By Pauline Masson – “Every mother in America wants her son to grow up to be president of the United States. But she don’t want him to go into politics,” in the process. So said the late president John F. Kennedy.
This was the well-mannered Kennedy’s way of saying, politics is getting a bum rap. Politics, in the real world, is the key to our system of government. Every city, county and state in the U.S. is a political subdivision.
The right to vote for who governs us is arguably our most cherished right. This is something that Americans live and die for. This is what separates us from downtrodden citizens of dictatorships and oligarchies.
In our hometown, every year from the middle of December, when the first candidates sign their names to the application to run for office, to the first week in April, when voters go into to the booth to decide who will be in charge here, Pacific citizens take part in the most American of all seasons – the political season.
We’re in the middle of it now. For about 15 weeks, from December to April, everything that takes place in our hometown is “Political.”
As a personal observation, I think we owe a debt of gratitude to all those individuals who “go into politics,” and get out there in the fray to say they want to be part of the governing process.
They put their names on the line and their faces in public to be evaluated, argued over, considered and judged. During these weeks, we’re all paying attention to who puts a sign in their yard to cheer on their favorite candidate and/or which candidates show up at our community events like the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast.
We may say this event or that event is not political, as though being political is a bad thing, but we’re all watching, to see who is out there, who is glad-handing and looking for votes.
Even the Pacific Partnership, which organizes our popular citizen events like Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade – which always takes place during the political season – has entered the realm of city politics.
It was the city fathers, aka the politicians, that the Partnership turned to for help to finance its activities, which include the St. Patrick’s Day parade, the Pacific car show, Iron Horse Rodeo, Monsterfest, Sunset on the Rails and Christmas on the Plaza. The politicians were generous – overly generous from my point of view – but in any event they were generous. In February 2021, the city, aka the politicians and the Partnership entered into a contract agreement that gave the partnership $50,000 a year of taxpayer money for the next five years to help put on the big outdoor events that bring out the citizens and bring in the tourists.The citizens now have ownership in these events.
This is politics at its prettiest, folks.
This is bread and circuses – spending taxpayer money to stage fun pageants to keep the populace happy. And it was happy. The St. Patrick’s Parade was a joy. There was something for everyone.
This was Pacific at its most convivial. In 20 degree weather, folks bundled up and lined up to see, according to the Partnership, 50 entries march through downtown in a grand pageant to celebrates a popular day.
In bitter cold and brilliant sun light groups of parade lovers began arriving at the corner of First and St. Louis streets at 9:15 a.m. The parade arrived at this point at about 10:15 and for the next 35 minutes the crowd was treated to human, canine and equestrian marchers, floats, vehicles in dramatic paint schemes. And, yes, there were candidates – five at least, but there could have been more.
Among the marching groups tiny pom pom troupes – top photo – captivated the crowd as they shook brightly colored streamers and chanted team cheers.
One show-stopping entry was a pair of giant draft horses, with a bold female rider, standing, teamster style, with one foot on each giant horse as their feathered hooves clip clopped a loud rhythm on the street surface.
Jeep lovers had a field day. More than 25 Jeeps and specialty SUVs, including a range of models, tricked out with balloons, banners, strings of shamrocks, Marine Corps flags, geometric themes, green frills and paint schemes that have come a far cry from the dusty tan Willys jeep that was introduced in 1941 and entered the realm of American culture in WWII. One had a rider perched firmly on top, securing her place with feet tucked into the open sunroof.
All entries tossed out candy and beads that were scooped by by happy parade watchers.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I am a member of a big, gregarious, Irish family that eats a lot of potatoes and loves leprechauns. St. Patrick’s Day is our day. So I was out there waving at the parade column.
But, having saluted the parade, I have to tell you . . . it’s the politicians I’m focused on. For the next few weeks, let’s remember that these political candidates who are wooing us, are devoting their time and energy to help us citizens us take part in one of our most cherished annual rites – the right to choose who governs us.
It’s political. And as Martha Stewart would say, It’s a good thing. We wouldn’t want to be without it.
Face book pages, web pages and signs are great.But we need MORE meet the candidate open forums like The MVRIII school board at the Scenic Regional Library, March 20th.
It is very hard to find meaningful information on other candidates specially for the very important position of City Marshal..
Web pages are, by nature, one sided info brag sheets. We need more back and forth with the public, enhanced by having pre submitted fact sheets and pre submitted questions , with live open forum follow ups.
Of course we would need a good moderator with good, clear rules as to length of time etc..A large church hall or a place like the Eagles would be great.