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Letters To The Editor

Real meaning of Memorial Day

As a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 44 I hold a special place in my heart for the parents, siblings, spouses, and friends of those who served. I can’t help but think of all the men and women who have gone to fight for this great nation and didn’t return home. While we are all guilty of celebrating the unofficial start of summer and encouraging each other to “have a good weekend,” it is important to remember the reason for the holiday: Memorial Day is the day Americans set aside to honor those brave men and women who met tragic ends while defending our freedom. It is ...

Dear Rep. Bergman

An open letter to U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet. Dear Rep. Bergman, I write out of frustration. I have been informed that letters are immediately dropped into the trash. I also know that all Republicans have been advised to not hold town halls. I've written twice to you about concerns, and received a form letter back that told me nothing about what you are doing to make sure our laws, national security, human rights, aid to those without health insurance and oversight of officials continue to stand. Your reply was “the populace elected” Trump and implied that because of ...

You are what you eat

The over 100 day probationary period has run out and a lack of comprehending what is expected of job performance requires dismissal, eviction and removal of personnel. Credentials: 1. An understanding and willingness to work within the guidelines of the Constitution of the United States of America as the North Star to navigate leadership with courage, hard work, responsibly and guided by values, not popularity. 2. Be able to invest energy into meaningful employment opportunities beneficial to life. Build from that as a keystone of our resilience. 3. Engage with all who have ...

Critical services harmed

While President Trump and his allies continue to justify their economic policies as necessary to address the national debt and deficit, they simultaneously support a budget projected by the Congressional Budget Office to increase the deficit by an estimated $6 trillion. Why? To fund Trump’s tax plan, which disproportionately benefits billionaires. Meanwhile, here in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, we are being asked to shoulder devastating cuts to vital public services. These include: - Closure of Social Security Administration and Bureau of Indian Affairs offices. - Closure of ...

Troubling times

These are both uncertain and frightening times for those who are employed by the federal government. We are reaching out to offer our Upper Peninsula Federal community another “tool in their toolbox” as we grapple with daily threats coming from the current administration. We are NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Since our founding in 1921, the association’s mission has been to protect the integrity of the nonpartisan, merit-based civil service and to defend and advance the earned pay and benefits of America’s civil servants. We are the only ...

This is not normal

There is lots of talk about Executive Orders these days. It seems there are so many! Or is there just increased scrutiny? What is “normal” anyway? According the Federal Register, in the first 100 days, President Trump signed 139 Executive Orders. This is compared to President Biden signing 162 in 4 years. Yes, Trump has signed almost as many in 100 days as Biden signed in 4 years. But what about Trump’s first term? Is this just his style? In the first term, Trump signed 220 orders in 4 years. The last 10 presidents (starting with Nixon) have averaged 266 per 4 year ...