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.

PARENTS HAVE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT KIDS ACTIVITIES

Clearly, the student's privacy rights aren't absolute. The state's interest outweighs those rights when it comes to financial aid, and the parents' interest in the matter of drug or alcohol abuse should do the same.

Seventeen-year-olds can join the Army, but they can't vote. Eighteen-year-olds can vote, but they can't drink. American society doles out adult privileges over time, not all at once. And a modest delay in granting students full privacy rights would be a good thing for students, parents and Minnesota alike.

DRIVERLESS VEHICLES? NO THANKS

We’re all in favor of using technology to increase safety on our roads. If radar and other such creations can be used to cut down on the number of accidents, we’re all for it. But to actually buy a vehicle that drives itself, well, we’re not quite ready for that yet.

MORE ‘SUNLIGHT’ NEEDED ON JOBZ PROGRAM

Details on who benefits from the Job Opportunity Building Zones program are considered “private” information under state law, even though the revenue offset by the tax program affect all taxpayers.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PAINTS THE SAME OLD PICTURE OF ND

While outsiders wonder why we live in a state that has a ‘feral edge to it,” some of us can’t imagine living in states without glorious fields of wheat, canola and sunflowers, and without prairies teeming with native plants and wildlife like moose, coyotes, mountain lions, pheasants, deer, ducks and geese.

ND OIL SUMMIT WAS A GOOD FIRST STEP

People in the oil patch need to have sufficiently big plans, though. If it does turn out, as was said at the summit, that North Dakota's portion of the middle Bakken shale formation could be the biggest single oil field in the continental United States in 30 years, the benefit-cost ratio should be watched carefully.

Oil production companies might be tempted to be closed-mouthed about their plans and projects. But the more open they can be, the fewer conflicts with the population of the Williston Basin there could be. The summit was a good first step. About 320 people took part.

WSI MUST STAY ON COURSE

How much of the structure of the agency is sound remains to be seen. Then, it will be a matter of finding out how much WSI is willing to embrace change or repair.

Feb. 15 and the consultant's report can't come too soon.

U.S. SHOULDN’T ALLOW WTO TO TELL US WHAT TO DO

One-world” conspiracy theorists often warn that Americans risk losing sovereignty, at the cost of our own liberties, to other countries. The mechanism, they say, is various treaties under which the United States pledges to abide by decisions made by courts or councils dominated by other nations.

Perhaps the conspiracy theorists are on to something, to judge by the World Trade Organization’s action regarding gambling on the Internet.

CRACKS IN MINNESOTA'S FOUNDATION START TO SHOW

CROOKSTON - A few weeks ago, the Minnesota Department of Revenue issued its annual November Budget Forecast. The forecast indicated a revenue downturn of more than $700 million, a sharp decline from what was expected last June.

Since the forecast was released, I've had several people ask me how the state's budget situation could change so rapidly in less than a year. If you remember, the governor in February was talking about how the state had plenty of money and pointed to a $2.2 billion budget surplus.

STATE REFINERY ISN'T REALISTIC

It sounds good, that another oil refinery should be built in North Dakota. But realistic? That's a different matter.

The proposal from a candidate for the nomination to run for the North Dakota governorship is that the state should build one. Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, said he thinks a state-built refinery would help make the price of gasoline reasonable.

LAWMAKERS ARE IGNORING VOTERS’ WISHES ON IMMIGRATION

One of the ways Congress found to trim spending in response to a demand by President Bush was to slash funding for the proposed fence at certain locations along the U.S.-Mexican border. Instead of the two-tier fencing called for in a 2006 law, the barrier apparently will consist of only one layer of protection.

NATIONAL DEBT KEEPS GROWING

Out of sight, out of mind. That seems to be the thinking of the current generation and its leaders in?Washington. There’s still money available and federal programs have funding, although the amount certainly varies according to which party is in charge of Congress. But ignoring the problem won’t make it go away, and there are no quick fixes or easy solutions. But at some point, those in charge – from both parties – must make a conscious decision to seek fiscal responsibility. In the meantime, happy shopping.

REASSESS, EVALUATE THE RISK OF PIPELINES

Leaking crude oil fueled a pipeline explosion in Minnesota last week, killing two people. Meanwhile, a Canadian company continues to lobby to build a crude-oil pipeline that would cross North Dakota from north to south.

MAKING PROGRESS ON PEACE?

As gambits go, this one even made some sense. Iran’s saber rattling has everyone else in the neighborhood nervous — perhaps even nervous enough finally to abide Israel’s right to exist as a nation. Israel, for its part, has never had a better friend in the White House. The closing months of the Bush administration, ironically, may be a window of opportunity to move toward real settlement of the region’s grievances — if a desire for legacy does not blind the White House to the hard realities of the Middle East.

At least Annapolis didn’t blow up — figuratively — in everyone’s faces. At least the two sides didn’t go home in a huff. As sad as it may be, perhaps, after all, that is progress.

IAEA BECOMING WORTHLESS

The International Atomic Energy Agency has become virtually useless as a watchdog regarding development of nuclear weapons. A report from the U.N. agency emphasized that this past week.

Once again, IAEA officials, instead of admitting that they really don’t know what’s going on in Iran, are giving Tehran every benefit of the doubt in regard to nuclear weapons.

STOP FEDERAL FUNDING TO SANCTUARY CITIES

Municipal governments that actively require their law enforcement officers to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration control officials are aiding and abetting illegal immigrants. That is plain enough, despite the rhetoric from officials in such “sanctuary cities.”