While it seems like a few weeks ago we were turning the calendar on another year, all signs indicate spring isn’t that far off, and next week the calendar flips to March.
For all of us with a pulse, and that’s everyone, we’ll have our chance at grassroots politics next Tuesday, March 1, during the precinct caucuses. If you haven’t been to a precinct caucus, you might want to check one out. For the most part, they are limited to discussion about party politics, including who does one want for the leaders of this election cycle, but also party planks, beliefs or platforms of the parties, in this case Republican or Democrat. If you don’t already know them, you can infer the platforms of each party, so folks tend to attend the caucus that align with their beliefs. Said another way, there’s not a lot of choices, two to be exact.
While there’s been attempts to have more major parties (and at last check I think there still are a couple), they have never truly taken hold. The Independent (Reform) party is the one that most of us are familiar with.
It would be nice to see more change and reform in the political system, and perhaps that at least partially explains the success of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, two candidates who could be described as anything but traditional.
Here’s a change we all could keep in mind as we officially enter the political season: Keep politics as least political as possible. Let’s solve problems through best practices, not necessarily through long held practices and beliefs. Let’s not think of what a political party can do for us, but what political leaders can do to solve societal problems.
There are plenty of people in political office of all stripes and levels who care deeply about the greater good. But there are too many, especially at higher levels, who are in it for the power, and perhaps even worse – they just want people to think and be like them, so they’ve quit learning (because naturally they have all of the answers).
We shouldn’t expect this political season to be any different, and some think the rhetoric is as bad as it’s ever been, which might be true. However, we can’t give up hope that good things can and do happen. As the fingerpointing continues, let’s hope our leaders turn it back on themselves from time to time.
■ We had the best response ever to the Football Frenzy contest. More people than ever guessed the correct numbers of footballs. The winners are listed on page 3A. We also have a winner of our Valentine’s Movie Trivia Contest winner named on page 2B.
■ With the end of February comes the end of the winter sports season. Wrestlers are headed to state this week and the other sports are entering post-season play or have wrapped up their seasons. It’s always fun to watch young people participate, and there will be many good opportunities over the next few weeks.
■ Mark your calendars for the 20th annual Annandale Expo, which is set for Saturday, April 9, at Annandale High School. Besides the many vendors, exhibits and entertainment, new this year is a display from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, which will include a live bald eagle. See the ad on page 2A for more information.
■ The family of Annandale Centra-Sota Cenex manager Bruce Skappel has placed a health report and thank you on page 5B of this issue. Lots of folks know Bruce and wish him well in his recovery. See the thank you for more details.