Grading on the Curve...

I must take issue with my friends on the Editorial Board of the Great Falls Tribune.

On their 'Two Cents' page of today's newspaper, they produced a report card on the Montana Legislative Session that just concluded.  They gave them a 'B'.

The anonymous writer of the editorial board detailed the  popular bills that were passed.  These bills will be met by most Montanans with jubilation.  Few can be unhappy with the Medicaid Extension Bill, the Water Compact Bill, and the Dark-Money Bill.

However, when considering the following information, I would have to knock that "B" down to a 'C-'.

   Bills draft requests:                                        2,471
   Bills introduced:                                              1,187
   Bills killed:                                                          566
   Resolutions adopted:                                          77
   Bills signed in law (so far):                              332
   Bills vetoed outright, by Gov.                            29
   Amendatory vetoes (so far):                              20
   Bills Gov. let become law w/o signature:        10

While I agree that bi-partisanship gave us a handful of successes that would warrant a "B", I certainly think the juvenile antics of other efforts should be taken into consideration when giving them a final grade. If those dunderhead efforts would have been eliminated, (allowing hunters to use hand-thrown spears, no yoga pants in public, guns allowed in bars, churches and banks, and a declaration that climate warming is good, etc.)  think of the many other worthwhile things they could have accomplished.

The final few minutes of the Session of the State House gave us the "straw that broke the camel's back."  No Infrastructure Bill was allowed because the Radical TEA Party folks didn't get anything they wanted this year...so it was revenge time!

I had a teacher in high school who always included a test grade adjustment for 'neatness, penmanship, and form'.  We all laughed about it then, but I've learned to appreciate that tactic over the years.

For the Legislature, it could be for 'honesty, bi-partisanship, and loyalty to constituents.'

As I think about it, I'm changing my 'C-' to a 'D-.'

Political Blogging: Spitting into the Wind...

When people ask me what I do to keep busy in retirement, I tell them I write a couple of political blogs and draw cartoons to, hopefully, dress them up a little.

I usually get the glazed-over eyes and quiet stare, and then the inevitable question: "Why?"

That's a fair question.

Too many people in America are sick and tired of politics and try to shove it out of sight, sound and mind.  By the way, how's that working for you?  Does ignoring it make it go away?

Did we ignore the news after hearing about Hitler's rise to power?  Did we clasp our hands over our ears when the Japanese Empire attacked Pear Harbor?

So why do we turn in disgust and close our ears and minds while the rich and powerful shred the workings of our own country?  Why do we shout down anyone who tries to inform their fellow - and greatly uninformed - citizens that America is coming apart at the seams?  Why do we categorize all of them as political hot heads who deserve none of our time and attention?

When future patriots of a new land decided to leave jolly ol' England, would we have squelched the idea as just another horde of wacky nut jobs that we were sick and tired of hearing?

Today, too many of our citizens have hid their heads in the sand and convinced themselves that all will be just dandy as long as no one asks anything of them, or reminds them that their country is in grave danger and in serious need of their help.

Of course, when things really do come unglued, they can always blame it on those other people.  You know, the ones who have been screaming for your help to fix the problems and you didn't hear them because you didn't like all of that political jibber-jabber.


Think about it.