At last year’s Boise Pride parade there was a group that marched under the banner “Registered Republicans”. Perhaps a slightly satirical title for Pride… at least it made me laugh in that spirit. But… hold on… truly there is no point in having a Democratic party in Idaho at all. Maybe 100% “Republican” = a pivot away from lockstep MAGA-thinking. Maybe we’d elect more pro-public education candidates who think deeply, have the stamina and brains it takes to deliberate with others, see beyond partisan blinders and $ to make good things happen.

The direction we’re heading in is bleak. MAGA has swallowed Republicans, and both parties seem dogmatic, vulnerable to trends, AI-influenced, dependent on money and pre-prepared think tank legislation–rather than able to accomplish effective, collaborative, innovative work with people in reality. Open primaries could’ve addressed these problems, but propaganda won. Of course, there exist wise leaders who communicate liberal and conservative ideas that local people could build on to shape society/education the way we’d like it to be. However, their voices don’t capture and hold potential voters’ attention today–mainly because of what it actually takes now to capture anyone’s attention.

For now, imagine if all Idahoans, legislators included, dropped the Democratic party or got off the unaffiliated fence, for the sake of re-organizing around real challenges. Those of us who don’t want to be ruled must rule ourselves, right? Political parties have formed in order to function as a way to organize and focus voters’ power. But our political parties can’t do that now. Money, technology, fear, and lack of attention knock the wind out of real deliberative debate and discussion among our leaders… and for us, too. Right now you can’t even have a meaningful discussion with old friends and neighbors without fear of either exposing a true thought, or provoking one, that you know won’t be well-met. This leads not to self-rule, but to sitting-duckness for power grabbers… à la succumbing to the euphemistic “parent choice” in education. Maybe education stands a chance if we break both parties by dumping one completely and putting the emphasis on the quotation marks around the other.

In the immediate future, we who care about public education in Idaho must be free to fearlessly and openly exchange ideas within the political landscape. We’re where we are today because of political exploitation, after all. Bad habits and powerful algorithms make partisan bias plug everyone’s ears even before we open our mouths. Now actually is a great time for public education, at a very local level, to regroup and tackle thorny issues.

Here’s how I propose jumping in. Workteams can prep by knowing disagreement will be fierce, though arguments will be in good faith. It’s long-distance running… teams will take the time and effort to chip away at the obstacles that prevent solutions. Putting everyone’s feet on solid shared reality needs to be the first step. Interest-based bargaining provides a strong framework for starting out. Here’s what school boards, parents, educators, union members, business leaders, and students of good faith could try…..

Here’s just one of many possible example challenges that really does need to be tackled:
First, what’s true? Then, how will we get all the information we need to come to some consensus?
Finally, what’s our initial action plan and how will we know if it’s effective?

Pornography.

• Why is it a problem?
• What constitutes pornography?
• Where and how are kids exposed to it?
• Who does it impact and how?
• What do children and young adults need to know about it in order to grow into decent humans?