Dems desperate in smear tactics

Recent attack ads by the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party aimed at Gov. Hoeven, along with a little shot at the Republicans in the state House and Senate, show just how worried Democrats are about the coming elections. Polls showing Gov. Hoeven beating Sen. Dorgan in a Senate race by quite a large margin, and Kevin Cramer very close to Rep. Pomeroy, show there is no place for Dorgan and Pomeroy to hide when the Democrats are in control at the federal level.

Our all-Democrat congressional delegation has been able to talk like it has been representing the values of the people of North Dakota for years and still enjoy their association with the ultra-liberal Democrat leaders in Washington. Now that the ultra-liberal agenda that President Obama and many Democrats are proposing is in the news everyday, it is getting harder for the Democrats to hide.

You could almost compare it to a "deer in the headlights mode," especially when they resort to ads like the ones running this past weekend. If our congressional delegation doesn't reject the president's agenda and his ultra-liberal views, I believe the people will kick them out of office in the next election.

Not all Republicans are conservative, just as not all Democrats are liberal. However, there are far more Republicans who are conservative than there are conservative Democrats. Also, liberal Democrats far outnumber liberal Republicans. So it's a desperate move for the state's Democrats to try to paint Gov. Hoeven and the Legislature as liberal. I agree, Gov. Hoeven is not an ultra-conservative, and the Legislature certainly hasn't been shy about spending money. But you may recall the Democrats complaining in the last campaign how we didn't spend enough money and left too much money in the bank.

When Democrats try to compare North Dakota to the federal government, I believe they are demonstrating their desperation to try to smear Gov. Hoeven. Don't buy it. North Dakota is the envy of the nation thanks to the smart leadership of Gov. Hoeven and our Republican-controlled Legislature.

We should try to keep it local

I recently moved back to Bismarck after living in Minneapolis for two years. A lot has changed.

There are a lot of new businesses and a lot of businesses have closed their doors. The thing that's rather unsettling is the number of giant chain stores that have moved in. It seems like the flood gates have been opened and everyone is setting up shop.

Not that this is horrible by any means, there are more jobs for people, but when a town the size of Bismarck has not one but two Super Walmarts that's rather disturbing.

I'm 25 and I like to go out, but there's not really many options besides going to the bar. I enjoy going out for coffee, but besides Starbucks and a couple local coffee shops, my options are limited. I don't have a college degree in economics, but I do know when you take away all local options, it's not good for the surrounding community.

I'm not going to lie and say I don't shop at Walmart because I do, but what I am saying is that we need to support everything local as much as we can. I'd rather go to a local coffee shop and pay 50 cents more than go to a franchise. I'd rather see a band playing original music opposed to a cover band.

I think the problem is people don't really care where their money goes, and the allure of saving money overshadows strengthening our infrastructure. Keep it local; that's where it begins and ends. Once everyone loses sight of that, I'm afraid all will be lost.