You probably recall in January when a panel on a Boeing 737 Max tore off 16,000 feet up. Along with working on the production flaws, Boeing tries to calm us by noting that 5,000 flights a day on 737 Max’s have 99 percent reliability—same as any other commercial airplanes. Statistically, we shouldn’t worry more about a Max than other airplanes.
But, do you blame anyone who shops around for a different airplane to fly on?
It would be strange if people didn’t worry about the airplanes they travel on. I do find it strange that this sensible self-preservation is absent from the political parts of our lives.
The Idaho Legislature is openly hostile to the health and well-being of regular Idahoans:
- The Legislature could save homeowners millions of dollars in property taxes; they choose to cut taxes for the state’s richest folks.
- They could replace unsafe schools; they prefer to spend that money on religious and private schools.
- They could take so many steps to improve health outcomes; they criminalize doctors so more than one-fifth of Idaho obstetricians left Idaho last year.
- They could make Idaho a welcoming place for all people; they chose to bully transgender children and demonize LGBTQ folks.
After that panel flew off in January, Boeing found some other issues and is working to fix them. They are trying to fix their problems.
Unlike Boeing, Idaho’s GOP politicians are doubling down on their shoddy work. Unfortunately, too many Idahoans still have not connected GOP leadership to a loss of services–and lives–in Idaho. And, without a great push from the public, the GOP is going the opposite direction. One legislator has a bill to make it harder for people to get absentee ballots.
I don’t know about you but I don’t trust a cook who won’t eat her own cooking; just like I don’t trust a politician who makes it harder for me to vote.
Bluntly, the wrong people are in office and we are suffering dire consequences. I, for one, am doing all I can to reach out to Idahoans and talk about the issues. Right now, Idaho GOP leaders are making a mess. We are already suffering because of it.
We need to be smart and stop this ride before it can crash.