Ingram's November 2022

E D I T O R ’ S N O T E

by Joe Sweeney

The Price of Progress

Civility took a beating in October and November.

to serve their communities. These are American Heroes that deserve our respect. They do it out of a commitment to making their neighborhoods, cities, counties, states and yes, our nation, a better place to live. They’re proud of the system that, in most cases, has helped them achieve a good portion of the American Dream, and they engage civically as a way of paying forward what many of them see as a debt to the rest of us. They sure as hell don’t deserve the beating they took, and neither do we. More broadly, none of us deserve the level of vitriol that marked electoral campaigns this season. It’s to the point where I’m ready to boycott broadcast television entirely—at least every other October to get away from the nastiness and disrespect. Here’s one example: Laura Kelly and Sharice Davids in Kansas had plenty to boast about with their own records in their respective races for governor and the 3rd District congressional seat. Instead, they allowed party handlers to go negative by trying to tie their opponents to . . . Sam Brownback?!?! This man has been out of office for going on four years, and the best this year’s candidates can do is to inject division into their campaigns? Do better, please. It’s reached a point where a sitting president maxxes out on the divisive rhetoric by declaring that opposition to his party is the funcational equivalent of domestic terrorism. That democracy itself might go away if you don’t vote correctly. Before the smoke even starts to clear from this election, there’s already talk about a 2024 presidential rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. I can’t imagine a pairing that could do more harm to our prospects of a civilized election than getting that Oldies band back together again. It’s way past time for some new figures to step up, candidates who understand that America became great because we could work with each other to resolve differences, understanding that those differences would always be with us. Where is the collaboration candi date? Where is the inspiration candidate? Where did decency and civility go?

Well, it’s over. The congressional and state elections are done. I’ve lived through too many election cycles to count, but I don’t think I can recall an election season that has left me quite as dispirited as I am now. What a brutal, pathetic and petty display of American civics we just conducted. From races for the U.S. Senate, the House, governor’s offices and state legislatures, this one seemed to be particularly ugly. Combined with a personal experience involving a hearing just a week after the election (more on that soon), and I’m more frustrated with the electoral system than ever. They said democracy itself was on the ballot this year. I think it lost bad and I’m not sure we’ll get it back. My Dad was recruited by a much different Democrat party and he was voted in as the last elected assessor in Jackson County in 1968. Back in those days, politicking was inordinately different: Door to door and meeting one group after another as well as rallies, potlucks and parades. Having recently experienced our own contentuous hearing in front of the Camden County Planning & Zoning Commission, regarding plans that Michelle and I have to build a boutique resort with a modest bar and grill on the site. It never occured to us that people who live at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri’s vacation capital and the largest recreational lake in the nation, would be so opposed to the notion of a very nice high-end neighborhood resort and dining venue. I’d like to share a few observations about that process. First of all, I respect anyone’s opinion so long as it’s legitimate and their opposition is communicated in civil fashion. More than 50 opponents attended the P&Z hearing with a docket including nine pretty heated arguments over a variety of matters. Ours was the sixth of nine cases and our case alone lasted well in excess of an hour. We thought our case was indisputable, though we faced well organized opposing campaigns comprised of neighbors who do not want to be exposed to excessive sound from a commercial development being built closeby. That’s a fair and reasonable point and we genuinely share the same concern, and one we’re happy to address through mutually respectful conversation. The last woman to address the commission and pose opposition is an unbearable menace who happens to lives in a small association of Cottages at Old Kinderhook, where we own several homes. She represented herself on behalf of our small HOA association, then lied through her teeth in an attempt to disparage Michelle and me. Fortunately, the Camden County P&Z Commission agreed with our presentation and approved our application and we’ll do our part to keep the music managable and abide by such hours as promised. Now, a case for a conditional use permit in the middle of Missouri and elections for America’s Congress might not seem to have much in common, but I found a disturbing commonality between them. Specifically, the loss of civility in public discourse. I think now about the volunteers who help make our system work. The people who show up at the polls on voting day to help make democratic voting a reality, or members of boards and commissions who, as with our own experience, were ridiculed and verbally abused during our case and even moreso on a previous one that evening. We think about elected officials who contribute their time and talent

Joe Sweeney Editor-In-Chief and Publisher E | JSweeney @ Ingrams.com

4

I n g r a m ’ s

November 2022

Ingrams.com