Public Editor: Standing upside down

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

By Mike Bressler

Last week Lisa Van Sciver’s column, “The Snow Pack Report” stated: “When standing upside-down … all your weight is above you instead of below you.” The idea that your weight could be above you when, by definition, your weight is part of you, poses serious questions of philosophy, religion and physics, questions too deep for ski bums. If Ms. Sciver must make forays into metaphysics, let her explain the concept of Karma as it relates to cutting lift lines on powder days.  

Aaron Wallis’ piece about leaving the Twin Cinema because he wasn’t allowed to text in the theater is tragedy worthy of an epic poem. He had to sit on a chair that didn’t recline and the sound system was unworthy of his self-image. And I thought the people in Haiti had it rough. I am glad he is going to stay home and watch Netflix on Blu-Ray and allow no middleman to come between him and his art. I am sure other moviegoers will appreciate his absence as well.

Ben Cannon’s piece on pending gun legislation was factual, interesting and without bias. Well done. Now, for some bias: [Disclosure: I own 11 guns, which, by Wyoming standards, damn near makes me unarmed.] I favor gun rights in principle, but this recent push at gun law reform is more about anger directed at the federal government than meaningful legislation. Legislators are using gun laws like southern politicians used segregation, as a way to court popularity. But unlike the civil rights movement, these bills will have little if any effect on life in Wyoming.
My father taught me that gun ownership was not only a right, but a responsibility, not a word often heard from the modern gun lobby.

The gun issue is symptomatic of our leaders’ inability to lead the people rather than run from a mob.  Any attempt to work as bipartisans brings condemnation from cable news talking heads and columnists. Seven Republican senators recently voted against a bipartisan commission to cut the national debt even though they co-sponsored a bill to create a commission.

Alan Simpson said “to use the politics of fear and division and hate on each other … it doesn’t make a damn whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican if you’ve forgotten you’re an American.” He criticized liberal Democrats,’ and about his own party, he said,“they don’t cut spending,” referring to the Republican majorities under Bush. If Simpson ran for office today, I doubt he could win nomination for dogcatcher. He’s a true conservative, but he puts country ahead of party, an unfogivable sin.  JHW


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Public Editor: Standing upside down | Planet JH News Article: Editorial

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