“These are the times that try men’s souls.” So proclaimed Thomas Paine in his 1776 American Crisis. Paine’s words reflected the danger of his times — an abuse of monarchical power threatening personal freedom and liberty — and a call for the people to resist.
County Farmers Union leaders approved two resolutions while gathered in St. Paul Feb. 22 for their semiannual Full Board meeting.
It’s been cold. An engaged audience might ask: How cold was it? A type of punchline: It was so cold the ice was complaining about the temperature!
The Litchfield Rail encourages letters to the editor from readers who wish to share their opinion. However, we ask that letter writers abide by a few ground rules:
As Black History Month comes to a close, it is only fitting that we share a bit of Meeker County’s Black history. If you know some of the local history, the name Albert Van Spence might be familiar to you. He was born into slavery, escaped, fought for the Union Army in the Civil War, and later moved to Litchfield where he became a part of the G.A.R. and the community as a whole. But what became of his children?
“The only measure that he knows is desire — desire for power.” — Gandalf I’ve been thinking a lot about power lately. I suppose all men think about power — the definition of power, the relative sense of power, the powerless and, of course, absolute power.
Ever since Donald Trump was sworn in as president, it’s felt as though every day has brought a fresh assertion of presidential power — often at Congress’s expense. It began on the first day with a couple dozen executive orders, and has continued apace with declarations affecting the federal bureaucracy, inspectors general, crucial public health communications, federal grants and loans, and more.
In 1964, a dictatorship was established in Brazil. I arrived in Brazil as a Peace Corps volunteer just as that dictatorship began. It wasn’t until 21 years later, in 1985, when Brazil would again be transitioning towards democracy.
The early days of a new presidential administration attract a lot of attention from the media and ordinary Americans. The months of speculation since the election about what lies ahead are over; now it’s reality. But equally riveting is what’s going on in Congress, which must react to presidential initiatives, vet nominees, and put its own stamp on public policy.This year, more than any I can remember, will test Congress.