[Vision2020] Phil and the Tribune

[David Johnson]

    All of you who read the Lewiston Tribune's story about Vision 2020 
know that Phil Nisbet agreed to contribute to the effort by answers 
questions I posed via email. And all of you who answered the same or 
similar questions know that only small portions of your answers were 
used. I'm sure Phil, like others, lamented that. But newspaper reporters 
and editors do that sort of paring.
     I was shocked and saddened by Phil's death. So I offer you all the 
unedited answers he gave to my questions -- his heartfelt opinion, if 
you will, of this forum that he so exuberantly became a part of.

David Johnson
Lewiston Tribune



1. What's good about V 2020?

Its a good early warning system for plans germinated by the left in Moscow.

2. What's bad about it?

Knowing what they plan requires you to respond, which in turn makes you 
a target.

3. Why do you stay so active?

I was inactive for a time and they launched a scud missile.  (Though I 
did get that spiffy article title you wrote for that particular occasion.)

4. Is the discourse an accurate reflection of Moscow?

It is an accurate reflection of some of Moscow, the portions centered on 
the University and its more left leaning constituency.  The voices on 
the right that do post in V2020 are most often there to counter claims 
made by the left.

The biggest real advantage that can come of the list serv is to break 
past the normal barriers to left right discourse and make those who tend 
to demonize their opposition see people rather than enemies in their 
line of sight.  I actually post there in hope that it can heal rifts 
rather than continue to create them.

The red blue chasm that political warfare has spawned in the USA is 
particularly strong in Moscow.  Either it has to be healed or civic 
discourse will continue to falter.  Unlike other areas in Idaho, Moscow 
is fairly evenly divided between the parties, so solving it is more 
important here than in other locations in the state.

Phil