Right in the centre - How far the flaky have fallen

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Once upon a time, we looked to our politicians to be statesmen. I think that it’s safe to say statesmen and not offend any upstanding women who have been in positions of government leadership. At times, we had to be satisfied when our leaders at least pretended to be statesmen. That happened sometimes in history.

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Observation Oct. 7

By Addy Oberlin

Neepawa Banner

This Sunday we celebrate a day, maybe with family and friends, where we express our thankfulness for a year passed. Maybe the year has been full of challenges or even grief, but in the midst of it all there are moments and occasions where we can say “thank you” for what happened or did not happen.

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Homebodies - Home again, home again, sniggly snot…

By Rita Friesen

Neepawa Banner

It happened. I caught a cold. Perhaps a flue/cold, but the results are the same. Much nose blowing, much coughing and hacking, much, much fatigue. It started my first morning in Slave Lake. Early morning I snuck into the kitchen for a spoonful of honey. I wanted instant relief from the itch in my throat, and I did not want to disturb the household. Honey worked. Short term.

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Faithfully yours - Two little, powerful words

By Neil Strohschein

Neepawa Banner

I’ve been thinking lately about the power of two little words. We use them a lot. Sometimes we abbreviate them (as in a text or instant message). Sometimes we use their shortened form. Sometimes we mutter them under our breath. Sometimes we use them, but our tone of voice suggests that we might not really mean what we’re saying. The words are there, but the feeling isn’t; and that needs to change.

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Right in the centre - Viability is the key

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

There are only two ways to increase net profit: increase income or decrease expenses. When a company wants or needs to establish a higher profit margin, it has those same two choices. A company can make more stuff or get in more product and then sell more. It can also decrease expenses. For a government at any level it is a bit more difficult, as they don’t have the same control over income. Taxes are based on the economy’s productivity and government can’t do much about that in the short term, they can, however, cut expenses. In a public setting, that is a very tough thing to do. Many government jobs are protected by contract or union agreement. In addition, when cuts are made, there is a public outcry about job losses.

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