Editorial: Thumbs

To the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners.

There was a debate Wednesday at Albert Lea City Hall between the two candidates for Freeborn County Commissioner District 5. Not a single member of the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners showed up. Afterward, there was a debate between the five candidates for the 1st Ward seat on the Albert Lea City Council. Three members of the council were present to watch. It is hard to say whether the difference in attendance was a litmus test for how concerned the elected officials are for their respective governments, but we wouldn’t be surprised if voters interpreted it as this: The council cares more about the future of the city than the board cares about the future of the county. Whether that is true or not is debatable, but the public perception is there.

To the Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team.

The game the Wolverines had against Goodhue took place after this newspaper went to deadline, but we wanted to congratulate this small-school team on a wonderful season and a good postseason run. It’s been great to watch how well this senior class gels, not only on the court but with student support in the stands. In fact, it seems the whole school and community get out to support their team. That’s commendable. Remember, in some Minnesota State High School League classes, teams only need three wins to get to state. In the class Glenville-Emmons is in, some teams need four wins and some need five. Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball has done well.

To Wisconsin.

The Republicans in Wisconsin indeed have won this battle over unions and collective bargaining, but they have lost much ground when it comes to public opinion. Few moderates in that state who voted for Republicans in the 2010 election, delivering two houses and the governor’s mansion to the GOP, imagined their votes would result in the destruction of collective-bargaining rights. We wouldn’t be surprised at all in the shifts in Wisconsin politics to the Democrats in 2012 and 2014, all stemming from this emotionally charged issue. Teachers worked incredibly hard to meet the education requirements to become teachers, and they work incredibly hard as teachers. War on the middle class is no way to pull America out of its economic doldrums.