Opinion Columns by Curt MacRae - all published in 2021

1. 0
12
3
5
6
7
8
99 9
8
9
3
9
7
2
3
9
9
9
3
96
8
2
5
2
9
2
2
5
9
9
3
6
2
5
6
3
9
8
2
9
7
6
8
9
6
3
7
6
3
2
2
3
7
2
8
9
9
6
2
3
3
7
2
8
9
6
3
9
2
8
6
3
3
2
6
3
2
9
9
3
9
9
2
9
2
3
2
2
3
9
7
9
2
6
2
9
6
8
2
9
2
3
9
3
8
6
39
3
7
2
5
9
7
2
6
3
2
6
3
8
2
8
7
7
8
9
2
3
2
6
8
9
3
6
5
2
2
3
2
3
2
6
6
3
6
9
2
9
8
2
3
9
2
6
8
2
6
2
6
8
9
6
8
8
9
2
!
9
2
69
6
2
8
6
8
2
2
8
9
3
9
9
2
8
5
7
27
9
8
6
6
9
8
6
8
2
6
7
9
9
2
6
7
3
2
9
7
6
8
8
9
9
9
9
2
3
9
8
6
8
6
9
2
6
7
6
9
2
3
7
8
9
6
9
8
9
8
6
5
8
6
9
8
5
6
8
3
9
9
8
63
6
#
9
6
7
9
8
6
9
7
9
7
6
8
9
6
9
7
2
3
6
3
2
$
9
6
9
2
2
69
6
9
8
2
8
9
8
2
2
2
6
3
6
6
3
2
$
9
6
9
9
9
2
2
6
9
2
8
9
8
2
6
8
2
9
6
7
9
%
7
3
9
12
3
9
9
9
9
8
9
82
2
2
3
#
7
6
8
9
' 9
8
2
3
6
6
8
7
3
5
2
3
2
9
9
3
9
9
8
6
2
9
2
6
2
9
3
2
3
2
2
9
8
5
2
3
6
8
#
9
6
3
2
3
2
8
6
8
9
6
9
8
8
6
6
9
5
2
5
2
3
7
6
8
5
6 7
3
5
2
8
9
2
9
9
8
6
6
9
5
6
3
6
3
'
2
9
%
6
3
9
7
2
3
9
9
29
3
7
9
6
7
( 2
2
2
9
3
9
6
5
6
2
2
8
5
(9
3
6
6
3
9
8
9
9
9
3
2
3
5
3
1
2
9
2
3
9
2
6
2
)9
2
3
9
3
*
8
9
2
'3
5
3
9
2
6
3
2
%7
3
)9
9
9
6
3
2
8
9
3
2
9
9
6
7
6
3
5
2
9
6
9
9
7
2
3
5
3
8
62
5
1
3
2
(9
2
8
3
2
#
6
9
2
#
3
9
)9
2
3
9
6
3
*
6
8
#
+6
(6
6
2
8
2
, 2
#
6
-
)9
.9
/6
8
#
)
9
2
3
(2
3
6
3
6
2
8
9
2
#
9
3
9
6
2
6
9
7
2
3
9
9
9
3
6
2
5
)
8
7
%
%
2
3
2
2
8
9
3
5
0.1
/
)
8
7
2
9
8
5
3
9
9
2
6
2
6
8
2
8
2
7
9
#
9
6
9
2
9
3
9
9
8
9
9
3
)9
8
9
9
3
9
9
#
3
6
8
9
2
3
69
8
9
2
6
2
6
7
3
9
3
4
5
9
2
2
9
3
9
2
3
9
9
8
9
9
8
6
3
2
3
2
6
3
6
3
2
3
5
9
9
'
9
8
8
9
2
9
3
3
2
2
2
7
8
2
5
6
9
69
6
8
2
9
8
9
2
8
5
6
2
9
2
69
6
8
2
9
3
2
6
8
2
9
9
9
2
2
,
7
3
-
8
9
9
8
8
3
6
9
3
8
9
6
8
9
)2
2
2
#
9
%
22
5
77
8
3
2
2
3
8
5
3
6
6
9
8
7
8
3
69
6
8
2
*
8
9
%
6
7
3
9
6
9
6
7
8
8
9
9
3
8
9
2
6
3
9
2
,
/6
7
#
3
6
3
'
222
9
9
2
8
9
6
8
6
9
9
6
9
9
9
8
3
69
6
8
2
9
9
2
8
9
6
8
2
2
9
26
7
3
6
6
9
'3
9
5
2
5
*
3
6
6
9
6
2
9
6
69
6
8
2
-
89
2
9
,
7
2
3
6
3
9
9
:
;
4
6
9
6
3
9
6
8
9
2
3
9
2
9
9
2
7
9
9
6
3
9
2
9
-
(
3
6
9
5
3
6
5
2
5
6
!
9
3
6
16
3
8
9
6
3
2
6
%
2
9
,
9
2
9
8
-
2
9
6
3
9
9
2
9
3
9
6
9
9
6
8
2
6
9
9
8
2
6
3
2
8
6
9
9
3
9
5
9
9
29
3
9
3
+7
9
9
29
3
9
3
8
6
7
3
=
3
6
5
9
2
8
9
2
7
9
9
2
9
3
9
2
3
6
2
3
9
+7
2
79
2
7
7
8
9
9
9
6
3
9
8
9
9
3
7 9
3
6
9
2
3
9
6
6
7
9
6
16
3
8
9
2
8
9
6
3
8
6
9
5
9
8
9
9
3
*
6
2
2
8
5
(
9
8
9
3
2
8
2
3
7
6
8
2
2
9
3
9
2
6
16
3
8
9
6
7
2
5
9
9
6
8
2
6
9
3
#
9
5
2
9
8
6
7
3
2
9
8
9
7
3
3
3
9
9
8
2
3
2
9
8
9
2
3
9
:
4
%
9
9
6
8
2
%
6
9
8
9
6
8
9
7
8
9
6
3
)2
2
6
3
6
7
8
9
8
9
3
9
9
6
2
6
3
9
86
7
9
6
9
8
9
9
3
2
9
6
9
9
6
7
8
8
9
9
3
9
2
2
9
9
3
6
3
9
6
9
6
3
2
9
9
9
2
6
3
2
8
9
6
3
8
6
9
5
9
8
9
9
3
*
2
8
5
2
)9
8
9
9
3
7
9
7
3
6
7
2
8
2
3
2
3
6
2
69
8
2
9
8
7
9
2
8
6
?
6
6
9
2
#
@
'3
9
6
9
6
9
3
4
6
3
9
6
9
9
2
9
3
6
2
9
8
9
2
8
3
( 9
9
8
5
6
7
9
2
3
9
6
8
8
6
9
9
3
2
8
6
8
9
3
3
9
2
7
9
3
6
2
2
8
5
%
9
9
3
2
8
6
7
2
2
8
2
3
69
8
2
5
( 6
3
#
2
8
2
3
2
3
3
3
7
1
'3
9
2
7
3
2
9
3
2
8
6
2
3
9
2
9
3
9
2
6
2
3
9
9
6
3
6
2
2
5
69
9
66
2
9
8
99
2
5
3
5
3
9
2
#
8
6
7
3
9
9
9
2
9
6
9
,
*
6
3
3
2
2
#
9
5
6
7
2
3
6
9
8
5
6
7
2
3
*
8
9
7
9
-
AB
C
D
E
FG
H
IG
J
16
5
8
K
4
4
3
%
4
9
62
9
86
7
9
L9
2
3
69
9
9
8
9
9
M
N
M
4
9
16
5
8
K
4
4
3
%
4
9
62
9
86
7
9
L9
2
3
69
9
9
8
9
9
M
N
M
4
9
69
8
9
5
)21.'
O
'
PQ
R
S
R
T
Q
U
V
T
WX
T
Y
U
S
Z
X
T
[
]
R
^
I_`ab
E
cdE
F_A
2
7
8
2
5
4
9
M
4
N
M
4
9
2
9
'4
3

2. 0
12
3
4
5
3
6
8
9 4
2
44
!
#
$
%
%
'
$
(
'
%
(
%
)
!
*
+
,
'
'
!
(
$
%
,
+
-
%
.
!
$
!
%
)
-
$
/
#
0+
0
-
1
%
,
'
%
'
,
-
,
%
'
,
2
'
+
%
,
%
!
,
!
%
'
,
-
'
'
#
%
'
%
+
(
'
,
$
,
!
%
$
,
+
,
3
'
!
'
$
4
!
+
!
#
+
'
5
6
'
%
,
'
'
!
7
8
7
9
*
:
!
(
,
-
'
!
,
,
'
'
,
-
$
(
-
%
%
%
3
$
$
%
$
%
'
$
;
!
*
*
;
,
$
'
*
(
,
!
!
%
.
+
3
!
)
!
$
%
)
!
!
$
'
'
*
/
;
'
!
,
-
,
,
,
$
%
3
'
!
)
(
'
3
%
(
%
+
3
%
,
'
$
'
'
,
'
+
,
%
'
=
%
-
'
3
7
%
8
8
8
!
$
%
.
;
,
,
'
,
,
-
/
'
%
,
!
,
'
%
'
'
%
$
%
#
,
)
,
(
(
3
,
$
*
0
!
'
'
!
(
'
-
$
2
'
-
(
*
?
!
$
!
'
!
$
*
+
'
*
+
4'
-
1
:
$
(
!
'
$
*
+
'
'
(
,
'
$
3
@
3
'
*
A
!
%
,
3
!
*
+
,
3
'
*
+
,
'
*
#3
!
'
'
B
!
C
;
!
6
!
$
*
D
%
,
+
'
(
$
(
'
!
!
!
+
$
'
+
$
'
'
+
'
-
3
(
-
%
+
$
+
!
4
$
$
3
,
,
'
$
,
+
%
%
!
,
3
'
,
'
'
!
,
$
,
E
'
4%
F
$
$
,
'
$
,
$
%
(
!
$
,
%
!
,
,
'
'
$
%
!
,
'
'
$
'
#
'
$
$
!
-
,
'
+
'
'
,
'
+
-
%
$
,
A
%
$
%
,
'
$
%
,
'
3
(
+
3
+
'
3
!
%
E
'
3
%
,
$
!
%
,
(
$
,
;
$
3
'
%
3
3
'
#
'
$
%
%
3
%
3
(
#
!
+
3
,
,
%
3
3
'
$
,
'
!
,
$
'
-
%
,
$
,
$
%
,
'
$
;
$
,
$
G
'
H
'
'
%
.
#'
;
2
0
B
1'
I
$
;
2
0
B
:
/
B
%
'
,
-
$
?
3
'
3
,
,
'
-
,
!
!
6
'
)
,
'
-
,
!
JK
L
M
N
OP
Q
RP
S
T
N
U
V
N
JU
W
X
YP
M
S
L
T
N
YL
Z
M
S
[
N
U
N
M
]
S
V
Z
L
[
M
^
M
]
Z
L
X
N
_
P
M
K
L
X
P
`
[
N
S
P
Q
]
N
aU
M
]
b
cd
e
f
g
hi
j
ki
l
2
!
$
m
7
8
8
n
F
7
8
7
9
G
:
%
+
B
$
9
@
9
n
@
7
8
7
9
2
!
$
m
7
8
8
n
F
7
8
7
9
G
:
%
+
B
$
9
@
9
n
@
7
8
7
9
6
,
(
!
=2A#
o+
#
B
!
%
8
9
@
9
n
@
7
8
7
9
6
$
#8
n

3. 01
2
3
56
7
7
8
98
7
6
6
7
7
2
2
2
6
2
1
2
6
7
7
8
6
9
2
3
6
7
8
8
21
6
3
8
1
2
68
3
6
9
2
36
2
6
2
2
6
56
7
7
1
2
3
3
2
52
2
8
1
2
52
2
2
8
!
1
6
8
9
3
1
2
2
3
1
9
8
53
8
2
#8
3
2
6
$
%
6
7
7
6
8
3
7
9
6
9
7
9
6
7
7
8
31
8
8
1
2
7
1
8
2
51
8
522
22
#'(
)
*
+
51
8
5
3
1
2
3
2
2
6
1
8
31
8
6
26
3
8
96
3
3
6
3
2
8
6
36
3
#8
3
2
6
3
7
7
8
,
6
2
3
81
2
91
7
7
2
2
6
3
)22
2
1
5
8
7
8
8
7
7
3
8
8
7
2
8
1
2
7
3
2
87
2
51
8
72
1
8
3
2
9
3
2
8
6
,
2
3
9
-8
5
1
22
52
8
6
3
02
1
,
2
3
2
52
6
2
3
3
2
5
#8
3
2
2
2
9
1
2
2
87
2
3
2
1
6
56
3
7
7
8
3
2
86
6
8
3
2
3
2
6
9
2
9
82
2
1
6
8
3
8
7
6
6
1
3
8
3
1
2
9
7
6
51
8
,
82
1
2
2
3
9
6
38
8
62
#8
3
2
6
82
8
3
9
2
56
1
2
3
96
3
2
2
51
8
8 8
2
8
6
6
8
3
1
3
1
2
76
3
1
2
2
87
2
51
8
2
7
22
1
2
8
8
62
.
8
2
#8
3
2
2
87
2
3
8
5
2
2
3
6
3
2
7
26
8
3
2
9
7
51
6
7
2
8
86
3
56
7
8
3
6
1
2
86
2
8
8
82
1
2
6
8
53
2
3
6
9
3
92
51
6
8
3
1
2
2
8
2
3
6
3
1
2
2
7
6
8
1
8
8
7
1
8
86
3
8
9
2
6
3
1
2
2
6
2
32
8
7
2
8
2
1
6
3
6
2
#
7
6
83
6
82
62
9
1
22
9
2
8
2
3
7
2
)8
2
1
7
8
1
2
2
1
22
2
8
3
1
6
3
/
9
8
3
8
2
#8
3
2
6
8
7
22
7
8
9
8
8
91
56
1
2
87
2
51
8
2
7
22
1
2
'
6
1
2
2
87
2
9
7
2
7
2
1
2
01
6
7
2
1
2
2
6
2
3
3
#8
3
2
9
2
8
,
2
$
0
1
1
,
$
2
1
1
2
7
2
87
2
2
7
8
6
3
1
2
6
1
8
2
7
8
6
3
1
2
6
9
6
3
2
2
3
2
6
3
82
8
1
8
8
2
252
2
3
1
2
3
8
8
32
8
9
#8
3
2
6
8
3
7
7
2
2
8
36
3
9
2
8
2
3
1
2
6
$
4
21
1
1
2
2
6
3
1
2
6
52
2
6
2
8
8
92
6
3
28
6
3
3
52
2
8
6
6
8
3
51
6
7
2
2
7
6
3
6
8
3
82
87
2
51
8
2
22
7
3
2
2
6
8
3
06
7
7
1
2
2
,
2
2
7
2
8
2
1
66
3
8
7
96
8
3
.8
6
7
2
7
25
-8
69
1
2
2
8
56
7
7
2
9
7
6
3
2
7
3
8
6
7
522
8
53
2
9
7
78
5
3
2
87
2
56
7
7
2
2
,
62
87
8
2
1
2
6
9
6
3
2
2
51
6
7
2
#8
3
2
6
3
6
51
2
2
7
1
2
3
3
9
7
2
8
3
3
2
7
8
8
#8
3
2
6
37
9
6
3
8
3
2
6
8
3
7
6
$
0
6
7
7
6
8
3
2
52
1
8
9
7
9
7
7
2
5
6
9
7
9
8
7
7
8
9
8
1
9
2
8
6
8
9
62
02
(6
6
3
6
929
7
6
3
8
,
23
8
9
2
8
3
1
6
7
8
323
3
6
3
1
6
1
8
9
7
2
2
6
2
1
2
3
6
8
3
9
7
2
08
5
6
6
3
,
6
2
5:
1
2
8
7
56
7
7
2
2
3
92
3
2
52
2
3
#--
6
32,
6
2
5
8
9
62
6
02
3
;
1
8
7
52
9
7
7
18
5
5
8
2
8
3
2
6
1
3
8
5
8
51
76
8
6
3
6
1
#8
3
2
1
,
2
5
2
8
3
2
8
32
8
562
6
3
1
2
3
1
21
52
1
8
9
7
58
82
8
9
1
2
76
3
2
87
2
3
8
5
1
3
2
3
6
3
2
5
9
8
3
2
87
2
51
8
3
8
3
2
2
6
8
91
02
1
,
2
2
7
7
8
8
8
,
2
3
22
87
2
2
3
2
8
8
9
62
6
01
2
3
1
2
5
2
8
9
1
2
9
1
8
2
7
7
8
5
929
7
6
3
3
2
,
2
3
1
6
8
53
2
)2
86
2
3
8
8
8
2
31
6
3
8
82
22
1
2
8
9
62
27
6
2
;
8
3
;
2
7
7
3
8
5
2
7
51
1
2
1
6
3
6
3
8
9
7
8
6
7
2
1
22
2
3
52
82
87
2
1
2
2
7
7
1
96
3
31
6
3
3
82
1
6
8
323
8
9
1
2
6
7
6
8
2
3
6
3
$
2
1
1
1
2
8
6
3
6
,
6
9
7
6
32
6
3
1
2
8
7
6
2
8
1
2
7
2
2
2
8
$
%1
1
1
8
3
3
8
5
51
22
$
%1
1
1
2
8
31
6
3
6
92
7
7
7
8
8
2
2
2
3
6
3
2
36
8
3
02
(6
6
3
6
26
6
38
2
5
$
%
42
2
0
6
3
%
1
*
9
51
8 6
3
1
0
=2
2
6
32
%
1
1
8
8
2
2
$
4
21
1
1
3
6
1
6
$
?
6
7
7
6
8
3
7
2
-82
8
#8
3
2
5
1
2
8
3
2
@
9
2
32
8
7
52
26
6
8
3
3
8
5
6
2
2
7
2
8
1
2
82
36
7
2
8
8
36
3
9
2
6
3
26
6
8
3
8
9
)8
.
8
21
6
3
A
BC
D
E
F
GH
I
JH
K
F
L
M
F
H
F
D
K
M
L
N
K
O
E
F
P
Q
F
BP
R
N
SH
E
K
D
T
F
U
K
O
N
F
I
P
VVK
O
E
M
F
E
P
D
H
O
E
M
W
X
VH
I
YZ
VH
L
R
T
I
P
VT
[
]
^
_
`a
b
ca
d
#86
1
e
%
1
1
0
%
1
%
f2
78
9
2
2
6
3
.
8
2
96
1
92
2,
2
%
g
0
g
%
1
%
#86
1
e
%
1
1
0
%
1
%
f2
78
9
2
2
6
3
.
8
2
96
1
92
2,
2
%
g
0
g
%
1
%
h
8
522
i#-j
(
j
k
l
m
no
p
o
q
r
s
m
p
p
t
r
u
o
q
l
r
v
w
r
q
w
nx
l
y
m
z
{
|
c}~€
_
‚_
`}[
.
9
1
%
g
1
0
g
%
1
%
h
2
j1

4. 01
2
4
56
2
7
8
1
52
9
42
7
9
2
7
9
2
1
4
2
9
4
78
1
2
2
2
7
5
2
7
1
2
7
6
4
4
7
9
2
42
7
9
5
4
6
2
4
52
1
4
2
1
2
!
894
9
2
1
9
9
7
6
4
42
4
6
4
2
5
4
92
2
894
2
52
1
2
7
8
9
2
1
4
9
1
2
42
!
1
72
9
22
42
22
9
7
8
4
9
1
2
4
#
$
%
!
9
22
2
857
2
4
9
4
9
6
2
4
9
5
!
7
7
2
2
52
1
2
2
54
1
2
5
2
6
842
7
2
'
6
2
7
9
6
4
9
49
(
6
2
7
8
2
6
2
57
1
4
9
2
7
4
19
7
9
4
2
1
7
9
2
2
8
1
7
9
2
4
9
7
)
6
2 2
9
2
2
5
9
4
9
4
1
2
9
!
894
2
6
26
2
1
4
!
6
4
8
2
529
2
44
9
7
152
1
4
9
4
9
*
!
)
5
2
+
57
2
4
4
9
529
2
4
9
6
7
,
-
8
2
4
9
8
4
9
9
1
2
7
6
4
4
1 2
2
9
4
2
1
7
6
7
9
2
8
7
2
4
42
4
9
55)
72
52
9
4
9
(
4
.9
7
4
8
7
9
9
2
7
6
1
2
552
9
2
8
449
6
7
4
9
7
8
2
6
9
2
72
6
2
7
9
7
2
1
9
7
52
.
4
6
4
2
7
9
7
/(0(
7
7
9
9
99
4
9
1
2
7
9
42
4
9
57
1
2
5
!
7
2
7
4
2
6
7
9
9
4
9
7
9
7
6
7
9
2
4
8
2
/7
2
4
6
2
6
4
4
2
1
74
9
5
7
2
7
9
2
'
142
2
2
5
8
7
7
2
7
2
1
2
2
2
6
7
7
1
2
7
9
1
2
9
4
)
4
52
4
1
2
8
7
9
4
56
7
7
7
7
9
,
57
2
2
7
1
2
4
1
7
01
2
9
1
2
2
4
1
2
8
72
1
7
4
9
2
2
2
7
4
9
44
52
,
3
42
7
7
2
1
2
7
,
(9
1
7
4
9
1
22
1
72
,
-9
2
7
6
4
42
2
7
7
7
2
7
0
2
'
7
856
7
9
94
2
8
4
2
1
7
1
42
4
8
2
2
2
9
9
2
2
4
2
+
2
9
4
9
2
2
4
52
1
4
9
2
'
4
9
2
849
(
1
4
8
7
2
7
272
7
2
9
6 2
7
8
2
6
4
8
2
1
2
2
4
1
7
4
9
2
7
94
9
1
7
4
(2
54
9
1
2
8
7
6
4
7
7
7
8
1
7
56
7
9
2
4
9
2
2
2
5
4
2
1
2
7
4
2
7
9
4
9
7
2
2
9
4
92
4
2
72
*
!
4
5
7
6
2
7
57
9
6
24
2
!
7
9
1
2
2
8
7
4
9
2
!
7
1
2
2
6
6
5
6
24
2
9
4
!
21
2
4
6
24
2
7
9
9
1
2
4
9
4
92
2
2
4
1
1
2
9
2
'
4
01
2
9
1
2
2
7
7
52
72
7
57
2
7
9
6
2
7
7
57
8
2
2
4
9
7
2
9
9
7
9
4
7
1
6 2
9
7
8
2
4
2
7
2
54
9
1
2
7
6
4
-
7
9
7
1
7
2
9
1
1
1
2
7
4
8
7
2
2
4
72
1
4
9
749
(
2
4
1
52
,
4
(6
6
7
2
9
9
7
2
7
7
8
8
4
9
1
2
6
24
2
9
1
4
8
2
2
1
8
7
9
9
2
1
4
5
1
2
9
2
'
7
01
2
2
2
2
5
2
1 2
42
7
7
7
9
1 2
2
59
72
9
7
849
8
7
9
1
2
2
2
4
4
2
4
9
7
9
852
1
7
2
5
1 2
7
849
9
7
5
9
77
1
7
2
2
1
2
8
2
9
1
4
9
4
9
1
2
6
2
9
8
7
2
4
2
4
4
572
7
54
4
2
9
7
9
1
2
1
7
57
2
7
9
42
94
9
4
2
7
2
64
9
7
2
9
2
7
9
7
2
4
2
2
7
896
4
7
142
8
72
8
4
7
52
4
7
1
72
9
89
2
1
2
4
7
6
6
24
2
2
94
8
2
7
9
8
7
9
9
242
4
9
8
4
54
9
749
2
8
7
2
4
252
1
72
1
2
2
1
2
5
7
2
7
7
6
6
2
7
8
2
9
57
8
4
7
5
99
2
4
8
7
4
9
7
6
2
7
1
4
2
2
7
4
9
2
72
6
2
7
8
2
6
7
4
9
7
9
1
9
!
1
2
7
9
7
9
7
9
78
1
2
1
2
22
9
1
2
7
9
0:
!
7
4
4
9
7
9
4
7
2
6
24
9
!
4
1
72
5
;
=
?
@A
B
CA
D
?
E
F
?
A
?
=
D
F
E
G
D
H
?
I
J
?
;I
K
G
LA
D
=
M
?
N
D
H
G
?
B
I
OOD
H
F
?
I
=
A
H
F
P
Q
OA
B
R?
S
OA
E
K
M
B
I
OM
TU
V
W
X
YZ
[
Z
]
6
4
1
^
_
%
%
_
%
_
#
072
32
/2
4
7
!
9
8
252
14
1
122
2
_
`
_
%
`
_
%
_
#
6
4
1
^
_
%
%
_
%
_
#
072
32
/2
4
7
!
9
8
252
14
1
122
2
_
`
_
%
`
_
%
_
#
72
2
0a9(
:!
(
bc
d
e
f
g
d
h
e
g
f
i
j
d
k
g
l
m
n
o
g
d
j
g
pj
f
o
q
rstu
X
vwX
YrT
2
7
7
%
_
`
_
%
`
_
%
_
#
7
7
2
(%
x

5. 01
34
5
6
7
8
1
1
97
8
18
1
48
7
988
7
1
8
5
5
6
4
9
4
4
4
4
7
5
4
5
8
8
8
14
8
5
48
7
4
4
8
8
7
48
4
5
7
4
6
7
9
9
1
7
48
4
1
7
48
30!#
0
5
8
7
$
%
%
9
1
7
8
8
4
8
17
6
6
5
6
1
1
5
8
1
1
8
1
8
4
7
4
5
7
1
14
9
4
95
1
5
1
4
95
1
'
4
(
4
7
8
)
8
7
$
5
8
7
8
8
1
5
8
1
1
8
1
98
7
8
7
8
(
7
8
4
1
8$
8
7
5
6
4
4
$
*
7
7
8
5
8
4
5
4
5
8
7
5
8
1
1
4
5
7
8
(
8
1
5
8
8
1
1
7
4
1
4
78
4
5
6
4
5
6
4
8
7
4
5
1
48
0
5
*
0
51
1
4
8
8
4
)
4
5
8
7
4
5
1
8
5
1
7
5
6
8
4
5
9
8
1
8
4
7
8
5
94
7
8
7
1
5
5
7
4
5
8
8
48
7
4
8
7
5
6
8
)
8
5
1
8
1
0 8
7
4
8
5
5
6
4
5
8
1
8
8
5
8
8
4
5
9
8
4
7
6
8
5
'8
7
4
6
7
9
1
8
8
58
4
8
8
4
7
8
1
5
8
1
1
8
1
4
8
5
4
7
8
8
4
8
8
4
8
5
4
7
4
8
8
5
8
7
5
6
5
5
7
8
8
8
58
8
5
6
8
4
5
4
5
8
1
1
5
%
%
4
7
1
8
4
5
7
4
5
+4
988
7
1
9
1
1
8
8
1
4
8
8
1
8
8
1
8
9
6
48
7
5
8
5
7
4
6
7
1
1
4
8
7
51
4
5
8
4
4
48
34
5
6
7
8
1
1
1
1
8
,5
8
7
1
4
5
5
48
98
5
9
1
5
5
4
5
8
5
8
7
$
%
%
-
.
1
4
5
8
)
5
8
8
7
4
6
7
8
8
8
7
8
(
7
8
8
51
5
88
7
5
8
9
8
94
8
5
8
4
6
8
1
4
8
7
8
8
6
48
7
5
8
5
4
5
8
8
5
1
98
7
8
58
5
8
4
7
4
5
8
1
8
4
7
8
4
4
1
8
8
5
4
6
8
1
1
1
5
8
/
8
7
8
8
4
5
8
9
1
4
5
8
8
5
9
8
8
-
1
5
8
1
1
9
1
8
7
5
3,01
2$
8
8
3
1
7
4
48
7
4
6
7
8
4
7
4
5
7
4
5
6
,
7
1
5
8
1
1
9
1
4
95
98
94
1
78
1
4
98
8
5
8
-
5
5
4
1
5
0
7
8
7
8
5
7
4
5
4
5
5
6
(
7
5
4
1
8
1
7
4
1
8
48
7
9
4
5
8
1
7
8
8
8
5
8
1
8
78
5
5
6
8
8
7
8
88
7
4
7
8
1
7
48
30!#
0
#
4
94
6
4
%
%
4
5
1
5
-
5
4
4
5
6
8
5
1
4
8
1
5
8
1
1
8
1
98
7
8
1
8
68
7
8
7
8
7
8
8
1
4
8
5
14
8
1
1
8
78
8
8
993
1
5
7
8
4
5
4
95
8
:
5
8
/8
1
/8
1
94
1
4
4
8
1
1
4
8
5
6
5
1
4
4
4
5
4
4
;
4
5
4
1
4
7
=
4
1
78
8
8
'8
4
5
9
1
7
8
8
5
8
1
8
4
7
5
6
4
64
4
8
7
6
4
8
94
7
4
5
5
/8
1
1
8
1
48
4
95
8
7
'8
7
1
4
4
?
8
:4
4
5
1
4
1
4
7
1
5
6
8
4
4
5
5
1
7
8
8
8
4
%
4
5
4
5
1
4
1
4
7
;
=
4
1
74
5
%
@
$
5
98
7
$4
4
5
6
7
4
5
1
98
1
8
4
7
%
%
;
'
6
8
4
5
1
8
7
8
6
4
4
8
1
5
8
1
8
7
8
4
5
1
:4
4
5
1
1
4
94
8
8
1
3
64
4
5
24
6
4
4
7
;
A
4
5
5
1
58
1
1
$
18
8
7
4
7
@
4
5
2
5
4
5
8
(
8
1
4
5
988
7
1
4
5
$
5
8
7
1
5
8
1
1
9
1
7
8
5
=
8
4
7
7
4
8
5
8
5
'
4
67
94
5
1
1
88
5
#
8
7
64
9
5
B
8
7
7
4
4
8
5
7
8
1
+8
6
4
1
4
8
%
%
8
@
A
;
;
4
8
4
8
8
1
4
1
1
4
71
8
74
7
5
8
5
5
7
4
5
4
5
9
1
8
'6
%
'6
%
1
81
5
7
4
5
1
8
8
51
4
954
8
5
8
1
1
7
4
6
7
1
5
67
7
88
8
4
7
/
8
67
1
5
8
94
7
4
%
4
5
C
1
1
8
7
$
4
8
98
1
94
7
4
7
8
5
4
5
5
8
4
95
%
4
5
94
7
44
8
1
5
D8
9
74
7
B4
7
5
-4
5
5
+8
7
8
8
5
4
6
;
$4
4
4
7
%
4
5
67
5
48
4
88
5
8
7
14
4
8
3
1
7
4
48
7
4
6
7
644
4
B
4
7
36#
D8
91
7
8
4
78
7
6
8
8
7
8
5
6
8
4
1
1
5
8
1
1
8
1
98
7
8
1
4
48
%
%
7
4
7
48
4
5
7
4
6
7
8
1
8
8
5
.
(
4
7
8
1
8
5
1
98
7
8
8
)
18
84
7
8
8
7
4
5
1
98
7
8
7
4
8
1
1
8
-
8
8
5
6
8
1
4
8
5
8
%
%
7
44
E
8
7
8
1
5
1
5
8
1
1
9
8
6
48
7
5
8
5
9
1
8
7
8
4
4
67
.
1
17
6
6
5
6
1
1
5
8
1
1
1
4
4
5
1
6
4
4
5
5
8
4
6
8
5
4
7
48
5
4
9
8
7
4
7
'6
%
3
-0
4
4
4
8
4
7
A
01
5
4
7
48
7
6
4
8
1
3
0 8
7
5
6
81
7
1
5
8
)
4
5
1
4
6
8
7
8
7
4
-
1
1
4
5
4
18
'
4
F
GH
I
J
F
KL
M
NL
O
F
P
Q
F
L
F
I
O
Q
P
R
O
S
J
F
T
U
GT
V
R
WL
J
O
I
X
F
Y
O
S
R
F
M
T
ZZO
S
J
Q
F
J
T
F
I
L
S
J
Q
[
ZL
M
]^
ZL
P
V
X
M
T
ZX
_`
a
b
c
de
f
ge
h
34
7
6
i
%
$
%
%
j8
+4
1
8
-8
1
5
#
4
8
!
61
!8
1
8
78
k
k
%
%
34
7
6
i
%
$
%
%
j8
+4
1
8
-8
1
5
#
4
8
!
61
!8
1
8
78
k
k
%
%
4
98
7
8
'3D0
01
0
lm
n
o
p
m
q
o
r
s
t
q
u
s
v
w
x
x
w
ys
p
m
q
o
r
z{
|}~{
€
#
7
k
k
%
%
6
8
0

6. 0
1
2
3
2
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
8
1
6
6
8
2
2
6
8
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
2
5
6
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
7
8
19
2
7
2
5
6
7
17
1
57
6
8
8
8
6
2
7
7
9
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
2
3
7
26
6
8
8
1
7
1
2
8
1
0
2
83
8
7
2
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
61
8
2
1
2
9
5
8
8
6
37
5
8
1
757
58
87
3
2
9
7
1
2
7
26
8
3
2
9
58
87
2
9
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
8
2
9
1!7
9
7
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
6
8
1
6
92
7
1
6
6
7
9
2
9
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
#
6
2
9
6
9
$
7
2
6
8
8
37
%
0
8
$
8
17
8
2
3
8
2
7
8
3
$
8
12
7
2
2 1
3
'28
0
2
3
0
3
$
8
8
1
2
8
(
3
!
6
3
7
1
2
6
7
$
8
8
6
79
7
)
8
6
22
9
18
2
6
7
6
7
1
1
6
17
7
2
1
7
6
2
6
8
8
6
7
5
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
2
2
2
7
8
19
$
7
6
7
1
2
8
$7
6
8
1
9
8
1
*
19
8
1
+
6
8
6
8
3
2
9
)
8
3
6
8
17$
)
8
7
8
6
8
1
2
8
8
1
8
,
8
*
1
2
!
8
5
58
87
)
8
8
5
1
7
6
2
7
1
6
1
2
8
1
2
8
5
9
(
6
,3
6
7
3
$
8
2
7
7
8
1
78
6
73
7
1
)
8
8
6
73
'6
!
6
88
8
1
6
1
2
5
2
7
$
7
2
2
1
0
2
2
8
2
2
9
7
,
8
2
7
77
73
8
12
9
8
5
12
7
3
-7
5
2
3
6
7
8
6
7
-
1
2
3
6
3
2
3
6
8
2
9
8
56
3
,
1
5
2
3
6
8
6
11
2
7
2
5
7
8
1
2
3
0
2
5
1
7
1
6
8
1
8
1
68
2
9
1
*
0
8
!7
9
2
3
8
1
2
8
6
$
5
2
3
.
2
9
8
6
6
2
*
/2
$
8
8
1
2
8
8
19
$
7
2
9
6
$
7
12
7
1
2
8
8
19
$
72
9
6
$
/2
9
72
9
!
2
6
8
2
*
1
0
7
6
8
6
5
6
2
6
1
8
(
8
1
6 ,
73
3
3
68
7
0
)
9
2
8
6
7
5
8
2
9
5
6
9
6
7
(
8
1
8
6
0
7!
6
3
7
+
2
5
6
5
8
8
17$
8
2
7
6
0
8
3
2
3
3 3
6
7
7
8
1
3
2
6
3
1
2
7
3
8
6
3
0!7
9
$
6
6
8
1
7
2
757
8
1
3
2
9
5
7
8
1
2
1
3
3
8
!7
9
8
1
6
2
2
6
8
1
3
5
+
7
5
1
2
3
2
3
7
4
6
8
5
2
3
0
2
8
8
6
8
8
2
8
3
8
1
3
2
3
(
3
7
28
3
9
7!
6
'8
$
2
8
3
2
9
3
2
3
3
1
2
8
1
3
6
!
7
6
3
3
7
6
8
3
6
8
1
6
7
2
8
8
1
1
9
6
1
8
8
1
6
0
2
$
8
7
8
1
8
1
6
7
28
7
2
2
28
8
6
1
2
3
6
2
2
3
6
(
3
6
8
229
8
7
2
3
8
1
6
28
2
9
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
8
9
9
$
7
6
2
0
2
8
2
8
8
1
2
8
0
2
7
7$
1
6
8
1
2
8
9
2
7
6
3
8
(
9
5 8
61
8
1
2
7
2
9
6
7
8
1
3
2
9
56
7
8
9
:;
=;
9
?
@
9
;
9
7
@
?
A
B
8
9
C
D
9
5C
E
A
F;
8
7
G
9
:H
9
I9
J
B
A
9
C
KK
B
8
@
9
8
C
7
;
B
8
@
L
M
K;
N9
O
K;
?
E
P
C
KP
QR
S
T
U
VW
X
YW
Z
/
9
7
6
1
8
[
]
^
_2
8
` 3
6
2
0
a6
1
8
a 7
!3
b
c
c
^
de
f
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
e
g
h
l
o
h
p
q
p
k
g
o
r
p

7. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 04/03/2021 Page : A06
April 3, 2021 7:12 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
A6 Saturday, April 3, 2021 www.thedailyreporter.com
I
n this column, over
the past three years,
we have ranted about
some serious topics, with
a little satire and a lot of
tongue-in-cheek. Now,
there is a life and death
subject to tackle, mostly
death – Mass shootings
returned to the U.S. in
March. Of course, they
were never really gone;
just socially distanced.
One definition of a
mass shooting is four or
more people shot or killed
in a single incident (not
counting the shooter).
In 2020, our biggest
year ever, there were
611 shooting incidents
that fit those criteria,
almost 200 more than the
previous year. If you do
the math that comes to 51
incidents PER MONTH.
Of course, after each
mass killing, we run
through the range of
emotions, starting with
shock and horror, fol-
lowed by revulsion. Then,
we share the virtues of the
dead, express our com-
passion for the survivors,
and condemn of the killer.
As we inevitably voice
our concern about how
to curb future violence,
cautions are raised to
not act too quickly – we
should let our emotions
cool and then figure out
what to do. Really? Why?
There were 19,379 gun-
violence deaths in the
US in 2020, as well as an
additional 24,090 gun-
suicides. By comparison,
the U.S. has 100 times
as many gun deaths, per
capita, as Great Britain.
A March/2021 poll
by Morning Consult
showed that 84 percent
of voters favored univer-
sal background checks
— Republicans, 77 per-
cent, Independents,
82 percent, and
Democrats, 91 percent.
“This is not and should
not be a partisan issue—it
is an American issue,”
President Biden noted
last month. Come on, Mr.
President; you cannot be
that naïve. EVERYTHING
is now a partisan issue.
Be clear, despite some
argument to the contrary,
that no one is suggest-
ing Congress rescind the
second amendment. And,
while the right to bear arms
was valid when written
by James Madison in 1791,
and remains so today,
perhaps we can admit that
circumstances, and tech-
nology, have changed a bit
over the last 230 years.
Maybe it is time to for-
give our forefathers for not
having the ability to antici-
pate every technological
advance that could occur
in 230 years. From an era
when the state-of-the-art
weapon was an inaccurate,
single-shot musket that
took a full minute to load,
Madison’s team may not
have been able to antici-
pate a weapon capable of
600 shots per minute.
1791 —To load the mus-
ket, you half-cocked it,
then tore open, with your
teeth, the paper cartridge
containing the ball and
powder charge. Next,
you opened the pan of the
lock, primed the pan with
a small amount of pow-
der and closed it. Then
you poured the rest of the
powder down the barrel,
placed the ball and paper
wadding in the muzzle
and rammed them home
with the ramrod, seating
the ball firmly (not too
tightly) on the powder
charge. Then you brought
the piece to full cock, and
you were ready to fire.
Wow!
If James Madison could
come back today, he would
probably be amazed by
electric lights, indoor
plumbing - and ten shots
per second. Perhaps
assault weapons were not
the intended “right” that
Madison penned in 1791.
Nothing will change. We
can hope, but we know.
Because Sandy Hook
School, in 2012, was the
benchmark. If nothing
changed after murder-
ing twenty 6-year-olds,
nothing will ever change.
But the saddest part?
No one is even discussing
outlawing assault weapons
because, in this partisan
world, that cannot happen.
Theissueisuniversalback-
ground checks, supported
by 84 percent of the public.
Congress cannot agree
on universal background
checks. BACKGROUND
CHECKS!! How will they
ever get anything done?
Note to Congress:
Represent us!!
Because we pay taxes to
pay you. And remember,
we fought a revolution,
where we raised muskets
to fight against taxation
without representa-
tion. Get my musket.
Curt MacRae is a
resident of Coldwater.
Send comments to rants-
bymac@gmail.com
RANT S BY MAC
Get my musket, it’s time to fight
CurtMacRae
OPINION/REGION
U.S. ends probe of GM
headlamp failure
U.S.safetyregulatorshave
determined that two recalls
of older General Motors
vehiclesforheadlightfailures
without seeking any more
recalls. In 2017, the agency
opened a probe to see if
recalls from 2014 and 2015
coveredenoughvehicles.The
investigationincludednearly
318,000 GM full-size SUVs
of low-beam and daytime
runninglights.Investigators
lookedintowhetherallvehi-
clesequippedwiththesame
moduleshouldberecalled.
Buttheagencysaysindoc-
umentsthattherecallsanda
IN BRIEF
Coldwater Community Schools to Host Kindergarten
Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year
Coldwater Community Schools welcomes future Kindergarten and Young
Fives students to Open Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year!
Open enrollment is offered to families with children who will be five years
old on or before September 1, 2021.
Children who will be five years old between September 1
st
and
December 1, 2021, may also be enrolled with a school readiness waiver.
Registration will be held at Max Larsen Elementary by appointment,
beginning in April from 10am-6pm on the following Wednesdays:
April 14
TH
, 21
st
, 28
th
, and May 5
th
.
Please call Max Larsen Elementary at 517-279-5960 to schedule an
appointment.
Parents/Guardians registering their child are encouraged to bring the
following required documentation to their scheduled appointment: the
child’s official birth certificate, a current immunization record,
parent/guardian proof of residency (utility bill, mail item, etc.) and
a valid picture ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.).
During the enrollment process, children may be given a brief assessment and
will have the opportunity to meet with teachers and other staff members.
“This will be an enjoyable experience for your son or daughter and the
beginning of a wonderful partnership as we work together to support
your child”, said Superintendent Terry Ann Whelan.
For further information and to schedule an appointment to register your

9. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 05/01/2021
May 3, 2021 8:15 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 | 5A
OPINION
15 W. Pearl St. Coldwater, MI 49036
A Gannett Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD
Lisa Vickers ........................................ General Manager/
Regional Advertising Director
Candice Phelps ................... Regional Managing Editor
Troy Tennyson ............................................ Sports Editor
First, a little vaccine history:
Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine in1953 and the
disease was wiped out quickly in the U.S., although it
tragically still lingers in some nations.
Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine in
1796, and health experts estimate that his vaccine has
saved more than a half-billion lives. Smallpox was
considered fully eradicated in 1979.
George Washington inoculated his troops against
smallpox, with a less effective method than Jenner
would develop 20 years later, and it helped him to win
the Revolutionary war, and create a new country.
In 2021, the U.S. is 40 percent vaccinated against
COVID-19. After the Trump administration supported
multiple vaccines being developed in record-setting
time, and the Biden administration ramped up distri-
bution to unexpected levels, a return to normal ap-
peared imminent. But wait.
Normalcy is on hold, because political leaders are
now deciding, after 230 million U.S. vaccinations have
already been administered, vaccines may not be safe,
or necessary. What causes vaccine hesitancy, espe-
cially from conservatives?
Last week, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said
he sees “no reason to be pushing vaccines on people,”
asking “Why is this big push to make sure everybody
gets a vaccine?” He added I’m getting highly suspi-
cious of what’s happening here.”
Johnson concluded “if you have a vaccine, quite
honestly, what do you care if your neighbor has one or
not?” He is not alone, as politicians jump on board.
Mr. Johnson, we care because 570,000 Americans
have died. We care because the world has lost 3.2 mil-
lionlives.Wecarebecausepeoplecontinuetodie.And
the economy is dying – do you care about that?
Johnson never explained what made him suspi-
cious. With his previous denials, he has indicated that
COVID-19 is a hoax perpetrated by someone, for some
reason. The implication is that any pandemic restric-
tion, that could save lives, is actually a plot to impede
Americans’ freedoms. But who benefits from such a
plot?
It is disappointing that supposedly well-educated,
American politicians are willing to play politics while
turning their backs on constituents, on America, on
the world.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell bucked
the trend, saying, “I can say, as a Republican man, as
soon as it was my turn, I took the vaccine. I would en-
courage all Republican men to do that,” McConnell
said.
Health officials, almost universally, endorse vac-
cines as a tool to move the country to herd-immunity,
back to work, and back to normal.
Doesn’t Johnson want that? Is this hesitancy sim-
ply another political game? Is it just another chance to
play partisan politics, a means of making it more diffi-
cult for the opposition? Donald Trump got vaccinated;
you might think that alone would end hesitancy.
Operation Warp Speed was effective in timeframes
that may lead some to believe that the COVID-19 vac-
cines were developed overnight. Instead, they result-
ed from research dating back to 1930, when a strange
respiratory disease ravaged poultry farms across
North Dakota and Minnesota. Vaccines were de-
signed,testedinanimalmodels,andfoundtobeeffec-
tive against SARS and other coronavirus strains.
Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor College of Medicine
in Houston, noted that once the COVID-19 genetic se-
quencewasdetermined,whichhappenedquickly,sci-
entists said, ‘Yeah, we got this because we know how
to do it.’ Hotez added “It was all about plug and play
based on all that experience.” This vaccine was NOT
rushed, and the testing was thorough – no shortcuts.
Note to Ron Johnson: Perhaps you should care
whether your neighbors (your constituents) are vacci-
nated because you care about their health, and the
health of those around them. Or you might care about
hospitals and morgues that are being pushed beyond
their limits, while you turn vaccines into politics. Or,
sadly, maybe you just don’t care.
Getting a vaccination is a private choice; but pro-
tecting everyone is a social, humanitarian, and civic
obligation.
Take a shot.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater. Send com-
ments to rantsbymac@gmail.com.
Take a shot,
please…
OTHER VIEWS
In our tumultuous time, I’ve seen hypocrisy and
hysteria from people across the political spectrum. It
doesn’t belong to only one party or one type of people.
What this moment calls for is humility. Humility in
admitting that we don’t know everything. Humility in
acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers. But
together, we might.
I posted what I thought was a non-controversial
message Feb. 12 on Facebook when the U.S. Senate
unanimously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
to Officer Eugene Goodman. My post read: “I’m grate-
ful for the Capitol Police. Their bravery prevented a
coup.”
The comments I received from my real-life friends
who voted for Donald Trump were swift. “What is
your definition of a coup?” one asked. Another friend,
Julie, commented, “Oh. No. We disagree. The Portland
and Seattle rioters for months were better armed.
Let’s get a grip. That’s insane. Hugs!”
Call me crazy, but I really want to understand why
so many people who voted for Trump, including my
friends, equate the 2020 summer “riots” with what
happened on Jan. 6. One was an outcry against abuse
by the police; the other was an attempt by a small
group of Trump supporters to topple the U.S. govern-
ment.
In my mind, there is no comparison. One is moral
and the other deluded. When I called the comparison
a false equivalency, this was my friend’s reply:
Julie: “If Republicans were seriously going to take
over, they would have brought, I don’t know, a gun?
The riots and looting across America were well
planned, well executed and encouraged.” (I have to
confess she made me laugh, but then, I didn’t think it
was “Republicans” who were trying to topple Con-
gress. I thought the insurrectionists on Jan. 6 were
white nationalists – who are not a laughing matter.)
You could say I find my conservative friends vex-
ing. Or that I find my progressive friends annoyingly
self-righteous. In other words, I am bothered by the
accusations of everyone about our fellow Americans. I
hear the denigration in their tone, as they point to
hysteria and hypocrisy of the “other.”
My conservative friend Julie has graciously agreed
to share part of our private conversation.
Me: “Hey you. You like to compare the summer pro-
tests to the D.C. event. This article titled, ‘Look For In-
tent When Comparing The Capitol Mob To Black Lives
Matter, Historian Says,’ outlines my thinking about it.
How does it land for you? I feel like we are talking past
each other. And I’d like to read something that res-
onates with you. Thanks.”
Julie: “We can start with one huge misunderstand-
ing. Most Republicans don’t believe the BLM ‘pro-
tests’ were the problem. It was the rioting by Antifa
and socialists/communists. Mostly white, on the
back of the BLM movement. Basically. In the greatest
display of white privilege I have ever seen, they
jumped on the back of one of the most agreed upon
messages in the past decade and destroyed it with
their shenanigans. Also, the rioters were not BLM pro-
testors. Everyone knows this…”
She went on to describe how Democrats are taking
the opportunity to bash Republicans as racist before
she drops in this:
Julie: “Rep(ublican)s aren’t saying there is a ‘com-
parison.’ They are laying out a clear and prevalent hy-
pocrisy.”
She then writes that Republicans are called racist
no matter what they do. We have a couple of ex-
changes where I’m minimally responsive, expressing
empathy (I think), and then she writes:
Julie: “We are just sick of the hysteria that ensues
when a couple of idiots do something phenomenally
against our (Republican) principles. And the result is
mass hysterical screaming from the left that they are
big victims of this massive uprising by 74 million
Trump supporters. I think what is being missed is this
feeling that Republicans have every time we so much
as utter ‘hello.’ (Then) there is mass hysteria about our
unrealized privilege and our unbelievable ignorance.
It really has gotten to that point.”
I kept my comments to a minimum and Julie con-
tinues on her rant. We continued our exchange for
nearly an hour, then picked it up again the next day.
Meanwhile, on the public thread, she drops this in:
Julie: “The Rep(ublican) position is, ‘Why do we
have to take some hysterical people seriously, and we
did, and Democrats can continue to incite violence in
the name of protests.”
Violence against conservatives?
Others piled on the public thread, sharing links
about the shooter at the congressional baseball prac-
tice game, anarchist signs, the harassment of GOP
lawmakers exiting the White House, and of course,
Kathy Griffin.
By this time, it’s late at night. I was triggered. Julie
was ranting. And in the end, all we could agree on was
to keep texting and talking.
The next day Julie finished with this private com-
ment:
Julie: “I think we are both thinkers. But I think
(what) you are feeling from me and other Republicans
(is) the rage that had been there for 30 years. Not 4
years. 30 years. 30 years of being silent. 30 years of
being the ‘silent majority.’ 30 years of not being al-
lowed to speak because we are automatically dis-
missed as racist or whatever. Forgive us if we speak
up. Once.”
To reiterate, I’ve seen hypocrisy and hysteria from
people across the political spectrum. Please offer each
other your humility. And honor their human dignity.
Yes, Julie and I are still talking, and I’m still vexed.
But I’m not giving up.
Our national aspirations of “liberty and justice for
all” are precious. We have agreed that violence is not
our path. Nonviolent engagement through conversa-
tions, community organizing, and neighbor to neigh-
bor friendliness is how we walk forward together.
Debilyn Molineaux co-founded and is CEO of the
Bridge Alliance. She also co-founded the National
Conversation Project and Living Room Conversa-
tions.
How to have difficult
conversations about politics
Food pantry donations greatly appreciated
2020 was a difficult year for many of our clients at
the Branch Area Food Pantry and the population in
general.
As a result, BAFP adopted our food box distribution
method to meet the challenge. We moved from a
three-day-a-week walk-through operation to a one-
day (Tuesday) drive-through operation. This change,
along with an increased number of clients, created a
greater tug on the pantry’s budget.
Fortunately, our donors, both big and small, came
through. We thank each of you for your generosity and
commitment to the families in Branch County who
needed food assistance during this trying time.
Our many donors include individuals, organiza-
tions, and businesses. It’s been a practice not to list
the individual donors as per their request. We would
like to recognize the larger organizations and busi-
nesses that have been very generous in 2020: Aldi,
Coldwater Noon Rotary, Asama, Coldwater Sunrise
Rotary, Aunt Millies, Family Fare, Big Lot’s, Lakeland
Correctional Facility, Century Bank, Mora Farms,
Clemens Foods, Promedica Medical Staff, Coldwater
Daily Reporter, Southern Michigan Bank and Trust,
Coldwater Exchange Club and Walmart Distribution
Center.
Again, thank you very much.
Carolyn Morrison, Coldwater
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Debilyn Molineaux
Special to USA TODAY
Rants by Mac
Curt MacRae
Guest columnist
Coldwater Daily Reporter

10. 01
2
4
5
6
7
8
4
7
94
8
!
!
#
$%
!
!
%
#
%
%
'
(
%
'
)(
%
!
*
*
(
(
!
!
$#
+
$%
!
!
,
*
-
*
.
/
0
1
2
3
/
4
3
2
3
5
/
6
7
4
8
9
:
3
5
3
:
/
;
8
3
=
/
1
4
/
1
6
?
9
2
9
8
?
/
7
5
/
1
/
6
5
@
8
1
:
3
5
/
7
5
/
0
@
;1
4
5
9
A
0
?
8
B
/
C
@
?
/
.
/
1
;/
1
/
6
7
4
6
3
5
4
3
:
/
6
9
?
9
D
3
4
/
E0
7
/
?
5
9
3
8
/
?
7
/
6
7
4
8
9
:
3
5
/
1
=
=
/
8
9
:
3
8
/
7
1
4
/
9
8
8
@
3
/
1
4
:
/
?
7
/
1
:
2
7
6
1
?
3
/
7
5
/
?
0
3
/
;1
F
7
5
9
?
G
/
H7
EB
/
?
0
1
?
/
8
7
@
4
:
3
:
/
=
9
I
3
8
7
;3
?
0
9
4
A
/
.
/
E7
@
=
:
/
=
9
I
3
/
?
7
/
0
3
1
5
/
1
/
J
7
=
9
?
9
6
9
1
4
/
8
1
/
1
4
:
/
;3
1
4
G
K1
8
?
/
E3
3
I
B
/
E9
?
0
/
?
0
1
?
/
7
C
F
3
6
?
9
2
3
/
9
4
/
;9
4
:
B
/
.
/
8
3
4
?
/
1
4
/
3
;1
9
=
/
?
7
/
;@
=
?
9
J
=
3
J
7
=
9
?
9
6
1
=
/
1
4
:
/
=
1
E/
3
4
7
5
6
3
;3
4
?
/
=
3
1
:
3
5
8
/
9
4
/
7
@
5
/
6
7
@
4
?
B
/
1
8
I
9
4
A
/
7
5
/
?
0
3
9
5
7
J
9
4
9
7
4
8
B
/
1
4
:
/
J
3
5
0
1
J
8
/
1
/
8
7
=
@
?
9
7
4
B
/
7
5
/
1
4
/
9
8
8
@
3
/
?
0
1
?
/
.
/
C
3
=
9
3
2
3
/
0
1
8
/
1
4
3
A
1
?
9
2
3
/
9
;J
1
6
?
/
7
4
/
7
@
5
/
6
7
;;@
4
9
?
G
L0
1
?
/
3
;1
9
=
/
9
8
/
0
3
5
3
M
N
-
O
%
#
!
$
$
$
#
P
%
$
%
(
'
#
!
#
*
'
!
%
#
!
%
#
$
$
#
%
(
!
(
$%
(
%
#
!
Q
#
%
#
%
%
'
%
!
*
R
%
!
%
%
(
!
!
!
!
'
%
%
%
*
S
$
(
%
T
#
#
%
#
!
!
!
$#
$%
P
%
%
!
%
!
'
%
(
*
U
P
%
%
'
%
%
%
%
%
#
%
#
!
V
'
%
W
R
%
!
%
%
N
%
(
X
$
!
$
%
(
%
%
'
%
$
%
!
%
#
%
(
%
(
*
-
%
'
#
%
%
*
X
.
/
5
3
6
3
9
2
3
:
/
5
3
8
J
7
4
8
3
8
/
5
7
;/
;@
=
?
9
J
=
3
/
9
4
:
9
2
9
:
@
1
=
8
/
1
4
:
/
1
;/
?
0
1
4
I
@
=
/
7
5
8
@
6
0
/
?
0
7
@
A
0
?
@
=
/
9
4
2
7
=
2
3
;3
4
?
/
5
7
;/
7
@
5
/
6
7
;;@
4
9
?
/
=
3
1
:
3
5
8
G
Y7
E3
2
3
5
B
/
6
7
4
8
?
5
1
9
4
3
:
/
C
/
=
3
A
1
=
/
J
5
3
6
3
:
3
4
?
8
B
/
3
1
6
0
/
5
3
8
J
7
4
8
3
/
7
3
5
3
:
/
1
8
@
J
J
7
5
?
9
4
A
/
7
J
9
4
9
7
4
/
E9
?
0
7
@
?
/
8
7
=
@
?
9
7
4
G
H0
9
=
3
/
4
7
?
/
=
9
;9
?
9
4
A
/
?
0
3
/
8
6
7
J
3
/
?
7
/
1
4
/
8
9
4
A
@
=
1
5
/
Z
5
9
A
0
?
B
[
/
7
4
3
/
5
3
8
J
7
4
8
3
4
7
?
3
:
/
?
0
1
?
/
E3
/
8
0
7
@
=
:
/
1
=
=
/
Z
0
1
2
3
/
1
/
5
9
A
0
?
/
4
7
?
/
?
7
/
3
3
=
/
7
3
4
:
3
:
/
7
5
?
0
5
3
1
?
3
4
3
:
B
/
C
@
?
/
1
J
J
1
5
3
4
?
=
/
?
0
1
?
/
9
8
4
?
/
1
8
/
9
;J
7
5
?
1
4
?
/
1
8
/
1
4
/
1
;3
4
:
;3
4
?
?
0
1
?
/
E1
8
/
E5
9
?
?
3
4
/
9
4
/
1
4
:
/
7
5
/
1
/
:
9
3
5
3
4
?
/
?
9
;3
G
[
/
]
9
4
1
=
=
B
/
8
7
;3
7
4
3
5
3
6
7
A
4
9
D
3
8
/
?
0
1
?
/
^
_
`
^
/
E1
8
/
1
/
=
7
4
A
/
?
9
;3
/
1
A
7
G
a;3
5
9
6
1
B
/
1
8
/
1
/
6
7
@
4
?
5
B
/
1
:
2
7
6
1
?
3
8
/
7
5
/
0
@
;1
4
/
5
9
A
0
?
8
/
9
4
/
4
1
?
9
7
4
8
/
1
5
7
@
4
:
?
0
3
/
E7
5
=
:
G
/
a;3
5
9
6
1
4
8
B
/
1
8
/
1
/
J
3
7
J
=
3
B
/
:
3
;1
4
:
/
?
0
3
9
5
/
9
4
:
9
2
9
:
@
1
=
/
5
9
A
0
?
8
B
8
7
;3
?
9
;3
8
/
E9
?
0
/
3
4
?
0
@
8
9
1
8
;B
/
8
7
;3
?
9
;3
8
/
E9
?
0
/
J
1
8
8
9
7
4
B
/
1
4
:
8
7
;3
?
9
;3
8
/
1
?
/
?
0
3
/
3
b
J
3
4
8
3
/
7
/
7
?
0
3
5
8
/
E0
7
/
;1
/
4
7
?
/
0
7
=
:
/
?
0
3
/
8
1
;3
C
3
=
9
3
/
8
8
?
3
;8
G
a:
;9
?
?
3
:
=
B
/
J
3
7
J
=
3
/
;1
I
3
/
1
/
=
7
?
/
7
/
:
3
6
9
8
9
7
4
8
/
1
4
:
c
7
5
/
8
?
1
?
3
;3
4
?
8
/
E0
3
5
3
;
/
5
3
8
J
7
4
8
3
/
9
8
/
Z
.
/
F
@
8
?
/
:
7
4
?
/
A
3
?
/
9
?
G
[
/
.
/
7
@
/
6
0
7
7
8
3
/
?
7
/
:
3
/
7
@
5
/
0
1
9
5
J
@
5
J
=
3
/
7
5
/
E3
1
5
/
7
@
5
/
J
1
4
?
8
/
C
3
=
7
E/
7
@
5
/
C
@
?
?
B
/
.
/
;1
/
?
0
9
4
I
/
Z
.
/
F
@
8
?
/
:
7
4
?
A
3
?
/
9
?
[
/
C
@
?
/
9
?
/
0
1
8
/
4
7
/
6
7
4
8
3
d
@
3
4
6
3
/
?
7
/
;3
G
e@
?
/
:
7
/
E3
/
5
3
1
=
=
/
4
3
3
:
/
?
0
3
/
J
@
C
=
9
6
/
7
C
8
6
3
4
9
?
9
3
8
/
1
4
:
/
?
0
3
/
6
7
4
5
7
4
?
1
?
9
7
4
1
=
8
?
1
4
6
3
f
/
.
8
/
9
?
/
?
0
1
?
/
9
;J
7
5
?
1
4
?
/
?
7
/
;1
I
3
/
8
@
6
0
/
1
/
8
?
1
?
3
;3
4
?
/
E9
?
0
/
1
4
7
C
2
9
7
@
8
/
=
1
6
I
/
7
/
5
3
8
J
3
6
?
/
1
4
:
/
1
4
/
3
2
3
4
/
;7
5
3
/
7
C
2
9
7
@
8
/
9
4
?
3
4
?
/
?
7
9
4
?
9
;9
:
1
?
3
f
.
/
6
1
5
3
/
=
9
?
?
=
3
/
E0
1
?
/
7
@
5
/
J
7
=
9
?
9
6
1
=
/
=
3
1
4
9
4
A
/
9
8
G
/
a4
:
/
E3
/
0
1
2
3
/
1
=
=
/
=
3
1
5
4
3
:
?
0
1
?
/
1
C
8
7
=
@
?
3
=
/
4
7
?
0
9
4
A
/
E9
=
=
/
1
=
?
3
5
/
?
0
7
8
3
/
7
J
9
4
9
7
4
8
/
1
4
E1
B
/
8
7
/
E0
1
?
/
9
8
7
@
5
/
J
7
9
4
?
f
g4
3
/
?
0
9
4
A
/
.
/
6
1
4
/
1
8
8
@
5
3
/
7
@
/
9
8
/
?
0
1
?
/
?
0
7
8
3
/
:
9
8
J
=
1
8
/
6
3
5
?
1
9
4
=
/
9
4
=
@
3
4
6
3
?
0
3
/
5
3
8
J
3
6
?
/
.
/
0
1
2
3
/
7
5
/
7
@
5
/
7
J
9
4
9
7
4
G
/
a4
:
/
7
@
5
/
E9
=
=
9
4
A
4
3
8
8
/
?
7
/
J
5
7
@
:
=
:
9
8
J
=
1
/
7
@
5
/
2
9
3
E8
/
9
4
/
?
0
9
8
/
;1
4
4
3
5
B
/
@
4
:
7
@
C
?
3
:
=
/
6
5
3
1
?
3
8
/
1
/
9
5
8
?
9
;J
5
3
8
8
9
7
4
/
7
5
/
;3
h/
1
4
:
/
7
5
/
;
/
A
5
1
4
:
I
9
:
8
G
i9
A
0
?
8
/
1
5
3
/
4
7
?
/
1
C
8
7
=
@
?
3
G
H0
1
?
/
7
=
=
7
E8
/
9
8
/
1
/
E3
=
=
j
I
4
7
E4
/
d
@
7
?
3
B
/
1
?
?
5
9
C
@
?
3
:
/
?
7
/
;1
4
B
/
C
@
?
J
5
7
C
1
C
=
/
@
?
?
3
5
3
:
/
C
/
1
4
/
1
4
7
4
;7
@
8
/
F
@
:
A
3
/
:
@
5
9
4
A
/
8
3
4
?
3
4
6
9
4
A
G
/
.
4
/
?
0
3
F
@
:
A
3
8
/
5
@
=
9
4
A
/
7
4
/
1
4
/
1
8
8
1
@
=
?
/
6
1
8
3
B
/
E0
3
5
3
/
1
/
;1
4
/
6
=
1
9
;3
:
/
0
9
8
/
5
9
A
0
?
/
?
7
5
3
3
=
/
8
E9
4
A
/
0
9
8
/
1
5
;8
/
9
4
/
1
/
5
3
3
/
6
7
@
4
?
5
B
/
?
0
3
/
F
@
:
A
3
/
:
3
6
5
3
3
:
/
Z
k7
@
5
5
9
A
0
?
/
?
7
/
8
E9
4
A
/
7
@
5
/
1
5
;8
B
/
3
4
:
8
/
E0
3
5
3
/
?
0
3
/
7
?
0
3
5
/
;1
4
8
/
4
7
8
3
/
C
3
A
9
4
8
G
[
g@
6
0
l
/
m
/
4
7
8
3
/
0
@
5
?
8
/
?
7
:
1
G
n
o
p
%
%
n
!
$
*
U
)(
%
!
*
*
q5
r
8
s
t
u
v5
w
x@
5
?
/
m1
6
i1
3
/
y@
3
8
?
/
6
7
=
@
;4
9
8
?
x7
J
5
9
A
0
?
/
z/
{
|
|
}
j
{
|
{
^
/
y1
?
3
Y7
@
8
3
/
m3
:
9
1
B
/
.
4
6
G
/
~
7
;3
/
i9
A
0
?
8
/
i3
8
3
5
2
3
:
G
/

c
^

c
{
|
{
^
x7
J
5
9
A
0
?
/
z/
{
|
|
}
j
{
|
{
^
/
y1
?
3
Y7
@
8
3
/
m3
:
9
1
B
/
.
4
6
G
/
~
7
;3
/
i9
A
0
?
8
/
i3
8
3
5
2
3
:
G
/

c
^

c
{
|
{
^
€
7
E3
5
3
:
/
C
/
Lx‚a
ƒ.
a
~
1
?
@
5
:
1
B
/
|

c
^

c
{
|
{
^
/
/
/
€
1
A
3
/
G
a|


11. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 06/05/2021
June 9, 2021 9:24 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021 | 5A
OPINION
15 W. Pearl St. Coldwater, MI 49036
A Gannett Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD
Lisa Vickers ........................................ General Manager/
Regional Advertising Director
Candice Phelps ................... Regional Managing Editor
Troy Tennyson ............................................ Sports Editor
It is no secret that our political parties have policy
imperfections, questionable messaging, and an al-
most obsessive focus on reelection. I have written, in
past columns, of ongoing concerns about political
partisanship and the quest for Congressional power,
at seemingly any cost.
And last week, because our two parties cannot
agree on how to support their constituents, or on the
time of day, they have decided to fight over whether a
commission should be appointed to investigate the
Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
Congress investigated past events, such as the
Kennedy assassination, Watergate, Whitewater, and
9-1-1. State legislatures are currently investing great
amounts of working capital to alter rules so that their
partisan supporters may be more apt to vote than the
opposition. But we are planning to skip any further
investigation of our own citizens’ attack on our na-
tion’s Capitol. Really?
When the commission was proposed, Democrats
attempted to slant the makeup with a partisanship
majority, and some left-leaning procedural process-
es. Republicans balked. So, Democrats amazingly ac-
ceded to all Republican sticking points. And Repub-
licans balked.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) opposed the commission
while deflecting questions about “putting country
above party,” when pressed by Fox News host Chris
Wallace. Wallace noted that the former chairs of the
9/11 Commission recently released a statement sup-
porting the creation of a Jan. 6 commission that puts
“country above party, without bias.”
Blunt sidestepped. “Well, I think it’s too early to
create a commission,” was Blunt’s spin. “And I be-
lieve Republicans in the Senate will decide that it’s
too early to create that commission. Commissions of-
ten don’t work at all.” Too early, Roy? Why is it always
“too early” for Congress to act?
Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, stated
that “It’s not all clear what new facts our additional
investigation, yet another commission, could actu-
ally lay on top of existing efforts by law enforcement
and Congress.” Good point, Mitch. I always told my
kids not to try too hard or reach too high. You set the
bar.
Kevin McCarthy, Republican House leader, ap-
pointed one of his own to negotiate the terms for a
commission. After his minion got that agreement,
and concessions on every issue presented to Demo-
crats, McCarthy threw his own worker-bee under the
bus, voting NO.
His flawless logic -- “So you can do January 6, you
could do what’s happening there, you could do what-
ever is causing it. Wouldn’t you want, if this is going
to be used to ask for funding to make sure the Capitol
is safe, why wouldn’t you look at everything? That’s
all I’m saying.” Thanks Kevin, for clearing that up.
Who is writing your speeches?
A commission could benefit Democrats politically,
allowing them to keep the insurrection in front of vot-
ers for a longer cycle (into 2022 elections). Is that the
real motive? Republicans see a commission hurting
their chances to reclaim Congress in 2022. So, is each
party posturing simply so they might regain or retain
power?
Was Officer Sicknick’s mother just a pawn in this
battle, as she pleaded with Congressional Republi-
cans, the self-proclaimed party of law and order, to
commit to an investigation? Do Democrats really
care about a bi-partisan investigation, or is the com-
mission a tool to keep the heat on Republicans and
hold onto Congressional majorities? Cynicism runs
high.
Albert Einstein once said, “The world will not be
destroyed by those that do evil, but by those who
watch them without doing anything.” But it’s just
“too early” to act.
When will we be able to get past party and do the
right thing for a public who should be demanding ex-
actly that? A May survey released by YouGov and The
Economist showed 56 percent of U.S. adults “some-
what” or “strongly” approve of the commission; 29
percent were opposed. So, who do you guys repre-
sent?
And we end by going back to Abraham Lincoln,
who said “…if you want to test a man’s character, give
him power.” Tests for Congress will be graded No-
vember 8, 2022.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater and pub-
lishes columns here on the first and third Saturdays
each month. Send comments to rantsby-
mac@gmail.com.
Rants by Mac
Curt MacRae
It’s just too early to act
OTHER VIEWS
Christopher Brick
Special to USA TODAY
At first glance, the Capitol insurrection that took
place on Jan. 6 and Rick Santorum’s blithe pro-
nouncement on April 23 that “there was nothing here”
prior to European conquest of the Americas appear
unrelated. What could the words of a former U.S. sen-
ator and card-carrying member of the pundit class
have in common with the throngs of MAGA and other
conspiracy-minded diehards who stormed the Capi-
tol building four months prior?
Santorum’s breezy ignorance is not just a personal
failure; it is a social failure. Had we spent the past dec-
ades building a public sphere that met the storytelling
needs of a multiracial democracy, there would have
been no space for Santorum’s congratulatory tale of
white destiny being made manifest. Instead, we built
a nation where disinformation about the past not only
persists, but thrives, consolidating many of the illu-
sions that the American right carried into the Trump
era and eventually up the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
But they are related, because they derive from the
same thing – America’s ongoing crisis of historical lit-
eracy.
It can be tempting to blame the immersive allure of
alternate realities on the relatively novel (and recent)
impact of intensely online culture. But the kind of his-
torical illiteracy that Trumpism requires could never
have come solely from 4chan, MAGA Twitter or even
as mighty a delivery system for toxic foolery as Fox
News. Around the time when Fox launched in the
1990s, other infotainment outlets on cable began
branding content about buried treasure, secret stu-
dent societies, crop circles, Area 51, the Illuminati – or
any combination thereof – as “History,” giving it a pat-
ina of truthiness.
I was an eager-beaver history graduate student
back then, and while I can remember thinking the
pop-conspiracy framing of this content a bit silly, I
don’t recall taking it very seriously. Besides, in 2003,
the reliable thinking still held that the internet was
democratizing knowledge, not deforming it. It would
have seemed implausible to forecast that something
as factually omniscient as the internet would also de-
stabilize confidence in truthful information.
But it’s not so implausible if we remember that
“facts” per se matter much less in forming human
viewpoints than the narratives we impose upon
them. And to impose nonfiction narratives responsi-
bly, you need good historical literacy skills – the ca-
pacity to weigh evidence and evaluate arguments; to
consider multiple viewpoints and sift them for accu-
racy; to credibly interpret current events in light of
past events; and to discern the chain of linkages that
connect patterns over time.
Unfortunately, our country has never overbur-
dened those types of skills with social esteem or
pub- lic investment. Over the past four decades,
Congress has diverted billions away from the
historical human-
Christopher Brick is a historian of human rights at
The George Washington University, director and Edi-
tor of The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project, and host
of the Intervals podcast, a historical literacy initiative
of the Organization of American Historians.
Set every under-employed humanist to work to-
morrow, and in five years’ time this country might
well be able to observe its sesquicentennial with the
kind of historical literacy that makes such a future
imaginable. Until then, ironically, our democracy will
remain hostage to something else – not just a pam-
pered former senator-pundit, or a reality-show grifter
who conned his way into a presidential term, but the
mythological past to which both insist we remain
tethered.
cy is a public good worth funding,
lavishly and generationally. For the cost of a rounding
error in the federal bud
e United States with a team
of specialists, not just one. Students and faculty alike
could engage in researching community histories and
curating the kind of content – from producing pod-
casts and conducting oral history interviews to writ-
ing Wikipedia pages – capable of meeting the expres-
sive needs of a multiracial democracy.
ities, and administrations have abetted the dirty deed
with anemic budget requests. Last year, the National
Endowment for the Humanities received an appropri-
ation that was $258 million less in inflation-adjusted
dollars than the amount it was receiving in the late
1970s. Funding for both the National Archives and its
grant-making arm has all but frozen since 2014, de-
spite a warning from a blue-ribbon consortium of ar-
chival groups that these anemic budgets were the sin-
gle gravest threat to “an adequate documentary rec-
ord of our democracy.” Not least, President Obama
had every opportunity to save the Teaching American
History (TAH) program in 2011 after its longtime pro-
tector and champion Senator Robert Byrd died. TAH
was a high-impact commitment to training U.S. social
studies teachers in historical literacy – many of whom
never studied history before receiving their first as-
signment to teach it. That should alarm us all. It
should also have alarmed the Obama administration,
but they quietly shelved the program.
U.S. Department of Education building July 21,
2007, in Washington, D.C. SAUL LOEB/AFP,GETTY IMAGES
Not investing in teaching about our history
Each author is restricted to 400 words and one submission per month. All submissions must be signed by the
author and include a city of residence. A telephone number must also be provided for verification purposes.
Submissions from organizations must include a name to be published with the submission, as well as phone
number for verification purposes. The content of the submissions can’t be slanderous or libelous. All
submissions are subject to editing for clarity and brevity. Submissions are published in the order they are
received and according to space allotment. Letters regarding elections or hot local topics may be subject to
an individual deadline and may be published according to a different schedule. Gannett reserves the right to
deny publication of submissions. These submissions, as with all submissions for publication, can be denied at
the discretion of the editor or general manager/publisher. Letters to the Editor will not be taken over the
telephone or via fax. They can be dropped off or mailed to the newspaper office or emailed to
newsroom@thedailyreporter.com.
Letters to the editor
America’s historical illiteracy is on display

12. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 06/19/2021 Page : A05
June 19, 2021 9:18 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
ncipation that
te when Black
at slavery and
a new birth of
and in our own
hat rocked the
deration of not
uneteenth was
nfederate state
ation. But now
r all Americans
of racial slavery
and continues,
r lives.
ction this week
uneteenth will
– one that will
h of American
ression legisla-
than 45 states
Juneteenth a
.
a window into
sform America
n in 1865. Con-
– ranging from
nd mass incar-
and neighbor-
have their roots
light on.
nsideration of
th holiday now
derstanding of
fforts to build a
m up.
a federal holi-
aid Thursday at
house built by
m where Presi-
ncipation Proc-
tatement: Na-
nation have de-
o acknowledge
Chair in Ethics
ctor of the Cen-
acy in the LBJ
ity of Texas at
ljoseph
ery’s
act
Father’s Day is a day of reflection. My father passed
away six years ago, at age 92, and while there were
many things that he and I did not agree upon, I respect-
ed and now appreciate his parenting efforts, his moral
compass, and his lessons that I often resisted.
I moved away for college, and then with Mrs. Mac,
relocated to multiple states over the next 40 years cre-
ating a family and building a career. We visited home
regularly but moved back to live in 2011.
I was lucky to spend quality time with my father in
his last years. I think one of us mellowed – maybe we
both did. This column carries on public expressions of
opinion, which he often shared, as well, in his letters to
the editor. Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Now, I am a proud father to three great kids (one is a
great kid-in-law, but we count him as ours) who are
grown and building careers and raising their families.
I could not have asked for more from my kids and
could not be prouder of who they are and what they
havebecome.Andnow,threegrandkids(sofar)arejust
as special as they initiate the next generation of good-
ness and positivity. I am blessed and they inspire my
optimism.
I appreciate the hope that they instill because, as I
consider current events, I imagine how our founding
fathers might view the status of national leadership to-
day. Happy Father’s Day to Washington, Franklin, Jef-
ferson, Madison, and the others.
If they are watching, they must wince as their suc-
cessors exhibit the corruption, greed, and power-grabs
that they tried to protect against, as they formed this
country.
George Washington, an example of the type of lead-
ership that seems unavailable today, warned us that
“cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will sub-
vert the power of the people and usurp for themselves
the reins of government, destroying afterwards the
very engines that have lifted them to power.” Ouch.
And Thomas Jefferson’s words serve as current
friendship advice stating, “I never considered a differ-
ence of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as
cause for withdrawing from a friend.”
James Madison may be wondering why he favored
an electoral college, which has the capacity to be ma-
nipulated to such an extent that a handful of states de-
termine national elections.
Jefferson and his team intended the Constitution to
beanevolvingdocument,meanttobeadaptedtofitthe
technology of the era and the people’s will of the times.
Unlike today’s officials, who seem to interpret 1790
thoughts and language as perfectly applicable to 2021,
Jefferson warned that an unwillingness to adapt could
be disastrous. He knew that issues like slavery, the
electoral college, voting rights, gun control, and other
unanticipated events would be influenced by time and
technology.
He advocated for adjustments when justified, stat-
ing, “…laws and institutions must go hand in hand with
theprogressofthehumanmind.Asthatbecomesmore
developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are
made, new truths discovered and manners and opin-
ions change, with the change of circumstances, insti-
tutionsmustadvancealsotokeeppacewiththetimes.”
He might support background checks in 2021.
So, while people are punching each other on air-
planes and shooting each other in the streets, and
while politicians lie and obfuscate to retain power, and
while your neighbor plants his obscene political flag
next door, and while people politicize facemasks, vac-
cines, voting rules, abortion, gun rights and a host of
other issues that should not be political, let us honor
our fathers, and our forefathers. And let us consider
how they conducted themselves, and what they would
think today.
Happy Father’s Day to them all; may we never forget
their legacies and may we seek to replicate their traits
in our current leaders. And happy Father’s Day, Dad.
You tried to instill in me to do what’s right, and that was
a great start.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI, and
publishes columns here on the first third Saturdays
each month. Send comments to rantsby-
mac@gmail.com.
Happy Founding Fathers Day…
Curt MacRae
Columnist
NYON-GREEN DOOR GUTTER LLC
W. Chicago Street
water, MI 49036
278-4710
sales@notjustgaragedoors.com
www.notjustgaragedoors.com
Garage Door Opener
Service and Installation.
And
Installation of 5 6 Seamless Gutter

13. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 07/03/2021
July 3, 2021 6:44 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021 | 5A
OPINION
15 W. Pearl St. Coldwater, MI 49036
A Gannett Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD
Lisa Vickers ........................................ General Manager/
Regional Advertising Director
Candice Phelps ................... Regional Managing Editor
Troy Tennyson ............................................ Sports Editor
49% of business
owners want a
marketing partner
Dear Democrats: The whining needs to stop. Every
time Republicans do something, or won’t do some-
thing, the crying and whining starts. It’s embarrass-
ing.
Dear Republicans: You keep denying the facts and
changing the rules. Lies, denies and conspiracy cries
have replaced policy in your party. It’s sad.
Now on to voters’ rights. Georgia has implemented
a new slate of restrictive voting laws in a 98-page bill.
While 40+ other states are attempting to do the same,
Georgia’s changes are complete so we will examine
those changes, which mirror other states’ proposals.
1.3 million Georgians voted absentee in November.
Next time those voters will have11weeks, prior to the
election, to request a mail-in ballot, instead of the180
days they had in 2020.
Absentee ballots will be mailed out three weeks
later than before, but still four weeks before an elec-
tion.
Requesting and returning a ballot will require a
driver’s license number, a state ID number or, lacking
those, an acceptable voter ID.
Early voting access is expanded for most counties,
adding an additional Saturday. That seems positive.
No one, other than poll workers, can provide water
to voters in line.
There is more, and some changes even make vot-
ing easier, but this summary serves as a basis for our
advice to future voters:
To Democrats:
Teach your constituents how to follow the rules.
Let them know that they have only 11 weeks to re-
quest a mail-in ballot. Seventy-seven days should be
enough time to request a ballot. Instead of whining, get
busy.
Voters will receive their ballot ONLY four weeks prior
to the election; deal with it --- they have FOUR WEEKS.
Why does anyone need seven weeks to return a ballot?
You aren’t writing a novel.
Voters need to have an ID. It does not need to be a
driver’s license, but you ought to have an ID. Seriously,
get yourself an ID, not just to vote. For heaven’s sake,
why is that so oppressive? You are an adult -- how do
you cash a check, buy a drink, or exist in society?
And if you feel you might get a little thirsty while vot-
ing, bring a bottle of water to the polls. Yes, the rule is
absurd but quit making excuses; voting is important.
And to Republicans:
Quit trying to get less people to vote. It seems more
voters is good. If most people are not voting for you,
start implementing policies that people want instead of
trying to find ways to discourage them from voting.
Changing the rules, is what 8-year-olds do in a losing
game of kickball. You are better than that; at least we
hope you are better than that. Please be better than that.
It is time to concede the last election; you lost. Hillary
Clinton lost in 2016 (even though she won the popular
vote) and thankfully we never heard much from her
again. It is time to move on, time to demonstrate the
class that EVERY other president has shown during
the peaceful transfer of power. Grow up and help save
democracy.
Do you really want to pin your party’s future on the
legal brilliance of Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and
the Pillow Guy? You really need to be better.
And ditch the sour-grapes attitude. “One-hundred
percent of our focus is on stopping this new admini-
stration,” said Mitch McConnell. How does that make
us better, and how does that help our democracy?
Come on, Mitch. Let’s get some work done. Remember,
Jefferson disliked Adams, but there is no record of him
saying “Let’s do nothing for four years.”
If Democrats are too stupid or too lazy to figure out
how to vote, maybe they shouldn’t vote. They deserve
to lose.
If Republicans continue to ignore policy and base
their election strategy on getting less people to vote,
they deserve to lose.
If nothing changes, we all lose.
Curt MacRae is a resident of Coldwater, MI, and
publishes columns here on the first third Saturdays
each month. Comments are encouraged to rantsby-
mac@gmail.com.
Rants by Mac
Curt MacRae
Columnist
Note to Congress:
Quit cryin’, quit lyin’
OTHER VIEWS

14. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 07/17/2021 Page : A05
July 17, 2021 6:47 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
R1 THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021 | 5A
15 W. Pearl St. Coldwater, MI 49036
A Gannett Newspaper
EDITORIAL BOARD
Lisa Vickers ........................................ General Manager/
Regional Advertising Director
Candice Phelps ................... Regional Managing Editor
Troy Tennyson ............................................ Sports Editor
OTHER VIEWS
YOUR
LIFESTYLE.
YOUR SMILE.
A beautiful smile is
ageless. Let us be part of
your reason to smile.
Nominate
Coldwater
Voted Michigan Credit Union League’s
MOST OUTSTANDING
CREDIT UNION
in 2021
It is your choice, but your choice is affecting the
rest of us. And beyond that, your choice is impacting
the economy, and how people live… and die.
COVID/19 is spreading. New Covid-19 variants,
combined with vaccine reluctance have spurred large
increases in U.S. case numbers, hospitalizations, and
deaths.
That sounds like a news report from April/2020.
But make no mistake – we are in the third quarter of
2021, at the supposed-end of a pandemic that has
killed 611,000 Americans and four million+ world-
wide. The pandemic has crippled economies and al-
tered lives in myriad ways. And it continues.
Like seemingly every other issue, vaccinations
have been politicized and morphed into fake-news,
conspiracy theories, and political theatre.
There are computer chips in the vaccine -- Seri-
ously? Why would Bill Gates want to know my
whereabouts? And if you honestly do not want to be
tracked, throw away your cell phone.
The vaccine “was rushed” -- Really? After hun-
dreds of millions of vaccinations, how many negative
effects have been found compared to the document-
ed impact of having COVID? I chose a sore arm over a
double-lung transplant, or death.
Weren’t we talking about getting back to work,
back to family, back to normal?
It appears that may never happen. Vaccination rates
are lagging for Americans under 50, for Black Ameri-
cans, for Republicans, and for people without a college
degree. Why is that?
My 13-year-old granddaughter got vaccinated. Don-
ald Trump got vaccinated. Just sayin.’
While we keep hearing, “it’s my choice,” it begs the
question why do people risk long-term health problems
or death, or infecting someone more vulnerable, when
there is an easy fix? When did people quit caring about
their fellow humans?
Virus deaths are now avoidable, but people are still
dying, and the numbers are going back up. Of those dy-
ing, 99 percent are unvaccinated. So, vaccines work,
and they are available for free, often without appoint-
ment, to any American adult who wants one. People in
many countries do not have that option. Yet we choose
to risk our lives and the lives of others.
And know this - the longer this virus is allowed to
spread, the more it mutates. What happens when it mu-
tates to something we cannot stop? Recent polls show
that more than 60 percent of the unvaccinated plan to
remain unvaccinated. Really?
We have all heard the cautionary tales: A 45-year-old
mother of two, in western Missouri, opted not to vacci-
nate, fearing side effects because her mother felt ill after
taking a shot. She was hospitalized with COVID on May
13 and died June 9.
Now, her family is saying “Please take this seriously.
You don’t want to see a family member you love go
through this.”
That is sad because a life was lost, and it was so
avoidable. But it is sadder that it changes no one’s be-
havior. Because in 2021, facts do not matter, science is
irrelevant, and pleas like that get ignored. She obvi-
ously ignored the cautionary tales she heard.
Consider her story, please – she tragically, and
needlessly, left two children motherless.
Mac’s sister runs a local, free health clinic and an-
nounced in a Facebook post that the county health de-
partment would offer vaccine access at her clinic.
Within a day, she got more than a dozen negative,
some almost threatening, responses to her post.
Folks, this is a small-town, volunteer clinic that pro-
vides care, to those that need it, for free, and she was
just trying to offer a service to keep people alive. Why
don’t you want that? And why do you feel compelled to
condemn her efforts? If you are in Arkansas or Wyo-
ming, where do you find the time to know, or care, that
she is offering vaccines in Coldwater, MI?
Republican Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia
netted it out a week ago, stating that anyone who has
chosen not to be vaccinated has entered “the death lot-
tery.”
We should be getting back to normal; your dying is
delaying that process.
Curt MacRae, a resident of Coldwater, publishes
this column on the first/third Saturdays each month.
Send comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com.
Rants by Mac
Curt MacRae
Columnist
It’s your choice
OPINION

15. Coldwater Daily Reporter - 08/07/2021 Page : A05
August 7, 2021 8:45 am (GMT -4:00) Powered by TECNAVIA
THEDAILYREPORTER.COM | SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2021 | 5A
OPINION
We are angry, we are confrontational, we are easi-
ly offended, and we are stubborn. Friends, co-work-
ers, and family members dig in on a topic and are
willing to jeopardize relationships to argue their posi-
tion. Bullies flaunt their rights even as they offend
those around them. Tolerance, forgiveness, and co-
operation are viewed as weaknesses.
In April, this column discussed a program from a
New York company, that has a stated mission “to pre-
serve and share humanity’s stories in order to build
connections between people and create a more just
and compassionate world.”
That seemed worthwhile so I signed up.
The program is called “One Small Step,” and it was
designed to get people to connect in conversation, in
the belief that communication reduces intolerance,
improves understanding, and diffuses confronta-
tion.
Last Saturday I had a conversation with Jan.
The concept is simple: connect two people of var-
ied political views on a video call to talk, listen, and
get to know each other for 40-50 minutes. The intent
is not necessarily to change opinions, but to listen, to
learn, and to respect.
That is exactly what Jan and I did. While we were
not quite as diverse as either of us expected (we live
in the same state, are the same age and even have our
weddinganniversariesonthesamedate),wehaddif-
fering opinions on some political issues, some social
programs, and upon solutions to fix some of the na-
tion’s problems. We cancelled out each other’s presi-
dential votes in 2020.
We discussed all of that freely, and respectfully.
We liked each other, we listened to each other. We re-
sisted the urge to interrupt with our own opinions,
but asked questions, clarified, and communicated.
That is exactly the intent of One Small Step.
And, I have attempted to do that with this column.
Many people have responded to my rants via emails,
and a few have called. Feedback is welcomed and I try
to reply to each contact that is made.
And while not every reaction has been an endorse-
ment of this column, the communication has been
lively, civil, and informative, even if minds were not
changed.
Perhaps we can start taking One Small Step and
try communicating with one another, get to know
those with whom we disagree so that we don’t simply
dismiss opposing views without examination. Let us
be open to others’ opinions.
I have strong views, and have found that I some-
times get ready to make my next point rather than
listening to another’s last point. Stephen Covey said,
“Most people do not listen with the intent to under-
stand; they listen with the intent to reply.” I admit it
and one reason I signed up for One Small Step was to
work on that shortcoming.
So, I recommend taking the step. It may not be
with One Small Step but talk to your neighbor, your
family, your friend, and listen… and ask them to lis-
ten. Because times are too contentious now and if we
can get to know each other, communicate with and
respect each other, maybe we can dial down the heat.
Maybe we can begin communicating instead of con-
fronting. You cannot go anywhere without taking
that first step.
If any reader would like to do their own “One Small
Step,” there is no cost and the site is: https://story-
corps.org/discover/onesmallstep/
If you try it (and it may take a couple months be-
fore they assign you a partner), email me and let me
know how it went. I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.
Curt MacRae, a resident of Coldwater, publishes
this column on the first/third Saturdays each month.
Send comments to rantsbymac@gmail.com.
OTHER VIEWS
Rants by Mac
Curt MacRae
Guest columnist
One step
at a time…
USA TODAY
According to the Biden administration, the biparti-
san infrastructure bill the senators will vote on pro-
vides the largest federal investment ever in public
transit, the most money ever spent on clean drinking
water and waste-water systems, and the biggest up-
grade of bridges since the interstate highway system
was built.
That’s a lot of superlatives, making the $550 billion
in new federal infrastructure spending over the next
five years a tad nebulous to grasp. But consider that it
means restoring a crumbling highway span just down
the road, or replacing the lead pipe bringing poisoned
water to 10 million homes or establishing high-speed
internet for 30 million Americans.
Think of combustion-engine vehicles and how they
are the single greatest source of heat-trapping carbon
dioxide pollution – and that this bill is at least a $7.5
billion down payment on a chain of electric-car charg-
ing stations across the country, with another $7.5 bil-
lion for new zero- or low-emission buses and ferries.
Consider that Americans cross about 45,000
bridges that are in disturbingly poor condition; or that
before the pandemic, traffic congestion was so bad
commuters idled away, on average, an extra 54 hours a
Recent presidents and congresses have frittered
away years promising sweeping infrastructure im-
provements that never were. Former President Don-
ald Trump’s repeated call for an “infrastructure week“
of reform became a running joke.
Democratic senators, joined by a President Joe Biden
willing to compromise on his demands, were able to
reach a tentative deal that survived a procedural vote
last week with an overwhelming 67 votes. This is no
small achievement. Funding infrastructure should be
a no-brainer, but this is a Congress so politically frac-
tured that members can’t even agree to wear masks
during a pandemic (they should) or whether the last
presidential election was stolen (it wasn’t).
So final Senate approval of the bipartisan infra-
structure deal this week will still be a cliffhanger. Its
financing scheme is a bit fuzzy, relying not on new tax-
es or user fees but on diverted coronavirus funds, un-
collected cryptocurrency taxes and some pay-for-it-
self financial benefits to the economy.
But symbolically, if the bill passes, it should please
the overwhelming majority of Americans who have
consistently told pollsters they want bipartisanship in
Washington.
And practically, it will cure a good portion of the in-
frastructure ills that plague society and stifle econom-
ic growth.
Does it mean bipartisanship is back? Not by a long
shot. But it means it’s possible.
“Neither side got everything they wanted in this
deal,” Biden said after the procedural victory in the
Senate last week. “But that’s what it means to com-
promise and forge consensus – the heart of democra-
cy.”
And even if the Senate approves, the House of Rep-
resentatives still must weigh in.
airports have fallen into such disrepair that the Amer-
ican Society of Civil Engineers this year gave national
infrastructure a grade of C-minus. And while it
doesn’t fit into the category of a public system, the
condominium that collapsed in June in Surfside, Flor-
ida, killing 98, certainly was a reminder of how critical
infrastructure is.
year behind the wheel.
Roads, bridges, water systems, dams, levees and
This time, a core group of moderate Republican and
The Editorial Board
Before the week is out, Republican and Democratic
senators could come together in an era of overwrought
political acrimony and division to actually achieve
what they were elected to do – improve the lives of
Americans.
Senators actually at work to
serve Americans? Say it’s so.
(Further adding to mutual distrust is a parallel ef-
fort by Democrats to pass a second, multitrillion dollar
“human infrastructure” bill later this year through a
process known as reconciliation, where only a simple
majority vote is necessary in the Senate.)