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RALPH KINGSBURY: Anger over government failure sparks initiatives 
North Dakotans likely will be voting on two important issues in the June primary. The first is property taxation, its limitations and unfairness. If Measure 2 is not adopted in the election, then changes will come in the legislative session. One way or another, the state will have to get serious about the problems of property taxation. This issue will not go away until changes occur. The second issue is academic freedom, which is coming to a head through the Legislature’s absurd effort to require UND to use a particular nickname for its sports teams.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: With Measure 2, N.D. faces landmark fork in the road
As someone who always has believed property taxes were the least fair of all taxes, and as someone who agrees with most of the stated problems and wrongs of property taxes, I am sorry to say I am going to vote no on Measure 2. Why will I vote this way? One reason: While those writing the initiated measure did eliminate the problems concerning property taxation, they replaced them with problems of state appropriations.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: It's not Mayberry anymore. But what to do?
Now and then as my columns have appeared, readers have had comments and questions. Today’s column is an attempt to reply to some of the comments and to answer some of the questions.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Crystal is a business, not a welfare agency
About 20 years ago, co-ops were all the rage in the upper Midwest. Led by American Crystal Sugar and Dakota Growers in Carrington, N.D., farmer-owned and value-added businesses were going to make us all rich. As for American Crystal, today it is the most successful agricultural investment in the region. But there are problems, some of which were created by poor management decisions.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Time to look Grand Forks’ gift-horse in the mouth
We might as well start at the beginning. The unbelievable, unexplained, unwritten-about beginning. What is doing this? Why in Grand Forks, so far from the oil patch? What is making this happen?
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Grand Fork’s motel-tax collections go up, up, up
Today, I fear this sense of community has disappeared from much of America. But one of the few places where it has continued is in rural areas, and that means North Dakota. Now, I fear the North Dakota Legislature is about to take on giant step toward destroying that community. It will save taxpayers a few pennies, maybe the cost of a Big Mac a year or so.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: North Dakota won’t be immune from globalization’s woes
Globalization. That’s the way they describe it now. When the trend first started, it was called free trade. We were told — and most of us believed — that if only we would let production take place in countries with the greatest “comparative advantage,” we would all be better off. It’s not my intention to discuss the American Crystal situation again, except to say that as it relates to free trade and globalization, the federal sugar program’s survival even in the near future is questionable.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Ho-hum: Another month, another record performance
Last month, I wrote how this job could become boring. All that this town, this area, this state were doing was growing. Some places grew fast, some grew slow, but every place was growing to some degree. How could I find any excitement in this?
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: ‘Wheat tour’ conclusions come at farmers’ expense
Remember the Herald’s July story about the wheat tour, which was taken by milling and baking companies and commodity buyers? The buyers expressed surprise at the quality and quantity of the wheat crop in North Dakota, the story reported. That’s when I thought, “Here we go again.”
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Forecast calls for more growth (yawn)
This job could get boring. Through thick and thin and good and poor national economies, North Dakota’s economy has ranged from good to excellent.
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RALPH KINGSBURY: N.D. energy growth shows free market at work
Keynesian economics made America the greatest power the world had ever seen. That was the conventional wisdom about 50 years ago. At that time, most students — this writer included — tended to accept the prevailing theories of every field of study. Keynes was right about anything dealing with economics; Freud was right about psychology, and so on.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Keep an eye on housing starts in Grand Forks
Another month, another set of upbeat numbers. We could call the building permit report negative. The total dollar amount is only about 30 percent of the first four months of last year, and there is not one category that is better than last year.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Needles of worry in haystack of good news
This job should be easy. With an economy like the one we have in Grand Forks, the Red River Valley (including Minnesota) and all of North Dakota, it is as good as it gets. Of course, that’s the problem. I mean, what is there to say month after month? Power up Word and write, “Well, the economy continues to grow. There are no signs of trouble” again this month. Then what? I am supposed to write a column. How do I fill the rest of this space?
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Nothing — not even sugar — stays the same forever
American Crystal Sugar Co. is an example of how capitalism addresses adversity. Forty years ago, Red River Valley farmers took a minor government program and turned it into a roaring business success.
RELATED CONTENTGrand Forks economy in good shape
Facts are peculiar things. They often have this problem of getting in the way of the truth as people would like to define it.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Higher ed 101: Enrollment growth isn’t free
Some political arguments just seem to go on and on. Even with the end of the legislative session, the appropriations argument between UND and North Dakota State University continues.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Prioritize state funds
It is time in the history of North Dakota that at least part of the largest expenditure at the local level, school financing, be shifted from the local property tax to state expenditures.
RELATED CONTENTLet the automakers go broke
If the proposed bailout of the Detroit automakers becomes law, it’ll hurt the economies of North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. But this bailout talk is entirely different. And just plain wrong.
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- Region business: Allegiant to fly Fargo-to-Florida ... Bankers have little confidence, etc.
- Number of active oil rigs unchanged this week
- Business Calendar: Tax management ... Famous Dave ... Irrigation Expo ... Cattlemen
- Should the U.S. auto industry receive federal government bailout money or other emergency assistance?
- Major Minnesota auto retailer Denny Hecker to close 6 dealerships, sell 3 others
- Automakers need to make case for government aid
- Leaders say valley’s economy resilient
- BUSINESS: Oh, Christmas tree: They could be trimmed from holiday budgets
RALPH KINGSBURY: Waiting for the downturn
The national trend could catch up to North Dakota soon.
RELATED CONTENTRALPH KINGSBURY: Keep a cool head: What to expect now that we're in this mess
Selling now simply ‘locks in your losses,’ so take care.
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