And then I wrote...

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

... that a story in one of the Sunday papers about Iowa’s first governor, Ansel Briggs, noted that he was responsible for setting the state’s borders. The east and west limits were easy because ol the two major rivers, and he noted that Iowa’s “rivers as borders flow to an inseparable union.”

After weeks of a further separation of the nation’s two political parties, I wish I could express the same hope for the country.

But I can’t.

And the main reason I feel that way is not the differences in philosophy, but rather all the evidence of mob rule ... monocracy instead of democracy.

From the opening remarks of the senate committee’s hearing through the final vote on confirmation, listeners were treated to spates of rude, boorish, uncivil heckling from “ordinary” citizens. The screamers, mostly women, were removed trom the senate chambers, and some apparently were arrested. But it was “catch and release” apparently, because outside observers said some of them reported to leaders for instructions and went right back in.

Even as obnoxious as that behavior was, what was worse was the mobs convened outside the offices of senators that then accosted them as they walked the halls.

And the mobs were encouraged to seek out officials as they visited restaurants with family members.

Reportedly even worse were the various attacks made through “social” media, actually asocial?

And apparently it hasn’t ended with the new justice being sworn in and starting work.

The tilting at windmills seems destined to continue.

If the party out of power gains control of the house, more hearings are promised. Which means a continuation of the trend to no real action on significant problems.

And some are advocating impeachment of the new justice. But it is my understanding that even if that passes the house, it takes a vote of two-thirds support in the senate to pass. That is not likely given the projected make-up of that body. So more wasted time.

There is a chance the party in power could actually increase its numbers in the senate.

Given the age of some veteran justices, it is possible the current president eould have a chance to nominate yet another justice!

Another hearing?

Maybe if we could silence the politicians and their janissaries, Ansel Briggs’ unity remark might have a chance.