We made a trip to Lisbon on Saturday to visit my parents at the Lisbon medical facility and hosted a small gathering of relatives and friends who dropped in for cake to celebrate their birthdays and anniversary. Dad turned 94, Ma turned 89, and being married in 1941, they marked their 68th anniversary. From there it was off to Richfield, MN to make the acquaintance of our new granddaughter Lily Grace who, of course, we found to be perfect.
Sad news often accompanies good news. My cousin’s wife called this morning to tell us that Violet Bueling passed away early this morning. I am glad that I stopped in to see her several times in the hospital and that she was always in good spirits those times.
I will be off shortly to pick up the new computer I bought at Best Buy yesterday. While this humble laptop still does the job, it does it just barely, and I thought it was time for an upgrade, especially since I started publishing some of my written efforts.
I began writing this as President Obama gave his first address to the U. S. Congress. Much had been said in anticipation of what he would say and how he should say it. I have confidence in his ability as an intelligent and independent thinker to believe that he would give the right message. As with all previous presidential addresses where I remember watching the minority party sit on their hands with almost comic reactions of not cheering or standing in union with the boisterous assent of the majority party, so it was with this address. I noticed, however, that as his speech developed through carefully chosen words and phrases the minority party felt they were given the openings to stand and cheer in bi-partisan support of many of his plans. I am still confident that he will bring about an improved nation.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Pendulum Swings
I heard a talking head make a point of interest the other day that just might have some truth in it. He said people like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, etc., all U.S. Senators, seem to be more than ready to assume other roles besides that of Senator. The Senate has become such a dogpile of argument, stalemate, petty maneuvering, and individual feelings of powerlessness that other jobs look attractive. In the history of this world it is only occasionally that lone figures stand out to steer their constituents towards a new direction of thought or action, be it good or bad. A list of examples is unnecessary since everyone can remember some from high school history classes. In our state I am reminded of a man who started a movement for change with his willingness to put himself on the line, organize support, and wring change from the status quo.
In 1916 this prepossessed man and a fleet of Model T Fords transformed the politics of North Dakota with a new political reality. His name was A. C. Townley, the organizer of the Non-Partisan League in North Dakota. By 1917 the movement he led had taken control of the state legislature, but after 1923 it diminished to become just a memory. The time was right for change since farmers experienced hard times, a fact fostered by the railroad monopoly, eastern grain millers, and a puppet state legislature. Townley was a bankrupt farmer who studied socialist ideas to create better times in his way of thinking. Many farmers in this state were first generation Europeans who came from backgrounds where socialistic thought was thought the standard. When Townley found organizers willing to go out to recruit farmers he furnished them a Model T car so they could range about the countryside at large. The farmers listened to the pitch and signed on.
The effort worked — for a time, that is. But in-fighting developed and the overly ambitious Townley set his sights on and became involved in a national movement which weakened North Dakota’s because without his leadership no one stepped up to take his place. Looking back one historian wrote “All that was left of the League in 1923 was its office furniture, a large volume of uncollected postdated checks, and a fleet of old Ford cars...” Vestiges of the NPL’s accomplishments remain here, namely the State Bank of North Dakota and the State Mill and Elevator. Todays’s national politicians probably do not look to our small bit of history and our socialist institutions, but I note with interest the current discussion of nationalizing the nation’s banking system. Auto industry? Housing industry? The cover of the February 16 Newsweek proclaims “We Are All Socialists Now.”
In 1916 this prepossessed man and a fleet of Model T Fords transformed the politics of North Dakota with a new political reality. His name was A. C. Townley, the organizer of the Non-Partisan League in North Dakota. By 1917 the movement he led had taken control of the state legislature, but after 1923 it diminished to become just a memory. The time was right for change since farmers experienced hard times, a fact fostered by the railroad monopoly, eastern grain millers, and a puppet state legislature. Townley was a bankrupt farmer who studied socialist ideas to create better times in his way of thinking. Many farmers in this state were first generation Europeans who came from backgrounds where socialistic thought was thought the standard. When Townley found organizers willing to go out to recruit farmers he furnished them a Model T car so they could range about the countryside at large. The farmers listened to the pitch and signed on.
The effort worked — for a time, that is. But in-fighting developed and the overly ambitious Townley set his sights on and became involved in a national movement which weakened North Dakota’s because without his leadership no one stepped up to take his place. Looking back one historian wrote “All that was left of the League in 1923 was its office furniture, a large volume of uncollected postdated checks, and a fleet of old Ford cars...” Vestiges of the NPL’s accomplishments remain here, namely the State Bank of North Dakota and the State Mill and Elevator. Todays’s national politicians probably do not look to our small bit of history and our socialist institutions, but I note with interest the current discussion of nationalizing the nation’s banking system. Auto industry? Housing industry? The cover of the February 16 Newsweek proclaims “We Are All Socialists Now.”
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Roll Up Your Sleeves
Ole honest Abe Lincoln will soon celebrate his 200th birthday. It seems to be a given that he ranks as one of this country’s best presidents. Even though his Emancipation Proclamation was considered a great act, I believe his greatest achievement was the preservation of the Union. Without accomplishing that fact we would have divided into two separate countries with unknown futures. Lincoln’s generals, at the outset, provided little success in battles. Finally, Lincoln chose U. S. Grant to head the army because he had confidence that Grant would engage with the Confederate Army and aggressively fight to the finish. Previous generals gave Lincoln too many excuses why they weren’t able to win victories or even enter into battle. His estimation of Grant was correct.
Teddy Roosevelt worded it the best when he gave his “Man in the Arena” speech. He said in part “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood ... his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” His entire statement can be found on the internet with a search for his “Man in the Arena” speech.
I stick with President Obama in his efforts to improve this country’s economy. He is rolling up his sleeves and engaging in the battle. I think back to times when I tried to make changes and got battered by naysayers who wanted to stay comfortable in their old ways of doing things. Even though I failed at times, I do not regret the effort and the sincerity of thought I put into the issues. NPR’s website carried an article that interested me a great deal this past weekend. The headline “Is America Weighed Down By Dead Ideas?” really jumped out at me because of my past experiences. The gist of the article stated “... while many of our current notions of economic and social well-being made sense when they first gained traction 50 years ago, they don’t hold much water today.” In the article he says “In every era, people grow comfortable with settled ideas about the way the world works. It takes an extraordinary shock to expose the conventional wisdom as obsolete...” The writer goes on to name what he thinks are dead ideas: 1. Your kids will earn more than you, 2. Free trade is good, no matter how many people get hurt, 3. Your company must fund and manage your health and pension benefits, 4. Taxes hurt the economy, 5. Schools are a local matter, and 6. Money follows merit.
It looks like we are being extraordinarily shocked with the present economic crisis. The concept of socialism often gets lumped with the word Communism in our discussions , but my February 16 issue of Newsweek magazine proclaims on its front cover “We Are All Socialists Now.” The sub-heading says, "The perils and promise of the new era of big government." I don’t know how we’ll emerge from this situation, but I’ve been doing some reading of high interest into how citizens of North Dakota once took over the reins of state government throught the Non-Partisan League. It’s a fascinating story, and I’ll write of it next week.
Teddy Roosevelt worded it the best when he gave his “Man in the Arena” speech. He said in part “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood ... his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” His entire statement can be found on the internet with a search for his “Man in the Arena” speech.
I stick with President Obama in his efforts to improve this country’s economy. He is rolling up his sleeves and engaging in the battle. I think back to times when I tried to make changes and got battered by naysayers who wanted to stay comfortable in their old ways of doing things. Even though I failed at times, I do not regret the effort and the sincerity of thought I put into the issues. NPR’s website carried an article that interested me a great deal this past weekend. The headline “Is America Weighed Down By Dead Ideas?” really jumped out at me because of my past experiences. The gist of the article stated “... while many of our current notions of economic and social well-being made sense when they first gained traction 50 years ago, they don’t hold much water today.” In the article he says “In every era, people grow comfortable with settled ideas about the way the world works. It takes an extraordinary shock to expose the conventional wisdom as obsolete...” The writer goes on to name what he thinks are dead ideas: 1. Your kids will earn more than you, 2. Free trade is good, no matter how many people get hurt, 3. Your company must fund and manage your health and pension benefits, 4. Taxes hurt the economy, 5. Schools are a local matter, and 6. Money follows merit.
It looks like we are being extraordinarily shocked with the present economic crisis. The concept of socialism often gets lumped with the word Communism in our discussions , but my February 16 issue of Newsweek magazine proclaims on its front cover “We Are All Socialists Now.” The sub-heading says, "The perils and promise of the new era of big government." I don’t know how we’ll emerge from this situation, but I’ve been doing some reading of high interest into how citizens of North Dakota once took over the reins of state government throught the Non-Partisan League. It’s a fascinating story, and I’ll write of it next week.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Drawing Blanks
Sometimes it's hard to be creative. Recent events puts one's mind into a mode of taking care of business. My father is in a Fargo hospital after having fallen and breaking his hip. At the same time we put my mother in the Lisbon swing bed facility because she is unable to live alone with her ailments. So, until the future, adios.
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