Dear Editor:

We can’t be all right, all the time. Reading the two opposing views on how best to represent Park County residents brought into focus for me how destructive simplistic, black or white thinking is to the political process. And in the aftermath of destroying the process are citizens left without representation.

Dona Becker seems outraged that someone would try to find common ground between such disparate ideologies as those held by Republicans and Democrats. She draws false analogies between being a capitalist vs being a socialist. We all are participating in the two ideologies every day. A Democrat works hard, earns money and saves for the future as does the Republican. A Republican depends on publicly funded infrastructure such as roads and public school and so does the Democrat. Most Park County residents own guns. Some are satisfied to harvest wildlife resources with traditional guns while others want to build an enhanced arsenal with guns designed to kill humans. Does that mean the one side wants to “do away with guns?” Some recognize that a steady shift away from carbon emitting energy to clean energy is how we build a better future, but still drive autos that consume gasoline and heat their homes with natural gas.

Others believe that Wyoming’s future will be secured only by extracting and selling our great reserves of oil, natural gas and coal. It is truly disingenuous and destructive to paint the one side as good and the other as evil. Most of us need some measure of the things we argue about. Is it really valid to simply paint one to be virtuous and the other evil? By narrowly defining our allegiances in simplistic, us or them terms we do a disservice to all people.

I once attended a public forum featuring local politicians and the question was asked, “do you try to represent (all) your constituents in your work as a representative?” The politician stated publicly, “I do not. I always vote my own beliefs.” That flies in the face of the fundamental principles of democracy. What other reason would we debate and run for office if not to seek the approval of those we pledge to represent?

I urge all voters to find common ground and to avoid seeing the world too simply. No one deserves to be reduced from a complex, nuanced citizen to a simple party-line ideologue.

Scott Feyhl

Powell