The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
It is straight out of Column Writing 101. When you don’t have a column idea in late November, pull out the “Things For Which I Am Thankful” tome.
This is, after all, Thanksgiving week. And there is, after all, no shortage of items for which to give thanks. Oh, there are the usual suspects — my wife, my children, food on the table, a roof over our heads, good health, a rewarding job. Throw in the fact that my favorite college football teams are having strong seasons, and life is good.
And yet, there is so much more. So rather than go down the path of the trite and the well-rehearsed, we shall take the road less traveled. We shall review the many reasons to give thanks for being a columnist in Clark County.
You know, things like residents who actually follow the issues and take time to vote. Residents who work to better their community rather than complain about it. Residents who are politically involved, and if they are not involved they at least are well-informed.
There are many such people in Clark County, and more than a handful of them frequently add comments to Columbian.com. It is there that you often find some of the best political discussion anywhere; it’s certainly more robust and nuanced and informative than the typical presidential debate.
Yes, the comments are prone to the occasional tangent that sidetracks the discussion or the occasional derp that thoughtlessly mimics provably false talking points. But for the most part those who weigh in are heavyweights of political discourse.
I just wish there were more of them. Not necessarily commenters, but people who cared enough to be informed. This month’s election, after all, saw about 85,000 voters bother to turn in ballots in Clark County. That’s a 34 percent return among registered voters, and about a 19 percent return from the population as a whole (including those younger than 18).
Those voters made crucial decisions that will impact the lives of everybody in the county — even if most people in the county don’t seem to care. And I am thankful for them.
And yet, there is so much more. Take county councilors David Madore and Tom Mielke. Please. (OK, old and bad joke). But I’m serious when I say that I am thankful for them. While I might often disagree with how they conduct the business of the people or with the decisions they make or with the policies they support, for a columnist and for The Columbian’s Editorial Board, they are the gift that keeps on giving.
Madore’s particular brand of mismanagement and Mielke’s particular brand of discipleship to Madore are, I believe, bad for Clark County. But they are great for newspapers, and if you haven’t read Lou Brancaccio’s column from Saturday’s paper, you should. Go ahead. I’ll wait …
Exchange of ideas
Anyway, most of the reasons for a columnist to be thankful in Clark County are more uplifting and more positive than a dysfunctional county council (although kudos are warranted for Jeanne Stewart, the voice of reason on the council).
There are, for example, many people who have been vocal about not wanting to see Vancouver turned into an oil town. And many who don’t believe a county meeting room is the appropriate place for an “In God We Trust” sign. And many who are working to solve the Rubik’s Cube that is the Interstate 5 Bridge and the future of transportation in the region.
While I happen to generally agree with these people, that is not why I am thankful for them; I also am thankful for those with dissenting opinions. The foundation of a successful community is not blind adherence, but robust debate — a respectful exchange of ideas that requires actual engagement rather than a retreat to your Facebook page while ignoring questions.
So, yes, there are many reasons to be thankful for many topics of importance to this community. And I am particularly grateful that they gave me a column idea.
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