Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Huckleberries Online

The Loyal Opposition

Among the most important things government historically has done is to deal with and try to improve workplace safety. And there probably isn’t a more dangerous profession than hard-rock mining. The Democratic party has a long and storied history of pushing for reforms and improvements on behalf of working men and women since the industrial revolution.

A good friend of mine and former UPI reporter Jerry McGinn alerted me to a new book being published about the 1972 Sunshine Mine fire that will be of interest to anyone in North Idaho, and specifically the wonderful people of Shoshone County. It’s written by author Gregg Olsen – here’s a link to some information about it.

I’m certainly no expert on this topic, but for people that have spent time in the Silver Valley the memory of this tragedy is never far away and the story of the whole episode is fascinating. I look forward to reading it.

Mike Kennedy


DFO: Mike, an eloquent speaker for local Demos, writes again ... and, if I keep my fingers crossed ... mebbe he'll continue to provide "The Loyal Opposition" for all you Red Staters to mull. Now, if I could only make him write more in his blog ...



Huckleberries Online

D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.