‘COLD WAR’ ALIVE IN RUSSIA

Clearly, it isn't time to declare the Evil Empire dead and buried. Not just yet. And from the looks of things, it probably won't be for anytime soon.

2008 ACT SCORES NOT GOOD NEWS

Educators – teachers unions in particular – tend to make excuses for slipping performance in math and English by high school students. Some of the excuses are legitimate, such as lack of parental involvement and an entitlement mentality among young people. But what appears to be an endemic decline in student preparedness for college, as measured by the ACT college entrance exam, looks to be chronic systemic failure.

SILLY IMMIGRATION ‘SOLUTION’

Just when you thought you'd seen everything, along comes something so silly that it demands discussion: Federal immigration officials, unable to slow the flow of illegal aliens into the United States, have come up with one of the most ridiculous ideas ever to originate in Washington, D.C. - and that's saying a lot.

U.S. SHOULDN’T PAY FOR IRAQ PROJECTS

United States taxpayers have provided about $48 billion for various reconstruction projects in Iraq, with millions of dollars a day being poured into the program. Meanwhile, the Iraqi government is banking budget surpluses of billions of dollars.

ENERGY CHALLENGE LOCKS US IN ‘FAIL-SAFE’

If the earth holds its breath until the United States takes the lead in tackling the energy crisis, it will die of asphyxiation. As the biggest glutton in the world energy market, the United States will never find it to its economic interest to curb energy consumption.

SPEAKER’S PRIORITY IS POLITICS

When Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives, they pledged to change the way the House was operated by Republicans, who, Democrats said, were autocratic and harshly partisan. Democrats under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi aren’t living up to the pledge.

The latest display of partisan arrogance from Pelosi was her refusal to allow a House vote on lifting the ban on offshore drilling for oil. President Bush lifted the ban that was imposed by his father, but Congress needs to follow through in order to give states the option to drill. Pelosi would not schedule a vote.

MANAGING THE N.D. BUDGET SURPLUS

The good news: North Dakota's budget surplus is expected to top $1.2 billion (yes, billion) by June. The bad news: Everyone (yes, everyone) in the state has an idea how to spend the money.

N.D. HISTORY NOT IN OBAMA’S FAVOR

Barack Obama must know something about North Dakota politics that is eluding the rest of us but his plan to open offices in major cities and put a large staff in this diehard Red state has most political observers puzzled. Sure early polls indicate he is running neck-and-neck with John McCain but North Dakota political history cannot give him much comfort.

TEXTING, WALKING AND THE LACK OF COMMON SENSE

Generally, people know the risks of what they're doing. They know texting while driving is dangerous, just like they know talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. Sadly, a report from a national organization isn't going to change that. No one can regulate common sense.

RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS REQUIRES A CONSTANT DEFENSE

So, while the court's Second Amendment ruling was a victory, it also was an important, troubling reminder: Our rights, once solid, require constant defense against those who, like Stevens, believe that government's authority should be expanded, not limited.

SOMETIMES, IT’S NOT ABOUT POLITICS: JENS TENNEFOS

Tennefos was a dedicated legislator, but first he was a man of family, faith and service to his community. His rich life will be celebrated this week when family, friends and admirers gather to say goodbye.

FORUM EDITORIAL: OBAMA’S POLICIES FAIR GAME

The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama seems to have adopted a strategy whereby any criticism of his stated policy positions will be characterized as a personal attack. It’s exactly the kind of conduct Obama claimed would not be part of his “post-partisan” campaign style. Yet, he seems juvenile and hyper-prickly when he’s legitimately challenged.

BOMBING VALIDATES U.S. POLICY

So much for the argument that inmates at Guantanamo Bay pose little or no danger. And so much for the argument that most of them are innocent victims of U.S. hysteria regarding terrorism. Some of them are very dangerous, indeed. Deciding which detainees to keep in custody and which ones to release is an extremely difficult task.

SHUTTING OFF OIL RESERVE ISN'T ANSWER

The truth of the matter is we have erratic and increasing crude oil prices. Few people believe this is a short-term problem. It is the result of global politics, terrorism and U.S. foreign policy - managed or mismanaged, depending upon your point of view. That being said, America might well be better off topping off the reserve, and holding it for a real crisis.

Is cutting off the reserve a small step? Yes.

In the right direction? No.

BASIC SOCIAL STUDIES

Americans should be distressed at what seems to be a trend regarding knowledge of our nation’s history: As studies have indicated for several years, young people just don’t seem to know enough about it. The same goes for basic economics, politics and other matters.

A new investigation of the problem involved quizzes given to 14,000 students at 50 colleges and universities. They were asked to answer 60 multiple-choice questions on U.S. history, politics, international affairs and economics.

On average, college freshmen were able to get just 53.7 percent of the correct answers. Seniors managed only a slight improvement, to 55.4 percent.

FIRST RULE OF N.D. POLITICS: ACCEPT REALITY

Liberal Democrats in North Dakota may frown at the following description of Sen. Barack Obama's campaign but they shouldn't. Likewise, conservative Republicans may smile and nod, but they probably shouldn't do those things, either.

N.D. PSC MADE RIGHT DECISION

PATRIOTISM AMONG DIPLOMATS

Now, the bad news: A survey of more than 4,300 diplomats working for the State Department has disclosed that many of them apparently don’t understand their jobs — or the meaning of the word “patriotism.”

After the State Department admitted that it was having trouble filling vacant diplomatic positions in Iraq, the American Foreign Service Association, a union representing diplomats, asked about 11,500 of them to respond to a survey. According to the union, 4,311 responses were received.

‘EMPTIED PRAIRIE,' CROWDED MARKETPLACE

Marketplace and North Dakota alike have grown. The event draws more than 7,000 people these days and gets more innovative and exciting by the year. As for North Dakota - well, it's understandable that old perceptions die hard. But if the good folks at National Geographic had wanted to correct their distorted view of the state as one big abandoned farm, then Wednesday's event at the Alerus Center would have been be a great place to start.