"I'm ag'in' it!"
My first memory of encountering this colloquialism was years ago at a school board meeting. An improvement to the school facilities was being discussed and one board member made his opposition clear. The phrase struck me as useful. Clear, settled opposition, not open to discussion. I tucked it away to pull out as needed.
As it turns out, I haven't found much use for the phrase. Unlike that old farmer, I don't find all that many situations where I am inclined to firmly set my jaw and declare my opposition to a proposal for change.
In the past few months of attending Democrat party meetings in my area, I have been reminded of that phrase again. Democrats are an endangered species locally, and I appreciate those trying to breathe new life into the local organization, but the main rallying message I have heard thus far revolves around being against what is happening around us. The current administration? We're ag'in' it. The conservative evangelical director of a local after-school program? We're ag'in' 'im and don't want public funds to go to his program. Businesses failing to hang onto their DEI initiatives under pressure? We're ag'in' 'em.
When a proposed highway through our part of Indiana came up as the latest target for our protests at a recent meeting, it was too much for me. The meeting had lasted plenty long already when the topic was introduced. I decided I was done for that round and left.
Since when do Democrats take a uniform stand against infrastructure improvements? Wasn't President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan a major accomplishment for his administration?
I know the issues involved with the proposed highway. They are the same ones I heard against the I-69 extension through southwest Indiana three decades ago. Among them: Highways consume private property and destroy farms. They bypass small towns and their struggling business districts. They cost millions or even billions of dollars. These are valid points. But they aren't the only factors involved in the road decision and don't represent one political party. If they did, I would expect the Republicans to be the ones taking the position of less government interference and greater concern for individual rights, not the Democrats.
The role of government is to collect resources and provide goods and services for their citizens. Where would we be if transportation depended on individual landowners laying asphalt on their own property and tying their section of roadway in with their neighbors' roads? As it turns out, the only way to have roads is for the government to acquire lengthy ribbons of land and bring in construction crews.
The question then is, "Do we need another road?" Apparently, the answer is "no" for my Democrat friends. They are "ag'in it" and that is fine. I just wish they would conduct their anti-road protests apart from the Democrat party. I have no strong opinion on this latest road project, but generally see good transportation options as a positive thing. However, discussing the Mid-State Corridor project is not the purpose of this post, so I will move on.
I have concerns about a lot of things happening in our world, but my preferred stance is to highlight and support the good rather than highlighting and protesting the bad. If I manage to make any contribution to the local Democratic Party organization with my limited resources, I hope it will be to support initiatives that will bring positive changes. I would like to see more support for local immigrants and minority groups, more DEI initiatives, more support for literacy and educational initiatives. These are goals that stand in opposition to our current President and his administration, but I see them as having more opportunity for local initiatives that make a difference.
On a recent trip to Washington, Indiana, I saw a sign promoting the Rotary Club, highlighting their positive contributions to the community. I just caught a glimpse of it in passing and didn't catch all it said. I hope to revisit that sign soon and snap a picture of it. Positive community involvement is a goal I would like to pursue, valuing and uplifting all people in the community. Maybe the best way to do that is to join the Rotary Club, but I don't live in Washington and have limited time and energy. I still have hope that involvement with the Democrats can bring similar opportunities, both locally and on a broader basis.