Northern Valley Beacon
Information, observations, and analysis from the James River valley on the Northern Plains----- E-Mail: Enter 'Beacon' in subject box. Send to: Minnekota@Referencedesk.orgMonday, May 15, 2006
Do you really have to be mean and stupid to win an election?
The Republican blogger at South Dakota War College opines that Democratic candidates for governor Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese have to give up their gentlemanly good-will and resort to a Jerry Springer-like brawl in order to "differeniate" themselves from each other.
The assumption behind this contention is that voters are too stupid to discern differences in policy and approach unless the contenders degrade into vicious ad hominem assaults on each other that render them unfit to hold democratic office. It happened four years ago in the Republican primary, and look what we ended up with.
Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese have appeared in this county on multiple occasions at the same meetings and have managed to convey their individual talents and approaches without acting like idiot brats fighting over the big Teddy Bear at the day care. But to those savants who presume to comment on politics and the arts of human communication on blogs, reasoned rhetoric, good will, and benevolent purpose are beyond their experience and comprehension.
The underlying attitude comes through in a comment on Mount Blogmore. A responder conjectures that when people are facing the moment of political death, those who are educated in the literary arts will be crying for momma while earnest and honest cretins like Sibby will be saying the right thing.
This anti-intellectual malevolence is why young people of talent and promise have to leave South Dakota. Some of us hope to find ways to change the provincial retardedness of South Dakota that is so deeply rooted in a culture of churlishness that resents education, informed and civil discussion, and the genuine belief that all people are equal and should be treated that way.
Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese provide the state its biggest hope of being a better part of American democracy. God forbid that they ever act like their seething opposition wants them to. For the sake of an uplifting life and new hope on the Buffalo Commons, it is important to let them know that the standard they have set may, in fact, be our last best hope.
The assumption behind this contention is that voters are too stupid to discern differences in policy and approach unless the contenders degrade into vicious ad hominem assaults on each other that render them unfit to hold democratic office. It happened four years ago in the Republican primary, and look what we ended up with.
Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese have appeared in this county on multiple occasions at the same meetings and have managed to convey their individual talents and approaches without acting like idiot brats fighting over the big Teddy Bear at the day care. But to those savants who presume to comment on politics and the arts of human communication on blogs, reasoned rhetoric, good will, and benevolent purpose are beyond their experience and comprehension.
The underlying attitude comes through in a comment on Mount Blogmore. A responder conjectures that when people are facing the moment of political death, those who are educated in the literary arts will be crying for momma while earnest and honest cretins like Sibby will be saying the right thing.
This anti-intellectual malevolence is why young people of talent and promise have to leave South Dakota. Some of us hope to find ways to change the provincial retardedness of South Dakota that is so deeply rooted in a culture of churlishness that resents education, informed and civil discussion, and the genuine belief that all people are equal and should be treated that way.
Jack Billion and Dennis Wiese provide the state its biggest hope of being a better part of American democracy. God forbid that they ever act like their seething opposition wants them to. For the sake of an uplifting life and new hope on the Buffalo Commons, it is important to let them know that the standard they have set may, in fact, be our last best hope.
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