Opinion - The Timberjay

The oligarchy runs the show

Bezos, Murdoch, Musk, Zuckerberg are among the top one percent who own more global wealth than the bottom 95 percent. Oligarchs own the global economy (U.S. included) and now seek to own and control … more

1/9/25

Let’s get serious about a joint ambulance service

I believe that we are missing out on a very viable opportunity that has been put forth by the EBCH/SafeTechSolutions plan that would upgrade our individual ambulance services in Ely, Babbitt and … more

1/9/25

Mining industry record shows plenty to fear

The Dec. 20, 2024 Timberjay article, “Trump Victory Boosts Copper-Nickel Prospects,” contains a quote that says about mining critics: “They are just scared.” This continues a … more

1/9/25

My year in review...the 2024 highlights edition

I am just wrapping up our annual holiday break at the Timberjay and it’s the start of another new year. Personally, the past nine months since my last column have been full of highs, with … more

Scarlet Stone | 1/9/25

An honest president

Upon the death of the 39th American president on Dec. 29, we thought it worthwhile to revisit some of the thoughts expressed by Jimmy Carter in his farewell address given on Jan. 14, 1981. While his … more

1/9/25

AI and customer service don’t match

Recently, I sent a Christmas package to a relative in another state. Usually, I have no issues with my faithful local courteous postal workers and I am always given a tracking number and … more

12/19/24

Trump plans to start a war, a tariff tax war

President-elect Trump has stated that he will impose a tariff on all foreign goods coming into the United States. The U.S. currently has trade agreements with 20 countries and, … more

12/19/24

Blue Christmas: How to get through holiday pain

I once made up my mind to get a divorce on Christmas morning. My alcoholic husband had not come home. It wasn’t the first time and Christmas wasn’t his holiday, but this was my Christmas … more

Jean Gendreau | 12/19/24

I beg your pardon, Mr. Biden

If Joe Biden wanted to end his one-term presidency on a bang rather than a lame-duck whimper, he’s sure found a way to do it by using the imperial power of his pen to give justice a swift kick … more

David Colburn | 12/19/24

Robber Barons, redux

Back in April, we wrote here about Alden Capital, the greedy hedge fund behind the intentional destruction of countless viable and valuable newspapers around the country. Just last month, we wrote … more

12/19/24

What about water power?

So far, we have not made much progress in arresting rising global temperatures generated by our greenhouse emissions. They have formed a “canopy” in our atmosphere, blocking … more

12/12/24

Biden pardon shows Democrat elitism

Political theater by Democrats just keeps getting embellished. Bloody backstabbing and blaming is entertaining as the Democrats try to figure out why they lost to the Russian agent Hitler Nazi … more

12/12/24

Recognizing the ladies who have led the way

“The First Lady”, a PBS dramatic series, highlights the lives and political roles of Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Michelle Obama. These smart, strong-willed women had definite … more

Betty Firth | 12/12/24

ACA tax credits

When it comes to the cost of living, the advanced premium tax credits available under the Affordable Care Act have been a lifesaver for millions of Americans who would otherwise have struggled … more

12/12/24

Yes, thirty years is too long to wait

Political campaigns can be inspiring. I’m thinking of Rep. Skraba’s campaign and his statement that “Thirty years is too long to wait.” Of course, he was referring to … more

12/6/24

Pushing for peace in Palestine is not antisemitic

Kudos to the Ely-Palestine Solidarity Group (EPSG) and their allies at Jews for Justice in Palestine, the Arab-Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East, the New Israel Fund, the … more

12/6/24

Netanyahu has been found to be a war criminal

Two readers submitted letters about the Israel-Gaza war to our local papers in the last two weeks. There is no evidence that either of the writers has gone to any of the Ely-Palestine … more

12/5/24

Capitalism has run its course

Economic systems are born, they develop, evolve and finally, they die. Village barter, master-slave and lord-serf economic systems have come and gone, giving rise to antidemocratic employer-employee … more

12/5/24

Give Trump a chance this time

Now that the election is past it is time to move on and begin to work hard on the issues that have been troubling the American people. Let’s release the highly controversial issues that have … more

12/5/24

Continuing the work to protect the BWCAW

The election of Donald Trump means that America’s public lands will be on the chopping block for the next four years. Pete Stauber’s re-election puts the Boundary Waters and the greater … more

12/5/24

Many share the view of the EPSG

In his letter last week, “Misinformation is increasing antisemitism,” Charles Marsden accused the Ely- Palestine Solidarity Group (EPSG) of spreading misinformation and increasing … more

12/5/24

Another way to manage money, or one less bump on the road to bliss

One evening while washing dishes, I happened to hear a radio broadcast of a conversation between Kai Ryssdal, host of Marketplace, and a renowned financial guru. The interview was about a … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 12/5/24

How Dems lost the working class

In the wake of Trump’s election victory last month, Democrats would do well to re-examine their 2016 presidential primary and how it laid the groundwork for the party’s fall from grace … more

12/5/24

Watching the creeping fascism in America

As we watch the next federal administration taking shape and observe actions of the current American government, we should recognize fascism gaining influence. I use an accepted definition of fascism … more

11/26/24

Misinformation is increasing antisemitism

Members of the Ely Palestine Solidarity Group don’t realize that there has never been a country named Palestine. For centuries preceding World War I, the entire Middle East was under the … more

11/26/24