a renewed interest in the arts and learning, the Renaissance took hold to guide the European continent into the modern age.

From a policy perspective, the question is whether to let market forces dictate the pace of private sector investment in additional infrastructure capacity to move this fungible supply of oil from the US northern plains, or to maintain expensive subsidies to create a market for an additional supply of biofuels that itself is a reaction to federal intervention into the market and that will increasingly displace US domestically produced oil that is trading at a discount to the market.  Subsidies for biofuel infrastructure will only make the investment in North Dakota oil less attractive – and it won’t make US energy independence any more tangible.

The time has finally come to call it quits with the dream machine of Eleanor Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin.  It has never been a positive force for the West. It is just another reason for us to take a hard look at who and what we are and what we’ve become and could become.  Personally, I am happy to be a product of Western culture.  It has proven its success.  Only when we waver and try to be like the Third World or the socialist culture do we fail.  Our current national predicament is a testament to the truth of this statement.  We should call upon our leaders to repudiate the UN and its program of undermining our Constitution and support those leaders who do so.

There are many experts and intellectual minds who are advisors and counselors to the congress and presidents. Some are firmly grounded in their views of the proper role of government, and they have great respect for the constitution and the limits it places on the role of government. We also have those such as Professor Sachs who have visions of great societies where all people are cared for and have a share of the earth’s bounty. This is a worthy vision that may always be before us as a goal. However, to include in that vision a government that has the power to decide social and economic issues described above is very worrisome--perhaps frightening to some. The American people have seen our federal and state governments grow to become maze-like entities that consume ever-growing tax revenues while its rules multiply along with its inefficiency. Our government threatens to become our master.

With all the feeling and sentiment this poem conveys, we bid adieu to 2011 with mixed emotions -- joy and happiness.

We only pass this way once. Here’s our chance to start the new year fresh making each moment count.

Happy New Year!

The two images—the Nativity vs. Occupy Pittsburgh—are a stark contrast. They were separated by maybe 100 feet of space, but by light years in worldview.

I recently strolled down Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh and was struck by two images. First, there was the stirring life-sized Nativity that each year is displayed on the property of the giant U.S. Steel building. It is an inspiring sight. As I walked along, however, my eyes were distracted by something I was not prepared to see: an assembling of tents with an entrance sign declaring … ‘Abolish Capitalism.’” Alas, “there are two symbols positioned side-by-side in Pittsburgh, perhaps providentially. They represent two visions. One demands the abolition of capitalism; it is a sign of anger and despair. The other brings us goodness and light. If the Occupiers want hope, the answer isn’t in Washington or Wall Street but in the humble manger within their reach … I suggest a stroll down the street.

Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, The numbers for ND were less shocking, national football championship, Five Finger Death Punch, “I like people with gumption....", an app for Apple devices, new $2.4 million air terminal, the plane costs $7,600 for every hour flown, The writer concludes the UND nickname is “harmless,” The wheat boards recently had their teeth pulled, — then the end of American Crystal is certain, Williston's growth stress, ND Housing Incentive Fund, Hutterite colonies in both Dakotas

In our society we hear a lot of claptrap about the “political class” or the “political elite”.  I submit that we have always had this, that we will always have this.  Those who want a more “egalitarian” political atmosphere need to simply get off their duffs and become the political “elite”.  They can do this by reading, by learning about their Constitution, by following our history, by researching just what our candidates for office have been up to, by not depending upon Fox News, their local newspapers or Time Magazine, but look for themselves.  Our political class can be as sound and good as we demand.  They can be as base and corrupt as we allow. 

Our Constitution was designed to protect these “busy” citizens from their own sloth by restraining the more-or-less permanent “political class” and allowing access to it for anyone devoted enough to apply.  A return to a strict reading and adherence to our Constitution is the guarantee we are all searching for to solve our financial crisis and ensure our liberty.

A Barron’s Magazine (Oct 24, 11) summary with emphasis on North Dakota’s role.

This article is a must read for anyone unsure of the expected extent of the ongoing oil boom in North Dakota.

Vaclav Havel was not just a man of politics and intellect, but a man of the arts, theater, literature—and, yes, of God. He exhorted the West and the wider post-modern world to seek ‘transcendence.’ Hitchens might have figured God ‘the ultimate totalitarian,’ but Havel saw God as the solution to totalitarianism, as tyranny’s antidote, as the fountainhead of freedom. This was something Havel deeply admired about America and its roots—its fusion of faith and freedom and the recognition that the latter cannot genuinely exist without the former.

Havel had a lot to teach to Hitchens. Hitchens would have listened to Havel. Indeed, of all people on this planet who God might have chosen to counsel a stunned Hitchens as he sits outside the Pearly Gates shaken in awed confusion, Havel would have been perfect, the one intellectual to merit Hitchens’ intellect and respect.

    So certain were those disciples that countless early Christians bore witness to the truth of the Gospels by suffering the most excruciating martyrdoms imaginable. They set off a huge chain reaction of martyrdom, converting even many of their torturers, who were immensely moved and impressed by this superhuman courage.

   The resistance to Christ's ideas, which got him crucified, has continued ever since. Jesus remains the most hated as well as the best-loved man in human history. And as he predicted, his followers have been hated and persecuted too.

     Secularists use the mantra of "separation of church and state" as an excuse for keeping God's word out of our public life. We are allowed to worship privately, but we mustn't act collectively as if God has spoken to us. We are to act as agnostics, which means as virtual atheists.