A globalist steps out of the closet
Yes, it’s Wednesday, and after an ear-splitting drumroll, let’s all holler it together ...
“Chat Day!”
You know, I wanted to open the show that way for a reason — besides the fact that I’m a tad goofy and wanted to have a little fun.
The point I’m trying to make is that Chat Day should belong to you.
So far, the items I’ve run in this thing have almost all come from (or been about) you folks out there in Readerville.
Please keep on feeding me these stories or opinions or whatever.
Last week, we ran part of a wonderful message from Jim Petersen of Dalton Gardens, who took on the rural unemployment issue and vividly recalled the glory days when everyone was pocketing cash in Kellogg.
My pal Haylie Thompson turned us on to a crazy but wonderfully informative podcast about science — which matters a lot because we’re all in the middle of a debate over climate change.
See what I mean?
It can be whatever you have in mind.
ITEM: When we addressed the obvious lack of civility in society these days, the whole idea was that we all need to regain our senses of humor.
To that end, several readers asked how “Today’s Ghastly Groaner” worked its way into The Press.
Everyone seemed to love the corny jokes, and as one woman said: “It’s just a great way to start your day, with a laugh.”
Yes, it is — and the Groaner happens to be the brainchild of Maureen (Mo) Dolan, our city editor.
I have no idea when Mo found the time to invent a super new idea, since — I’m going to a cliché here — she’s the busiest woman in show business.
Seriously, most of us don’t even know Mo’s planned working hours, since she’s always in the newsroom.
Let’s have some applause for our New Jersey girl, who gave you the Groaner and brought some fun into our daily lives.
ITEM: There’s been a huge ruckus over the proposed sale of Avista to Canadian utility giant Hydro One.
Reader Kenneth Moore sent me a long and detailed objection to the deal, and then went for the whole audience — submitting a lengthy “My Turn” piece that we published.
Let me just toss in that the most recent flap — the new premier of Ontario shoving out the entire board of Hydro One — was fully expected.
Personally, I think there are enough layers of protection that Idahoans have nothing to fear from the deal, and actually could benefit because Avista then would be operating with the benefits of a larger scale.
There are two objections I hear most — and that I really do understand.
Quite a few people want nothing to do with a foreign country having any piece of our key utility company; and then some folks have said outright that they don’t trust the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
I do grasp the logic of arguments against this merger.
But the notion that we can’t trust any foreign country, well, that possibility doesn’t bother me because I actually am a globalist.
I’ve lived and worked outside the United States, and don’t fear doing business with other nations any more than I would worry about a company in Florida.
There are differing thoughts on this, but hey ...
A democracy treasures free speech, right?
Amen, brothers and sisters.
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Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.
A Brand New Day appears Wednesday through Saturday each week. Steve’s sports column runs on Tuesday.
Email: [email protected].
Twitter:@BrandNewDayCDA