The Works of Dave Berger

Dave Berger

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Last year’s election bolstered ‘glory of womankind’ in our nation

From the column: “Too many folks have become cynical about our polarized political landscape, but progress is still being made nationwide when it comes to equal rights.”

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Opinion byDave Berger

Duluth News Tribune

Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM

Just a bit more than a century ago, on Monday, Jan. 5, 1925, at noon in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as the first woman governor of a U.S. state. That same month, a ceremony was held at noon in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to swear in Miriam A. Ferguson, the second woman governor of a U.S. state.

Amazingly, a nation that did not have any female governors during its first almost 150 years suddenly had two.

This exciting moment for equal rights, a century ago this month, was noted, including by Mary C.C. Bradford, Colorado’s state superintendent of public instruction. She sent a telegram to Gov. Ross, reading, according to the front page of the Casper, Wyoming, Star Tribune on Jan. 6, 1925, “Congratulations to the first woman governor from the state which first elected women to state office. May all your plans and programs become splendid realities, making for the honor of your state and the glory of womankind.”

This same sense of historical elation was expressed in the large headline on the top of the front page of the Waco Times-Herald, noting on Jan. 20, 1925, the swearing in of Gov. Ferguson. That headline read: “Humble and Mighty See Housewife Become Governor: ‘Ma’ Ferguson Takes Oath in Wild Tumult.”

I can only imagine the sense of euphoria of many at that time who had fought so hard for women’s suffrage and equity.

Unfortunately, this quick start to female representation in the ranks of American governors slowed to a trickle during the next 50 years. While Gov. Ferguson was reelected to a second term in 1933, it was not until 1967 that the United States had its third woman governor, when Lurleen Wallace, wife of Gov. George Wallace, was elected in Alabama. All three of the women who served as governors from 1925 to 1974 were the wives or widows of a previous governor and had limited political experience.

This all changed on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 1975, when Ella T. Grasso was sworn in as the 83rd governor of Connecticut. Unlike Ross, Ferguson, and Wallace, Gov. Grasso had a very successful political career of her own before being elected governor. The editorial board of the Naugatuck (Connecticut) Daily News noted her outstanding career on January 9, 1975, writing, “We freely acknowledge that Ella Grasso has proven herself as a state legislator, a state executive, and a U.S. representative. Regardless of political persuasion, no thinking person can deny that the lady has ability.”

Gov. Grasso’s election was just the beginning of numerous women governors with extensive and thriving political careers. From 1975 to 2025, 46 more women became governors of U.S. states. In all, 32 states have now had a woman as governor. Arizona leads the way with five women governors, while New Hampshire is close behind with four.

The election of 2024 set yet another new record for women governors in the United States. When the people of New Hampshire elected former state Attorney General and U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte to be their governor on Nov. 5, they guaranteed that 13 women will be governors in our states simultaneously this year, a new record.

Too many folks have become cynical about our polarized political landscape, but progress is still being made nationwide when it comes to equal rights. That includes the expanded opportunities in the governorships of our country.

The telegram from Mary C.C. Bradford to Gov. Ross in 1925 echoes back to us today through the halls of history. All 13 of our women American governors in 2025 have plans and programs that will hopefully honor their respective states, the glory of womankind, and all of us.

Dave Berger of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a retired sociology professor, a freelance writer, and author, and a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page.

Dave Berger

Dave Berger

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/opinion/columns/local-view-last-years-election-bolstered-glory-of-womankind-in-our-nation

A tale of two taverns — and what it reveals about our politics

The worldviews of Trump and Harris supporters can be found inside a pair of Minnesota pubs.

An interior image of the Buckman Bank Tavern in Buckman, Minnesota.

An interior image of the Buckman Bank Tavern in Buckman, Minnesota. Credit: Photo by Dave Berger

by Dave Berger MinnPost January 7, 2025…. A rewrite from the previous article for the Duluth News Tribune from December

It’s been over two months since the 2024 presidential election, and many are still taking stock of the results. Clearly, we remain a divided nation. While Donald Trump convincingly defeated Kamala Harris in the electoral college 312 to 226, the popular vote was much closer with 49.9% for Trump and 48.4% for Harris, a margin of just 1.5 percentage points. 

Examining the election results on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, it is easy to discover the location of the most Trump-supporting community and the most Harris-supporting community within Minnesota. Comparing these two areas might shed some light on why we differ so much in our presidential politics.

Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Trump are in Morrison County just east of Little Falls, along Minnesota Highway 25. Buckman Township, Buh Township and Pierz Township voted an average of 91.55% for Trump with an average of only 7.05% voting for Harris.

The small working-class town of Buckman, population 312, is at the center of Trump country. According to U.S. Census data, the median annual household income in this area is $82,500 with a median home value of $212,585. About 9.5% of people there live below the poverty level. Additionally, while 92.3% of the town’s residents are high school graduates, 23.8% of the people have a bachelor’s degree or higher.  

Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned Buckman Bank Tavern were quite insightful and amiable.

The tavern is housed in the old Buckman State Bank Building that was built in 1917. It still contains the original bank vault. In fact, the owners have painted the front door to look just like the bank vault door.

The tavern is a charming place with a myriad of neon signs, flags and other sports and beverage-related decorations. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of a classic traditional, no-frills bar complete with comfortable high back stools, pool, dart leagues and pull tabs.

There are two flags on the tavern walls that signal the political leanings of the community. Toward the back is a red, white and blue “Trump–2024–Make America Great Again!” flag and near the front is a flag with a photo of Gov. Tim Walz on it wearing a dunce cap with the message, “My governor is an idiot.”

Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Kamala Harris are in Hennepin County in Minneapolis just east and south of Lake Harriet. These precincts voted an average of 91.33% for Harris with an average of only 6.42% voting for Trump. They are in the neighborhoods of Lynnhurst, King Field and East Harriet.

The bustling upper middle-class neighborhood of Lynnhurst, population 5,691, is at the center of Harris country. According to Census data, the median annual household income in this area is $177,490 with a median home value of $651,372. About 3.3% of the people there live below the poverty level. Additionally, while 94.1% of the people in the neighborhood are high school graduates, 65.1% of the people have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned George and the Dragon Public House were quite insightful and amiable.

The pub is housed in a building built in 2010 and contains Patina, a high-end gift shop, and the refined chic French bistro Saint Genevieve.

The pub is a charming place with lots of soft wood tones, appealing colors and delicate lighting. The walls look like an art gallery with lovely paintings done by a local artist. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of an eloquent restaurant complete with chef, maître d’ and boutique bar that sells wine and craft beers.

Dave Berger
Dave Berger

There are two signs in the front window of the pub that signal the political leanings of the community. One sign has a picture of four diverse young people with one wearing a shirt that reads “# I Can’t Breathe” and a larger caption: “No Justice, No Peace.” The other sign has the symbol and name for “World Central Kitchen,” which indicates George and the Dragon has partnered with WCK to provide meals to those in need in the Twin Cities.

The Buckman Bank Tavern and George and the Dragon Pub, just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities. Folks in Buckman are more definitive in that choices should be straight forward, traditional and plainly understood while the folks in Lynnhurst see more shades of gray with evolving and multiple definitions possible.  The two restrooms at the tavern, for example, are labelled “men” and “women” while the two restrooms at the pub are labelled “unisex.”

Furthermore, the cuisines of these respective localities sum up their basic differences. The tavern with simple comfort food like chicken strips and mini corndogs shows a desire for simple and clear politics without ambiguity while the intricate Chicken Milanese and Steak Au Poivre of the pub shows a desire for diverse, complicated and involved political perspectives.

The menus reflect the mentalities of these two subcultures.

Dave Berger, of Maple Grove, is a retired sociology professor, freelance writer and author.

Minnesota strongholds for Harris, Trump not far apart — geographically

From the column: “The Buckman Bank Tavern and the George and the Dragon Pub, just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities.”

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The George and the Dragon Public House is in the heart of Minnesota Harris country, in Lynnhurst, Minnesota.

(Contributed photo by Dave Berger)

Opinion by Dave Berger

Duluth News Tribune, Wednesday, December 18, 2024

It’s been over a month since the 2024 presidential election, and many are still taking stock of the results. Clearly, we remain a divided nation. While former President Donald Trump convincingly defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the Electoral College 312 to 226, the popular vote was much closer with 49.9% for Trump and 48.4% for Harris, a margin of just 1.5 percentage points.

By examining the election results on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, it is easy to discover the locations of support for Trump and the places that supported Harris within Minnesota. Comparing these two areas might shed some light on why we differ so much in our presidential politics.

Statewide, three of the precincts voting the most for Trump were in Morrison County just east of Little Falls, along Minnesota Highway 25. Buckman Township, Buh Township, and Pierz Township voted an average of 91.55% for Trump with an average of only 7.05% voting for Harris.

The small, working-class town of Buckman, population 312, is at the center of Minnesota Trump country. Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned Buckman Bank Tavern were quite insightful and amiable.

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The Buckman Bank Tavern is in the heart of Minnesota Trump country, in Buckman, Minnesota.

(Contributed photo by Dave Berger)

The tavern is housed in the old Buckman State Bank building, circa 1917. It still contains the original bank vault. In fact, the owners have painted the front door to look just like the bank vault door.

The tavern is a charming place with a myriad of neon signs, flags, and other sports- and beverage-related decorations. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of a classic, traditional, no-frills bar — complete with comfortable, high-back stools, pool tables, dart leagues, and pull tabs.

There are two flags on the tavern walls that signal the political leanings of the community. Toward the back is a red, white, and blue “Trump 2024 Make America Great Again!” flag, and near the front is a flag with a photo of Gov. Tim Walz wearing a dunce cap with the message, “My governor is an idiot.”

Statewide, three of the precincts that voted the most for Harris are in Hennepin County in Minneapolis, just east and south of Lake Harriet. These precincts voted an average of 91.33% for Harris, with an average of only 6.42% voting for Trump. They are in the neighborhoods of Lynnhurst, King Field, and East Harriet.

The bustling upper-middle-class neighborhood of Lynnhurst, population 5,691, is at the center of Minnesota Harris country. Visiting folks there, I found them very friendly and open. In particular, the people at the family-owned George and the Dragon Public House were quite insightful and amiable.

The pub is housed in a building built in 2010 and contains Patina, a high-end gift shop, and the refined chic French bistro Saint Genevieve.

The pub is a charming place with lots of soft wood tones, appealing colors, and delicate lighting. The walls look like an art gallery with lovely paintings done by a local artist. In many ways, it is exactly what is imagined when you think of an eloquent restaurant complete with chef, maître d’, and boutique bar that sells wine and craft beers.

There are two signs in the front window of the pub that signal the political leanings of the community. One sign has a picture of four diverse young people with one wearing a shirt that reads “# I Can’t Breathe” and a larger caption: “No Justice, No Peace.” The other sign has the symbol and name for “World Central Kitchen,” which indicates George and the Dragon has partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide meals to those in need in the Twin Cities.

The Buckman Bank Tavern and the George and the Dragon Pub, just 95 miles apart, are mirror images of their respective communities. The tavern with simple comfort food like chicken strips and mini corndogs shows a desire for simple and clear politics without ambiguity, while the intricate chicken Milanese and steak au poivre of the pub shows a desire for complicated and involved political perspectives.

The menus reflect the mentalities of these two subcultures.

Dave Berger of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a retired sociology professor, a freelance writer, author, and a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page.

No, our democracy is not on the line on Tuesday

From the column: “A fascist takeover of America, like what happened in Nazi Germany, is highly unlikely after this election, no matter which candidate wins.”

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Opinion by Dave Berger

October 31, 2024 at 8:40 AM

“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.”

— R.E.M., 1987

The anxiety level among the American electorate is expanding exponentially as we approach the Nov. 5 election. With most polls indicating the race for the presidency is a statistical dead heat, voters are coming to the realization that their candidate may not be successful.

In a less polarizing year, such realizations would not create the panic that we are seeing now. Due to the super-charged hyperbole and rhetoric of this year’s election, tens of millions of Americans fear the balloting this fall will mark the end of our democracy and the rise of a fascist state.

Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for president, their sycophants, and their allies in the social and mass media have repeatedly claimed that the candidate they oppose is a fascist and a threat to democracy. Comparisons to Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler have been made of both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, given their respective campaign slogans, oratories, and policies. It is argued by both sides that this will be our last election if the other side wins.

It is accurate that on Monday, Jan. 30, 1933, after a series of electoral victories by the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, Adolf Hitler was legally appointed chancellor of Germany by German President Paul von Hindenburg. Democracy in that case had indeed laid the foundation for its own destruction. However, the widespread Nazi militaristic infrastructure had already been built long before that election and appointment took place.

For example, according to the Chicago Daily Tribune, the evening after Hitler was appointed chancellor, a pre-existing and well-organized fascist element was very active: “Tonight, 70,000 khaki-clad Nazi storm troops and members of the Steel Helmet War Veterans’ association in field gray uniforms marched in triumphal torchlight processions through the middle of Brandenburg gate … to the chancellor’s palace to pay homage to Hitler,” the newspaper reported on its front page on Jan. 31, 1933.

In addition, in 1932, the year before Hitler’s appointment as chancellor, the Hitler Youth enrollment surged to 107,956.

Such a militaristic fascist infrastructure coordinated by our political candidates does not exist in the United States. A fascist takeover of America, like what happened in Nazi Germany, is highly unlikely after this election, no matter which candidate wins.

Hitler and his cronies took advantage of a dying and feeble Weimar Republic to ascend to power. For over 10 years, they slowly built their ranks and attacked and destroyed elements that opposed them. Such a full-blown fascist movement does not exist in the United States today.

Additionally, the U.S. is a vibrant, democratic republic that has overcome several threats to its existence. Our main strength is in the rule of law. Our legal system has rightfully held the Capitol rioters of Jan. 6, 2021, accountable. It has also upheld the validity and result of the 2020 presidential election. President Joe Biden is the legitimate and legal president of our nation. Former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.

While I understand the passion people feel for this upcoming election and the candidates they support, our democracy is not on the line. The direction our country will take will indeed be changed by the outcome of the voting. As a citizen of this great nation, you should vote and participate in our democracy.

Furthermore, be prepared for your candidate to legally lose the upcoming election. If that happens, you should get even more involved in politics. If candidates from “the other side” are anti-democratic now, they probably will remain so while in office.

It is not, however, the end of the world as we know it. All will be fine on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.

Dave Berger of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a retired sociology professor, a freelance writer and author, and a regular contributor to the News Tribune Opinion page.

🙂

Featured on the Lighter Side article from April 2024…published in the West Central Tribune

Dave Berger: April Fools’ Day — participate at your own risk

From the column: “I never did get to yell ‘April Fools!’ I just felt like one.”

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Editorial cartoonist Guy Parsons draws on April Fool’s Day.

Column by Dave Berger

April 01, 2024 at 11:50 AM

West Central Tribune

“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” is an oft-quoted phrase from the 1711 poem, “An Essay on Criticism,” by Alexander Pope. It’s a most appropriate line to use on April 1 each year. Indeed, at this time of year, many people try not to rush in anywhere lest they fall victim to an April Fools’ prank or joke.

Traditionally, one of the most common All Fools’ Day pranks is to send someone on a fools’ errand to find an imaginary object or complete an impossible task. When painting and decorating, for example, a person can be sent to the hardware store to get a “long weight.” If the clerk is sharp, when they are asked for said object, they may say it will take a while to find it and see how long the victim waits.

Some of the most common April Fools’ hoaxes involve food items. The switching of sugar for salt in a bowl or a shaker has been around a very long time. In Ireland, many bake “fool’s pies” that are full of delightful ingredients like mustard, vinegar, or pepper.

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Dave Berger

When I was in elementary school, I remember quite clearly that I enjoyed participating in April Fools by visiting my local novelty/magic shop and picking up a whoopee cushion, a hand buzzer, or a stink bomb. One of my favorite tricks was the quarter with the flat head nail glued to it. Pounding the quarter into the gap between sidewalk slabs and then watching people try to pick it up from a distance was quite amusing.

Of course, participating in such lighthearted jokes can backfire quite easily. One of the earliest documented references to an All Fools’ Day prank was made by Geoffrey Chaucer in his “Canterbury Tales,” written in 1392. The fox flatters a vain rooster named Chanticleer on the 32nd day of March (April 1) until he lets his guard down and is swooped up by the fox.

The rooster turns the tables on the fox when he tricks him into letting him go by telling him he should boast to the other animals about his success. When the fox does, he accidentally loses his grip, and the rooster gets away.

Indeed, sometimes the victim of a prank has the last laugh.

When I was in college, I had some dormmates who were always pulling practical jokes. I decided I needed to plan a more elaborate prank to really get back at them. I chose April 1 as the date for my master plan to give them a sporting chance not to fall for my hoax.

My friends loved playing poker. So, I made up a poker tournament sponsored by the national Federation of Poker or FOP. I did up some neat-looking flyers and posters and covered the campus with them.

“All Spring Poker Tournament: Prizes, Fun, and Bragging Rights,” one poster announced. I worked in the student-activities department, so I was able to get and affix the official stamp that legitimized and authorized the posting of the posters.

Well, I set the tournament for 6 p.m. on April 1 in the student union. I planned on strategically sitting near the commons to see my friends wait for the tournament to begin. I would jump out after 10 or 15 minutes and yell, “April Fools!”

As I approached the building, I noticed a lot of activity. When I went inside there were over 200 people in the commons area. I asked a friend what was going on. She said, “Are you here for the big tournament?” I said, “Um … er … yes. And you?” She said, “It’s so exciting, isn’t it?”

On reflection, I probably did too good a job creating the fake tournament. Sigh.

I never did get to yell “April Fools!” I just felt like one.

Dave Berger of Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a retired sociology professor, a freelance writer, and author, and a regular contributor to the Duluth News Tribune Opinion page.