Give Pat some credit

One of my favorite television programs and repeated Netflix binges, “Parks and Recreation,” illustrates the myriad ways in which small-time politics (the show is set in fictional Pawnee, Indiana) can devolve into little more than constant mudslinging, settling personal scores and carnival barking. I’d generally like to think Iowans, specifically in this area, are better than that, but an interaction I witnessed last week leads me to wonder.
           
Pat Grassley and I do not agree on every issue. Pat Grassley and whoever’s reading this may not agree on every issue, but to call our representative inaccessible and/or “hiding from the public” is an outright falsehood. More than any other state legislator I’ve ever encountered, the New Hartford Republican consistently holds town hall meetings in every community in his district, walks in the parades and does what most of us would consider the boring legwork of constituent outreach. It’s in his blood, and it’s clear he loves what he does.
           
But even Pat admitted to me last week that he found the accusations a woman hurled at him during one of the posts at the Dike city hall bothersome, and on my end, it was the first time I’d ever been accused of being a Republican in Grundy County.
 
 How is it his fault that no one showed up on a snowy Friday morning when school was cancelled? How can he be blamed for the fact that in this era, citizens would rather complain about issues on social media and Internet comment sections than confront their legislators about them face to face? And lastly, isn’t it largely true that unless a bill or policy affects them personally, they’ll just ignore it altogether?
           
Still, when the dust had settled, Pat and I sat down and did what we always do: sifted through the mundane details of school funding, education savings accounts, agricultural policy and whatever happens to be going on in the area this week. He had a couple more events to get to that day, and we went our separate ways pleasantly. But our encounter led me to ask myself why anyone would ever sign up for this.
           
Federal politicians make good, full-time money well into the six figures, and some of them may deem it worth it for all of the hassling they endure (Full disclosure: I’m a writer and have been known to partake in the hassling.) Their state counterparts in Des Moines, however, bring home around $25,000 annually and work just four months of the year. It’s not enough to raise a family on, which often means that if you don’t have a strong second income, your chances of affecting Iowa policy are slim to none.
           
And as a guy who used to play in a country and rock n’ roll band at small town bars from Iowa Falls to La Motte can attest, the feeling of spending a whole day traveling and preparing just for 10 or 15 people to show up can be deflating, to say the least. But hey, at least I got to sing “Free Bird” at the end of the night. Lawmakers, musicians and truckers (to a much greater extent) know a thing or two about the long and lonesome highway east of Omaha: it isn’t all glamorous, and it isn’t all easy.
           
We should have vigorous debates on policy issues, from education to agriculture to health care to taxes. We should be able to converse with our friends from across the aisle and still be able to go out for a cup of coffee or a beer afterwards. There are two letters to the editor in this week’s Grundy Register telling me why my recent opinions are wrong, and I think that’s great—the more dialogue, the better.
           
But when incidents like the one involving Rep. Grassley unfold in front of your very eyes, it makes a neutral observer wonder why the heck anyone would want to subject him or herself to such unwarranted criticism in the first place. To paraphrase another character from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, you’re darned if you do and darned if you don’t.

           
Wait a minute, is this the same Robert Maharry who strongly criticized Chuck Grassley over his handling of the counter investigation into Christopher Steele two weeks ago? Yes, it is, but I’m not a heartless partisan hack. I oppose Senator Grassley’s political stance on a federal issue, but I support Representative Grassley’s willingness to meet with his constituents and be available wholeheartedly. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive.
***********************************************************************************************************************

Anytime I put out something controversial, I’m reminded that people actually do still read newspapers. While I stand by the overarching argument I made last week, it’s not my wish to see agrichemical companies and distributors go out of business—I never once said we need to stop using fertilizer altogether. I’m aware that what they do is necessary and drives the local economy, and I’ve got several personal connections in the industry.
 
On the other hand, the fact that the taxpayers of Iowa are spending $282 million to clean up our water—which experts estimate is only about 1/12 of the total cost—should concern everyone. I’m sure I’ve already been branded anti-farmer, but I don’t consider those who doesn’t agree with what I write anti-first amendment. I’m simply of the belief that we can do better.