by Linda Schmitt, Corvallis
We are flummoxed. The No Kings rally in Hamilton – over 750 people – brought out old and young and stands in contrast to silence from our friends in the other party. We asked, “Why weren’t there more Republicans in the rally?” The answer shocked us. “They didn’t know about it.” Huh? How could you miss it?
Clearly we operate on different wavelengths. How can such an insular place be so divided? Sure, we don’t like Trump and they didn’t like Biden. So what? Both of those guys are thousands and thousands of miles away from us. Don’t say, “Well, we’re polarized.” Who did it to us? Who’s in charge here? FOX and MSNBC don’t live here. We do. Don’t we want to be in charge of our own Valley? I don’t remember why my contractor, a guy who I liked and was friendly with, suddenly and without explanation started treating me as if I had a disease. Overnight, it seemed. No conversation, no quarrel, no incident to explain it. Just like that.
You know, when I grew up my family had friends who liked Richard Nixon while my family loved JFK. We just thought they were temporarily misguided and we played softball together anyway and had BBQs. Not a big deal. You could vote for somebody in the other party without horrifying people.
We got sucked into this maelstrom of hate and I, for one, am sick to death of it. We have a citizen legislature instead of a legislature full of cynical politicians for a good reason. The assumption was ordinary people could figure out how to govern ourselves without toadying to “interests.” I still think that’s true. We could elect friends and neighbors because they were good people, not because they were one party or another. We could disagree on policies without throwing friends in the trash. Maybe my memories are foolish and delusional, but somehow I think not.
Let’s take back our sanity and stop the stupid war against ourselves. Let’s at least try.
Kevin says
Gettin along? Remember when did? Ton’s of Govt. turned the tide beginning in 2007 and magnified in 2008..
Linda Schmitt says
I’m sorry that happened to you.
Roger H Mitchell says
Thank you, Linda, for a calm, thoughtful letter. It is refreshing to see something other than the hate-filled screed which fills so much of the space in this venue.
I have questions, however. If “ordinary people could figure out how to govern ourselves without toadying to “interests.””, then why do we need government at all? Isn’t it true that everyone has “interests” and that many people get involved in government to further those interests? Why is it necessary that some people and “their” interests are pushed to the front to “lead”, while everyone else is required to obey and pick up the cost of said interests? If you can govern yourself, then why do you need someone else telling you how you will live?
The obvious answer to these questions is that ordinary people who can govern themselves do not need a ruler or a king. The solution to your dilemma is to simply get out of the “maelstrom of hate” by refusing to participate in it any longer. Regain your sanity and stop fighting in this stupid war against yourself by doing nothing more than rising above the petty squabbles of politics and learning to love your neighbors, even those who disagree with you, as you love yourself.
There is no other way.
Timothy Adams says
There is no citizen legislature. Our Supreme Court lead by Democrats has gerrymandered our districts for 30 years so we have no choice. Don’t take away our ability to vote for anyone but who Democrats want in office and then cry about Democracy. You don’t get Zooey Zephyrs & Theresa Manzellas in a real democracy.
Tracy says
It was not my rally. I am Conservative Republican and am not the least bit worried about a “King” in this Country. Never has been and the war fought 250 years ago at the birth of this Nation started that movement. None of the rest of the crap has any bearing on me except where my tax dollars are spent and the ACA has been crap since it was mandated that if I didnt buy it or someone elses I would be forced to pay a penalty. That is “Taxation Without Representation”. That is what this shutdown is currently about. Talk about a “King” Obama is who signed that POS into law and literally quadrupled the cost of my premiums to my carrier so I was force out of the insurance market place. You folks need to get a grip.