I hate to miss a world-wide celebration but apparently I did:  September 22nd was “World Car-Free Day”.  I hope there wasn’t cake. More…

For nearly two decades, Pew Research has conducted an annual scientific poll measuring Americans’ views of media accuracy and bias.  The 2009 results were released this week and it comes as no surprise to most conservatives that just 29% of Americans “say that news organizations generally get the facts straight”.  This compares to the results for the same question nearly 25 years ago when 55% said that “news stories were accurate”. More…

Did you see the article in the Star Tribune this morning that alerted us to the discovery of a new fountain of youth?   According to research published in the journal Science, there is conclusive evidence that if primates cut 1/3 of their daily caloric intake, we can severely slow the aging process and live longer and healthier lives.  This research is based upon a 20-year study conducted on rhesus monkeys living at the Wisconsin National Primate Center which is located in Madison. (Many Minnesotans would question why anyone would want to live a longer life while stuck in Wisconsin but that’s another story.) More…

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will likely approve one of the most crushing tax increases to American consumers in history– a hidden energy tax called “Cap and Trade.” Its fundamental purpose is to impose higher costs on electricity and gasoline so that American consumers use less. But more likely this bill will create fewer jobs as the cost of doing business in the U.S. dramatically increases each year that this law is in effect. More…

In politics as in professional sports, every now and then you witness what can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime season.  When you’re lucky enough to be in the stands for the entire season and see your team sweep the World Series, it’s a memory that lasts a lifetime.  So it was for beleaguered Minnesota Republicans this week –thanks to the bold and strategic leadership provided by the GOP team’s general manager, Governor Tim Pawlenty. More…

The next time a school district tells taxpayers that they need more of your money because they’re broke, remind yourself that their definition of “broke” isn’t the same as yours and mine.  Here’s why. More…

It’s too bad the Minnesota Taxpayers Tea Parties were held last week instead of this.  Why?  Because after the House and Senate DFLers announce their new tax plans this week, the crowds last week would look like the warm up act for the gigantic group of tax protesters that would assemble all across the state. More…

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St. Paul, like many Minnesota cities this year, is facing a substantial budget deficit, amongst other problems. In light of these grim economic circumstances, I was surprised to read that the St. Paul City Council has set aside their serious business and established April 1 as the date for a public hearing to discuss a citywide ban on the sale of candy cigarettes.  Really. More…

On February 10th, President Obama announced his most recent  $787 billion dollar economic stimulus package.  Congress willingly went along with this proposed solution and Wall Street and the American consumer responded.  Since the plan’s inception, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dropped almost 20%.  More…