Editorials
IN TIMES OF NEED
When Alexis de Tocqueville, in his quest to learn more about our new country toured the United States in the early part of the 19th century, he noted in his diary that Americans were ready and willing givers to charity. Something he considered rather unique. He said that Americans saw a need, for a school, a hospital or a church, or any other kind of service, they formed an association and began to work on raising private funds to help. No one had to prompt them and there was no government invol… Continue Reading
December 21, 2005
MOVING SPECIES RECOVERY FORWARD
On December 15, 2005, I introduced the bipartisan Collaboration for the Recovery of the Endangered Species Act (CRESA). For years now, Iâ??ve heard from many individuals and groups about the need to improve the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As we debate this bill in 2006, I look forward to working with all who have concerns and suggestions on this critical issue. Over the years our state and nation have fiercely debated the merits of the ESA. But there is one fundamental concept on which all agr… Continue Reading
December 14, 2005
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE--IN IDAHO!
It is hard to believe that weâ??ve come to the close of yet another year. For many of us, the days, weeks and months have fairly flown by and now we find ourselves in the midst of December, perhaps wondering how weâ??ll be ready in time for our holiday celebrations, or for the really organized, thrilled to be done with most of the preparations. December provides an opportunity to think back on the yearâ??s events and look ahead to what 2006 will bring. Idahoans have seen both the departure and t… Continue Reading
December 07, 2005
GOOD NEWS IN THE NUMBERS
Winter has come early to parts of Idaho this year. The grey snowy days, slippery roads and no small amount of shoveling might seem oppressive at times, but these cold winter days also bear the possibility of relief from the drought that has gripped Idaho for years now. Similarly, in the aftermath of the dot-com collapse, September 11 and the ongoing military efforts in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, the economy has been in an ongoing state of recovery that may have seeme… Continue Reading
November 30, 2005
THE TAX MAN CHANGETH
Simplicity just isnâ??t a word synonymous with taxes. With nearly $150 billion spent annually on compliance, federal taxes are a confusing web of seemingly arbitrary rules, endless line items, schedules and worksheets. Even with multiple instruction books, maneuvering the maze of the tax code is costly and time-consuming. Individuals and businesses must participate in a national discussion about a simpler tax system, one that collects sufficient revenue to meet appropriate federal responsibiliti… Continue Reading
November 23, 2005
THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT
December is a time when we gather gifts for family and friends and for those in need. This generosity is generally understood in the context of a one-way actionâ??a true gift comes with no expectation of something in return. Our gain is the knowledge that the gift has brought someone else joy, respite or relief from trouble. The surprised and excited cries of children on Christmas morning; warm embrace of a loved one on a candlelit evening; or, knowing that a child or family somewhere else is wa… Continue Reading
November 16, 2005
HEARTY, HEALTHY AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING
HEARTY, HEALTHY AND HAPPY THANKSGIVINGGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoThanksgiving is just around the cornerâ??for many, a time of family, friends and food. Every family has its own special blend of dishes, as diverse as our proud American heritage. As we prepare for and enjoy our Thanksgiving dinners or provide for those less fortunate, itâ??s also a good time to think about our health as November is National Diabetes Awareness Month.Type 2 Diabetes accounts for 90-95 percent… Continue Reading
November 09, 2005
MORE THAN JUST A NAME ON A LIST
MORE THAN JUST A NAME ON A LIST Guest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoItâ??s just a name on a list--alone, not all that powerful. That is, until you consider what it means. The name, among many of the hundreds of World War II Idaho war dead preserved by the National Archives, was that of Albert Jacobsen from Burley. While I donâ??t know Albert Jacobsenâ??s family, most importantly, I do know that he was a seaman second class in the Navy and killed in the line of duty. It seems that … Continue Reading
November 02, 2005
SAVING THE BUDGET CANDLE
SAVING THE BUDGET CANDLEGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoAn old farmer was once asked by a young man how it was he had become so wealthy."It's a long story," said the old man, "and while I'm telling it we may as well save the candle." And he put it out."You need not tell the story," said the youth. "I understand."With the natural and human-caused world events of the last four years, our nation has faced increasing deficits and une… Continue Reading
October 26, 2005
CLOSE TO HOME
In the United States, it injures over 2 million people and kills 1,300 every year. 30 percent of women and 22 percent of men are victims in their lifetime. Sadly, these numbers represent only 50 percent of known cases. This is domestic violence. Itâ??s real, and itâ??s closer to home than many people think. Every Idaho community has stories of family violence. What an appalling tragedyâ??even having seen what I have in the capacity of a public official, itâ??s still difficult to understand how p… Continue Reading
October 19, 2005
SUCCESS FOR SPECIES AND PEOPLE
Teddy Roosevelt first applied the term â??conservationâ?? to the process of wise-use and preservation of natural resources. A century later, conservation laws have successfully restored species like the American bald eagle, gray whale and peregrine falcon to sustainable populations. This is a terrific start to the greater goals of preserving wildland resources, which is the intention behind the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These goals have strong public support, including mine. The many people … Continue Reading
October 12, 2005
EARLY AMERICAN EMAIL?
EARLY AMERICAN EMAIL?Guest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoWhat it would have been like had there been e-mail in our early American history?Think of it, "The Compiled E-mails of Thomas Jefferson" or perhaps, the "Instant Messages of the Lewis and Clark Expedition." Although our third President may have delighted in e-mail, somehow it just wouldn't seem right for Thomas Jefferson to do anything but write letters. Itâ??s amusing to think about: one of my favori… Continue Reading
September 28, 2005
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLAN FOR YOU
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLAN FOR YOUGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoConsider the fact that 60 years ago there was no such thing as a vaccine for polio, measles, German measles, mumps, and chicken pox; now the vaccine for many illnesses comes in one shot. The last half-century has seen historically unparalleled advances in surgeries, treatments for chronic and fatal diseases and health care prevention. Like the amazing technological advances over the past two decades, the progress a… Continue Reading
September 21, 2005
A PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY FORESTS
A PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALTHY FORESTSGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoWere it not for Hurricane Katrina and the Supreme Court nomination hearings, Iâ??m quite certain that the fires in Idaho this summer and fall would be making national headlines. On September 16, Idaho reported three large fires burning a total of 90,000 acres in the Payette and Sawtooth National Forests and BLM land in the Twin Falls District. Year-to-date statistics for Idaho are sobering: 954 fires have burned… Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
APPOINTED TO INTERPRET THE LAW
APPOINTED TO INTERPRET THE LAWGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike Crapo As an attorney formerly in private practice, Iâ??ll readily admit that case law generally isnâ??t exciting reading, and usually, Iâ??d much rather sit down with a great Western. But, buried in centuries of Supreme Court rulings, you will find the foundation of laws that regulate our daily lives. Laws that govern everything from the movement of goods across state lines to freedom of speech have been upheld or struck… Continue Reading
September 07, 2005
LISTENING TO IDAHO AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the bedrock of many Idaho communities and plays an important role in most. As such, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the programs it oversees affect virtually the entire state. When agriculture industries show signs of success or failure, it stands to reason that those most directly affected by Farm Bill policy should be the ones to offer support or constructive criticism.Idahoans had a unique opportunity to do just that first hand this past week at the Eastern Idaho State F… Continue Reading
September 02, 2005
HELP IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
Itâ??s jarring to see pictures of devastation similar to the tsunami in Southeast Asia last winter taken here in the United States in places like New Orleans and Biloxi. Undoubtedly, this is one of the worst natural disasters our nation has ever experienced in such a concentrated area. In Idaho, weâ??ve seen the utter destruction that a forest fire can bring, and many remember the Teton Dam disaster. Yet, flood waters, wind and rain of this magnitude exceed even these events, bringing disease, l… Continue Reading
September 01, 2005
A DISTINGUISHED HISTORY
On a chilly September day, in a 40-square foot room in the Philadelphia State House, 52 highly-educated men ranging in age from 28 to 81, signed a document intended to create a unified country out of a hodge-podge of independent states. The well-known painting of the signing of the Constitution gives us a romantic view of that moment, but the reality was a little different, yet eerily familiar to those of us who stand in the shadows of those great men 218 years later. Our Constitution was not cr… Continue Reading
August 17, 2005
WISE CONSERVATION AT WORK
Conservation is happening all the time on both public and private lands. I like to remind people that when it comes to preservation of land, water and wildlife resources, the Farm Bill contains some of our most important environmental programs. Farmers and ranchers understand and appreciate preserving and improving the land for the beneficial use of future generations. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a useful tool for land preservation and, over the past 20 years, it has been utilized … Continue Reading
August 10, 2005
FINALLY--A PLAN THAT WORKS
FINALLYâ??A PLAN THAT WORKSGuest opinion submitted by Idaho Senator Mike CrapoLast fall, I wrote that the United States needed to find cost-effective ways to access and exploit diverse energy sources while promoting energy conservation by individuals and industry. At that time we were facing exorbitant gasoline prices and climbing natural gas prices. In nine months, the situation has only worsened. And as I noted then, this crisis reveals a growing divide between supply and demand that threatens… Continue Reading
