Last Friday the annual Theodore Roosevelt Symposium convened at Dickinson State College. I managed to make my way over there again and listen to a few of the presentations. The topic this year - The Progressive in the Arena - stimulated me a bit. During TR's presidency a movement began, a rising up against the big business's arrogant attitude toward the common person of this country. A good deal of legislation passed to protect consumers. A book written during this period by Upton Sinclar, The Jungle, really shook things up.
The Jungle described in vivid detail the unsanitary conditions that existed in the meat packing industry run by people who believed in survival of the fittest, buyer beware, and minimal regulation. In his story he wrote of workers falling into rendering vats and being ground up with animal parts into lard. This could not be proven, but other unsanitary practices were, such as dead rats being thrown into sausage grinders, bribed inspectors who ignored diseased animals being slaughtered, and filth and guts swept up and packaged as potted ham. I maybe should have expected as much, but the image of unclean meat caused me to have a nightmare that night. I stood at a meat grinder and guided a long slab of meat which flopped over the backside of the machine. When I looked back there, I saw dust, grease, dead flies, etc., lifted it up wondering what I should do, and wiped it off the best I could....A meat inspection act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 passed a vote of Congress.
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My mind returns to the Oil Patch Tour we took recently. One of the "experts" talked of the efficiencies in delivering oil to refineries through pending pipelines, something which is presently a political issue. I believe the hang-up relates, at least partially, to environmental concerns. The massive amount of crude oil presently transported by railroad tanker cars was discussed. The name of Warren Buffett came up and his ownership of the BNSF line which he purchased not so many years ago. Just to learn a bit more I discovered Buffett and his corporation bought BNSF for the price of $44 billion (with a B). Is it any wonder there is a battle for minds going on between those who would profit from pipeline activity and the Buffett people who need a payback on their investment. The fight is taking place somewhere in the stratosphere where the oxygen is pretty rarefied. It's impossible for me to breathe up there.
To add to the mix, the multi-billionaire who owns the major stake in ND oil just gave a whole bunch of millions of dollars to the University of North Dakota to establish a school of geology. Can I use quid pro quo in a sentence here? Even though this is an admirable act that will educate many needed geologists for the oil patch, it doesn't take genius thought to know he will want his back scratched, besides. By the way, he's a pipeliner.
To add to the mix, the multi-billionaire who owns the major stake in ND oil just gave a whole bunch of millions of dollars to the University of North Dakota to establish a school of geology. Can I use quid pro quo in a sentence here? Even though this is an admirable act that will educate many needed geologists for the oil patch, it doesn't take genius thought to know he will want his back scratched, besides. By the way, he's a pipeliner.
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Back to Teddy Roosevelt era and common folks reaction to being played to the tune of corporate thought. Wasn't Obama ACCUSED of being progressive as though it was closely akin to being socialistic in theory. Not a one of us can live without driving on government financed roads, attending public schools, collecting social security, utilizing Medicare, possibly Obamacare. What did one lady say a couple of years ago? I want government to stay out of my Social Security. The Progressive Movement during TR's time accomplished much: 16th Amendment - federal income tax, 17th - direct election of senators, 18th - women's suffrage, 18th - prohibition, trust busting, ICC strengthened, child labor laws, allowed initiative, referendum, & recall, workmen's compensation, etc.
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There is always a fight going on somewhere. How about this -
I took my wife to a restaurant. The waiter, for some reason, took my order first. "I'll have the rump steak, rare,please." --- He said, "Aren't you worried about the mad cow?" --- "Nah, she can order for herself." --- And that's when the fight started.
My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, "What's on TV?" --- I said, "Dust." --- And that's when the fight started.
My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds. --- I bought her a bathroom scale. --- And that's when the fight started.
My wife was standing nude, looking in the bathroom mirror. She was not happy with what she saw and said to me, "I feel horrible; I look old, fat and ugly. I really need you to pay me a compliment." --- I replied, "Your eyesight's damn near perfect." And that's when the fight started.
When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the shed, the boat, making beer... --- Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of sewing scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway." --- The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
