Rural Routes/Margot Ford McMillen

Let’s Cool Our Jets

A couple of weeks ago, when it was time to write a column, I was torn between writing about “Most Important News of 2020” and “Josh Hawley.” Hawley, US senator from my state, had just been involved in the storm against the Capitol but I wrote about the news — or, rather, the media — of 2020. Hawley, I thought, would keep until a later date.

And, as a subject for a column, he will. Folks, including some Republicans, are asking for his resignation. A Kansas City t-shirt maker has come up with a t-shirt that reads, “Dear America. Sorry About Josh Hawley. Sincerely yours, Missouri.”

We’re still looking for the politicians who will drop their partisan positions, and, happy to say, a few emerged as Trump impeachers, but we need to figure out a way to make cooperation more than a one-time thing. And that’s where we all come in, Dear Reader. Let’s all take responsibility for pointing out that there are issues everyone can agree on. We need to cool our jets.

Let’s start to think for ourselves. Take the long view. Figure out what we agree on and tell our representatives what we want them to fix. Leading a world-wide effort to kill the COVID-19 scourge will be a good beginning. This is as much about saving the health care system than it is about saving lives. Hospitals all over the world are breaking under the strain. Vaccine doses need to get to poor countries as well as rich ones.

Starting on that effort, let’s just get shots in the arms of people who want the vaccine, rather than trying to convince the never-vaxers to change their ways. With all the vaccinated folks protected, our health care system should be safe from overload and be able to take care of the stubborn ones who refuse. There’s little to be gained in arguing with our neighbors about the value of one or two shots, just like there was nothing to gain with arguing with our neighbors about masks. Don’t want it? OK. Just move to the side!

There are many things we all can agree on. In the column I wrote after Obama’s State of the Union Address, in 2016, I complained about his endorsement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). My words: “TPP would benefit major corporations and shipping companies, but hurt normal working people by putting us into even more competition with low-wage Pacific rim countries like Mexico, Vietnam and China. It would hurt small farmers, while benefiting industrial agriculture and hurt fledgling entrepreneurs building businesses in the buy-local movement … Most disturbing is the TPP’s willing dismissal of human rights abuses. In all its draft, the words ‘human rights’ do not appear.”

And so on. Was I happy when Trump cancelled TPP? You bet I was. And what if Biden brings it back? Well, Dear Reader, I’ll be writing about it again. And, if you agree, you’ll call your representatives and tell them the same.

But no need to get pissy. We can be respectful in making our cases, no matter what the issue. COVID, climate change, infrastructure repairs, the economy. All these things can be improved if we work together.

It’s been a long — really long — year, and for most of it, we’ve been without our usual vents. No ball games, no rodeos, no fiddle contests, no concerts, restrictions on county fairs and other community celebrations. Zoom and skype have been awesome, but it’s not the same as seeing each other in person.

And, now, with the new variants, folks are beginning to think next year will be the same, unless we can get a critical mass immunized. And, we can, but not if we keep criticizing each other for our opinions.

So it’s no wonder we’re feeling divided. It’s easy to be convinced the other side wants to steal our (check all that apply) ___ guns, ___bible, ___ unemployment check, ___ post office, ___ election. As rare as it is to even see a neighbor, we are easily convinced they’re out to get us.

Harder to spread dangerous rumors when the kids are on the same ball team, when we meet at the funnel cake stand at the county fair, when we bid on stuff at the same auction and the loser just shakes his or her head and grins at the winner. When we are, in other words, seeing that neither or us is a monster. We’re all just trying to get by.

The War Between the Parties has escalated. In a few small towns in Missouri, Trump Stores have popped up on vacant Main Streets, selling flags, books, t-shirts, bumper stickers, yard signs, jewelry, buttons, playing cards, and, oh yeah, ball caps. An FU Biden flag has gone up in a neighbor’s yard, and that’s just sad. Moms worry that the kids will see it. We need to get back to normal.

And, we can.

Margot Ford McMillen farms near Fulton, Mo., and co-hosts “Farm and Fiddle” on sustainable ag issues on KOPN 89.5 FM in Columbia, Mo. She also is a co-founder of CAFOZone.com, a website for people who are affected by concentrated animal feeding operations. Her latest book is “The Golden Lane: How Missouri Women Gained the Vote and Changed History.” Email: margotmcmillen@gmail.com.

From The Progressive Populist, February 15, 2021

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