Happy Wednesday! Here are the topics for today’s independent commentary:

• Canvass Of Election Results
• Lowering Requirements
• Gun Ownership
• Football Roundup
• One More Thing

CANVASS OF ELECTION RESULTS:

Just a reminder that the Canvass of election results for the Municipal General elections is scheduled for (TODAY) Wednesday, November 22nd at 3:30pm. Canvassing will take place in the Courthouse Annex at 325 Second Avenue North in Great Falls.

It might be a long meeting…

LOWERING REQUIREMENTS:

The Montana Free Press (MTFP) has been reporting about a proposed rule approved by the State Library Commission that would allow Montana’s eight largest public libraries to no longer have to employ directors with graduate degrees. (Source)

It seems that most of the MAGA members of the board decided that dumbing down the requirements for the director position in the larger libraries should fall under local control. That “local control” angle could become a slippery slope.

The MTFP is also reporting that the Montana Library Association is asserting that the state’s proposed elimination of a master’s degree requirement for the directors of large libraries has “denigrated the standing” of their profession. (Source) They also report that The Montana State Library Commission is taking public comment on the master’s degree requirement until Dec. 1.

I am against lowering the educational standard for library directors in the larger libraries in the state.

GUN OWNERSHIP:

NBC News is reporting that more than half of American voters — 52% — say they or someone in their household owns a gun, per the latest NBC News national poll. That’s the highest share of voters who say that they or someone in their household owns a gun in the history of the NBC News poll, on a question dating back to 1999. In 2019, 46% of Americans said that they or someone in their household owned a gun, per an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. And in February 2013, that share was 42%.

I own several guns. I think the rise in gun ownership is because people are afraid of the MAGA nuts…

Check out the NBC News article HERE.

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP:

Last week I went 10-4 in the NFL Pigskin pick contest and just 5-5 in the college contest. This week will have a lot of games and many rivalry games in college football. The NFL has three games on Thanksgiving and a game on Friday afternoon, plus their games on Sunday and Monday. (Source)

The Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) showed the world that they are the best team in the NFL by beating my Kansas City Chiefs Monday night in Kansas City. The Chiefs are 7-3 and only have one team left on their schedule with a winning record. They need to get it together and stop dropping passes to have a chance to play deep into the new year.

My Missouri Tigers (9-2) are ranked #9/10 in the polls. They play Arkansas in a rivalry game Friday afternoon. If Mizzou wins this game, look for them to get a great bowl game.

Another college game I will be watching is #2 Ohio State at #3 Michigan. Both teams are undefeated.

The Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats have byes this week in the FCS tournament.

Don’t forget that Montana has another team in the college football playoffs – Montana Western! No. 8 ranked Montana Western football team and Frontier Conference champions are set to take on the No. 11 College of Idaho in the second round of the NAIA Football Championship Series, the national office announced on Saturday evening. The game is scheduled for November 25 at 1 p.m. in Dillon, Montana. (Source)

ONE MORE THING:

Beliefs can’t change facts. Facts, however, should change your beliefs. – Pinterest

## HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING ##