[Vision2020] Glasses Need Cleaning

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today’s (October 25, 2017) Lewiston Tribune with thanks to former state senator Dan Schmidt.

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Glasses Need Cleaning

Marty Trillhaase bemoans the imbalance in Idaho's declared candidates. He whines that lots of Republicans are already covering the state for powerful positions and Democrats haven't rushed to the fore. Where's he been for the past 20 years? I think his rose-colored glasses need some cleaning.

Public service is a difficult calling. Many have been given the opportunity to try their feet in the water through gubernatorial appointments. For the past 12 years, we have had a deeply loyal Republican governor who has offered appointments to the strongly Republican Idaho Senate, not based on merits for service, but on partisan affiliation.

The deck is stacked. Neither the governor nor senators are being held accountable by the voters. It's too arcane. Instead, we should question the value of party affiliation.

No doubt, these years have made the Democratic candidate bench slim. In town halls around my district, I've had active citizens lean in and whisper: "Don't tell anyone, but I'm a Democrat."

I understood their sense of oppression.

Trillhaase is right. Former state Rep. Kathy Skippen's solution is weak. He just needs to read the Idaho Constitution. Idaho's founders protected us from this partisan tyranny.

Article VI Section 1 guarantees an absolutely secret ballot, which the Republican closed primary contravenes since all who participate are publicly recorded.

Idaho's founders took George Washington's farewell letter to heart, warning against partisan politics. It's time Idaho Republicans stood up for such ideals, instead of trying to get us all to join their fraternity.

Dan J. Schmidt
Moscow

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Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
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