We should all thank state Rep. Joel Boniek. The Emigrant Republican rode a steed – part donkey, part horse and a “Democrat” – to the state Capitol in the waning days of the 2009 Montana legislative session. He said he wanted to lighten the mood. Lawmakers had become testy as the deadline for agreeing on a state budget approached and the chances of them missing it increased.
In the end, the legislative body did adjourn on time, passing a budget on the 90th day of the session – the final day state law allows. Some legislators (specifically those who voted against the spending plan) still believe the budget was overly optimistic and the governor will have to call a special session anyway to trim spending further. But, for now, we can appreciate the fact that they’re done making laws.
Maybe Boniek deserves a sliver of credit for that, even if he did vote against the final spending legislation. He provided a mental health break during the Legislature’s tense final hours, when lawmakers finished the serious task of crafting a budget in lieu of seriously irking their constituents by calling back-to-back special sessions.
Indeed, we live in a serious time, as the Legislature reflected. The economy has floundered as the country remains stuck in a deep recession; hundreds of thousands of protesters recently gathered at “tea parties” across the country to decry government spending and President Obama’s policies; and now the swine flu epidemic has sickened hundreds and frightened scores more.
Media have jumped on the latter to reinforce our somber moods, by eagerly telling us that, perhaps, we’re doomed. Cable news has highlighted people wearing facemasks on never-ending reels, while also imploring that we remain calm. Yes, this is a serious outbreak, and everyone should be vigilant, even in Montana. But it sure seems that some have used the swine flu to sow the seeds of paranoia.
At the tea party protests, while the majority peaceably assembled to blast politicians who have saddled (or, some would argue, bankrupted) future generations with debt, there is a minority who have argued states should secede and are convinced the strength of this country will soon be permanently changed for the worse.
I applaud the protests, but I have a little more faith in America to believe that one man, one Congress or one recession is going to destroy it. The relentless pace of the modern media cycle seems to have reduced our political memories to nil, while exacerbating hysteria by some over a president who hasn’t even occupied the office for four months. Besides, didn’t we hear similar arguments from the left when former President George Bush was reelected – that the end was nigh? Keeping government in check is vital to a robust democracy. But life continued after Bush, as it will after Obama. There’s another election this November, for vital local government positions, and again the next, for U.S. and state representative seats.
The economy – which has very serious implications, especially in the Flathead – has cost thousands of jobs and frayed our collective nerves. But does this recession always have to be turned into a philosophical argument that pits Wall Street versus Main Street, the free market versus fair market and, in turn, pits us against each other?
The arguments are beginning to drown everything else out. Can we still allow ourselves to chuckle at a Republican lawmaker who rode a donkey to the state Capitol? I hope so.
We could use few more gestures like Boniek’s and a few more mental health breaks in general.