By Mark Staples
Government Affairs Counsel
Montana Tavern Assoc.
Last Fourth of July weekend, I put my boat in the water only to realize I'd forgotten to get it licensed. It was five minutes to five on Friday of a three-day holiday. I called the licensing folks at the Courthouse in Polson. S.O.L.?
On the contrary, the woman was sympathetic, stayed late to process my application and credit card payment and then, get this, without my asking, drove the tabs out to my place on the lake, so my family could boat that weekend.
This summer I called the appropriate folks in Helena about my car license tabs. I got a cordial professional on the phone. I was quickly processed and received what I needed in the mail a few days later.
Just a couple weeks ago I registered my son for freshman football at the public high school he'll be attending...no delays...no hitches... just organized, friendly professional people. That same day, I also picked up my season tickets for Grizzly football at U of M...same deal. And don't even get me started on my kids' school teachers, whom they love and my wife and I deeply appreciate and admire.
Just this week, I have interacted with employees of the Montana Public Service Commission, the Department of Revenue, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Legislative Services, the Governor's office, Clerks of Court of four counties, and the City of Helena.
I have had the same cordial productive experience with all these folks. What do they have in common? They're all public employees.
I know it's fashionable in some quarters to bash "public" employees, but I personally think it's immensely unfair. Are there some who could do a better job? Sure, just like there are in the private sector, but speaking from the perspective of one who sometimes interacts with dozens of public employees a day, and thousands every year, I'll assuredly take the ratio of high functioning, friendly employees in the public sector over the same ratio in 1-800 corporate America.
Why even bring this up? Because a group called "The Center For Union Facts" recently launched a despicable series of ads portraying a mock state employee in the worst possible light.
This kind of sleaze has no place in Montana civil discourse, no matter the subject, but to take such a broad and unwarranted shot at innocent public employees is beneath contempt.
Justly, the state at large regarded the ads as inaccurate and offensive, and the Washington D.C. hit man behind that campaign is increasingly, nationally, regarded with disgust.
In sum, similar "professional" consultants from the west and east coasts have brought little value to our generally civil Montana culture.
Rather, their contribution is predominantly a toxic mix of innuendo, half-truths, character assassination, and intense condescension to the average Montanan's rational faculties. These highly paid political "operatives" and "strategists" (of both parties by the way) are usually nothing more than would-be advertising hacks turned political thugs, and their campaigns have all the sophistication of public latrine graffiti.
Sadly, while this levee-break of sewage has done nothing to truly clarify issues or foster intelligent analysis, it has had a gaseous side-effect. More and more Montanans, some of them campaign spokespersons, others debate audience plants, and still others unhinged letter-to-the-editor enlistees, have picked up this back alley, kneecapping style, and the mugging of Montana's dignity is on in full.
What can those of us who detest this despoiling of our human landscape do about it? For one, we can reinforce civility in our kids, our friends, our employees (public and private) and yes, our politicians, by complimenting it, pointing it out, celebrating it as the standard we expect.
And we can also start to cry out en masse, "enough!" of the loutish behavior by "spokespersons"; "enough!" of the slime-ball ad campaigns on public issues; "enough!" of recruited hecklers disrupting forums and debates, and triple "enough!" of the state's daily press sensationalizing every unsupported accusation while minimizing later exonerations, not to mention giving short shrift to objective examination of issues (with the exception of one or two well-seasoned reporters, who nevertheless often cannot camouflage their biases).
Finally, "enough!" of the swelling ranks of "advisers" to public policy and political campaigns who earn their stripes (and fees) in direct proportion to their relish for sputum.
The current E-coli scourge from spinach is nothing compared to the contamination these so-called "professionals" are spreading, but the remedy is the same: pull them out of the salad mix and send them and their bacterial strain of democracy where they belong...the dump.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, Oct., 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.