Gifts we’d like this holiday season

As many of us finish our shopping in the mad rush before Christmas, we have some ideas for gifts that we would like Santa to deliver in the coming new year.

eA diversified econ-omy on the Iron Range — With our mines and paper mills facing stiff competition from overseas, the region is again suffering economically. Putting the brakes on cheap steel imports, as our political leaders have urged, will give the region temporary relief and we support Congressman Rick Nolan’s call for a five-year ban on imports. But the area must use that breathing space wisely to both look at how they can reconfigure their industry to meet today’s challenges and also bring new economic development to the region.

Depending too heavily on a single industry — whether mining minerals or producing paper — makes the region more vulnerable to changes in the marketplace. Bringing more economic diversity to the region will allow it to weather economic storms more successfully.

eA more normal winter. The astonishing warmth this December has helped people save on heating bills, but it does have an impact on our economy. The lack of snow means few winter tourists and less business for area restaurants, bars, motels and resorts. Moreover, the unseasonably warm weather is delaying timber harvesting. When the swamps don’t freeze, loggers can’t move their heavy equipment into the forests. In a region that relies on cold winters, this winter’s start is causing more than its share of problems.

eLess name-calling and more substance on the campaign trail. Serious talk on serious issues is in short supply so far this political season, or, at least, the media seems uninterested in covering it. Instead, debates have degenerated into playground taunts with Republican front-runner Donald Trump setting the tone. When Trump isn’t busy calling his opponents names or making disparaging remarks about their appearance, smarts or courage, he trots out his so-called policies that reek of xenophobia and have no grounding in real life.

Trump’s supporters say his tough talk is refreshing, and that he’s just telling it like it is. But the billionaire’s failure to grasp the complexity of the issues he pretends to address suggests a stunning lack of intelligence or worse, a cavalier approach to politics that implies he’ll say anything to get elected. His constant bragging about how smart he is rings hollow. There’s a reason that the least-informed voters are the ones currently flocking to his campaign. Trump is just like them.

Trump may be the worst offender, but he’s not the only candidate who lacks the qualities needed for the presidency. The bellicose posturing on the Middle East and Russia may play to the Republican base, but exploiting the nation’s fears of terrorism is opportunistic at best and warmongering at worst.

eA deeper appreciation for our environment and the risks it faces, both globally and here in the North Country. The hunger for new jobs in our region has fueled an unfortunate effort to undermine environmental protections. That reflects the old jobs vs. the environment mentality, and it doesn’t serve our region well. The region needs a long-term vision that protects its most important assets, and for many, the natural environment is at the top of the list.

Prosperity, particularly when it’s based on extractive industries with a long history of boom and bust, can be fleeting, and trading our long-term assets — pristine waters and clean air — for jobs that could vanish in a few decades or less isn’t a wise strategy. It smacks of desperation.

eFinally, the gift we would like to see under everyone’s tree or in their stockings this year is peace on earth and good will to all. That’s a present we can all agree never goes out of style.