Brad Olson

“”Trust in science” is a contradiction of terms. Science, by definition is a just a tool that is based in skepticism, not trust. The purpose of this tool is to try to disprove a given theory through empirical testing. When a person or group of people continue to chant the “Trust in Science” mantra, then the public should become very concerned that the science being pushed is flawed because true science welcomes scrutiny. Take the covid epidemic, for example. We were continually being instructed to trust or follow the science when it came to the vaccines, the masks, the distancing, the treatments, but what have learned? The masks were useless, the treatments were ineffective, the vaccines were dangerous, and the distancing was unnecessary. Yet, many respected doctors and scientists were silenced when their findings contradicted the mainstream message. Science must be objective if it is to provide benefit when making legislation, so when elected, I will support all legitimate scientific viewpoints.”

KEYWORDS: objective covid tool

“For over 50 years, I have enjoyed those times that I have spent canoeing, camping, and even working in the BWCA. I would be totally opposed to any activity that could potentially harm this gem of God’s creation. So opening up areas outside of the BWCA to mining efforts would be a serious concern, were it not for the fact that we have safeguards in place that are intended to prevent the pollution and the altering of land that have people so concerned. There are numerous benefits to opening up these areas in the form of jobs, revenue to the state, and supplying needed minerals for products that would otherwise require those resources to come from places like China and Africa that have demonstrated no regard for the environment, or human dignity. This is a prime example of how we can utilize science and technology to provide us with the ability to guard and protect our treasured BWCA, as well as other treasured Minnesota resources.”

KEYWORDS: safeguards guard benefits

“I am making the assumption that PFAS is indeed a hazardous material that has been proven to be detrimental to all forms of life. And I know that there is currently an ongoing effort by various industries that use PFAS in their products to remove it and replace with other materials that deliver similar, harmless benefits. These efforts should continue on the part of the private sector, and these industries should also assist in the efforts to clean up the existing PFAS in our water systems.
The question then becomes one of determining what is the best method for removing PFAs from our water systems. Where are those communities affected by it, what is extent of the contamination, and what is the most feasible approach to addressing the contamination? One option is for the affected municipalities to install central filtration systems, but this comes at a huge expense, but it would cover the entire community with no expectations of the public.
Another option is for each home to install under-the-sink filtration systems. This could very well be the most economical solution in smaller communities at about $100/household, with a cost of replacing the filters periodically as needed.”

KEYWORDS: industries filtration diet

“AI is here to stay, and we must decide if we are going to be players in that industry. Fortunately, we don’t need to install 20 data centers immediately. We can learn from the ones that exist what is working, what doesn’t, and what are the positive and negative impacts of these data centers on the surrounding communities. We also have the ability to make improvements as they become available. Building and operating additional nuclear plants is certainly a viable solution for the energy needs these data centers require. Close system cooling systems can reuse water.

As a legislator, I would support a county or city’s right to have a say in what industries they want to come into it. So then it is incumbent on the local voters to put people in office who either agree or disagree with what the community wants, and they would tax and regulate how that business would operate.”

KEYWORDS: nuclear impact voter

“Research grants given to universities can produce tremendous benefits to all parties concerned, provided the grants don’t come with pre-determined outcomes or biased agendas. Too often, the grants are awarded with pressure to meet the expected results, which violates the scientific process. If tax money is going to be used, which is the only source of NIH funds, then it must follow objective scientific methods and be used for research that will benefit people. For example, gender studies of some animal life form would not be considered a benefit to the people of Minnesota and I would not support it.”

KEYWORDS: benefit grant gender

“The decline in deaths by drug overdoses is indeed something to be celebrated, but the fact that this question makes it a racial issue is telling. It is also ironic, that we hear such an outcry over drug overdoses yet it can be argued that the Standard American diet (SAD) is significantly more dangerous than drug related deaths, and yet where is the outcry? The sugar and processed foods that Americans consume has contributed to an epidemic of health related issues that become increasingly evident as people age. Almost every major health issue can find it’s origins in the foods people eat. As a legislator, I will make it my personal crusade to help Minnesotans understand what a healthy diet consists of, and the importance of making good decisions when it comes to the food we eat. We are a free people and responsible for making life choices that impact us, and as free people we can purchase products that are not healthy. That does not mean that our tax dollars need to pay for those things. I would push for limiting those grocery items covered under SNAP programs to single ingredient items such as meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.”

KEYWORDS: celebrate diet food