John Andrist: Too Many Fargoans Think NDSU Can Do No Wrong

Pogo was the name of a comic strip dealing with humor and political satire that died with its author, a man named Walt Kelly, in 1973.

The most memorable line he wrote was a paraphrase: “We have met the enemy and he is us!”

This came to mind this week when I was pondering our present state of affairs in America.

We long for an end to the political gridlock that has snarled Washington. Why can’t they work together, we lament?

The present presidential primary season tells us why. Congress is a mirror of its electorate. Think about what it says about us when the leading candidates include a socialist on the one side and intransigent right wingers on the other.

Should we really believe that we can get bipartisan consensus from a Donald Trump or a Ted Cruz? Or a Bernie Sanders or a Hillary Clinton?

Donald Trump is an embarrassment even to establishment Republicans. He is the epitome of a rich kid who inherited vast wealth, is so spoiled and accustomed to buying his way through life that he can’t even find a wife that satisfies him.

[mks_pullquote align=”right” width=”300″ size=”24″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#000000″]Too many Fargoans live in a world where NDSU can do no wrong.[/mks_pullquote]

Does anybody really believe he can build and make the Mexicans pay for a wall on the Mexican border?

He espouses words but no policy.

Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, is highly principled. But in the history of mankind socialism has never worked, particularly in America, and never will he get his views on income redistribution accepted.

The only way either of them could possibly be elected is if there is no other choice. Americans may by extremists on the right or left, but America is still a centrist country.

Perhaps our problem is that we have been given so much in America that we have become spoiled brats ourselves, wanting more of whatever we think is good for us, our neighbors, and our communities.

Thoughtful Republicans and Democrats have good reason to despair. We have met the enemy, and he is us!

The Fighting Hawks

My kids took me to my first hockey game at Englestad Arena in Grand Forks last week. I’m not very engaged in the sport, but I loved the experience.

It’s such a gorgeous facility, and the hype is sort of contagious. These days, most fans don’t even think about going to watch a favorite team without wearing the “gear”.

One thing I learned is that although they are no longer officially the Fighting Sioux at UND, the folks still act like they don’t know it and don’t care.

Sioux jerseys still rule. You still don’t see any shirts with “Fighting Hawks” printed on them.

I’m a fan of both of our universities. I love the Sioux even though I understand little about hockey. And I wouldn’t miss a Bison football game if somebody stole my television set.

That may come as a surprise to those who have heard me rant about the lack of fiscal control of these institutions.

Their apologists, like the leftist Mike McFeely, a genuinely blind apologist, who writes in The Forum, like to dismiss those of us who see problems in our universities as NDSU haters.

When President Bresciani was scolded this week for spending $5,000 extra in state money so he could fly business class to Europe, a group of his kool aid drinkers decided to pick up the tab.

Too many Fargoans live in a world where NDSU can do no wrong.

I’m thankful that when I disciplined my kids they didn’t get to believe I hated them. Indeed I even find Bresciani rather charming.