When I was a kid, my dad was
very involved in the workings of our small township. Although he never ran for
any elected position, he was often asked to work on various Vernon Township
committees. He and my mom seldom missed
a town meeting and Dad was never shy about discussing things that needed to be
done. He also felt a strong obligation to be part of the election process by
understanding issues and supporting candidates. My Dad grew up during a time
when the United States made some very important progress toward creating a more
equitable society. When my grandfather Dederick – who was born in Norway – had
trouble on the farm during the Depression with his wife and 10 children, the
oldest son, my Dad, became a migrant potato picker to help delay the inevitable. And when President Roosevelt created the CCC
camps, my father went to work in the Superior National Forest so he could send
money back to help his family. He was proud of his time in the Civilian
Conservation Corp and grateful to those who helped create it. He was also a
strong advocate for worker rights and was grateful again when federal law
established the 8 hour/day - 40 hour/week for workers. Don’t misunderstand. My
father never worked an 8 hour day in his life, especially when he purchased the
farm I was raised on. He was just happy that he and the guys he worked with had
been given the right to form a labor union so they would be safe and fairly
paid. (He was a strong supporter of the National Farmers Organization for the
same reason.) My Dad’s experience told him that the American idea of “we the
people” could help make things better for average citizens. That’s why he was
so dedicated to selecting the best people for elected positions. He felt there
was something noble and patriotic about seeking public office to improve our
society. If Pa were alive today, he would be astonished.
With events of the last few
days, I once again find it necessary to reassure my own children and many other
young people I know that the struggle to make our society just and equal
requires a deep commitment to the ideals of our democracy and a willingness to
view the work of those in public service as noble and honorable. Over the past
30 years or so, there has been a propaganda campaign to paint all government
and all public employees as corrupt and/or inefficient. (The military is the
exception.) We were told that if we could just replace all those lazy public
employees with private sector businesses all would be well. We even watched as our
military tried to “job out” fighting a war to private contractors. Remember
Blackwater Security? What has been clear from this assault on public service is
the realization that private business with its obsessive focus on increasing
profits cannot provide the most essential services our democracy requires. Increasing
profits will not make us better or safer or more educated. “It measures neither
our wit nor our courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning. It measures
everything, in short, except that which makes life worth living.” How else do you explain a drug tycoon raising
the price of a long used prescription medicine by 700% or a gun company
insisting that more guns will make us safer?
We live in a confusing time, but we cannot lose hope.
America has been in spots like
this before. Whenever our country has been asked to live up to its ideals, we
have depended on the common sense and hard work of those individuals who help
us see a better society. Often those individuals included public servants who
used their positions to lead us to a better place. WE NEED TO BECOME THOSE
LEADERS NOW! We need to advocate for an America that lives up to its ideals and
provides a place where all of us can live in peace and security. We need to
acknowledge that our government is NOT the enemy and applaud those who would
choose to run for office or take public service jobs. We should insist that
those individuals recognize the essential role our government plays in meeting
America’s ideals. Too often we see politicians who view government service as
merely a way to promote themselves. We can do better. We can BE better. Let us
make a commitment – do you hear me Maggie – a commitment to do the hard work to
make our country better. I know it will be frustrating. I know there will be
set backs. I also know it is our only hope. I think Robert Kennedy said it
best, “Each time a man (woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the
lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (she) sends forth a tiny
ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of
energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the
mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” Do not let those who promote
isolation and division win the day. Let’s be part of the movement to be better.
