OPINION: Radical GOP drives across Idaho’s centerline

From a popular sandy beach that hemmed the city park, a long wooden pier poked into Coeur d’Alene Lake. Perched on the broad deck was a summer carnival. As products of small-town simplicity, our rare family outings to Coeur d’Alene became big city events, which often included a trip to the arcade.

With Roy Rogers-Dale Evans influence, we trotted our kid-size cowboy boots to the prancing, painted ponies of the carousel — and then we were allowed to ride the Ferris wheel. With the security of a parent and the safety bar, our rocking carriages were lifted above the lake and into the night sky.

There were other carnivals and I quickly learned to avoid the head-snapping, body-jerking, nausea-inducing effects of mechanical menaces like the Zipper — until July when I survived a Tilt-a-Whirl spin. I didn’t buy or want a ticket —but it cost me dearly.

On a sunny afternoon I was driving east to the river for a cool-down swim with the dogs when an approaching vehicle was suddenly crossing the centerline toward me. As the noise of mangled metal and shattered glass subsided, my whirled truck was pointed west and tilted from the detached rear axle. In 10 seconds, an inattentive driver destroyed my truck and camper — then proceeded to disable the car behind me. The dogs were OK so my glad mingled with the sad and mad that my truck, camper, mobility and other summer plans were ruined. I was left with physical, emotional and financial whiplash.

This is what I know: First, there is a correlation between the increase of offensive, dangerous drivers and new Idaho residents with road entitlement attitudes. And second, seat belts work.

As we fledge from the protection and guidance of childhood, we embark on an independent journey with a new map. As the years progress, we settle into a customized lifestyle and lane of travel. There may be changes or corrections to improve efficiency and views, but we become comfortable and confident in our chosen lane. Then, without warning, here comes trouble crossing the centerline. Disease, death, divorce, deception, accidents, addictions, weather, bankruptcy, loss of jobs and homes throw us into a tailspin. With time and resiliency, we repair the damage and ease back into our lane although we watch the centerline more closely.

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The provenance of our government was the Continental Congress. Seeking a fresh start and new lane free of autocratic imperialists, nonpartisan colonial delegates agreed to the attractive contours of a federal republic. With democratic principles, political parties evolved to represent divergent ideas for reaching collaborative goals.

There have been Whigs, Tories, Greenbacks, Federalists, Constitutionalists, Libertarians and various recipes for Republicans and Democrats. Generally, conservatives and liberals are the main vehicles on our two-way political road — with distinct but commensurable objectives.

Traditionally, the parties pitched a platform, elections were held and government proceeded with respectful communication and diplomacy. Each party had a lane of travel and an established pattern of philosophies. There were passing lanes, merging lanes, rest areas and emergency pullouts.

Even with little imperfections, the system has been functional — until extremist Republicans (not to be confused with the real GOP) started crossing the centerline to purposely disrupt the even flow of freedoms and democracy. Their careless, reckless driving has caused collisions, wrecks and immeasurable damage to Idaho’s image, values, morale and governance.

Their engine is powered by the methane of copious B.S. — an endless supply from their gaseous rhetoric.

When super conservatives engineered a closed primary election in 2012, leadership skills, intelligence, genuine issues and voter empathy were removed as qualifiers for elective office — and extremists were off-and-stumbling in their three-legged race to sack democracy and corrupt fair elections.

With the illusion of political power, demands for membership allegiance and doctrinal obeisance, the extremists have become the dictatorial lords of the ultra-red set. By attaching “fascism,” “communism” or “socialism” to their McCarthy-ish dogma, they continue to dupe their followers with fear.

Idaho extremists are a confederacy of misfits chaired by Dorothy Moon and her “Moon-lites.”

The Idaho Freedom Foundation is directing the caravan. So far, they have outshifted any opposition or reason but their power is still hot air.

This is what I know: Thirty years ago, the triad of Sens. Dan Foreman and Cindy Carlson as well as Rep. Mike Kingsley LLC (limited liability conservatives), would have been laughed off the ballot. In four years, they will be as forgotten as yesterday’s flush because they have done nothing except distribute manufactured gimmicks and garbage.

They have attempted to turn revered institutions (public schools and libraries), personal choices and political opponents into enemies of their status. Despite the mock, unnecessary censureship, Rep. Lori McCann will endure because she listens to and votes for her constituents.

Idaho extremists are crossing the centerline with dangerous arrogance and destructive regularity. We can immobilize their agenda with push-back truth and action. We can create a detour around their vicious ideology by re-establishing an open primary and fair elections.

Dumas, of Grangeville, is an independent outdoorswoman.