Dakota Beacon

The November 8 election will have serious consequences for national defense. General Newbold’s conclusion opposing women in combat units is direct and brutal. “If I am wrong, the cost may be denied opportunity to strong and impressive young women. If you’re wrong, our national security is shaken and there is a butcher’s bill to pay. Make your choice.”

When our elections are being undermined there already is a threat to our republic and a constitutional crisis — and a grave one.

Shining the light of truth on this is not the disease, but the cure. Oh, it can be painful in the way nauseating cancer treatments or excising a malignant tumor can be so. But far worse is sitting by, head in the sand, as metastasis proceeds and death grows nigh.

To ignore corruption is to perpetuate it and become complicit in its spread and institutionalization; it is to descend into Third Worldism. And to sit idly by as someone steals your vote and your civilization isn’t the behavior of a gentleman, but of a coward. 

With less than three weeks until election day, the candidates continue to ramp up the rhetoric. But how much of what they are saying is true? One of the candidates will win the election on November 8, but will the American people win? In this article, Dr. L. John Van Til examines the possibility of applying a morality test to this election process. He writes, “This election is surely best described as a disaster for American presidential politics. No matter which candidate wins, American citizens lose. There is, however, a lesson to be learned here.” 

What the coward-cons miss, in their infinite lack of wisdom, is that unanswered corruption means our national fabric is already being rent.  And their prescription is to allow corruption to fester, to grow, to become status quo? It’s as with cancer: attacking it early involves some pain, perhaps enduring nauseating treatments or an operation to excise a malignant tumor. But ignoring it, refusing to face reality, means a metastasis that will consume the whole body and lead, ultimately, to death. Tolerate a bit of visible rending now — or risk having nothing left to rend later.

The coward-cons are the people who get elected to office…and then get nothing done; they’re the weak sisters who never saw a culture-war battle they couldn’t lose. If you suspect your vote has been negated by electoral fraud, would you want those charged with ensuring the system’s integrity to look the other way? Or would you want the matter sifted to the very bottom?

If the coward-cons would choose the former, then they’ve earned their place in the history of American ignominy.

It is one way out of a terrible dilemma for decent voters this year. . . In a year of surprises and roller-coaster unpredictability, this seems entirely possible.

Mainstream media, left wing media, corporate media or big media – these are different names for the same elitist press that regards itself equivalent to the fourth branch of government. This pertains to CBS, NBC, ABC, CNBC, NPR, PBS, New York Times, LA Times, Chicago Times and a slew of others.

For decades America has been lied to, manipulated and set up by the big media. The big media has become the defender and protector of liberal and leftist administrations – and when necessary, moderate Republican officials and administrations.

Aside from complaining, what can be done? First, ignore the corporate media. Consumption isn’t worth the time, effort or frustration. Second, do not accept the reporting without question. Do not accept their premise and do not form an opinion based on their spin. Third, (this requires a little proactive effort) find alternative news sources outside the mainstream media. A brief and far from exhaustive list includes: websites (Breitbart, Heritage Foundation, Gateway Pundit, Infowars); magazines (Weekly Standard, National Review, Claremont Review of Books, First Things, Commentary); and Radio/TV (Fox News, Fox Business).

Whatever course of action is adopted, remember that the mainstream media betrayed the public trust long ago.

EQUILIBRIUM AT UND; TOM DENNIS; LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES; THANKS FOR NOTHING; JAMESTOWN; DIDN’T SEE NFL POTENTIAL; MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK; A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT; THE DAPL PROTESTS; MORTON COUNTY; HOW ARE PROTESTORS SUSTAINED?; BIZARRE EVENT OF THE WEEK; DAKTOIDS

There is a danger in rushing to nominate or elect someone who is outside of the political world.  It might sound “healthy” to those who don’t think much about it.  After all, our founding fathers were not “professional” politicians, weren't they?  But they WERE.

How many issues do conservatives need reassurance on before they commit to Trump?  How many could Pence have done great service in addressing?

Picking the right word for manmade climate change (the new term for global warming) is not tough. Fraud. Sham. Bogus. Phony. Hoax will do. Believing that infinitesimally insignificant man can significantly change global weather is the height of conceit.

Every drop of rain that falls, every gust of wind that blows is the fault of mankind, or so the narrative implies. There is no longer a “normal” state of weather in the politicized world of climate change. Mother Nature has become a victim of humanity!

And the drumbeat of silliness goes on.

In today’s politically correct schools, all types of divisive expression are equal, but some are more equal than others. A case in point is Wiregrass Ranch High School in Wesley Chapel, FL, where showing disrespect for the National Anthem is supposedly a “First Amendment right.” Wearing a Confederate Flag cape, however, is a violation.

Don’t hide behind the “First Amendment,” you hypocrites. For it’s easy to uphold and justify unjust standards when you posture, engage in moral preening and lie to yourself about what you’re doing. Just acknowledge that, to you, showing disrespect for our nation is palatable, but politically incorrect expression (i.e., wearing a Confederate Flag) is not. Don’t kid yourselves. 

LET THEM EAT SANDBAGS; TAXABLE SALES; THE LARGEST WIND FARM; THEIR HANDS ARE TIED?; INTERVENTION; DUMB IDEA OF THE WEEK; HOT DOG!; YES, HE WAS A BIT LOUTISH; THE HECKLER; DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS; UNLAWFUL; THE PROFESSOR BLEW HIMSELF UP; A UND PhD CANDIDATE; NODAKS DON’T WHINE; LITTLE MOGADISHU; MAKE THEM MORE ACCOUNTABLE

Later today, thousands of people will attend a memorial service at the basilica on the Saint Vincent College campus to remember golf legend Arnold Palmer. Jack Nicklaus, another golf great, will be among the many distinguished speakers who will remember Palmer for his impact on the course and in the community. In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson offers his own tribute to Palmer along with two other sports legends who died in 2016.  

If Trump doesn’t know how Congress works we should not be surprised – we know he is ignorant of our Constitution and our form of government.  He thinks it is a dictatorship he’s running for.  It could also be that as a Democrat plant he is doing exactly what Hillary hopes.  He certainly is doing that, whatever is motivating him.

The question of Russian expansion in Syria brought out probably the worst moment of the night for Trump.

I recall trying to talk to committeemen in two states in an effort to get them to see this man for what he is.  I got uniform treatment from all of them.  I even got a phone call from one of them who was beyond rude.  None of them wanted to hear that Trump wasn’t the best idea since the Revolution.  I suppose they still think so.  I won’t be calling them again.  I think, on the contrary, that the Republican Party, of which I considered myself a member for 50 years, has exactly the right candidate to represent what they have become.

When asked, they tell us that they don’t like their “integrity” called into question.  Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich hated this also. 

Do you live to eat, or eat to live? With Holidays approaching this is a fitting question. Poor eating habits may reflect unrestrained indulgence or lack of self-discipline.

There are reasonable ways to modify eating habits leading to healthy weight. Whether dieting or maintaining, regressing to poor eating habits is a fast way to sabotage healthy weight.

Over the next month, presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be facing tough questions about plans to deal with ISIS. But should Clinton or Trump even have a plan? How helpful will a plan be? In this article, the Center’s military scholar—Dr. Earl Tilford—argues that the candidates need to show a detailed national security policy and leave the planning to generals and admirals. Tilford writes, “To compete globally an effective president must understand strategic threats, available American resources, and correctly assess national will.” 

Sir Neville himself opened the door.  He was in a white turtleneck shirt and a navy blazer with a school emblem on the pocket – the very model of an English gentleman.

How do we choose to view our individual existence? Are we a creature within the natural world? If so, are we a predator, are we prey, or are we a scavenger who joins the feast without participating in the hunt?

The capitalist seeks individual opportunity to take calculated risks in expectation of rewards that are often proportional to such risks. Work and courage are required but intellect and skill ease the load.

The socialist seeks safety, security, comfort and above all, equality, in place of the risks that accompany individual opportunity.

Just as the scavenger enjoys the fruits of the predator without participating in the hunt, the socialist feels entitled to a portion of the rewards of participation in the marketplace that the capitalist has secured.

PIPELINES; THE DOWNTURN IN THE OIL INDUSTRY; CARSON WENTZ; A TRAVEL TIP; UNFUNDED MANDATE; NUCLEAR; BUNKY WAS A GOOD COWBOY; FROM SECTION GANG TO THE BOARD ROOM; “HAMBONE” IS BURIED; FOR MOORHEAD TO SUCCEED; DAKTOIDS
THE MR. SPINDLE FACTORY; 

Just because she is disrespecting Americans does not mean that WE are okay with Trump disrespecting us.  And it is arguable that Trump’s tax returns are actually more pertinent to deciding on our vote than Hillary’s emails.

For the most part, my folks were great planners. They had a plan for everything. If we took a trip, they had a plan. During the holidays they had a plan. It seems that for any occasion they had a plan.

Like most kids, I followed the example my folks set as I grew through adolescence into adulthood. Have a plan and follow it. You can always adjust, but you must start with a plan.

I watched my parents struggle with aging bereft of a “plan.” Slowly, they became less capable of managing their own affairs, making rational decisions, providing basic care for themselves.

My folks taught me from their unspoken example. Finish the plan and deal with the inevitable now while there is time. For this I am grateful and am resolved to avoid falling into the same deception that snared them.

There’s more to growing old than acquiring long term care insurance. There are real issues each person must contend with. Questions present the beginning of a checklist.

Last week, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announced a plan that would increase the top rate of the estate tax by 62.5 percent. Why such a large increase? In this article, Dr. Mark Hendrickson looks at the proposal and writes, “Going after inheritances and estates is textbook Marxism. That is not an exaggeration. The third plank in Karl Marx’s 10-point platform for achieving socialism through democratic means … was the abolition of inheritances.” 

All false accusations made by a real coward, like all such accusations are.  But it might have been of some practical use to Trump after all

WENTZMANIA; ND’S DREAM FOOTBALL WEEKEND; IT’S NOT ALL BAD; I'M EXCITED AS AN OPERATING LEADER; THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION; THE STATE EMERGENCY COMMISSION; ND PETROLEUM COUNCIL; CLOSE TO HOME; THE FBI WILL INVESTIGAT; THAT MAKES IT PERFECTLY CLEAR; SO GOES THE STATE; A KILLER; DAKTOIDS

Today’s gridlock in Washington, between the Republican-controlled Congress and the Democratic administration, has frustrated both the right and the left. In this article, Dr. Gary Welton shares how a novel series by author C. J. Box has helped to shed light on some of the current political frustrations. Welton writes, “I am still undecided on how to vote in November, but I have learned more about the conservative American experience from reading C. J. Box than I have from listening to any debates or watching any commercials.” 

The stabbing jihad attack at the Crossroads Mall in St. Cloud, Minnesota, presents a number of issues worthy of discussion.