Technology can better run government

By Dave Churchill (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, October 26, 2007

The wonders of technology. A little more than two hours after last week’s column about my plan for politicians to work at home was posted on-line, I got my first complaint. It wasn’t the column’s main point – Washington is bad – that drew fire, but my lead-in about Congress getting goofily wrapped up in a meaningless resolution condemning a historic horror.

There are, it appears, at least a few people who feel very strongly that Congress should indeed be spending most of its time debating the merits of the Ottoman Empire’s attempt to kill off ethnic Armenians back in the early 20th Century.

“I found your article on Armenian genocide very offending,” said the e-mail from a reader who identified himself only as Eddy.

“Why is White House siding with Turkish government while Turkey is still denying this crime?” Eddy asked. “Who profits by Armenian genocide after all?”

Good questions. But they miss the point, which is that this all happened nearly a century ago and nothing that the U.S. Congress does can change it one bit. Let’s focus on the real issues, like Social Security, health care, the war in Iraq

At least a couple of people more or less agreed with me, based on comments they posted on The Journal’s web site. Here’s one from an anonymous poster, describing how he or she thinks politicians divert attention from the real issues.

“YOU: I can't afford healthcare for my kids and senior citizens cannot afford medication.

“POLITICIAN: True, but if Democrats immediately seize all of your hunting rifles, how will you make it through the winter?

“YOU: Thanks for setting me straight. I knew Charlton Heston had more to contribute to society than his chariot racing skills.”

The poster’s views on gun control may or may not be in synch with yours or mine, but the line about Charlton Heston is a good one. Had me laughing.

I wish someone had written to address the column’s core idea: That putting all our legislators into a confined space on the East Coast is an antique method of running the government, ripe for abuse. Technology – like the technology that led to an on-line and e-mail discussion of my column last week – offers us better ways to run the government.

I’m sure there are some deep flaws in that concept, and I look forward to hearing what they are.

Meanwhile, having thought way too much about government and genocide, I decided to use an utterly free day last Saturday for a drive around northern Minnesota.

Fall is the absolutely best time to be outdoors –still warm enough to be tolerable, but no bugs and no crowds, while animals and birds still remain relatively active.

I stopped for lunch at Schoolcraft State Park, up near Grand Rapids. It’s a relatively small park along the Mississippi River, and I enjoyed a short hike along the water and then back to my car on a trail that had been used as a “tote road” back during the logging days. It was along that same path through the forest that wagons and sleights hauled loads of supplies to lumber camps and homesteaders back in the 19th Century.

As I walked, I heard the occasional thump of a shotgun, just a reminder that waterfowl season is under way. Later, I drove a bit further north to check out the Chippewa National Forest, which had attracted many hunters with their dogs.

I had thought about camping in one of the National Forest campgrounds, but found them relatively busy with hunting parties. So I turned around and found my way back to Schoolcraft where there was just one family camping in their RV. Picking a spot on the far end of the campground near the river, I put my pad and sleeping bag down on the ground – no need for a tent this time of year.

Rain woke me about 5:00 on Sunday morning, and so after a quick cup of tea, brewed over my camp stove, I headed back to Fergus Falls. All in all a quick trip, but a pleasant excursion into our state’s beautiful woodlands.

Journal publisher Dave Churchill’s column runs on Fridays.