The political stands (or booths) used to stand out much more at the Stevens County Fair. Today they're blended in with all the other booths at the exhibit building.
Do they still call it the "commercial exhibits building?" The Lee Center has made this aspect of the fair totally classy. I remember when this aspect was housed in a rather substandard wooden building. But the political stands for the two parties were away from that, too special apparently to just be "lost" amidst the other stuff. They used to be along the main walkway. I'm not sure the term "midway" is appropriate because I associate that with the rides.
I remember where the "DFL" booth used to be. My impulse tells me to put quote marks around "DFL." It seems an outdated name. It sprang from the days of the small, traditional diversified family farm, and "labor" the way it used to be. The corporate farms of today really just blend in with the larger business world.
"Labor" has famously been in retreat for a long time. Its last bastion appears to be the public sector. And the ramparts there are being stormed pretty aggressively. Look at Wisconsin.
You could pick up leaflets at those political fair booths extolling the respective sides. Those little piles of leaflets might each have a little stone on top, lest they blow away.
Politics didn't seem so much like warfare back then. We would joke about the conflict and then simply cast our votes in calm privacy. Today it's not so funny. Republicans led by the likes of Karl Rove appear to be pulling levers to subvert the actual electoral process.
I think someone should just offer Rove $5 million for the promise he'd get out of politics. Why does pure "winning" seem so important to him? Politics isn't even a practical matter to him or others who have gotten the "bug." It's an obsessive passion. It's simply about winning.
What would they do if they got their way? What if they got the majority in every legislative body and filled most executive-level positions? I'd like to ask: "What would they do then?" I think they would have to find some other type of arena. Because, fighting is what it's all about to them. It isn't about governing or improving the lot of ordinary folks.
This type of thing can get really dangerous. If America suddenly comes upon a "tipping point" economically, which I have long thought is in the cards, we want our political system to be stable and honest. We'll need prudent solutions.
Even then, there will be much tribulation. Desperation can give rise to despots. Oh, you're shaking your head because it hasn't happened yet. Bad things can happen.
Political conservatives haven't even allowed us to have a calm and rational discussion on global climate change. The zealots on the political right don't just disagree with those who suggest man made global warming. They must shout, insult and browbeat. The meteorologists you see on TV are scared to acknowledge the theory of man made climate change. Their jobs could be at risk.
The thing is, climate change creeps up on us and then we suddenly start noticing problems we never would have thought of. Micro-organisms begin to wreak havoc. It has been suggested these recent odd "otter attacks" are tied in. Those teeth get buried as far as two inches beneath the skin.
Kids have died because of a certain type of "amoeba" that has now caused a lake to be closed to swimming. I wonder how the property values along that lake have been affected.
I have mentioned to friends: "Wouldn't it be something if lake property in Minnesota went from being the most desirable to least desirable?"
We pray no further incidents of otters or amoeba happen. But if the problem gets worse? What if new elements arise?
Shouldn't there be a fear we waited too long to acknowledge and respond to climate change? The rich people who own lake property might wake up. Normally Republican, they might begin to look at the climate change deniers (like barking dog Glenn Beck and his ilk) in a new light. You see, I don't think the "real" conservatives have that much in common with the celebrity conservative media stars like Beck, Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann.
"Real" conservatives are sober, patient and practical people. They aren't inclined to go on the warpath against anyone.
We have allowed these "celebrity" conservatives to rise up because we're not real vigilant about understanding the media. Let's get to the point: "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Bachmann pulls her hair out and talks of "Muslim infiltration" and her name gets splashed across the "news" (or what passes for it). The lemming residents of her district just go along with it. Maybe they just enjoy having a celebrity congresswoman. They shrug and vote for the "big name" on the ballot. They are detached from what politics is really about.
That economic "tipping point" will wake them up.
We might realize our money is losing its value. There might be another "financial crisis" like in 2008 but there might be no remedy to keep things calm this time. We'll wonder: "Why weren't more safeguards put in place after 2008?"
This is what politicians are for. But the tea partiers scream about how government needs to keep its distance from anything. They have gotten surprising traction. At least up until now.
I remember as a kid being at the Crow Wing County Fair and seeing a booth full of the crazy right wing reactionary stuff. It was cute but it seemed marginalized back then. We knew those voices were out there but they seemed trampled in the real, practical world.
Now a lot of these people are being elected to public office. It was a marvel in the midterm election. What does it say about us?
Republicans are trying to pull the rug out from under our very electoral process. Look at Ohio. It's right in front of your face there.
Republicans are using constitutional amendments to push emotional and ideological pet ideas. Here's where we could see a break between the crazy Republicans and the more traditional and practical ones. The business world is clearly uncomfortable with the "marriage amendment."
Rich people have parents who will get hurt if the Paul Ryan budget ideas are enacted. Rich people ought to care about everyone. But if this is what it takes - worry about family members - it's an acceptable route. This is hardly the age of altruism.
We live in a culture in which half of us can be defined as a failure. It's a culture in which an audience of Republicans at a Republican debate cheers about the possibility of people without health insurance just being left to die. We should be astonished. But we're probably just too busy.
And about half of us will probably vote for the presidential ticket that includes Ryan. I hope the Lord forgives us, "for we know not what we do."
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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