It’s Fair time: where American democracy is on display

Posted on Jul 14, 2010 in Uncategorized

Tens of thousands of Idaho families are planning to attend their county or regional state fair this summer. The fair is a place where very different people come together to marvel at the skills of their neighbors at everything from raising cattle to baking bread, to eat those sweet treats of summer like cotton candy or “elephant ears” and, of course, to have fun.

There is always a variety of fair booths where people bargain for deals, hear about new ideas, marvel over the latest cleaning solution and watch cooking demonstrations.

Indeed, county fairs are where American democracy is on display. That is why a booth featuring the champions of America’s democratic values – the local Democratic Party – is such a perfect fit at the fair. In addition to helping Democratic candidates knock on doors to meet voters, are you volunteering to help them at your local fair booth?

When fairgoers stop by the Democrats’ booth: they are treated to lively discussions about how Democrats have worked to create jobs and strengthen our public schools; they hear about how Democrats value people with very different ideas and work to bring them together to solve problems; they meet Democratic candidates who personify the diversity of those ideas; and they feel welcome. Hopefully they leave the fair more committed to voting and participating in democracy.

Local Republicans have booths at the fairs, too. But, given their strategy – exemplified by their 2010 platform – to divide people, it might be hard for fairgoers to feel welcome. Many Idaho Republicans want loyalty tests, they attack moderate Republicans who work with Democrats, they don’t want voters to select our US Senators, and they angrily oppose every idea if is supported by a Democrat.

Of course, Idaho Republicans may not want to talk to most fairgoers knowing they will get an earful about how devastating their cuts to public schools have been.

In fact, Republicans in Bonner County want to make some fairgoers feel especially unwelcome by refusing to use the county fair board’s theme of “Fiesta” at their booth. Republicans have relied on fear as a political weapon so long they actually believe that a deeply imbedded word in our language might confuse Republican extremists since its etymology is Spanish (like rodeo – which is also a feature of most county fairs).

An editorial writer for the Bonner County Bee said “If it is headed that way, it is definitely a case of death by self-inflicted wound. Idaho’s Republican Party has taken such a sharp right recently that it threatens to toss overboard the vast majority of its followers in the most Republican of Republican states.”
Unfortunately, while most people are turned off by the shrill and divisive tone of the Republican political message, many may be turned off of the election entirely.

That is why YOU must not be turned off. YOU are needed to go door-to-door to help candidates meet voters personally. YOU are needed to meet voters at the fair. Voters deserve to know that we Idaho Democrats are open, come from diverse backgrounds and value different ideas. We are their neighbors.  We have candidates who are skilled at reaching out to all people and work hard to solve problems.

So, take time this summer, go volunteer for your local Democratic candidates, including at the fair, and you’ll be participating in the one of the best parts of American democracy (and go ahead and take a bite out of that elephant ear!).