Kami was actually seated as a delegate, so she had an up-front view of the action. As an unseated alternate, I got to observe the full breadth of the mayhem, which was considerable. To put it kindly, democracy appears very rough around the edges. To put it bluntly, democracy is completely devoid of any semblance of order except when looked at with the most discriminating scrutiny, and while taking into account humanity's underwhelming incapacities.
If this system is actually the one best suited for humans, we are a mediocre, chaotic, over-opinionated, paranoid breed. It seems impossible we created it. But, it was actually a few perceptive individuals who realized such a system could marginalize our collective incompetence, and, in that respect, it seems to be working, barely. As a system specifically designed to highlight our weaknesses, it is painfully effective. And, if not taken too seriously, a very entertaining thing to watch.
9:30: Arrive at Robinsdale High School. Eat a donut. Talk to a delegate seeking election. Have some tea (coffee not available - water issues).
10:00: Enter the auditorium. Admire the stage adorned with a single-file herd of patriotic elephants impaled on tall posts (one for each senate district) bookended with two burning braziers whose (simulated) fire flickers off each side of the dark auditorium walls and ceiling. I can't help thinking I'm in a cave and this is some tribal ritual. A net of balloons occupies the width of the auditorium. The six "ordained" delegates hand-picked by the nominating committee are situated on the walls.
10:30: Listen to Tim Pawlenty give a beautifully crafted and inspirational speech about unity. He referenced the reporter, who turned from Michael Jordan after a record-breaking 56 point game to a rookie who, in the same game, had scored his first NBA point. The reporter asked for his thoughts, and the rookie responded "I will remember this as the game Micheal Jordan and I scored 57 points." Awe. A touching story...unless you recognize Michael Jordan is actually an unstoppable rebel war machine in an ideological battle for world domination under the gun of corrupt business interests. And, the rookie is your unflinching, unquestioning support. Probably not front of mind during the standing ovation.
11:00: Listen to Norm Coleman give a speech almost as deft and inspirational. Also about unity. Closes to a another standing ovation.
11:30: (I really don't know the exact times). Barb White and her campaign storm the auditorium with cult-like enthusiasm. Music, dancing, and a speech dedicated to usurping Keith Ellison 's congressional seat. The delegates nominate her as Ellison's opponent. The net containing the few thousand balloons starts to move; time for the balloon-drop. They can't seem to get it to open. A guy starts poking at it with a long stick. Some of them pop. Finally, the net breaks free from the other side, releasing the red, white, and blue orbs like emptying a package of skittles over the crowd. A luke-warm finale at best. All pretend they don't notice the inescapable omen-like quality of the situation and continue cheering, hitting the balloons into the air.
12:00: Non-ordained delegates are nominated. All delegates give a short 2-minute speech. The three Ron Paul supporters (who we all agreed on beforehand) give short, fired-up oratories about the proper role of government and underlying philosophical principles to cheers and ovations. Unwavering Republican nominees spout the party line saying things as immature as "if it's conservative, I'm on it." Ug, and getting applause. (Thus highlighting the aforementioned human weakness).
1:00: The seated delegates vote for three national delegates. Ballot confusion. General hilarity ensues as everyone approaches the mic with a different solution. The chair's original solution prevails. Time wasted. As people vote there is a persistent percussive sound of cannon fire. Balloons being popped. At first the finale to the 1812 overture plays in my head. And then, and I know this is geeky, our national anthem, with bombs bursting in air as I imagined everyone voting for Ron Paul. Probably a stretch (maybe I'll discuss later).
1:15: Some post-adolescent guy in a suit walks up to me standing in the back. "It's all the Ron Paul supporters that are messing things up ya know. They don't know what they're doing. He can't win."
1:30: We start going through resolutions. The delegates, with high contention, vote to make the following things part of the official Republican party platform (not exact language):
- Abolish the Minnesota state income tax
- Eliminate the fiat monetary system and restore gold and silver as the only type of legal tender
- Oppose a national ID card
The rest of the day was going through more boring resolutions. There was some roudyness and bickering as the delegates stood split on the issue of gay marriage...The Ron Paul folks don't think it's government's business to get involved in private issues (yay!). The neocons want to "save" marriage by officially defining it as between a man and a woman.
The seated delegates also voted for two alternate national delegates. Both Ron Paul supporters.
SOOOOO....I saw how democracy really works. It isn't "the people" who give the consent of the governed...it's "the people who give a shit." And, they are either protecting the rights of the rest of us or trying to protect the rights/entitlements of their privileged organizations. Yesterday those who are working to protect our rights are the ones who prevailed against the ones trying to protect the rights of government and big business. But, it was in heated contention. Many were repulsed believing we must unify with McCain to protect the reputation of the Republican party. I'm afraid dedication to nothing more than saving face is one of the very things our democracy was designed to protect us against. And, it looks like it's actually working.
Yesterday we protected the right to go to an auditorium and watch a boondoggle of folly ensue as two half-civilized bodies of opinionated ideologues faced off in a reminder that humans are at their best when they appear to be at their worst. Because a few thoughtful individuals aligned in principle managed to coordinate themselves, we might again have the right to flail about indiscriminately in the future.
But, as I once did with the Reagan revolution, I again wait for the inevitable day the descendants of the Ron Paul revolution put pride before principle. And, when that happens, we will again be waiting in silence to protect the precious core of human liberty. If the Republican party chooses to one day abandon this core, it will be adopted by a different party, or (God forbid) a different country, but it can never be eliminated.
We will never go away until its tightened grip chokes the last vestiges of liberty, prosperity, and life itself.
In other words, when you are right, you are right. Just because everyone finally realizes it doesn't make it any more or less right. Just be sure you remember what that is, and why you will certainly be tempted to forget it.
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