Those dumb Norwegian farmers...

[clarencebunsen]

...may be on to something.

North Dakota's legislators are faced with a tough problem, how to deal with a projected $1 Billion surplus.

www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE52J3R120090320

suggestions have included, spending it, banking it for a rainy day and a tax reduction.

I especially liked this comment: "As for general obligation debt, the state has none, opting to pay cash for most capital expenditures." One of the reasons may be that there are still roads & bridges in that part of the country in daily use which were built by my grandfather. Don't replace what still works.

One of the governor's suggestions, not to spend federal stimulus money until there is a plan in place for how to use it, seems to have run afoul of federal law.

Speaking of my grandfather, the house that he built on the banks of the Red River (now in the hands of a 4th generation)has withstood all of floods of the past 60+ years. I keep watching for my nephews on the sandbag lines on the Nightly News.

[Clipper]

I hope the house survives once again Clarence. The flooding looks pretty horrific on the news. Reminds me of the flooding that almost wiped out Grand Forks as I knew it, a few years back.

I can't imagine living in fear every spring in a flood plain. No thank you. I have a phobia about it I guess. It has always been one of the first things I checked when looking at property over the years. I mean above and beyond the concerns of the bank about flooding.

I am always amazed that people would even consider living in places where the only thing that keeps them from washing away is a levy. I was in New Orleans years and years ago, and I was awestruck by the fact that I was standing at street level looking UP at a ship moving past at a higher elevation than that of the street level.

Prayers and good thoughts for your relatives and for their safety Clarence.

[clarencebunsen]

They will survive.

My sister said that her teenage son spent six hours on the sand bag line, came home , showered & went to work. She skipped work to sand bag other people's homes.