Election officials reacted quickly
As a citizen of St. Louis County, it is vital to share some pertinent information with all the citizens in this county, regarding some of our Elections Officials relative to election night, November 8, 2022. I was made aware of some issues raised by concerned citizens at a number of precincts. I immediately called and left a message outlining these concerns for Elections Supervisor Phil Chapman. About an hour later, both he and Nancy Nilsen, our County Auditor, returned my phone call to discuss the situation. It seems there had been some misinterpretation leading to confusion at the polls and Nancy and Phil stepped up to the plate to properly rectify the situation. Both Phil and Nancy deserve recognition and commendation for their quick response and follow-through, reflecting the importance of our elections process. Thank you Nancy and Phil!  

Steven Peterson
Hermantown, Minnesota

Country has changed
     Instead of uplifting the working class to better their livelihoods, post 9/11 country music glorifies poverty in songs like “Redneck Woman” by Gretchen Wilson, among many others. Instead of having merit in relatable ballads with lessons and substance we are given a constant rabble of party, divorce (likely related to the housing collapse in 08) and patriotism. It became less of a unifying working-class medium, and more of a recruitment machine for the military, like many songs by Toby Keith. Why has country centered itself around the same repetitious themes and less of stories and tales of inspiration?

We’ll often hear people expressing that they dislike country music. But I’ll argue that people don’t like post 9/11 country. It has a pretty polarized view, and it tailors to a certain political audience that demonizes class liberation.
Instead of listening to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and reflecting on working conditions, people idolize hard work and settle for less pay and benefits. There is no initiative for change when folks are proud of their arbitrary circumstances. One can easily drown in liquor to a country bar song when it is glorified to do so. Many union songs back in the day cropped up over poor conditions among miner towns. Will country change when Amazon sprouts up their own towns and currency? Is it necessary to push the working class to the brink to make change?

Johnny Cash’s “Man in Black” reflects on the futility of war and loss of life. Imagine country music today if it wasn’t focused on sensational partying and patriotic glory, and more on being able to liberate citizens from class oppression. Perhaps people would have less time to bicker about party lines and more motivation for positive change, regardless of class, race or gender. 

Lin Rose
Duluth, Minnesota

Time to be adults about nukes
On Nov. 15, 2022, the Twin Ports Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons and several local members of Grandmothers for Peace presented to the Superior city council requesting that they pass a resolution urging the United States Government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Internationally recognized advocate for abolishing nuclear weapons Dr. Ira Helfand wrote a letter asking our local elected officials to support this important resolution and treaty [editor’s note: You can read more about Dr. Helfand’s letter in Phil Anderson’s column on page 10.]
In 2021, the United States spent $84,000 per minute on nuclear weapons. That’s $5 million an hour, every hour of every day. A calculation tool provided by Physicians for Social Responsibility estimates that Superior residents paid more than $6 million in 2020 for the nuclear arsenal. Six million dollars in one year for the most destructive weapons ever created, when money is needed HERE for affordable housing, for our schools: for improving lives.

During the next 30 years the plan is to “enhance” the entire nuclear arsenal, at a cost of at least 1.7 TRILLION DOLLARS. More than a trillion dollars to spend on weapons that MUST NOT BE USED.
Nuclear weapons are unlike any other weapons. From the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons: (Use of) “Less than one percent of the nuclear weapons in the world could disrupt the global climate and threaten as many as two billion people with starvation in a nuclear famine. The thousands of nuclear weapons possessed by the US and Russia could bring about a nuclear winter, destroying the essential ecosystems on which all life depends.”

We live in a beautiful irreplaceable place here on the edge of Lake Superior. We are raising families and teaching about all the natural wonders in our communities. We need them to understand and love the unique qualities of this place.
Nuclear war threatens the Twin Ports. This is still a major shipping source for grain and iron ore. Our area is downwind of the missile silos in the Dakotas. Nuclear famine and nuclear winter will not spare us. We cannot say we are not involved or think that somehow we will be fine.
As adults, we must do all we can to keep our families and nature safe. Taking up a resolution to call for the end of the nuclear threat will show leadership. For our children, for parents like me, for grandmothers, for the future, all of us must reach out to our city councilors and leaders letting all know they must abolish nuclear weapons.

Be the adults the world needs right now.
Christine Olson
Superior, Wisconsin