Stephen Tuttle | Author

Dear Congress

Jan. 20, 2018

 

Dear Congress: 

Around 550 million years ago, the right combination of atmospheric oxygen and changes in the makeup of the oceans allowed critters to convert minerals into bone. About 7 million years ago, the first humanoid type used those bones to stand uprigh... Read More >>

The Weed Windfall

Jan. 13, 2018

United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions has had just about enough of all this legal and medical weed business.

Sessions has revoked Obama administration instructions to federal prosecutors and law enforcement to avoid prosecutions of legal marijuana or medical marijuana in st... Read More >>

Leadership Lost

Jan. 6, 2018

 

If you believe the foreign press, and some here, the United States has lost, or is losing, decades-old influence. They have a list.

We are now the only country in the world to refuse to sign the Paris Accords on climate change. Nicaragua was a previous holdout becau... Read More >>

Questions

Dec. 30, 2017

As always, so many questions to start the year.

* "Absolutely free” shouldn't involve a “separate handling fee,” should it? 

* Did you know the Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, is now more than 13 billion miles from earth and still functioning... Read More >>

Choosing Goodwill

Dec. 16, 2017

 

This is the season, we're told, of peace and goodwill on earth, the birth day of the Prince of Peace. Or at least the day Christians have chosen to celebrate the birthday.

Alas, we seem no closer to peace on earth or goodwill toward anyone than we've ever been. You ... Read More >>

Won't Help Most of Us

Dec. 9, 2017

Now we know. Neither the House tax reform bill nor the Senate tax reform bill does much to help most of us. Actually, it's worse than that.What we've been told by President Trump is this is the largest tax cut in history, the middle class will most benefit, his rich friends won't like it,... Read More >>

Just Dumb

Dec. 2, 2017

Remember when a good education for our children was the top priority of nearly every politician? Not so much these days.

Spending on public K-12 schools and universities has been in decline since the recession approached rock bottom in 2008. According to the State Higher Education... Read More >>

First Steps

Nov. 25, 2017

The rogue's gallery of accused sexual harassers, abusers, and assaulters now includes

actors, directors, producers, record moguls, politicians including two former presidents and the current president, television broadcasters both behind and in front of the camera, and various bus... Read More >>

Hunting Witches

Nov. 11, 2017

Let's check in and see how Special Counsel Robert Mueller's “witch hunt” into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election is going.

We have to start by acknowledging the Russians did interfere. The CIA, NSA, FBI and all additional intelligence and law enforc... Read More >>

Tall Talk

Nov. 4, 2017

The endless argument over tall buildings in downtown Traverse City, now in court and likely to never go away, has percolated to the surface of public debate. Again.

The arguments remain essentially the same.

The more-height advocates tell us density is the key to a vibrant... Read More >>

More Dying in More Places

Oct. 28, 2017

Now we have combat deaths after militants supportive of the Islamic State ambushed four Green Berets in Niger. It's a good bet you, like several United States senators, didn't know we had troops in Niger. Or where it is.

Niger is the largest country in West Africa, with about 20.7... Read More >>

Try Again on Tax Reform

Oct. 21, 2017

We have a tax reform plan. Cobbled together in secret by six Republicans and supported by President Donald Trump, it promises much and delivers much less.

We're told it's going to cut almost everyone's taxes, including those of corporations, while stimulating the economy and creat... Read More >>

Awaiting the Candlelight Vigil

Oct. 14, 2017

Another day, another massacre, another pile of teddy bears and candles, another candlelight vigil and memorial service, another permanent memorial, another gun debate, another day, another massacre.  

We're good at this because we've had plenty of practice.

The F... Read More >>

Kneeling Tall

Sept. 30, 2017

As far as we know, a baseball game in 1897 was the first time the Star Spangled Banner was played at a sporting event. It's one of the few things about baseball that does not have endless statistics.

We do know the song was played in the seventh inning of the first game of the Wor... Read More >>

Coming Soon

Sept. 23, 2017

While we've been blissfully unaware, a 2018 Michigan gubernatorial race has broken out and will likely be coming to your neighborhood, television screen, mailbox, or computer screen soon. 

According to the Detroit Free Press which recently listed the lineup, 14 stalw... Read More >>

Downtown Money and Flashing Red Lights

Sept. 16, 2017

Traverse City must be the king, or queen, of corporate welfare. Every developer would like some, please, and there seems to be plenty to go around.

It is only sound business to avail themselves of the taxpayer largess, especially downtown, where land costs are preposterously high.... Read More >>

The New Normal

Sept. 9, 2017

For those who lost loved ones, the pain will likely never end. For the thousands whose homes or businesses were damaged or destroyed, the pain is just beginning. 

Hurricane Harvey was an equal opportunity destroyer. Neither skin color nor language nor bank accounts mattered. ... Read More >>

Come Home

Sept. 2, 2017

Alexander the Great was the first, or at least the first for which there are good records.

He and his gang breezed into what is now Afghanistan back in 330 B.C. a scant 2,347 years ago. After two years of being constantly attacked by local tribes, Alexander was no longer that grea... Read More >>

Getting Over It

Aug. 26, 2017

The president says the removal of Confederate statues and monuments is erasing history and destroying the cultural heritage of the South. He openly asks if there is any difference between George Washington or Thomas Jefferson and Robert E. Lee. 

Others believe those protestin... Read More >>

Trouble Near and Far

Aug. 19, 2017

This is not so good. There is trouble both near and far. Let's start with near.

The nurses at Munson Medical Center voted to unionize. Or not. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has questioned 81 ballots, a potential difference-maker in what was a 50-vote victory margin for... Read More >>