Late last summer, former commissioner Bracken Burns knocked on our door in East Washington. Burns was seeking information on the individual who had built the large ornate older homes in our neighborhood. Like most East Washington residents, we knew the age of our home, but could not name the ...
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Observer-Reporter is debuting “Point-Counterpoint,” featuring the opinions of Dave Ball and Gary Stout, two frequent contributors with opposing viewpoints. This month, the newspaper asked: “Washington County Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis have voted to end ...
Now that we are almost a year into Trump’s second term, it is an appropriate time to stand back from the head scratching and frustration to pose an important question. Where did Trumpism and MAGA come from? I am not referring to the man himself, but rather to the ideological and political ...
By Gary Stout With the constant barrage of news, it is easy to focus on the president’s newest outrage. Less obvious, permanent damage is being done to our republic’s founding principle of “democratic capitalism.” If we took a “social MRI” of the United States we would discover ...
I have decided in my post-retirement years that I will be more than satisfied with living a life of meaningful mediocrity. Moreover, l will kick to the curb any thoughts of achieving perfection in any of my pursuits. While I have the time and better resources to seek a more perfect ...
Most people would agree that the more you get to know someone, the more human they become. As you learn about someone’s background, struggles, and motivations, the less bias is placed on their ethnic background, political views, or quirky personalities. In our divided tribal nation, simply ...
